Our Ethos
About Wilderness
Ravenrock’s deep, regenerative geology heals and accelerates spiritual transformation and mystical opening. Intimacy with nature means removing buffers. We provide the following guidance not to alarm you but to help you embrace the dynamic challenges gifted by Ravenrock.
– Stay Aware
Ravenrock is not a spa. You will have water, food, protection from sun and extreme elements, and access to emergency communication. AND we have challenging terrain, rattlesnakes, bears, and extreme desert conditions; the closest rescue is at least 45 minutes away. Stay aware. We will be learning survival techniques at retreat. Stay aware and you will be perfectly safe.
– Solve Problems
Approach snags as a problem-solving venture. Learn to invent, make do, do without. Please, no whining. None. Really, please.
– Team Work in the Wild
We depend on one another for safety & survival. We will organize a Buddy System to safeguard one another.
Travel Information
Arrival & Departure
– Arrive anytime Tuesday September 6th
– Evening session on Tuesday September 6th.
– Full retreat days Wednesday, Thursday, Friday.
– Morning session on Saturday 10th to complete the retreat
Air Travelers
Fly to Albuquerque International Airport (ABQ).
Car
We’ll provide directions closer to the time. If you can assist bringing air travelers to and from the airport, please let us know. Arrive at Ravenrock by midday if the weather calls for rain. (Rains typically fall in the afternoon and the road will be too muddy to travel.) If there is no rain in the forecast, arrive by midday anyway so we all have plenty of light for our set up.
Facilities
Meditation Hall
Our main building is a red metal clad 30×50 pole barn with papercrete and plaster walls and wood floor for workshop sessions.
Glass doors on the east and south sides provide views onto the peaceful, glowing mesa landscape.
The Stone Porch East Entry has a floor of rocks from the property rim and on the west we have a 15 x 24′ Hermit’s Peak Porch with its sensational mountain view. In 2016 we added a Camp Kitchen off the East Porch which utilizes two 1500-gallon water catchment tanks off the east roof. The long west-side roof is water catchment for an additional two tanks, bringing water capacity to 6000 gallons total.
Daily Schedule
8am Silent Breakfast
8:30–9:30am Morning Work Teams
10:30am–1:15pm Morning Meditations
1:30pm Midday Meal
5–7pm Evening Gathering
7:15pm Evening Meal
Food
The diet is a simple, vegan Sufi cooking.
No personal cooking or refrigeration facilities.
Warning: Do not keep food in your tent. We have bears and wild animals here.
The following are not permitted on the retreat property: alcohol, cigarettes, drugs, pets.
Camp Set-Up
Outfitting: Bring Your Own Camp Set Up
Bring your camp set-up.
Generally this includes: tent, sleeping bag, sleeping mat, tarp, shower bag.
Camping spots in the Bowers (a juniper stand adjacent to the Barn) are prepared beforehand, chosen for their comfort from sun and distance to facilities. We will team up to help one another set up individual camp sites as well as get acquainted with trails, property rules and regs, prepare and eat a meal together. As we learn who is coming, we will try to accommodate shipping of tents, etc. when needed.
Packing List
Camp Clothes
– camping clothes (hiking pants, boots, good socks, long sleeve shirt)
– extra t-shirts
– white cotton or linen long-sleeve shirt
– heavy sweater; down vest
– work gloves
– wide hats for high desert sun
– whistle
– compass
– flashlight and/or headlamp
– bug netting clothing for face (goes over your hat: see below)
About bugs:
Mosquitos are infrequent but when they do come out they are intense. Pack bug net clothing which is light weight, packs up small, and is better than insect repellant.
Toiletries
– strong moisturizer (high desert; very dry)
– sunscreen
– soap, etc.
– towel
– solar shower bag (2 to 5 gallon bag)
– a few small ziplock bags
– baby wipes/wet wipes
About soap:
Bring unscented, low-sudsing cosmetics to help with water conservation. Please use this for ALL washing needs including hair. (Most soaps have too much lubricant and require three times as much water to wash out.)
Workshop Gear
– yoga mat (we have yoga mats for air travelers)
– comfortable workshop clothing
– slip-on shoes for around the Barn (easy off for shoeless-ness inside the Barn)
– light day backpack for back & forth around Camp
– journal & pen
– veil
– hand fan (the kind that opens & closes)
– extra checks or cash for shopping & misc. fees
– thumb drive for music