Starting Anew – A Mindfulness Retreat for the New Year

Starting Anew is a mindfulness retreat for the new year, led by Maria Helena Kubrusly at Ratna Ling Retreat Center in Cazadero, California. It runs over a weekend and is open to anyone who wants to pause at the turn of the year and think about how they want the months ahead to unfold.

The retreat asks a simple question of each participant: how do you want to show up for yourself, your loved ones, and your coworkers? Meditation is the way into it. As the mind settles, it becomes easier to notice the patterns that drive and motivate what we do. If you are looking for a January meditation retreat in Northern California that leans toward self-understanding rather than resolutions, this one is built for that.

What to Expect

The weekend is designed around getting to know yourself better. Meditation is the central practice, and it serves a specific purpose here: building awareness of the habits and motivations that shape your daily choices. From that clearer view, you have room to consider what you want to carry into the coming year and what you might set down.

The retreat is held in January, at the start of the year, and it is meant as a considered beginning rather than a rush of goals. The pace is that of a mindfulness retreat: time to sit, reflect, and listen before deciding anything.

About Maria Helena Kubrusly

Maria Helena Kubrusly leads Starting Anew. Her approach here centers on meditation as a way of seeing our own patterns more clearly, so that the year ahead can be shaped with intention rather than habit.

The Setting

Ratna Ling Retreat Center sits in the redwood country near Cazadero, in Sonoma County on the Northern California coast. Ratna Ling is run by a volunteer organization, and its retreats are offered in a setting of quiet and natural surroundings. The center describes its purpose as helping people connect with themselves, with nature, and with the Ratna Ling community. Its sister organization, Dharma College, also offers courses, and the center supports a Tibetan Book Preservation Project through donations.

Before You Go

Starting Anew is a weekend retreat, so plan to step away from your usual commitments for the full stretch. The invitation is open to anyone who wants to reflect on the year ahead through meditation. No particular background is described as required. Ratna Ling also offers gift certificates, which can be a thoughtful way to give someone a weekend like this one.