December 29, 2021 @ 2:00 pm – January 2, 2022 @ 3:00 pm PST
Holiday Retreat 2021
Ring in the New Year with spiritual family.
When we come back to ourselves, to what is going on in the here and now, we let go of the stories we tell ourselves. Practicing this, we nourish our happiness, our hearts open, and we can come to better love and understand ourselves and our loved ones. This is a real gift to offer.
During this retreat, we will practice breathing, smiling, walking, eating, playing, working, sharing, and being together in mindfulness. We will bring our mind and body together, recognizing, touching, and enjoying the fruits of the present moment.
People of all experiences and backgrounds are welcome. Everyone attending must be fully vaccinated for COVID-19. Proof of vaccination will be required. Until vaccination regulations change, the retreat is limited to those 12-years old and up.
Pricing
Tent – Adult: $240 | Teen: $160 | Child: $100
6 Bed Dorm – Adult: $300 | Teen: $200 | Child: $140
3 Bed Dorm – Adult: $400 | Teen: $280 | Child: $180
Updates
Update as of December 2nd: Everyone who initially registered for the retreat lottery have been confirmed or moved to the waiting list. As spaces open, due to cancellations, we will confirm people from the waiting list.
Update as of November 15th: The total number of retreatants this year will be 250 people. This will include the 75 people already in residence at the monastery. We are thrilled the covid vaccine for children is now available and we are assessing whether we will hold a children’s program; it will depend on how many children end up coming. If you do have a child, please make sure their second vaccination shot occurs by December 14th to allow for two weeks to pass before arriving.
Update as of November 10th: Our registration office is in the process of notifying people who are confirmed for the retreat. Many have already been notified. At this time we are waiting on confirmation from the monastic sangha on the total number of attendees. Once that is known, we will be confirming more people from the initial lottery. If you did not enter our initial lottery, you can enter your name onto the waiting list below. We appreciate your patience and understanding.
88 responses to “Retreat to Ring in the New Year at Deer Park”
I would love to attend this Holiday retreat.
I wouls love to start a new year at Deer Park.
I would love to attend, too! Please keep me posted.
I would love to attend! Please keep me posted!
Carolina McCall
caroyelapa@gmail.com
carolinamccall.com
I am looking forward to attending! Please keep me posted.
Aloha. Interested in joining as well. Please let me know.
I am interested in this retreat. Please keep me posted. Thank you.
Nhina Le Keim
nhinale@gmail.com
I would like to sign up for the retreat. Thank you.
I’m interested in attending.
Would love to attend this!
Wish to attend the retreat and would like to register. Namaste
Is there a way to get notice when the registration opens?
Yes, we will post it here on the website and perhaps a blog post. Since this event typically sells out, we hope to do a lottery format so there will be window of time to register and then we’ll confirm based on a lottery of all people who register in the window. Stay tuned.
I would love to attend this retreat. I’ve been waiting for so many years.
I am interested in attending. Please advise on how to register for the lottery
Thank you for the offering. Looking forward to the opportunity to have a chance to attend and continue the joinery of healing, while living in such a paradox. <3
For those of you have selected to follow the comments and be notified, here is what we just posted regarding registration.
“An open lottery registration will take place from Sunday, September 19th through Tuesday, September 21. You will be able to pre-register without payment in order to enter the lottery. After the lottery window closes, the registration office will select people based on a drawing until the accommodations are full. Those selected will be notified and then have another window of time for payment.”
Will there be a teen program at the New Years Retreat? Thx
Hi Lisa. The organizing team hasn’t been set yet. Once they’ve met, we will know if there will be a teen program.
Great. Thank you! My daughter and I had an amazing time at this summer’s retreat and would love to return over New Years.
Hello, very interested in attending and will preregister during the designated time. Would you be able to tell us the approx cost with and without volunteering? Thank you
We can post the cost when we open the link for registration. It hasn’t been set just yet.
