just Love Forest Ashram ♡ POetry, Georgia
In the heart of the North Georgia mountains, Just Love Forest Ashram is a sanctuary of peace, practice, and belonging. Rooted in the living traditions of love and service, it is a place where the forest itself becomes the temple, inviting all who arrive to rest, reconnect, and remember their true nature.
Here, the path is simple: to love, to serve, and to honor the sacred in each other and in the land. Whether you come for a retreat, a quiet walk in the woods, or a shared ceremony, you are welcomed as family.
our purpose
Just Love Forest Ashram held in the lineage of the Indian Saint, Neem Karoli Baba, exists as a place of refuge and renewal for all people. In today’s world, many long for spaces that restore balance, deepen connection, and honor the sacredness of life. Our vision is to hold such a place where nature, community, and spiritual practice come together in harmony.
The ashram is not a monastery or a retreat center in the usual sense. It is a living forest sanctuary: 716 acres of protected land held in conservation, dedicated to the practice of love, service, and presence. Here, ancient traditions are woven with modern needs, offering simple ways for people to step out of busyness, breathe deeply, and remember what matters.
The Lineage
Just Love Forest Ashram is held in the spirit of Neem Karoli Baba, the beloved Indian saint known simply as Maharaji, whose teachings continue to inspire people around the world. His path was one of simplicity: to love everyone, serve everyone, and remember God. This way of being forms the heart of our ashram.
We honor the traditions of Bhakti Yoga, the yoga of love and devotion, while also welcoming all paths. The ashram is not bound to one religion or practice. Instead, it is a home for seekers of every background to gather, pray, meditate, walk in nature, or simply sit in silence.
Our lineage is carried not only through teachings but through the living forest itself. Each tree, stream, and mountain here reminds us of the same truth: everything is sacred, and everything belongs.
The Land
The ashram rests within 716 acres of protected forest in the mountains of northwest Georgia. This land is held in a permanent conservation easement, ensuring its beauty and integrity for generations to come.
Walking here, you’ll find quiet creeks, open meadows, and winding trails that lead through old hardwood groves and pine ridges. At the heart of the land stands Bhakti Mountain, our most sacred peak, where community gathers for ceremony and prayer.
The forest is both teacher and temple. It offers silence, stillness, and a living reminder of how to be in balance. Whether sitting beneath the canopy of trees, listening to birdsong, or watching the light shift across the hills, the land itself becomes a practice, inviting us into presence, reverence, and renewal.
The Community
At the heart of Just Love Forest Ashram is community. The ashram is not only a place on the land, but a circle of people who come together to support one another, to learn, and to serve.
Throughout the year, we gather for retreats, seasonal ceremonies, community weekends, and days of silence in the forest. Some come for meditation and kirtan, others for forest therapy walks or the simple joy of being in nature together.
Service, or “seva” is a central practice. Whether cooking a meal, tending the trails, or supporting each other in times of need, we each take part in caring for the ashram and allowing it to care for us in return.
Above all, community here is built on belonging. Whoever you are, whatever path you walk, you are welcome.
Living Ashram Traditions
The rhythm of Just Love Forest Ashram is shaped by simple, timeless practices that open the heart and connect us to the sacred.
Each day, we hold the traditions of puja (prayer) and aarti, an ancient Vedic ritual honoring the elements and four directions. These daily offerings are part of the heartbeat of the ashram, and guests are welcome to join us by request, outside of our monthly public gathering.
Once each month, during our Community Weekend, we open the forest for a Friday public evening and overnight gathering. These weekends weave together meditation, kirtan, ceremony, and time in nature, a chance to experience the ashram in community.
As we step into 2026, we will begin announcing more regular gatherings and retreats, creating steady rhythms for practice, service, and celebration on the land.
An Invitation to You
Just Love Forest Ashram is here for all who feel the call to rest, reflect, and reconnect with what is sacred. You are welcome to walk the trails, join a community gathering, sit in meditation, or simply spend time in the quiet of the forest.
This is not a place of requirements or membership, it is a sanctuary of belonging. Whether you come once or return often, whether you arrive in joy or in grief, you are received as family.
If you feel drawn, we invite you to explore our upcoming events, reach out with a request to join daily puja and aarti, or come for one of our monthly community weekends. However you arrive, may the forest remind you of the love and presence that are always here.
Visit
Just Love Forest Ashram welcomes all who feel called to join us to puja or aarti by request. We are located in the foothills of the Appalachian foothills of northwest Georgia, about two hours from Atlanta. If you would like to come to a retreat, you can find those offerings here.
Daily Practices
Each day, we hold puja (prayer) and aarti, a simple Vedic ritual honoring the directions and the elements. These offerings form the daily rhythm of the ashram, and guests are welcome to join us by request.
Community Weekends
Once a month, we open the land for a public evening and overnight gathering as part of our Community Weekend. These gatherings weave together meditation, ceremony, shared meals, and time in nature. It’s the best way to experience the ashram in community.
Guidelines for Visiting
The ashram is a place of refuge, respect, and simplicity. When you visit, we ask that you:
Honor the land as sacred.
Bring what you need for your comfort in nature (water, sturdy shoes, layers).
Refrain from alcohol, drugs, and loud music.
Help us care for the forest by leaving no trace.
Staying Overnight
Accommodations are simple and close to nature — often in yurts, bell tents, or campsites. Shared meals and spaces create a sense of family. Please come prepared for rustic, communal living and the beauty of the outdoors.
Directions
Just Love Forest Ashram is located at:
1782 Old Holland Road
Lyerly, GA 30730
“Love is the strongest medicine.”
— Neem Karoli Baba