Retreats

Why go on Retreat?

The reasons vary with the person. Some seek rest and renewal, stress reduction, or core-level healing. Others come to attune with Nature, to center and deepen their spiritual journeys, or to handle life transitions. Here one can search for answers or just spend time with God. Nestled in the abundant beauty of the Earth, Light on the Hill is a safe, quiet space far from society’s distractions. Our purpose is to help seekers to develop their spiritual lives--whatever their background or beliefs.

Individual Retreats

Individual retreats are designed to meet an individual’s unique needs. There are four basic categories of individual retreats but a person may take from several of them for his/her retreat.

1. Self Guided Individual Retreats are for those who want to structure their own time. Some nurture themselves by walking in nature, sleeping, meditating, journal writing, reflecting, and walking the labyrinth (tie in here?). Others with training in a particular meditative tradition use this time to deepen their practice. Creative writing, drawing, playing music or working with dreams -- the possibilities abound.
   
   
2. Partially Guided Individual Retreats are for those who basically want to be on their own but would also like to be given some meditative practices, music and/or inspirational tapes to keep their attunement on a spiritual level. These are selected by the guide in accord with the intent of the retreat. The guide is available for consultation as needed.
   
   
3. Guided Individual Retreats are more structured and intensive. The guide meets with the retreatant twice a day and suggests practices, prayers and tapes which bring the retreatant through a six-stage process of detachment, union and return. This deeply transformative process can be geared to a person of any faith or to one who does not feel a part of any tradition but wishes to deepen his/her spiritual life. There is a 3-day minimum stay for this retreat.
   
   
4. Energetic Healing Retreats are for those seeking healing on a physical, psychological or spiritual level. Each morning the retreatant receives a 90 minute counseling/healing session. The session may consist of straightforward counseling, dream work, guided imagery, movement exercises or hand-on healing, depending on what modality best serves the retreatant. The retreatant then has time for resting, walking, listening to relevant tapes or doing some simple practices which help integrate the benefits of the healing work. Because the retreatant does not return home, old patterns are not reinforced and the new energetic shifts have time to gel. The buildup of consecutive daily sessions is very powerful.

Group Retreats

Light on the Hill is able to accommodate groups up to 42 individuals using the Inner Light Lodge, which holds 30, and all the cottages and huts. There is a minimum number of 15 people in order for a group to stay at Inner Light Lodge. The purpose of the lodge is to be a welcoming space where groups can meet to engage in deep inner work with a spiritual, psychological, artistic or healing focus. This is in line with Light on the Hill’s mission to provide a place of refuge for reflection and the development of inner well-being and spiritual growth.

What to Bring

All towels and sheets are provided. A person is asked to bring (1) slippers or heavy socks as we ask that shoes be removed at the door, (2) comfortable walking shoes and suitable warm clothing for winter walks, (3) personal toiletries, (4) insect repellant in summer and (4) outdoor towels for swimming and/or sweat lodges.

Communication: Most cells phone do work at any place on the property. The internet can only be used in special circumstances.

Meals

A retreatant or group can bring their own food and use the kitchen provided in the cottages and Inner Light Lodge or have meals provided by us. Meals at Light on the Hill are gourmet vegetarian with many vegan options. We use organic ingredients wherever possible.

If a person has a more restrictive diet than vegan, we will accommodate it as best we can but will add $5/day to the food cost. The person can also bring his or her own food. Those wanting meat can bring cold cuts and cans of tuna, etc. but no meat is allowed to be cooked on the premises. We ask that no liquor be served. We receive numerous high praises about the food we serve.

Costs

Individual Food Costs

Food cost for individual retreatants is $30 per day (dinner served with fixings for breakfast and lunch).

Group Food Costs

At Inner Light: Meal cost is $40/ person per day for three served meals. Breakfast is $8, Lunch and Dinner are $16 each. We will calculate individual meals when a group does not have a full days worth of meals, e.g. leaves after lunch on final day. All participants must pay for all the meals slated for that retreat.

At Cottages and the Huts: Food is provided for breakfasts at the cottages for retreatants to make themselves. Served meals are brought down in a basket for groups staying here. Groups may then choose to have: Lunch and dinner served for a 3-meal cost of $35/per person Dinner served with fixing for other two ($30/person per day)

Lodging Costs

Inner Light is $55/ person per night. there is a 15 person minimum requirement to rent the lodge. If your group has less than this number, then the fee per day will be the same as for 15 people (i.e. $825). There is no charge for accommodations for the workshop leader or one of the workshop leaders, but there is the usual fee for meals. Day use (weekdays only) is $25 per person.

The Cottages for one person cost $55/person per night, for two is $40 each per night and three or more is $35 each per night. Usually there is no deposit required.

Individual retreat costs

	Cottages	Retreat Huts
Without Meals	$55	$30
With Meals	$85	$60
Guided Retreat with Meals	$105	$80
Healing Retreat with Meals	$125	$100

Group retreat costs

	Cottages	Inner Light Lodge
Without Meals	$40/person for 2 $35/person for 3 or more	$55/person ($825 minimum)
With Meals	Choice of three meal plans 1 served meal, fixing for other two ($30/person) 2 served meals, fixings for third ($35/person) 3 served meals ($40/person)	One meal plan only 3 served meals ($40/person)

Deposits

A deposit of $500 is required to rent Inner Light Lodge. We will return your deposit less a $50 processing fee up to 4 months before the actual booking. We will return $250 up to 2 months ahead of time. After that your deposit fee will be forfeited. Usually there is no deposit required to rent the cottages or huts, but if a reservation needs to be cancelled within the week before coming, except in cases of emergencies, we require a one night’s stay payment.