In a world of constant motion, endless screens, notifications & obligations, it becomes easy to lose touch with the quiet voice of the soul. Our attention is pulled outward, scattered across tasks and timelines, until the inner compass grows faint.

Yet beneath the noise, there remains a wellspring of vision and guidance available to each of us. To hear it, we must slow down. We must listen.

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This retreat is an invitation to pause and remember. For one night and two days, we step away from the current of busyness and immerse ourselves in the living presence of the forest. Here, in community and in silence, we create space to reconnect with the deeper rhythms of being.

Why Inner Vision Matters

When we cultivate inner vision, we realign with what is most essential. This kind of seeing is not about the eyes, but about perceiving from the heart - seeing and honoring the gifts in life. It is the capacity to sense what wants to unfold through us - the soul’s intention that lies beneath our roles, plans, and distractions. In times of overwhelm and disconnection, tending to this inner sight becomes not a luxury, but a necessity. It is how we remember our place in the web of life, how we honor our path with integrity, and how we find the courage to live from truth.

The Flow of the Retreat

• Day & Night One, Fire & Council
  We begin together in circle, sharing reflections on our life paths, listening deeply, and celebrating our commitments to walk in greater alignment with our soul. Around the fire we are nourished by music, story, and the warmth of human connection.

• Day Two, Silence & Vision
  Through a guided five-senses immersion and a practice of Recognizing the Gifts, we awaken to the subtle beauty of the land--an acknowledgement of the rich bounty of Earth's cycles and seaasons as well as our own. After our practice, we will hike up Bhakti Mountain, where we enter sacred silence for an immersion experience deep within Just Love Forest, a time of meditation, solitude, and optional fasting. This is a chance to clear and reset, to listen for the quiet truths waiting within. We will end the evening in this sacred space together, gazing into the eternal mysteries woven into the robust skyscape offered from atop the mountain - then, ceremoniously part to our own tents and integration of our experience. 

An Offering for Renewal

This retreat holds a balance - the nourishment of community and the power of solitude, the vitality of music and the stillness of silence, the rootedness of the earth and the spaciousness of sky. Together they create a threshold, a way to return to yourself and claim your powerful seat as a conscious creator with greater clarity, wholeness, and presence.

The forest is ready to receive you.

Guided by Kelsey Wishik, Author of Return to Vastness

Kelsey Wishik, based in Athens, GA, is a distinguished guide in the realm of self-discovery and natural connection. Her expertise is rooted in hundreds of solo wilderness journeys, insights from which are captured in her book, "Return to Vastness." A yoga and movement instructor, artist, and musician, Kelsey holds ERYT 200 and RYT 500 certifications, with over 13 years of experience in yoga. Her teachings are a rich blend of yoga's philosophy, studies in Chinese Medicine, neuroscience, pranayama, meditation, and mantra, reflecting a deep commitment to the holistic exploration of self and nature.

Kelsey’s vision quest retreats are an invitation to deeply connect with oneself through the wisdom of the natural world. Her approach leverages her extensive background in both solitary wilderness experiences and comprehensive academic studies. Participants in her retreats are guided on a transformative journey, designed to foster a profound understanding of self in harmony with nature. With her global experience in facilitating workshops and community circles, Kelsey offers a unique pathway for individuals seeking to explore their inner landscapes and expand their spiritual horizons.

Guided by Bala, Head Steward of Just Love Forest

Bala is the heart behind Just Love Forest, a 700-acre sanctuary in the Appalachian foothills of Georgia. He lives in close relationship with the land, tending to the forest as both home and teacher.

He is a teacher of the art of meditation, certified through Jack Kornfield and Tara Brach’s Mindfulness Meditation Teacher Program at the University of California, Berkeley’s Greater Good Science Center. He is also a certified forest therapy guide with the Association of Nature and Forest Therapy. These practices, rooted in presence and compassion, shape the way Bala holds space for others to slow down and remember the quiet voice of the soul.

After a personal awakening in 2017, Bala dedicated his life to creating spaces where people can pause, breathe, and reconnect with what is most essential. Through retreats, community gatherings, and simple moments around the fire, he invites others to rediscover their belonging to the earth and to one another.

Bala’s guidance is gentle, grounded, and welcoming. Whether through silence, song, or shared story beneath the trees, his work is about opening a doorway back to wholeness, back to love.

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The Journey

Saturday, September 27th

Arrive at 10AM

Orientation, preparation, and intention-setting at basecamp. After lunch we’ll hold space inspired by traditional council circles around the fire, before getting a good night’s sleep in the comforts of basecamp.

Sunday, September 28th

Solo time in the forest & optional water fasting

One day in complete solitude, optional fasting with water, using your senses, listening to the land, and sitting with the unknown. We will close at dusk with a guided integration reflection and forged tea from the land. Depart by 7pm.

What to Expect

• Deep preparation through guided practices, movement, and reflection

• Solo time in nature to connect with the land, fast, and listen to the unseen

• A safe and supported journey with experienced facilitators and a strong integration process

• Luxury basecamp accommodations before and after your solo quest, featuring beautifully hosted canvas bell tents with Tempur-Pedic queen mattresses

• Plant-based meals before and after your fast, or the option to continue fasting as part of your experience

Receprocity

$350 + tax

This is an invitation to strip away the noise, step into the vast unknown, and emerge with clarity, vision, and a renewed sense of purpose. If you feel the call, trust it.

SPECIAL RATES APPLY FOR MEMBERS

Up to three annual members are eligible for a limited $250+tax rate. Read more here.

Financial Accessibility

We always want these gatherings to be as financially accessible as possible. If you would like to be considered to serve as part of our volunteer and support teams for a reduction in fees, please contact us.