Meeting the Magnificent Retreat
Yachats, OReGon
(Whale play day in Depoe Bay)
A Magical Long Weekend of Whale Wisdom, Old Growth Trees, Community, and Adventure.
August 13-16, 2026
An opening to the extraordinary,
an invitation into mystery,
a portal to deep connection and joy.
Spending time on the wild Oregon coast offers us the unique gift of being held by both vast ocean and ancient forest, where gray whales are just offshore and old-growth trees stand as quiet witnesses to deep time. In the company of gray whales and old-growth trees, we are invited into a deeper experience of what it means to be human in relationship to the natural world. To be in close connection with beings so much larger and older than ourselves offers perspective and wisdom that we don’t often have access to in our daily lives. We will base ourselves in Temenos Forest Sanctuary, sleeping under the stars and trees with the sound of the ocean holding us and we will adventure out during the day to the surrounding area.
This retreat offers time and space to slow down, reset the nervous system, play, and gently absorb the beauty, magic, and grounding presence of this remarkable landscape. Guided by our innate curiosity and capacity for wonder and awe, we will explore the meeting of sea and forest, deepening our relationship with the Earth, our most recent selves, and all the beings we encounter along the way. If you are seeking a joyful adventure but also looking for depth, a slower pace, and meaningful connection, we have you covered. This retreat is an invitation to feel safe, seen, and loved ~ in your heart and through your relationship with the Earth.
Time with the whales and elder trees will open us to explore the questions: What happens when we are struck by awe and truly let that into our being? What can these ancient beings teach us about ourselves and the times we’re living in? How do they remind us to be more steady and adaptable? How can we open to and trust this precious life?
We will set intentions for our time together and peel away the layers as we open to community in nature. We will take time for council (intentional conversations that open our hearts, minds, and spirits) and re-orient ourselves as humans in these times. There will be quiet time on the land to ask your heart’s questions, invite in more clarity and understanding, and bring stories back to the group. The flow of our activities will support the deeper work that this retreat offers to give space for living more joyfully, intentionally, and committed. We will blend delight and wonder with the experience of grief as it arises. We will practice remembering and trusting that we are intimately connected to life.
Allow yourself to be nourished by the forest and sea, the wisdom of the whales, connection with the land, ceremony, our collective wisdom, community, sunsets, and delicious food. You will have free time to explore, rest, and bask in the stillness and abundance of this sacred space. This retreat provides space to reconnect to the beauty, joy, and abundance that is always available. It is a space to (re)root, (re)ember and spend time in our bodies and hearts.
We will be based in our private 5-acre forested home for the weekend but we’ll wander out and explore the area, offering a sense of adventure and giving an opportunity to know the wider area more intimately. On our first full day, we will go to Depot Bay (50 min away) where we will go out on a private boat with a marine biologist to spend time learning about and getting to know the summer resident gray whales. On our second full day, we will visit old growth trees in the Siuslaw National Forest, the only intact ancient forest watershed on the Oregon coast. One of our dinners will be out in the town of Yachats; you may choose to explore the town or its nearby beaches before or after the retreat.
No experience necessary; just an open heart and willingness to connect with the
sacred relationships of our selves, Mother Earth, and beloved community.
All those that identify with their feminine are welcome.
Open to 12 participants.
Location Details:
Our home base and camping location is Temenos Forest Sanctuary, a private, beautiful, and sacred 5-acre forested property that is located just north of Yachats. It is truly a spectacular place to camp and call home for a few days. The ocean is a 15 minute walk, mostly through the forest, and there are various creeks to enjoy on and around the property. This space offers itself for deep nourishment and calm. You will likely go home having the land and its inhabitants wedged deeply into your heart.
We will be the only group on site and set up our tents among the trees and share time together in our outdoor kitchen and around the fire pit. You will have ample time to wander and explore. We will be using an outhouse during our time on the property with access to showers.
* Option to stay nearby in hotel/ Airbnb at additional cost. This must be arranged individually but reach out for suggestions.
Facilitators:
Irene Bailey
Heather Burns
Itinerary:
-
Arrive between 3-4PM to Temenos Forest Sanctuary and set up your tent in forest.
We will have dinner as a group.
-
For our first full day, we will leave in the morning to go Whale Watching in Depoe Bay (50 minutes driving).
We will take a private boat into the realm of the gray whales with a marine biologist who has worked with the summer resident gray whale population for over 30 years.
The same whales come back every summer, and are most numerous later in summer. While there is no guarantee we will see whales, our chances are very good.
We will have a picnic lunch at a beach on our way “home”.
We will spend the afternoon back at camp in the forest and there will be time to wander to the beach or in the forest or simply rest and do what you feel called to do.
-
We will spend the morning exploring the old growth forest in Siuslaw National Forest. You will be guided by Heather and Irene to explore your inherent connection with the earth and how to listen to the earth’s wisdom.
We will spend the afternoon back at camp in the forest and there will be time to wander to the beach or in the forest or simply rest and do what you feel called to do.
We will have dinner as a group at a restaurant in the town of Yachats.
-
We will spend the morning integrating our retreat time with the forest and sea by spending intentional time on the land at Temenos Forest Sanctuary. You will be guided in this exploration to discern what is going home with you from our time together.
We will have a closing circle and lunch together as a group before departing by 2PM.
-
• All Meals (Dinner on day 1 to lunch on day 4)
• Whale connecting boat tour in Depot Bay
• Guided old growth forest experience in Siuslaw National Forest
• Forest location to camp (car camping by request)
• Sacred space to explore and wander
• Opportunities for deep connection to self, community, & the natural world -
•Transportation to / from Temenos Forest Sanctuary
•Transportation to / from whales & old growth trees
•Tent, Sleeping Bag & Pad
•All Necessary Clothing and Layers.
•Water Bottle
•Sunglasses and/or Hat
•Sunscreen
•Headlight or FlashlightA detailed clothing and equipment list will be provided once you register.
-
Delicious, nourishing, from-scratch, mostly vegetarian fare, using as much local produce as possible, and as many organic, humane, ethically-produced ingredients as practical. We can accommodate a certain level of special dietary needs, including gluten-free, dairy-free, vegetarian, and vegan.
-
The whale tour is in Depoe Bay (drive time is 50 min).
We will visit old growth trees south of Yachats (drive time is 20 min).
We will encourage carpooling.
We believe in the need for restorative time (amidst the incomprehensible suffering of our world, racial injustice, climate crisis) to show up with strength and stability for individual and collective well being.