Wild Awakening: Embodying the Wisdom of the Elements (Residential Only)

Registration opens at 12:00 pm ET on Saturday, March 21.

From the shamanic traditions of South America to the Buddhist and Dzogchen traditions of Tibet, spiritual traditions around the world have long relied on the power of the natural world as a powerful path of liberation and insight. Join us in autumn’s glory to honor the sacred interconnectedness of the living world, hiking amongst New Hampshire’s lakes and rivers, caves, forests, and rocky mountaintops.

Honoring the sacred interconnectedness between the human, non-human, and living world has been a foundational practice across cultures and time. Connecting with the power of the natural world awakens insight and reminds us of who we really are and why we are here.

This retreat explores the five elements—not merely as physical phenomena, but as living teachers that mirror the mind’s vast, luminous nature. Root yourself in the stability of earth, flow with the adaptability of water, ignite the transformative fire of awareness, breathe with the freedom of air, and rest in the vast openness of space.

Please Join Us To:

• Hike and meditate daily amidst New Hampshire’s natural beauty
• Discover how the five elements serve as tools for recognizing your true nature
• Experience the world as a living teacher
• Deepen your sense of belonging within the great ecology of being

Join Lama Liz and Shemaleiah in New England’s autumn glory to awaken to the living wisdom of the five elements—earth, water, fire, air, and space. Through guided outdoor meditations, silent hiking, and contemplative observation, we will relax into integration with the natural world.

Rooted in the Tibetan contemplative traditions of Dzogchen and Mahamudra, these practices reveal how the mind’s innate clarity and the earth’s elements are inseparable. By engaging with all five elements, we awaken to the interconnectedness of life and embody the wisdom of awareness in daily living. By rekindling our innate inseparability with the natural world, we simultaneously discover the spacious, luminous, and awake qualities of our own being. Within this web of connection, we discover that liberation from suffering and the freedom to realize our aspirations are not about transcending the human condition but about finding the inherent freedom within it.

In this Dzogchen- and Mahamudra-inspired wilderness retreat, the five elements—Earth, Water, Fire, Air, and Space—serve as portals into the recognition of who we truly are. Through mindful connection with the land—in stillness and amidst activity—you will learn to rest in presence and experience the world as a living expression of mind itself. By awakening our cellular memory of the innate primordial awareness that unites us all, you will return home with a renewed sense of clarity, balance, and belonging within the great ecology of being.

This retreat is open to both beginners and experienced practitioners. Each morning and evening, we will gather in Wonderwell’s historic Meditation Hall to ground in practice and teaching. Weather permitting, our days will unfold outdoors in the brilliance of rural New Hampshire’s autumn landscape, where we will extend the principles of meditation into walking, hiking, and other forms of mindful movement.

Vigorous activity is an integral part of this retreat. Participants should be prepared to hike approximately 3–5 miles each day over moderate mountainous terrain. Please intend to participate in the daily hike. Alternative on-site activities will not be available.

Please note that registration is first-come, first-served. We will not be holding a lottery this year. 

Typical Retreat Schedule

(All times are Eastern time zone)

First Day — Opening session begins around 7:00 pm.

Last Day — The closing session typically ends by 12:00 pm.

These times are just for reference. An expanded schedule will be provided in pre-retreat information emailed during the week prior to the event.

Important Health Information

COVID-19 testing is no longer required. Masks are optional and encouraged if you are at higher risk. We encourage you to stay at home if you are symptomatic to protect others.

Scholarships

Cancellation Policy

We understand that personal circumstances may require you to cancel your registration. In these cases, please contact us right away at register@naturaldharma.org. Cancellations affect our ability to offer rooms to others and create additional work for our staff, therefore we charge the following fees to help mitigate these costs.

For cancellations (based on program start date):

• > 45 days: 100% refund minus a $75 admin. fee.
• 31-45 days: 50% refund of the required deposit; or 75% refund if registration paid in full.
• 21-30 days: 50% refund of total registration cost
• < 21 days: nonrefundable

If you must cancel due to an emergency or extenuating circumstances, please contact us at register@naturaldharma.org.

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