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The Art of Loss: A Retreat for Grief, Remembrance & Renewal

Date
October 30 - November 1, 2026

About this Retreat

Your Guides

Details of this retreat

You don’t have to be finished grieving. You don’t have to have made sense of what happened. Sometimes what we need most is simply a beautiful, quiet place to make room for what we have lost.
Join Gloria Baraquio and Lydia Hwang for a restorative weekend at Ratna Ling devoted to grief, remembrance, and the many ways we learn to live with change.
Loss comes to us in many forms. It may be the death of someone we love, the end of a relationship, a change in health or identity, children leaving home, a career transition, or the quiet realization that a chapter of our life has ended. Some losses are visible to everyone around us. Others we carry privately.
Whatever form it takes, grief asks something of us.
Often, everyday life gives us little space to listen. We return to work, take care of others, answer emails, and keep moving—even while something within us is still trying to understand what has changed.
This weekend is an invitation to make space for slowness, softness, and reflection.
Nestled among the redwoods of Sonoma County, Ratna Ling offers a peaceful place to rest, breathe, reflect, and gently turn toward what you have been carrying. There is nothing you need to fix or overcome here. You are invited simply to meet your experience with curiosity, tenderness, and care.
Taking place over the weekend of Halloween and the Day of the Dead, this retreat draws upon this ancient season of remembrance—a time when cultures around the world have traditionally honored those who have passed and acknowledged the mystery of endings and beginnings.
Through meditation, gentle yoga, journaling, sound, nature, conversation, and ritual, we will create space to remember what has been loved, acknowledge what has changed, and listen for what may be emerging now.
Together, we may explore questions such as:
What am I still carrying? What deserves to be remembered? What am I ready to release? What has this loss revealed about what I love? And how might I step into the next chapter of my life without leaving behind what has mattered?


Our time together will include:


Presence-based, accessible yoga
Guided meditation and contemplation
Reflective journaling and personal inquiry
Quiet time among Ratna Ling’s redwoods
Sound healing and deep relaxation
Meaningful conversation and community
A beautiful remembrance and letting-go ritual using flowers, color, and essences
Spacious periods for rest and personal reflection

Guests may also choose to deepen their experience with optional Massage, Spiritual Counseling, and Soul Memory Readings.
There will be time for community and time for silence; time to remember and time simply to rest.
Grief does not follow a schedule, and healing does not mean forgetting. Sometimes healing begins when we stop asking ourselves to move on and instead give ourselves permission to honor what was loved, what has changed, and who we are becoming.
Come as you are.
Bring the person, relationship, dream, identity, or chapter of life you wish to honor. Let the redwoods hold some of what you have been carrying.
And perhaps, in making space for loss, you might discover that there is still space for beauty, connection, tenderness, and joy.

 
*SPECIAL OFFERING*  Soul Memory Readings will be offered by Cecilia Addams at this retreat. If you are looking to heal through  pain, conflict, or grief, these sessions will help you tap into your deeper self, your spirit guides, and/or your ancestors, giving you clarity on how to move forward in your life. To book a session, call Ceci at 949-678-9530. To learn more, check out soulmemorydiscovery.com.
Schedule (Subject to change):
FRIDAY


3pm Check-in
4:30pm Grounding Yoga
5:30pm Dinner
6:45pm Opening Session

SATURDAY


8am Silent Breakfast
9am Discussion and Meditation: The Sweetness of Grief
11am Yoga
12:15pm Lunch
1pm Temple Tour (optional)
1-4pm Free Time, Nature, Journaling
4pm Ritual for Acceptance & Letting Go
5:30pm Dinner
7pm Sound Healing

SUNDAY


8am Yoga
9am Closing Circle
10am Brunch

For directions to Ratna Ling - Ratna Ling Retreat Center 35755 Hauser Bridge Rd Cazadero, CA 95421
Accommodations are beautiful lux cabins


ADDITIONAL DETAILS


Transportation to/from Ratna Ling is NOT included - carpooling encouraged
Payments are nonrefundable and transferable to a future Ratna Ling stay or retreat
Each cottage includes TWO private rooms with queen beds, large dining & living area, gas fireplace, spacious deck, jacuzzi tub, linens/towels/hand soap, kitchenette with tea & coffee, complimentary wireless internet. 
5 vegetarian meals are served during our weekend together.
For directions to Ratna Ling - Ratna Ling Retreat Center 35755 Hauser Bridge Rd Cazadero, CA 95421

All bookings are NON-REFUNDABLE. Should you wish to cancel your stay with us, Ratna Ling Retreat Center requires 30 days' notice for your full credit to be TRANSFERRED to a future retreat within 1 year of original booking.

What people are saying about this program:
"The leaders were amazing, the blending of words, scents, music, sound and touch was perfect."

"I so appreciated being with these beautiful, nourishing caring women - and the food was amazing."

"I was nourished body, spirit and heart  - the food was wonderful nourishment helping ground our experience."

"The leaders were amazing, the blending of words, scents, music, sound and touch was perfect."

 

Getting Here

Location icon Ratna Ling Retreat Center

Directions

San Francisco International and Oakland International airports are approximately three hours south of Ratna Ling by car. Alaska Airlines flies to and from Sonoma County Airport in Santa Rosa which is approximately 1.5 hours from Ratna Ling by car. Unfortunately, there are no shuttles that bring you directly to Ratna Ling, so it is best to rent a car or email us to support in coordinating a carpool with fellow retreatants.

