Breathing Earth Retreat
“At this very moment, the earth is above you, below you, all around you, and even inside you. We are a living, breathing manifestation of this beautiful and generous planet. Knowing this, we can begin to transform our relationship to the earth. We can begin to walk differently and to care for her differently. We are the earth.”
— Thich Nhat Hanh
Dear friends,
We invite you to join us April 21–23 for Breathing Earth, a spacious and intimate retreat devoted to nourishing and deepening our interbeing with Mother Earth.
Rooted in the Plum Village tradition of Engaged Buddhism, we will explore practices such as deep listening, touching the earth, meditation, relaxation and reverence for life.
The 3-day residential retreat takes place at Mount St. Francis Retreat Centre, nestled in the foothills near Cochrane, Alberta. Named after St. Francis of Assisi, patron saint of animals and ecology, the centre is surrounded by prairies, birds, deer, spruce trees, horses, and open skies stretching west toward the Rocky Mountains. It offers a quiet, contemplative setting, an ideal refuge for our time together.
Our program coincides with Earth Day, observed globally on Wednesday, April 22. We gather at a moment of profound ecological uncertainty with a climate in crisis. As practitioners, young and old, this time asks us questions like, “How do we show up for ourselves and those in need?” and “How do we embody the mindfulness trainings while not burning out or becoming exhausted?”
We do not pretend to have the answers, but we know that coming together in sincere practice helps. We steady our feet on the earth. We soften our hearts. We refresh and renew our gratitude for all beings so that we may see ourselves in the trees, the birdsong, and the wind.
What makes this retreat unique?
To cultivate spaciousness and intimacy, we are intentionally shaping this retreat around a few distinctive elements, co-created with your participation and care.
Simplified schedule
Our daily rhythm will be spacious and unhurried. We will offer fewer scheduled activities than a typical retreat, longer breaks between practices, and extended periods of noble silence. By softening the structure and allowing more breathing room between sessions, we hope to support deeper rest and presence with Mother Earth.
Facilitated by community
This retreat will not have a Dharma teacher. Instead, practices will be guided by Wild Rose Sangha facilitators and leaders within the Order of Interbeing. We also want this to be an experience of reciprocal learning, where we are all invited and comfortable to share our stories in the circle.
Digital detox
We will invite participants to experiment with going tech-free during the retreat. You are welcome to turn off your phone and place it in our “Be Here Now Basket”. This is entirely optional, and a landline will be available for any urgent calls. Our intention is simply to reduce distractions and go deeper with the heart of the program.
Extend the retreat to five days
The spirit of Breathing Earth will begin before we arrive and continue after we return home. We will weave its themes into our regular online Sangha gatherings on Monday morning and evening, Tuesday morning, and Friday morning—allowing the retreat to gently expand from three days to five. On the evening of Monday, April 20, we will welcome lay Dharma teacher Melina Bondy (they/them), who will offer a teaching to inspire and ground us as we travel the following morning to Cochrane.
Retreat schedule
Arrival: Tuesday, April 21 @ 10:00 am
Departure: Thursday, April 23 @ 1:00 pm
Our first activity on Tuesday will likely begin at 11:00 am. With that in mind, please try to arrive promptly at 10:00 am so that you have lots of spacious time to register, unpack and settle into your room before we begin.
Retreat schedule
The detailed schedule will be published on this page and announced via our sangha mailing list by mid-March. Depending on the weather, we hope to enjoy time outdoors and indoors. The retreat will include offerings such as:
- meditation (seated and walking)
- deep relaxation
- mindful movements
- touching the earth
- dharma readings
- group sharing
- creative activities such as bell circles, mindful birding, and writing
- personal time to listen and breathe with the earth
More information about the retreat centre and amenities
Land acknowledgement
“As we continue to work toward greater truth and reconciliation, we acknowledge that we work, reside, pray, learn and play within Treaty 7 territory, traditional lands of the Stoney Nakoda peoples of the Chiniki, Bearspaw and Wesley Bands, the Tsuut’ina, the Niitsitapi (Blackfoot) peoples of Siksika, Piikani and Kainai Band. We also respectfully acknowledge that we are on the homelands of the Métis Nation within Region III. In the spirit of St. Francis of Assisi, we acknowledge our interconnectedness with all of creation and we give thanks for all it provides for us.” — Mount St. Francis
Location
Mount St. Francis Retreat Centre
41160 Retreat Road
Cochrane, AB
View on Google Maps
Ride sharing
Carpooling is encouraged. If you are able to offer a ride, or if you need a ride, please fill out the ride sharing form.
Weather
April in Cochrane is a transitional and sometimes unpredictable month, with cool temperatures, a mix of sun and snow, and a gradual shift toward warmer weather. Come prepared for a variety of weather conditions. We recommend warm boots or sturdy shoes suitable for hiking, shoe grips in case trails are icy, and plenty of layers so you can comfortably enjoy time outdoors during the retreat.
Food
All meals are prepared by the staff at Mount Saint Francis. All meals will be vegan. Your retreat fee includes seven meals: 2 breakfasts, 3 lunches, and 2 dinners. And, a special bonus, all dishes will be cleaned by the staff. Please bring your own water bottle and snacks to share with others.
Bedrooms and bathrooms
Rooms are single occupancy. Bedding, pillows, and towels are provided. A limited number of double occupancy rooms (two twin beds) are available. There are two shared bathrooms, with showers, in the main hallway, which are assigned women and men. We will have a private, third bathroom and shower reserved for all genders. Please know that we are committed to providing inclusive and accessible facilities for all guests.
Registration and pricing
Standard rate: $350
This fee includes all retreat costs: meals and meal preparation, accommodations with bedding, cleaning of rooms and dishes, use of the retreat space, and access to the beautiful grounds. Financial assistance is available through the registration form.
After registering, please send your e-transfer to wildrose@wildrosesangha.ca. We kindly ask that you submit your payment promptly so we can confirm attendance numbers with the staff at Mount St. Francis Retreat Centre. Registration closes March 20.
Questions and updates
If you have questions about the retreat, email us at wildrosesanghacalgary@gmail.com.
If you have not already done so, please join our sangha mailing list. We’ll be emailing announcements and updates in the weeks leading up to the retreat.
“You carry Mother Earth within you. She is not outside of you. Mother Earth is not just your environment. In that insight of interbeing, it is possible to have real communication with the earth, which is the highest form of prayer. In that kind of relationship you have enough love, strength and awakening in order to change your life.” — Thich Nhat Hanh