Refuge in Stillness: Silence, Rest & Awakening into the New Year
December 30, 2025–January 4, 2026
Buddhist Path, On Land Retreats
Program Start Date & Time: December 30th, 2025 | 5:30 pm
Program End Date & Time: January 4th, 2026 | 12:30 pm
“Strengthen your ability to face with love whatever happens next.”
– Zoketsu Norman Fischer
You are warmly invited to enter the new year with presence, care and intention. Nestled in the winter stillness of the Rocky Mountains, this 6-day spacious silent retreat is dedicated to refuge, rest, and renewal.
Come to Drala Mountain Center, a six-hundred acre mountain haven of native forests, gentle meadows and sacred valleys, located at an elevation of 7,500 feet in Northern Colorado.
Gathering in the quiet of winter over the New Year is a beautifully poignant time to deeply and intentionally engage the practices of awareness, kindness, and wisdom.
What to Expect
All are welcome—whether this is your first retreat or one of many. Drawing on the Buddha’s teachings and contemplative practice, our days will include:
- Insight (Vipassana) and Metta (Loving-Kindness) meditation
- Gentle movement
- Daily Dharma talks
- Time for rest, personal relaxation and reflection
- Optional small group practice discussions
What You’ll Take With You
- Renewed clarity, stillness and emotional balance
- Strengthened capacity to meet life with presence and compassion
- Intention and strength to meet the year ahead with courage and love
Testimonials
“I treasure the retreats with Heidi Bourne & Heather Lear. Their dedication and love for the practices, their clear and warm teaching styles, their knowledge, compassion, and humor deeply enrich my life and keep me coming back year after year.”
– Melissa R.
“It’s hard to put into words just how precious and sacred it is to spend time in a silent retreat surrounded by nature and supported by Heidi Bourne and Heather Lear. They are very skilled teachers with expansive warm hearts. Time in retreat nurtures my whole being and helps me meet my life in all its complexities with steadiness, compassion, and wisdom. Retreats with Heidi and Heather are one of my favorite times of the year.”
– Ally Z.
Program Schedule
Tuesday
2:00 pm – 5:00 pm | Check-in
5:30 pm – 6:00 pm | Orientation
6:00 pm – 7:00 pm | Dinner
7:00 pm – 9:00 pm | Program Session
Wednesday – Friday
6:15 am – 7:15 am – Early Morning Session – Movement & Meditation
7:30 am | Breakfast
9:30 am – 12:30 pm | Morning Session: Daily guidance, Sitting & Walking Meditation
12:30 pm | Lunch
1:30 pm – 3:30 pm | Free Time
3:30 pm – 5:45 pm | Meditation, Dharma Talk, Group Discussion
6:00 pm | Dinner
7:15 pm | Evening Session
8:30 pm | End of Evening
Saturday
6:15 am – 7:15 am | Early Morning Session – Movement & Meditation
7:30 am | Breakfast
9:30 am | Ending Session
12:45 pm – 1:30 pm | Lunch & Departure
Retreat Faculty
Heidi Bourne
Heidi Bourne is a meditation teacher in the Insight Meditation tradition and is the founder and guiding teacher of Pacific Mindfulness. She has been teaching since 2005 offering classes, series courses, nature retreats, trauma-informed/sensitive and resiliency-focused professional programs. Heidi is especially interested in the integration of the common sense, accessible and timeless teachings of awareness, […]
Heather Lear | MA.
Heather Lear, MA, our movement teacher, was born and raised with the Dharma in a family of Insight Meditation practitioners. She studies and teaches at the intersection of heart-centered Dharma, embodiment practices including Radiant Heart Qigong and community-centered racial awakening and DEIA work, and serves as the Program Manager at Spirit Rock Meditation Center. Heather is a […]