I’m interested in the staff opportunities at this retreat. Should I pre-register on the 19th? Or will staffing information become available before that date?
Hi Andrew. Since the staffing process includes an application and review, we cannot guarantee a staffing slot before our lottery opens. Therefore, if you would come to the retreat whether or not you are on staff then complete the registration. If you’d only come as a staff member, then you don’t need to complete the registration. I hope this makes sense. 🙂
I would be interested to learn more about staffing opportuntities.
Staffing is an opportunity to come a little early and help prepare for the retreat. During the retreat, staff may lead group in service meditation, support guest team, support maintenance team, support teen group, etc. There is an application to complete (not ready yet) and is reviewed by our monastic staff liaison.
Would couples be counted together in the lottery system? Also, for work reasons, would we be able to arrive Thursday night December 30th by 7 PM? Thanks.
Hello Linh, thank you for the questions. We are unable to fully respond to the question about the lottery system as we haven’t discussed those details just yet. And we will. As for arrival, we only have one arrival day and that is the 29th.
It turns out my husband won’t be coming. I will now be able arrive 12/29. Hope to be selected so I can strengthen the practice and visit my Mom, who will be staying for the 3 month Rains Retreat!
Found this today, and need it…Lifelong seeker…Laywoman student of Thay’s teachings woven thru my adulthood..going thru upheaval & transition on so many levels…🙏🏻💜🕉🕊
Dear Sangha,
I was wondering if a scholarship or financial help be available as well?
Yes, we do have support. Please contact t our registration office about options.
Thank you, wasn’t sure if we send the email to the right department. I had just emailed the “Questions about visiting” tab.
Perfect 🙂
Please let me know if there is space available in the Holiday Retreat. I would be honored to attend. Thank you, Sherron
Hello! Thank you for this offering. I registered for the lottery on Sunday the 19th, but did not receive a confirmation that my submission was received. Hoping it went through. 🙏
Hi Ilana. If you completed the registration form, then we have it. I just looked and it’s there.
Thank you for your reassurance and taking the time to reply. Wishing you a lovely day.
Hi! I also wanted to check and see if my lottery submission went through! Thanks 🙂
Hi Teresa. Please trust that we have your information if you completed the registration form. There is no confirmation email.
Good morning,
I have the same concern.
I registered for the retreat on Sunday but did not receive a confirmation.
Sincerely appreciate if you could revise my status.
Thank you
Virginia Mac Farland
Hi Virginia. Please trust that we have your information if you completed the registration form. There is no confirmation email.
Thank you for your reassurance
Have a wonderful day
Virginia
When can I expect to hear if I was selected in the lottery? Will I also hear if I was not selected? In peace, Lorraine
Hi Lorraine, we are fully involved with a very special event coming later this week and we hope to get to the lottery as soon as possible. If it’s going to take a little longer, then we plan to send an email to everyone who entered the lottery.
Hi, if it’s september 25th and I’m just finding out about this retreat, have I lost all my chances? Is there a way to apply?
Enrique Ortiz (enriqueortizcasillas@gmail.com)
Yes, there is always a chance. Once we go through the lottery names, of which there are many, we will likely open a waiting list.
Hi, is it too late to register for this?
i really really would love to attend
We will open a waiting list at some point soon.
If you open the waiting list, I would like to apply. I am looking forward to attending my first retreat at Deer Park.
The Waiting List has opened and is posted on this event page.
I’d love to attend. I have never got to attend a retreat in person, and Deer Park Monastery has a very special place in my heart. My two younger sisters and I would really love to attend the retreat!
I am interested in attending if additional space is made available. Thank you.
The Waiting List has opened and is posted on this event page.
If it is possible, I would so benefit from attending this retreat. I know I am late in applying and appreciate your kindness.
Blessings, Michele Tae – Chan Linh Anh
The Waiting List has opened and is posted on this event page.
I would love to apply to go to the retreat. Do you know when you will open the waitlist? Thank you 🙂
The Waiting List has opened and is posted on this event page.
