Santa Fe National Forest
Northern New Mexico
September 8-12, 2023

$995 per person Register Now  

In partnership with Wild Resiliency Awakening

“One day in nature with your caring suggestions and warmth and careful listening has made a surprising difference in how I see and think about things. I’ve told a few friends about you — now they want to know all about it. But how does one convey magic?!”  Barbara F.

Have you missed gathering in nature, communing deeply with others? Does your heart call you to unleash your natural wonder and lead a more passionate and purposeful life? Do you long for an inner peace to accompany you throughout your day? Lead Feather invites you to inspire your fullest self on a journey immersed in the nature and awe of northern New Mexico’s forest.

In this journey we’ll delve deeply into what we call “heart practices”:

• connecting our hearts to mother earth 
• embodying ourselves more fully, with a deep heart-body connection
• feeling our hearts’ messages through meditation
• nurturing ourselves with compassion

This is a fantastic opportunity for those seeking new practices to enliven any area of life — relationships, health, family, work. We’ll work with these practices throughout the retreat as a way to bring greater ease and excitement to our lives and investigate our curiosity, how we “show up” in the world, our mindfulness, the willingness to see the world with a new lens…all things when practiced can lead to greater creativity and joy — and a grateful heart.

• What: a Heart Practices hiking and meditation retreat with personal solo time and time in community
• Where: based at a cabin in the Santa Fe National Forest, about an hour from Santa Fe
• Who: fellow nature lovers and meditators (all levels are welcome)
• When: the evening of Friday, September 8 through the morning of Tuesday, September 12
• Logistics: Maps, a packing list and additional information will be provided upon registration.
• Investment: $995 per person

During the journey, you’ll have ample time for inspiration in nature—hiking along trails, sitting by the Winsor Creek or the Pecos river, listening to the breeze moving through the aspens,  gazing at the night sky. The journey puts you close to nature, yet with the comforts of a bed (on first come, first served basis), heated shower, fireplace and full kitchen. Tent camping is also available on site.

Setting Our time will be spent together on permitted lands in the Santa Fe National Forest in the midst of a spectacular pine and aspen forest. (It’s worth noting here that the aspen grove is claimed by some to be the world’s largest known individual life form.) Our forest program adventures will be based out of a private mountain cabin, where we will be hosted as invited guests, with limited indoor lodging available. 

Meals We will provide healthy, delicious meals, snacks, coffee and tea during the entirety of the retreat. Our meals typically have vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free options and we can accommodate any food allergy as well. 

Activities Join us for a playful few days in the forest among the trees, wind, animals and sunshine. We’ll integrate ecology, poetry and mythology, with insights from neurobiology and eco-psychology sprinkled throughout. Combine that with meditation and mindfulness and we’ll share an inspiring and provocative time of re-wilding.  Each day will include meditation, hiking/walking, solo time and time in community.  We’ll also have evening activities to help us integrate our experiences and further our explorations.

Two Bonuses!  Once you sign up for this journey we’ll send you a pre-journey email with suggested readings and thought-provoking questions to get you ready for our time together. A few weeks before the journey we’ll organize a zoom call to meet each other and introduce some of the heart practices. 

Click on these links to register.  For more details about the journeys, check out our FAQs.  We do have a few scholarships for every journey so if cost is an issue please don’t let it get in the way of joining us.

“Those who dwell among the beauties and mysteries of the earth are never alone or weary of life.” Rachel Carson, writer/environmentalist. A portion of your fees go to support our efforts to protect New Mexico’s wild areas.