The Inner Quiet: A winter retreat

The Inner Quiet is a contemplative winter solstice retreat led by Sarah Koh of Alchemy Springs at Ratna Ling Retreat Center in Cazadero, California. It is a weekend for anyone who wants to slow down in the quiet of the redwoods and listen inward, set against the shortest days of the year.

What to Expect

Sarah Koh invites participants to cut through the noise and get to the core essence of their being. The weekend is a space to slow down and reconnect with the quiet wisdom of the heart and body, and it is built around a few honest questions. What is your soul asking for at this time? What is ready to emerge? What wants to resolve and heal so that you can move forward?

Held over a weekend at the winter solstice, the retreat follows the season's natural invitation toward rest, stillness and reflection. It is not a program of performance or achievement. The emphasis is on listening, and on allowing what is already present to be heard.

About Sarah Koh

Sarah Koh comes to Ratna Ling from Alchemy Springs, and she guides this retreat as a contemplative winter gathering. The organizer's description centers her approach on slowing down, inner listening and healing, and on helping participants find what they are ready to release and what is ready to arise.

The Setting

Ratna Ling Retreat Center sits among the coastal redwoods near Cazadero in Sonoma County, Northern California. It is a volunteer-run center that hosts yoga, meditation and mindfulness retreats through the year, and it welcomes people who want to connect with themselves, with nature and with the Ratna Ling community. The surrounding forest, away from the pace of town, is part of what the retreat offers: a change of scenery and a quiet place to sit with the season.

Before You Go

This is a retreat for anyone drawn to introspection and rest, and no particular prior experience is listed as a requirement. Come ready to spend a weekend with silence, reflection and the cold, quiet beauty of the redwoods in winter. Bring an open mind and a willingness to listen to what arises, and dress for a woodland setting in the colder months.