A Sanctuary of the Heart: A 5-Day Retreat

Return to yourself. 

Beneath the surface of everything

there is an inner sanctuary. 

Remember the entrance door to the sanctuary

 is inside of you. 

-Rumi

Do you long to rest deeply? 

What would it mean… to have permission
to finally be who you really are?

What would it mean… to participate fully
in this sacred mystery called your life?

You’re invited to join author/teacher Jeff Foster and psychotherapist Matt Licata on a five-day retreat in the beautiful foothills of the Rocky Mountains in Colorado, USA. Enjoy the peace and quiet of Sunrise Ranch as we gather together to rest our weary minds and hearts and open to the mystery and beauty of this life...

Weaving together teachings and meditations from the fields of spirituality, non-duality, and embodied inquiry; somatic and depth psychotherapies; trauma- and shadow-sensitive mindfulness; ancient wisdom teachings and modern teachings of self-compassion; and the sacred mystery of human friendship, we’ll spend time each day in a healing, relational field where we can rest, open, and connect. 

Coming on retreat is a gift to ourselves and each other, to take time out of our busy lives to really slow down and remember what is truly important to us. 

“It is the shared love of the truth that fuels the entire journey of deep psychological healing and embodied spiritual transformation. Coming together with friends and fellow travelers to honor the unfolding of this love is the essence of this path. To be accompanied on our journey of individuation – where we can feel felt and understood – is the secret doorway into the Heart.” – Matt Licata

“True meditation is about being tender yet brave. It’s about slowing down. It’s about saying YES to our gorgeous, broken, tender human hearts, YES to our imperfections and doubts, YES to our pain and sorrow and joy, YES to our imperfect bodies, YES to ourselves, exactly as we are right now. Authentic spirituality is not about escaping to some higher or superhuman dimension, but being more present, awake and alive to the pain and joy, the ache and the glory, the tragedy and the comedy of this One precious human life…” - Jeff Foster 

THE RETREAT SCHEDULE

The schedule for our retreat is as follows. This schedule is subject to change. 

Tuesday, June 3
7:00 p.m. Opening session with Jeff and Matt 

Wednesday, June 4 to Saturday, June 7: 

9:30 a.m. 
Morning session with Matt

2:00 p.m. 
Afternoon session with Jeff

7:00 p.m. 
Evening session with Jeff and Matt 

Sunday, June 8
9:30 a.m. Closing session with Jeff and Matt 

Each morning will begin with simple and gentle yoga / stretching (no experience required!). As a way to be in our bodies during the retreat, to breathe deeply, to feel what we need to feel. To open our entire being to receive the mystery of Presence…

REGISTRATION DETAILS

PLEASE NOTE: Tickets go on sale Jan 1st, 2025. 

***IMPORTANT: There are TWO parts to the registration process for this retreat: (1) TUITION and (2) ACCOMMODATION/FOOD. You must complete both parts in order to attend!***

1. 
   

   Tuition: You will register for retreat tuition here on this page, from January 1, 2025. The tuition cost is $795 if registering by January 31, 2025; $895 thereafter.

   
   


2. 
   

   Accommodations/ Food: Sunrise Ranch offers a variety of types of accommodations - single, double, and triple rooms; dorm rooms; private apartments (limited); and camping. You will book your accommodation/food directly with Sunrise Ranch via this external link:

   
   

Accommodations link made available on January 1, 2025. 

We highly recommend that everyone attending the retreat stay on campus, as a way to be together and support the deepening of the relational field and the cohesiveness of the retreat. It is possible that space at the Ranch will sell out, however; there is a hotel (LaQuinta) around 15-18 minutes away. There are also a handful of Airbnb options in the town of Loveland (15-20 minutes away). 

Sunrise Ranch will provide three healthy, nutritious meals per day, as well as two snacks. If you have any specific dietary needs or preferences, you can speak directly with the Ranch about this when you register. 

***Please note: even if you are staying in a nearby hotel, Airbnb, or commuting from the Boulder/ Denver area, it is still required that you register as a “commuter” in order to attend the retreat. 

If you have any questions about the retreat, please email us at: sanctuaryoftheheart2025@gmail.com

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Is this a silent retreat? 

No. While each of our sessions will likely include some form of guided meditation, experiential inquiry, grounding/embodiment practice, etc., this is not a “formal” meditation retreat. While we will maintain silence in the main hall at all times (except when interacting with Matt and Jeff) you are welcome/ encouraged to connect with your fellow participants in all other places on the Ranch. Of course, you are also welcome to be silent! ;) 

Is this a therapy group/ or form of psychotherapy? 