Hi, if it is not too late, I would like to register for this retreat’s lottery. Thank you!
The Waiting List has opened and is posted on this event page.
I would LOVE to attend this retreat!! Please open registration again! 😊 🙏🏼
The Waiting List has opened and is posted on this event page.
I would like to be a part of the retreat
Are those who entered the lottery automatically on the waiting list?
Great question. Yes, we will begin with those who are in the lottery first then move to the Waiting List.
Thank you.
Is there a way to register for the retreat without going through the waiting list? I am really hoping to be able to visit. Please let me know.
The retreat is likely sold out and that’s why we have the waiting list. If space becomes available then we add more people. I hope this helps.
I see. I hope some space becomes available..I’m really in need of some healing. Thank you for writing back. 🌼
You can look into coming for other weekends? 🙂
I received an email that you are “now looking for staff applicants”. Does this mean you’ve notified everyone who entered the lottery? I have not received a reply to my lottery application. Does this mean I wasn’t accepted? Thank you.
No. We are still working on confirming people.
Thanks so much.
My 2 daughters and I would love to attend ♡
We miss and Love you all.
Joyfulness of the Heart
We entered the lottery the very first day it opened. If we haven’t heard yet, does it mean that we didn’t get in, or the process of confirmation is still going on, and we still have hope.
Regards,
Confirmation process is still underway. We needed to make certain on the number of beds we have available since we have many long-term guests right now. Stay tuned. And thank you for the patience.
Thank you 🙂
Hi there,
Wanted to see if there are any updates with the staffing opportunities and when applications may be out?
Blessings,
Ignatius
Good day! Beautiful people of deer park I’m requiring about the lottery I submitted my application in September and Have not received any information if I was chosen or not can you please let me know one way or another so that I can make plans for time off work and Airlines reservations Etc. Thank you so much be well be happy!
Dear friend, please check your e-mail from our registration office, sent today.
Thank you So much for getting back to me! I believe in the process I know The New Year retreat will be perfect for those who are met to be there! Thank you again for getting back to me so promptly…The best is yet to come! BLESSINGS Dear friend’s❤🙏✌🌱
I have a “ spot” but I can’t figure out how to register. I’m not on the waiting list and don’t need to be.
I’m sorry for the inconvenience
Give my place to someone more skillful
😩
Hi Debbie. Please contact the registration office to change anything about your registration. You can call them at 760-291-1003 x100
Hi! My daughter will take the spot! 🙂 We’re on the waitlist, but I really want my daughter to go, even if I don’t get to! She went this past summer and it profoundly affected her! 🙂
Hi Lisa. We hope your daughter can attend. We will work through the waiting list in order of submission as spaces open for the retreat.
Dear community,
With the current uptick of COVID cases, and holiday surge, I wanted to check what other retreatants are planning to keep the retreat safe for everyone.
Boosters are one choice, but are not yet available for under 16.
Are people going to get a negative test done before coming like it’s done for airlines etc?
Other ideas welcome since we all will be a large group gathering from diverse places with a lot of indoor time and limited opportunities for social distancing during the retreat.
With warm regards…
Thank you for bringing this question forward. The organizing team and health team are looking into this but haven’t yet reached a decision on any changes beyond the vaccination requirement. If any requirement changes occur, we will communicate with those registered for the retreat.
Well, California is now requiring masks for all indoor activities- I hope it is enforced and that everyone adheres to that. Otherwise, I will be doing my best to sit/walk/eat outside, weather permitting. I will mask for all indoor things and outdoor group gatherings for health reasons. I believe everyone who is able should get boosted with Moderna/Pfizer. I am boosted. Someone with covid (vaccinated, not boosted) sneezed on my face and I could feel it although I was in full PPE – hoping I didn’t get it again but will most certainly test with PCR 12/22. Everyone with exposure or symptoms should test beforehand. Still a good idea for everyone else traveling if they can. At the very least, I hope ill people stay at home. Be safe!