Upcoming Residential Retreats
Dr. Vimalasara (Valerie Mason-John)
Arisika Razak, MPH
Juneteenth Retreat: Meditation, Liberation, and Healing for People of African Descent
with
Dr. Vimalasara (Valerie Mason-John) &
Arisika Razak, MPH​​​​
This special Juneteenth retreat invites people of African descent to gather in sacred community, drawing upon the deep wells of African wisdom and Buddhist contemplative practices to reconnect with freedom, healing, and joy. Held in the heart of the south, this retreat offers a rare and necessary affinity space for practitioners of African descent—especially those living in the Gulf region of Mississippi, Louisiana, Alabama, Tennessee, and Florida—to practice liberation in both body and spirit.
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Guided by internationally respected teachers Dr. Vimalasara (Valerie Mason-John) and Arisika Razak, MPH, the retreat will include meditation, Dharma talks, embodied ritual, breathwork, chanting, movement, and periods of silence. Together we will honor the ancestral resilience of Juneteenth and hold space for grief, joy, and collective transformation.
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This retreat is offered exclusively to people of African descent and is planned as a partial scholarship-funded experience. Through affinity-based practice, we offer refuge from systems of oppression and cultivate love, dignity, and spiritual empowerment.
WJ Kelly Retreat Center, Bay St. Louis, Mississippi
510 N 2nd St, Bay St Louis, MS 39520
Residential Retreat • June 18–21, 2026
Thursday - June 18
Check In 3:30-5:30 pm Dinner at 6 pm, program begins at 7:30
Friday - June 19
Full day of Programming
Saturday - June 20
Full day of Programming
Sunday - June 21
Breakfast and Closing Ceremony Depart Center by 11:30 am
Summer Tennessee Retreat
with
Rev. Mikey Livid and Andrew Chapman, LMSW
of Wild Heart Meditation Center of Nashville
Retreat theme and details coming soon.
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The retreat will be held in noble silence, creating an environment supportive of deep practice.
Each day will include meditation instructions, Dharma talks, mindful movement, silent sitting and walking meditation, and group interviews to support your practice.
This retreat is open to both beginners and experienced meditators.
*Your registration pays for 4 nights of accommodations and 10 meals. When planning your budget, consider including a contribution of dana (generosity) for the teachers at the conclusion of the retreat.
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St. Mary’s Sewanee
770 St. Mary's Lane Sewanee, TN 37375
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PLEASE NOTE REGISTRATION CLOSES
ONE MONTH PRIOR TO THE RETREAT DATE
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Residential Retreat • July 15 - July 19, 2026
Arrival & Registration 4:30-6:00 pm July 15
Retreat Concludes 11:30 am July 19
Sharon Shelton
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Caroline Durham
Welcome Peace: Finding Refuge in Community
with
Sharon Shelton & Caroline Durham
This retreat offers a soft place to land, as we return to a familiar place within. What does it feel like to embody and integrate mindfulness? What ways do we nurture self in community and community in self? Designed both for those new to mindfulness and experienced practitioners seeking a deeper engagement with the practices. We pause in this place of refuge, for healing, guidance, and rest.
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*Your registration pays for 4 nights of accommodations and 10 meals. When planning your budget, consider including a contribution of dana (generosity) for the teachers at the conclusion of the retreat.
​
When planning your budget, consider including a contribution of dana (generosity) for the teachers at the conclusion of the retreat.
​
WJ Kelly Retreat Center, Bay St. Louis, Mississippi
510 N 2nd St, Bay St Louis, MS 39520
Residential Retreat • September 3-7, 2026
Concluding on Labor Day
SAVE THE DATE
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