Accommodation

14 guest cottages on 120 acres of property. Each spacious, quiet cottage has 2 private rooms, with high ceilings and a deck with a view. Cottages include jet tubs (or ADA shower), towels, deluxe linens, refrigerator, tea kettle, coffee/tea, kitchen sink/counter, diningware, dining table, and living room with a stove fireplace. Free wifi available and a landline telephone. Guests can choose to have an exclusive cottage for ONE person; a private room for ONE person in a SHARED cottage; or a cottage for TWO people. Any additional guest after TWO is $100 per person per night. Meals and classes included.

For 1 guest in Private Room, Shared Cottage

Venue & Amenities

A/C in Rooms icon A/C in Rooms
Free Wifi icon Free Wifi
Spa icon Spa
Sauna icon Sauna
Pool icon Pool
Towels icon Towels
Free Parking icon Free Parking
Kitchen icon Kitchen
Tour Assistance icon Tour Assistance
Hot Tub icon Hot Tub
Coffee/Tea icon Coffee/Tea
Cafe icon Cafe
Restaurant icon Restaurant
Fitness Center icon Fitness Center
Yoga Studio icon Yoga Studio
Housekeeping icon Housekeeping
Bicycles For Rent icon Bicycles For Rent
Three miles from the beautiful Sonoma coast. Organic, vegetarian meals. 120 acres of redwoods, canyons, reservoirs, and wildlife. Sacred architecture timber cottages and communal spaces. Featured stupas, gardens, and temple empowered by Tibetan Buddhist Lama Tarthang Tulku Rinpoche.

Meals

Menu Types

All of our meals are organic and vegetarian, made with love and care. We provide homemade yogurt and granola for breakfast. Lunches and dinners always include salads or salad bar. Each meal is self-served on a buffet table.

Customer Reviews

4.95 out of 5.0 average rating

5.0
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Amazing experience
I attended Ratna Ling’s “A Weekend of Self-Care” retreat over Labor Day weekend, and it was truly one of the best things I have ever done for myself. From the moment I arrived, the peaceful natural surroundings made it feel possible to slow down, breathe, and step away from the responsibilities and noise of everyday life.

The retreat offered a beautiful balance of guided classes, quiet reflection, meaningful connection with other women, and time to simply be alone. Rosalyn White and Erica Martzen created a warm, welcoming environment where I felt comfortable participating if I wanted to, there was never any pressure. Nothing felt forced or overwhelming. The cottages were a comfortable peaceful place to rest. The food was gluten free and vegan. This isn’t my usual diet but I tried many new things and I was all very good. Prepared right there on the property fresh everyday.

What made the weekend so meaningful was having the space to reconnect with myself and find a sense of peace within. I left feeling lighter, more grounded, and reminded that caring for myself is not selfish but necessary.

If you are a woman who spends most of her time caring for everyone else, feels emotionally drained, or simply needs space to reset, I wholeheartedly recommend this retreat. You do not need to have experience with yoga, meditation, or retreats… I had zero experience with any of it and felt totally welcomed. Ratna Ling is a very special place, and I hope to return.

5.0
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Ratna Ling Shines Like A Jewel
It was a joy to lead a retreat with Erica M. this past weekend. The exquisite facilities are beautifully designed and well-maintained. The gardens and natural landscape surrounding it are lovely and peaceful. The food was wonderful, fresh, and healthy. The staff was helpful and friendly and showed a connection to the spiritual tradition on which Ratna Ling is based.

The people attending the retreat were a very nice mix. Some came from as far away as South Carolina, while most were from the Bay Area. They were professionals, from a nurse to a tech industry worker to a retired Wall Street stockbroker. Many were there for the first time., but there was a quick bond that formed, based on an openness to caring and kindness. Many people shared their contact info to stay connected with each other.

Thank you, Ratna Ling, for providing the space to allow this amazing connection to take place.

5.0
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Wonderful connection and reset!
Ratna Ling is a very special place filled with warmth and beauty. Expect to find inspiration, connection, and new ways of living in your daily life. Erica and Rosalyn were wonderful teachers, the food was amazing, and I will always remember my time here. Highly recommend!

4.0
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Time away but still present
As was my time last year, overall a very pleasant experience. The cabin is lovely and very comfortable. The food was very good for me. I most appreciated the special little meals that were brought to me because of my not being able to tolerate onions and garlic. The room for yoga was perfect, as was David's yoga. David is the best and he made my yoga and meditation experiences really special. Meditation in the temple was an experience I will carry with me for a long time. I don't want to say anything negative, but I think you should be aware that the shower valve in Cabin 17 is really faulty and getting scalded by hot water is a real possibility. It is impossible to adjust the water to STAY at a comfortable level for any length of time before it reverts to scalding or cold. There is a provision in California law regarding water temperature setting for facilities used by individuals who have no control over water temperature i.e. apartment buildings, rentals etc. and the temperature setting is much lower than what the setting is for your cabins. The regulation valve should be repaired and the water temperature turned down. The salad on our first meal on Friday was not fresh and was wilted and had spoiled leaves throughout. Otherwise, the food was great. I hope next year we are back in the cabins that are closer to the main lodge, as we had to drive to the lodge each day, because the walk would have been too much for me in addition to yoga.
I love coming to Ratna Ling and will continue as long as I can. ☮️ ❤️ Angi Shine

5.0
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Living with Ease
Wonderful experience.

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