Meditation in the Desert

Touching the Earth at Cochise Stronghold

March 4 - March 11, 2026

Sponsored by Sky Mind Retreats

Cost:
$675 - $525 (sliding scale) camping
$925 - $725 (sliding scale) Indoor accommodations
$1,175 - $975 (sliding scale) Casita Manzanita
Scholarships available.

Retreat Teacher: Susie Harrington assisted by Jean Leonard
Cook: Valerie Holze
Venue: Dharma Treasure Retreat Center, located east of Tucson near Cochise Stronghold.

At this time this retreat is full, and the waitlist has recently opened. If you apply to be on the waitlist you have a very good chance of getting a spot, as we will have cancellations. Please complete the Online Registration Form to reserve your space on the waitlist.

To reserve your place please complete the Online Registration Form and deposit.

Your registration will be considered complete and your space reserved when the registration form and your deposit have been received. Please note the deposit is non-refundable. Please read the fine print below to fully understand our payment and cancellation policies. You will receive an automated message when you submit your registration. Within 2 weeks, you will receive a follow-up confirmation email that you have a spot in the retreat (sooner if we are available!). If you don’t receive a notification, please contact us.

Reservations are confirmed on a first-come, first-served basis. If the retreat is full, we will notify you that you have been placed on the waitlist. The deposit is refundable for those on the waitlist.

The sliding fee reflects a minimum cost where the donations of contributors to Sky Mind allow for a lower fee, while the higher cost represents the full cost of the retreat.

Deposit
The deposit and completed application form will reserve your place unless we go to a waitlist. The registrar will confirm your space. Reservations are confirmed on a first-come, first-served basis. Please fill out a separate form for each person. If the retreat is full, you'll be placed on a waitlist. If that happens, don't be disheartened, as there will probably be cancellations. Only the deposit needs to be paid by those on the waitlist and is refundable if you don’t get in.

Payment
A non-refundable deposit of $150 is due at the time of registration. The rest of your payment is due in full by December 5th, 2025. If you indicated a preference for lodging offered at Dharma Treasure, please wait for confirmation from the registrar so you can make an accurate payment. If it is not received on time, the reservation may be canceled and the deposit forfeited.

Refund and Cancellation Policy
If SMR finds it necessary to cancel a trip due to under-enrollment or other unexpected conditions, your deposit and any payments on the balance of the fee will be returned.

We often have a waitlist; in order to respect those on the waitlist and to encourage timely cancellations, we have the following cancellation policy:

1. Cancellations received 60 days or more before March 5th, the opening day of the retreat, will receive a full refund, less $150 deposit.
2. Cancellations 60 – 30 days before March 5th: we will retain 75% of the base fee for the housing option assigned, and refund any payment above this amount.
3. 30 days or less before March 5th: if requested, we will offer a refund of any payment above the base fee for the assigned housing option.
4. If you cancel from the waitlist your deposit payment of $150 will be refunded except for credit card processing fees (if your payment is submitted by credit card). If you have paid by check, your check will not be cashed until you are accepted into the retreat.

Trip Insurance
You may wish to purchase trip insurance, available online, and at any travel agency. It will protect your investment in non-refundable costs if you have to cancel or if the retreat is canceled due to circumstances beyond our control. Cancellations for covid-related issues are generally only covered in the ‘cancelation for any reason’ clause, so be sure if you choose to buy a policy that it includes this. Most policies also cover medical evacuation costs in case of sickness or injury - a good deal for travelers in remote locations.

Obligations of Retreat Applicants
This is a non-profit, cost-sharing retreat sponsored by Sky Mind Retreats. We will all be responsible for our own safety and the safety of the group in a remote setting. For this reason, please consider your physical condition. You will need to be able to take care of yourself, as well as be helpful to the group on a day-to-day basis. Because of the remoteness and in consideration of the other retreatants, we ask that you be in good health and physical condition adequate for the daily moderate exercise of primitive car camping. Please evaluate your circumstances and email the retreat registrar if you are unsure of the appropriateness of this retreat for you. We want it to be accessible, and will work with you if your situation needs extra support.

You are expected to carefully review all information furnished, understanding that this is a meditation retreat rather than a recreational outing, requiring a commitment to noble silence and practice. Part of our practice will be to mindfully commit to non-harming, so that our impact on the environment is minimal and the rights and privacy of other retreatants are respected. All Sky Mind Retreat events are strictly non-smoking. Alcohol and drugs are also not allowed.