• Proof of Negative Test Result: All practitioners must bring proof (a photo or actual test) of a same-day negative antigen test that they have taken prior to arrival. Practitioners who forget will be assisted by Spirit Rock staff. Individuals will not be admitted to the retreat if the test result is positive for COVID-19.
• Proof of Vaccination + Booster (at least 1) is Required: You will be required to submit proof of vaccination + booster to attend retreat. No proof, no admittance. If you have not received any COVID-19 booster since your first COVID vaccination, you will need to have a booster before you attend retreat; and, this first booster must have been received no less than two weeks (14 days) PRIOR to the retreat start. Any FDA-approved booster is acceptable.
• Masking Change (effective June 5, 2023): Masking will be optional for all participants, staff, and teachers, attending a residential retreat starting in June 2023. We strongly encourage you to decide what level of masking to use and when, based on your own comfort and/or risk for severe illness and that of members of your household and their risk tolerance. If you choose to mask, any masking type is allowed. Please bring your own supply of masks.
• PLEASE READ: More details on our current COVID Safety Protocols for Residential Retreats.

What is a Retreat Commuter?

A retreat commuter is a practitioner who attends a full residential retreat, including all meals, but they are not provided with overnight accommodations. Instead practitioners stay in their own home or find local accommodations. A communal resting area is provided during the day while on campus for the retreat. The retreat commuter is expected to attend the entire retreat just like residential retreatants. Special reduced rates are available for retreat commuters. An added benefit of a retreat commuter, is that you could be offered a residential spot on opening day due to a very last minute cancellation. Additional fees will be due if this option is accepted.

The retreat commuter option will only become available once the retreat is full with a waitlist.

Prerequisite to Attend as a Commuter:

You must have attended at least one 7-night or two 5-night silent, Insight (vipassanā) meditation residential retreats PRIOR to attending this retreat. Online retreat experience is not eligible for this prerequisite.

If you have questions about being a retreat commuter, please email [email protected]

Applications are accepted for about a 3 week period. All applications are assigned a random number for the lottery selection process. The lottery-style selection process helps us balance many factors to create equity, diversity, inclusion, and access across our community of practitioners. These factors include: age, gender, scholarship needs & availability, affinity group participation, and stage of practice (new to experienced). Applications received after the close date are automatically placed on the waitlist (and will not be included in the first round of selections). Notification rounds can move quickly in the first few weeks following the first acceptances, so we recommend staying ready. You may be accepted sooner than you realize!

You will be notified about the selection results within two weeks of the application close date. If you have been offered a space, you will have two days to pay a deposit to accept/hold the space. If you don’t accept the space within this deadline, we will offer it to the next person in line.