Silent Stay Retreats take place on the stunning monastic grounds of the Pacifica Graduate Institute, located in the heart of Montecito, California. Pacifica purchased the grounds in 2005 from Casa de Maria.
Built for contemplative monks on month long silent retreats the facility operated under the Jesuit order for 108 years. It is ideally suited for daily silence and stillness and to serve as the home base of Silent Stay Meditation Center for our 2-5 night retreats.
You are welcome to register for one or several retreats. A silent retreat is a valuable tool as part of deepening into you own spiritual practice. We also offer discounts for returning clients.
Heart filled silence is held all day and even during meals. This allows everyone to rest their minds and breathe the fresh air of gentleness. When you come into the silence a sense of spaciousness comes forward into your awareness. This is one of the miracles of soaking in the silence for long periods of time, returning to the spaciousness found within.
These are precious days free from your daily story and all that you are doing. In the quiet you can open to an inner state of love and beauty. These qualities are always present but generally get covered up with daily life activities. The gift of silence is having nothing to do and nothing to say.
Arrival Day:
8:30 am - 2:00 pm arrival as you like. You can even bring a picnic !!
3:00 pm Room check in
4:00 - 5:00 pm Retreat Begins, opening meditation in Sanctuary
5:15 - 6:30 pm Dinner in Silence
6:30 pm Silent Sitting in Sanctuary*
7:00 - 7:30 pm Evening Meditation in Sanctuary
7:40 - 8:30 pm Guided Relaxation ~ Yoga Nidra (Optional)
Departure Day:
10:30 am Program Conclusion
11:00 Check Out of Rooms
12:30 Lunch in Silence
You are welcome to stay on the grounds up until 4:30 pm
Each Full Day:
7:15 - 8:30 am Breakfast in Silence
8:30 am Silent Sitting in Sanctuary*
9:00 - 9:45 am Morning Meditation in Sanctuary
10:00 am Non-doing Period*
11:00 am Gentle Yoga ~ (Optional)
12:00 - 1:15 pm Lunch in Silence
3:00 - 4:00 Heart Awareness Practice in Sanctuary
4:00 - 5:30 pm Non-doing Period*
5:15 - 6:30 pm Dinner in Silence
6:30 - 7:00 pm Silent Sitting in Sanctuary*
7:00 pm - 7:30 Evening Meditation in Sanctuary
7:45 - 8:30 pm Guided Relaxation ~ Yoga Nidra (Optional)
*A Non-Doing period may include: Restful awareness, reflection, walking meditation, yoga, laying on the lawn, staying in present moment awareness, contemplation, journaling, sitting meditating, take a guilt free nap, being with nature, listening to silence, being present without the need for entertainment, being gentle with yourself, time of non-judgement, bathing in the softness of your heart & retreat experience. Non-doing is the ancient daoist practice of wu wei.
*Silent Sitting Period in the Sanctuary, is a period of reflection however long you like before a meditation period. You can also practice Yoga.
Our retreats now offer optional gentle yoga and relaxation sessions with Heart Team member Nicole Becker. She has been a part of our team since 2012 and now joins us on an ongoing basis. Healing Yoga + Resourcing the Heart
A daily program of silent sitting & group meditation 3 times a day in the sanctuary. Rest into non-doing anywhere on the property and on walks Sanctuary open all day for continued meditation, yoga practice, silent sitting & journaling.
Private Rooms or Couples Rooms. Some Images of rooms can be seen below or upon room type selection when booking.
Pacifica Graduate Institute
801 Ladera Lane
Montecito, California 93108
Silent Stay Office: 805-329-1553
Learn to quiet your mind so you can hear your heart. Bathe yourself in silence to move away from your head to hear your heart speaking. Take care of your human heart which will allow your deeper heart to open.
that drugs and alcohol are not permitted at any time during the retreat. Cell phones or computers are stored at home or in your vehicle. You will be provided a phone number in the unlikely event of a family member needing to reach you for an emergency.
