1. Is the Retreat House a good place to go for focused contemplation/meditation/prayer?
Yes, that is the purpose of the Retreat House. On a typical week, the Retreat House has silent hours from 9pm each evening to 11am each morning. The downstairs meditation/contemplation room is always silent except when a group activity is held in that room. A private room is helpful if you want seclusion. There are also several places you can go to be outside in nature and away from people. We can loan you a chair with a shoulder strap to use outdoors. Sometimes we offer retreats with extended silent hours.
2. Is the Retreat House for people of a specific religion or spiritual belief system?
Everyone is welcome at the Retreat House for the purpose of spiritual retreat. The Retreat House is not a place to stay while on family vacation, a hunting trip, etcetera. It is only for spiritual retreat. The Retreat House is operated by Awakening Together. You can learn about Awakening Together’s spiritual/religious values at this link.
3. What should I pack for a visit to the Retreat House?
Here are some things we recommend:
~ Water bottle and spill proof coffee cup
~ Lotion, chapstick, sunscreen, sun glasses, sun hat
~ Layered clothing that is appropriate for the season
~ Warm non-slip/non-skid socks (Shoes are not permitted in the retreat house)
~ Robe, cardigan or shawl
~Toiletries
~ Good weather-appropriate walking shoes
~ Small backpack
~ Protein/snack bars
~ Earbuds or earphones
~ If desired, spiritual book(s), notebook, pen, highlighter
4. Are coffee and tea provided at the Retreat House?
We have a Keurig coffee machine and a hot water urn for tea that will be available all day. If you have a favorite tea or k-cup coffee, feel free to bring some with you. It is a good idea to drink plenty of water while you are here as you acclimate to the 7,000 ft La Veta elevation.
5. Is there Wi-Fi available at the Retreat House?
Yes, we have Wi-Fi available at the Retreat House. You may find that the Wi-Fi speeds are less than you are accustomed to, especially if you live in a large metropolitan area. While listening to audio, please use earbuds or headphones so you don’t disturb others. Thank you.
6. Is there cell service at the Retreat House?
Cell service can be spotty at the Retreat House. In order to create a quiet environment, we have guidelines for telephone use.
- Please leave your telephone on silent at all times.
- Please do not talk on the telephone during silent hours.
- Please make telephone calls from the privacy of your room or outside the Retreat House and away from others.
- When talking on the telephone, please keep your voice low so you don’t disturb others.
7. Will someone pick me up at the airport?
We currently offer an airport shuttle service for in-person retreats. For more information about the shuttle please visit the Shuttle Information Page. Car rentals are available at the airports. If you would like to share a rental car with someone else, feel free to make a post on the Awakening Together “Share a Ride” Forum. We recommend putting the dates of your trip and the airport on the post Title line. If you are flexible, put that on your Title line. Here are example titles:
Share rental car from Colorado Springs, 7/5/19-7/14/19
Share rental car from Denver or Colorado Springs, 7/5/19-7/14/19
Share rental car from Denver anytime in early to mid July 2019
Driving from Chicago in July 2019. Willing to Take Passengers.
8. Are meals included in my lodging price?
Certain meals are provided depending on whether you are coming for a personal stay or an organized retreat. Please contact the retreat house caretaker for more information or view the retreat post. There is refrigerator and pantry space available for any personal food.
9. Will you provide meals for my special diet?
We can accommodate lacto-ovo vegetarian and gluten free diets. When you apply to stay at the Retreat House, the application will ask you to select a specific diet for your stay. Our Retreat House caretaker will plan a menu based on those meal selections. If you have a food allergy that we cannot accommodate, we will let you know.
St. Francis recommended that people eat whatever is served when they are traveling. We will try to make meals that are pleasing to everyone based on meal selections, but it isn’t possible to meet every individual preference. We hope you will meet us halfway by accepting St. Francis’ advice while you are here.
10. Is there a place nearby where I can buy food?
Charlie’s Market is a well stocked small market 1/2 mile from the retreat house. There are also two grocery stores in Walsenburg, which is 15 miles away.
11. Can I cook my own meals while there?
There is a microwave available for everyone’s use during retreats. During personal retreat stays the caretaker will join with you about the use of the kitchen for cooking.
12. Are there restaurants nearby?
Yes, there are several local restaurants that are within easy walking distance from the Retreat House. Several are only open a few days a week, so please join with the caretakers with any questions.
13. If the Retreat House is full, where can I stay?
Here are a few recommendations. You can also contact the retreat house caretaker for other options or check Airbnb. Each one is less than a mile from the retreat house:
14. Can I volunteer at the Retreat House and stay for free?
Sometimes volunteers are needed, especially for larger retreats. When we need volunteers to help with a retreat or specific project, we provide a link along with the retreat/project description so you can apply for a volunteer scholarship.
15. Are scholarships available?
Limited reduced rate scholarships are available for Awakening Together members who need them. Click here for more information.
16. Are there things to do in La Veta?
Yes. We have provided links to local activities on our website under the ‘About the Local Area‘ section. Additionally, be sure to visit the Spanish Peaks Country website for more information.
17. Can I donate some things to the Retreat House?
Please contact us about any items you have to donate. We are happy to accept things we need if they are needed and in new, like-new or very good condition. Since we do not have a storage facility, we can not accept donations if we do not have an immediate need for the item.
Monetary donations are always helpful. To learn how we use monetary donations, see the envisioned amenities at the bottom of the amenities webpage. Donate here.
18. May I bring my dog/cat?
Pets are not permitted at the Awakening Together Retreat House.
19. Is it okay if I bring a bottle of wine?
Alcohol, including beer and wine, is not permitted at the retreat house. Most of the restaurants in town serve alcohol if you’d like to have a drink while you are here. Be aware that intoxication is never permitted at the retreat house. If someone returns to the retreat house intoxicated, he/she will be asked to leave immediately.
20. May I smoke cigarettes at the retreat house?
Smoking is not allowed in or near the retreat house, near bushes or near dry grass. If you must smoke, you may smoke at the end of the driveway as long as there isn’t a fire ban in effect in La Veta. When a fire ban is in effect, smoking is not allowed outdoors anywhere in the county.
Note: Wildfires start much more easily in Colorado than in most other locations, often from one small spark, and once a fire starts, it can burn thousands of acres before it is under control. If you must smoke, you need to be extremely cautious. Proper disposal of cigarette ashes and cigarette butts is essential. See the retreat house caretaker for a proper container.
21. Is it okay if I smoke marijuana at the retreat house?
Although recreational marijuana is legal in Colorado, it is not permitted at the retreat house or outdoors in the town of La Veta. No recreational drugs are permitted at the retreat house.
