The Inner Compass Retreat: Navigating Your Nature through Art and Qigong

As the vibrant energy of summer softens into the quiet wisdom of autumn, we invite you to step out of the pace of everyday life and into a weekend centered around rest, reflection, and renewal.

Rooted in the seasonal shift of October and the Lung season in Traditional Chinese Medicine, this retreat is an invitation to honor change, both within the world around us and within ourselves. Autumn teaches us the art of slowing down, of releasing what we no longer need, and of returning to what is essential.

Set against the breathtaking, old-growth beauty of the Whidbey Institute, this intimate retreat offers a meaningful balance of facilitated group experiences and quiet solitude. Over five days, you will explore these themes through daily Dao Yin and Shaolin Qigong, guided nature-based mindfulness, forest bathing, and creative art exercises designed to calm the mind and support creative flow.

To foster deep presence, emotional safety, and nervous system regulation, this is an intentionally small, substance-free, and device-free environment during all group activities. Together, we will share fresh, organic, on-site meals, walk the sanctuary’s miles of trails, gather around crackling fire circles, and enjoy spacious free time to integrate and simply be. You will return home feeling grounded, clear, and quietly renewed, more in tune with yourself and the season you are moving into.

What’s Included:

• Daily facilitated sessions in Qigong, art, and nature connection
• 4 nights of comfortable on-site lodging (private and shared options available)
• Fresh, organic, chef-prepared meals (Dinner Wednesday through Sunday Brunch)
• Access to the Whidbey Institute’s acres of trails, sanctuary spaces, and labyrinth
• Evening fire circles and optional sauna add-ons

Who it’s for:

Adults (21+) of all genders, backgrounds, and levels of experience. All activities are optional; listening to your body and resting is always prioritized.