Beneath the Noise:
Solace
June 24th -28th, 2026
Goldendale, Washington
A Summer Solstice Retreat
“Do not lose heart.
We were made for these times.”
~ Clarissa Pinkola Estes
This summer solstice, you are invited
To come sit with a circle of trusted others
To listen for the breathing of the new world
In your body
In the body of the land.
The dreaming soul of nature
longs to whisper to you
If only you will listen…
“Another world is not only possible, she is on her way. On a quiet day, I can hear her breathing”
~ Arundhati Roy
“The space Magda provided for community, deep reflection, and sacred healing was amazing. I left with gifts I hadn’t even realized I needed.”
“The singing, laughter, treats, joy - the whole “soup” we created... The unique magic and alchemy of this gathering can’t be recreated. Prepare to be changed!”
“A deeply nourishing time for yourself to tune in and rest while being held in community and on the land.”
What is Quest?
Quest is a time for intentional solo contemplation with the land. In many cultures and most religions throughout time, humans have practiced taking time in silence, away from the village, to be with nature and seek guidance.
In our modern world, the noise of machines, screens, intense news, busyness, extroversion, and land exploitation, this practice has become rare and difficult to achieve. The opportunity to meet on land stewarded for this purpose, supported by others who have studied this practice, is rarer still.
This retreat will offer the opportunity for a gentle, customized, trauma-informed introduction to the practice. Ceremony and communal sharing will consecrate our practice and we will share intentions with each other and the land. Participants will spend two days of solo, silent time on the land, followed by a gentle return to community celebration, integration, and land service.
Potential Flow
Wednesday
3pm-5pm Arrive and set up camp
6pm Potluck dinner
7pm Opening Ceremony
Thursday
10am Breakfast
11am Circle, ceremony, and intention setting
2pm Quest begins
Saturday
2pm Welcome back Ceremony
4pm Connect, reflect, integrate time
6pm Community dinner
Sunday
9am Breakfast
10am Land Service
Noon Closing circle
Pack up and depart by 2pm
Logistics
Accomodations:
Bring your own van, tent, sleeping bag, hammock - we will be sleeping on the land. Equipment may be available to borrow or rent if needed
Location:
Private land near the Columbia River Gorge, approximately 2 hours from Portland.
Cost: $700
(Scholarships and payment plans available)
Meals:
Wednesday ~Potluck dinner
Thursday ~ Breakfast and lunch provided
Friday & Saturday ~ BYO snacks or fast
Saturday ~ Snacks and dinner provided
Sunday ~ Breakfast provided
Note: To ensure solitude and safety, retreat is limited to 10 participants
The world is shedding her skin…
In this time of life, death, and rebirth,
we face a complex question:
Will we remain in a binary, reactive stance,
caught up in tit for tat,
making and perpetuating wars inside and outside ourselves?
Or can we listen for another way?
A deep way.
A connected way.
A way that doesn’t feed the dying overculture, but nourishes…
the earth, the dream, our souls,
and the soul of the world…
What if you let yourself be still,
Allowed your animal body to take over for a while,
Found out what your wildish self longs for,
Your deepest longing may be the medicine that the world needs.
How to Regain your Soul
Come down Canyon Creek trail on a summer afternoon that one place where the valley floor opens out. You will see the white butterflies. Because of the way shadows come off those vertical rocks in the west, there are
shafts of sunlight hitting the river and a deep long purple gorge straight ahead. Put down your pack.
Above, air sighs the pines. It was this way when Rome was clanging, when Troy was being built, when campfires lighted caves. The white butterflies dance by the thousands in the still sunshine. Suddenly, anything could happen to you. Your soul pulls toward the canyon and then shines back through the white wings to be you again.
~ William Stafford
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