No. Please note that this retreat is designed for educational purposes only and is not a psychotherapy group. There will be no individual assessment, diagnosis, or treatment offered. If you have a history of or are currently struggling with clinical types of depression, anxiety, or traumatic or post-traumatic stress, please consult with a mental health professional before signing up for the retreat to make an informed decision as to whether this type of event is in your best interest at this time. It’s important to understand that no individual treatment or help will be provided, due to the size and nature of the gathering. While many find these retreats to be “therapeutic” in nature and effect, it is important to know that they are not designed to offer therapy in any form. While there will be opportunities to ask Jeff and Matt questions, or seek their guidance, any responses will be in the form of consulting, coaching, and spiritual guidance, and not clinical or psychotherapeutic. 

I’m unable to attend the entire retreat. Can I come to part of it? Even if I pay the entire tuition fee? 

It is not possible to attend only part of the retreat. As a large part of the retreat has to do with the relational field itself, and the safety, rest, permission, and deepening that is our core intention, we ask that you only register if you can attend the entire program, from start to finish. Otherwise, there’s a way that the field itself can become unsupportive. 

Are there any prerequisites for attending? 

No. You need not have any experience with meditation, psychotherapy, or psychological inquiry to attend the retreat. We would suggest familiarizing yourself with our books and videos on YouTube, however, to get a sense of our teaching style, but this is optional. 

What happens if I register and then, for whatever reason, am unable to attend? 

With regard to tuition, you may receive a full refund if you cancel by May 3. 

With regard to accommodations and food refunds, please contact Sunrise Ranch directly about this to speak about their refund policy. 

What will the weather be like? What should I pack and wear? 

Please dress as comfortably as possible! Also, do note that even though it should be warm in June, it can be unpredictable in the mountains, so please bring along different layers in case it gets cool. We will try to maintain a comfortable temperature in the hall itself, but as “comfortable” is subjective, we would suggest you dress in layers. 

What airport do I fly into? How do I get from the airport to Sunrise Ranch? 

You will want to fly into Denver International Airport. The drive from the airport to the Ranch is around 1 hour, 10 minutes, depending on traffic. You can learn more about getting to the Ranch here including a shuttle option. You can of course rent a car from the airport as well if you’d prefer. 

“Matt’s understanding of the subtleties and nuances of the healing journey, and how meditation and psychological work fit together were a key for me which unlocked the door to a part of myself that I had forgotten about. Spending time with him was a real fork in the road in my life, a true turning point that opened up a whole new way of being for me.“ – J.R.

“I’m not sure I’ve ever been with a teacher or therapist who saw me so transparently and so lovingly. At first it was uncomfortable, scary, and I wasn’t sure if this was for me. But the kindness that came from Matt and his insight and presence into my wounding and vulnerability melted something within me.” – J.P.

“Jeff’s words melt my heart and create an Oasis where I can rest and be myself.” – SY

“Jeff’s expression in this world gives me the permission to be wonderfully messily and chaotically human. Something I never gave myself. His expression literally saved me at some point.” – RC

“I've had a sense …  listening to Jeff and settling into the deep acceptance of vulnerability in this group of a voice saying "finally" deep in my being. Finally I get to allow, embrace and validate this resting yes (that holds and includes "no") - to simply be with what's here…” - Participant 

PRESENTER BIOS

Jeff Foster studied Astrophysics at Cambridge University. In his mid-twenties, after a long period of depression and illness, he became addicted to the idea of ‘spiritual enlightenment’ and embarked on an intensive spiritual quest for the ultimate truth of existence. The spiritual search came crashing down with the clear recognition of the non-dual nature of everything, and the discovery of the extraordinary in the ordinary. In the clarity of this seeing, life became what it always was: intimate, open, loving and spontaneous, and Jeff was left with a deep understanding of the root illusion behind all human suffering, and a love of the present moment.

Jeff was voted #59 on Watkins Review’s list of the world’s 100 Most Spiritually Influential Living People. Jeff has published several books in over a dozen languages. His latest book “You Were Never Broken” was published in July 2020 by Sounds True.

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Matt Licata, PhD is a psychotherapist, author, and spiritual mentor, who was trained in the psychology of religion. Over the last 35 years, he has been involved in the dialogue between psychological, contemplative, and meditative approaches to personal growth, emotional healing, and spiritual transformation.

He is the author of A Healing Space: Befriending Yourself in Difficult Times (Sounds True, 2020), and The Path is Everywhere: Uncovering the Jewels Hidden Within You (Wandering Yogi Press, 2017). His next book – The Soul Alchemist: Trusting Your Inner Guidance – is scheduled to be published in 2025.