OUR MISSION
We believe that the inner landscapes of consciousness, wellness and oneness need nurturing, exploring and fortifying so that the outward work of compassion, restoring justice, dismantling the patriarchy, defending the Earth, decolonizing ourselves and our world, and birthing a new paradigm for humanity can occur. It is the responsibility of those of us alive today to go within and transform ourselves so that we may transform the world.
Rootstock Retreat guides regular people, retreat groups, activists, teachers, and healers to welcome their own transformation in our rural refuge and creative sanctuary through deep rest, holistic wellness, ceremony, play, service, community and resilience building so they may return to their lives inspired to create a better world. Our unique combination of deep presence, sacred space, wild nature, holistic healing practices and compassionate, grounded support encourage our guests to unwind, rest, renew, reconnect with the seasons, their spirits and other human beings in nourishing and surprising ways.
Guests depart rested, inspired, grounded, connected, and having stoked their own creative fire with the courage they need to stay engaged in the important work of healing themselves and thier worlds.
OUR VALUES
HEAL YOURSELF & YOU HEAL THE WORLD
We provide a safe, comfortable, and inspiring space to go within, explore your consciousness, connect with spirit and heal. Our ethos weaves care of Earth, care of self and care of community together into a sound and strong container that supports personal and collective transformation.
WHAT’S GOOD FOR THE EARTH IS GOOD FOR US
We synchronize our rhythm with the rhythms of nature and embody a way of living that is gentle on the Earth, connected to the seasons, and supported by the elements. We maintain a pace that’s slow enough to encourage deep presence and rest while staying connected and relevant in the 21st Century.
RESILIENCE BUILDING FOR CHANGING TIMES
We are deliberately designing our infrastructure to evolve outmoded systems and patterns (i.e. fossil fuel dependency, competitive capitalism, human supremacy, etc) - both literal and symbolic - and innovate systems and behaviors that serve to help to bring about a new and just paradigm. These systems manifest as renewable energy solutions, off grid living technologies, councils to support collective decision making, barter and work trade agreements, and beyond.
ELABORATION THROUGH COLLABORATION
We engage with our neighbors and community and foster active participation and cross-pollination between visitors at Rootstock and locals. Like fresh blood through the heart, circulation enables diverse perspectives and stories to spread, which builds empathy and understanding across populations - cultivating a more compassionate, loving and just world.
WE ARE WHAT WE EAT
We nourish ourselves with local, seasonal food and herbal medicine while sharing awareness of the sacredness of a robust local food system as a form of health, activism and community. Growing food, preparing it and eating it grounds daily life at Rootstock. Breaking bread together and sowing seeds together feeds authentic connections, and imbues our sustenance with meaning and intention.
LIFE AS CEREMONY
We tap into our connection to spirit through prayer and ritual, honoring the sacredness of everyday life and reigniting a deep sense of awe. We honor what’s beautiful in nature, in our dwellings, in our communities and in our hearts through the cultivation and celebration of creative expression. Self-exploration and spiritual restoration through ritual, ceremony, and council enlivens us and weaves our community closer to one another and to the Earth. We’re born decomposing and every day at Rootstock is dedicated to celebrating life, magic, our divinity, the wonders of nature and the gift of the present moment. We practice deep presence and gratitude while also holding space for the grief, anger, pain and confusion - collective, personal and ancestral - that can be revealed, expressed and released when people are granted time and space to feel and remember themselves. Supporting our guests to savor what’s sacred to them is a gift and a privilege.