The Luminous Wilderness: Awakening with the Five Elements

May 22 - 28, 2026

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This Program is Cancelled.

About the Retreat

Spiritual traditions from all over the world honor the sacred interconnectedness between the human, non-human, and the living world. From the shamanic traditions of South America to the Buddhist and Dzogchen traditions of Tibet, practitioners have long relied on the power of the natural world to awaken insight and remind us of who we really are and why we are here.

Join us in Colorado’s Rocky Mountains to awaken to the living wisdom of the five elements – earth, water, fire, air, and space. 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. This retreat explores the five elements – not merely as physical phenomena, but as living teachers that mirror the mind’s vast, luminous nature.

Why attend? 

Through guided outdoor meditation, silent walking, and contemplative observation, we will relax into integration with the natural world. These practices, rooted in the Tibetan contemplative traditions of Dzogchen and Mahamudra, reveal how the mind’s innate clarity and the earth’s elements are inseparable. By engaging with all five elements, participants 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.

Who is this retreat for?

Anyone! Particularly for Buddhist practitioners who are interested in exploring their interconnectedness with the living world as a source for recognizing their innate nature.

This retreat is suitable for beginners and experienced practitioners alike. Participants should be able to hike 3-4 miles per day at altitude.

What will participants get out of this retreat?

  • Participants will discover how the five elements offer portals into the recognition of who we really are in this Dzogchen and Mahamudra-inspired wilderness retreat.
  • Through outdoor meditation, hiking, and mindful connection with the land, participants will learn to how to rest in presence and experience the world as a living expression of mind itself.
  • Participants will return home with a renewed sense of clarity, balance, and belonging within the great ecology of being.

Retreat Faculty

Lama Elizabeth Monson, PhD

Lama Elizabeth Monson, PhD, is the Spiritual Co-Director of Natural Dharma Fellowship and the Managing Teacher at Wonderwell Mountain Refuge in Springfield, NH. Liz was authorized as a dharma teacher and lineage holder in the Kagyu Lineage of Tibetan Buddhism after over 35 years of studying, practicing, and teaching Tibetan Buddhism in the Kagyu and [...]

Lodging

We have several accommodations to choose from during checkout.
All options include our healthy meals and drinks. Inc V, VG, GF.

Car Camping
We have 5 primitive parking spots in the Rigden parking lot, for simply parking and sleeping. This includes food and access our bathhouses in Rigden Lodge
Note: We don’t have any water or electric hook ups for RV’s.

Single and Double Tents

Located in campgrounds throughout the property, these 12′ x 14′ tents have two twin beds, two bookcases and a hanging clothes rack.* Each campground offers a shared bathhouse. Summer platform tents are available from late May through early September. A tent can be rented as a single (without a roommate) or a double (with a roommate).

Some of our campgrounds were impacted by a recent wildfire and the affects may still be visible this summer, however, they are safe to use.

Bedding is not provided. Please bring your own twin sheets, blanket or sleeping bag, a pillow and towels.

Monk Rooms
A cost-effective option for participants looking for indoor, solitary lodging, but who don’t mind using a shared bathroom or are looking for a more affordable retreat solution. These rooms are in the same hall as the Ridgen Dormitories, but offer more privacy than the dorms. In addition to a bed, bedding, a private room and closet, the monk rooms also have a large window and a desk and desk chair for added comfort.

Single and Double Rooms
The perfect choice for a retreat where you want both your own space and your own bathroom. Each room offers a little more space, a dresser and closet, and a 3/4s bathroom (toilet, sink, and shower, no bathtub) attached to each room.

Junior Suite
Our Lodge Junior Suites include a queen-size bed topped by a cozy comforter, a desk, dresser, closet and private bath with bathtub, plus a sitting area.

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