Pilgrimage to Silence: A Nature Based Retreat for Rest & Renewal

This silent meditation retreat at Hollyhock on Denman Island, British Columbia, is led by Valerie Brown, a Buddhist-Quaker Dharma teacher and author. Held in noble silence and rooted in the theme of pilgrimage, it is for anyone worn down by stress, anxiety, or a season of change who wants real time to rest, reflect, and renew in a natural setting and a caring community.

The practice draws on mindfulness meditation in the Plum Village tradition and on Quaker faith and practice. Together they offer a quiet, steady way of paying attention, and a way of discerning what matters most.

What to Expect

The retreat runs six days, beginning on the opening evening at 6:30pm and ending at 1:30pm on the final day. Silence is held across the whole program, and time outdoors in forest and along the shoreline is part of each day.

Days are made of simple, restorative practices:

- Guided meditation, both sitting and gently moving
- Mindful walking and movement to connect with the body and the earth
- Mindful eating
- Dharma talks on healing and transformation
- Time for individual reflection, with creative practices and soul-amplifying questions
- Small-group sharing and larger group dialogue, so that each person can witness and be witnessed

Themes include rediscovering the lost art of pilgrimage, aligning your values with your work, building body awareness, practicing self-compassion, and learning to respect your own limits. Spiritual discernment is explored through Quaker practice and the approach of the Center for Courage & Renewal. Past participants describe a warm and welcoming community and a spacious, compassionate teacher. A detailed daily schedule is emailed to registrants about 30 days before the retreat begins.

About Valerie Brown

Valerie Brown is an author, Buddhist-Quaker Dharma teacher, facilitator, and executive coach. Her work focuses on leadership development, Gestalt psychology, climate awareness, and mindfulness practices, with attention to diversity, social equity, and inclusion. She is a former lawyer and lobbyist who turned a high-pressure, twenty-year career toward serving leaders and nonprofits, helping them build workplaces that are trustworthy, authentic, compassionate, and connected. That background shapes the retreat's emphasis on resilience and on bringing peace back into daily work and community life.

The Setting

Hollyhock sits on Denman Island, in British Columbia's Salish Sea region. The retreat makes full use of its surroundings, with forest and shoreline woven into the daily rhythm. Accommodation options and all-inclusive packages are available through registration.

Before You Go

The retreat is offered in English. The material names no prior meditation experience as a requirement, and the practices of sitting, walking, and eating mindfully are described as guided. Because the program is held in silence, expect to speak little outside the offered sharing sessions.