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A Pillar of Light: The Living Art of Being Divine & Human

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A Pillar of Light: The Living Art of Being Divine & Human

March 12 - 15, 2026

Crestone, CO, United States

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Hosted By

Elizabeth Astor

808 followers

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3 nights, 4 days

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80 person retreat

Highlights

  • Explore what it means to be a pillar of light in this world

  • Practices to support deep inward listening

  • Times for silence, for teachings, questions, and shared inquiry woven throughout the retreat

Details

This retreat is about bridging the worlds, learning how to walk in this life with an open heart and an awakening mind, living in harmony with what is, and gently bridging the gap between being an embodied human and a being of light and presence. We will explore enjoying and caring for this raw and beautiful experience of being human, and arriving at the doorway of your own goodness and wellness from the inside of yourself. It is about walking through the world with an upright presence and an open, tender heart, allowing kindness to move in and around you, and learning how to function as an open-hearted being in this world. “One of the most calming and powerful actions you can take in a stormy world is to stand up and show your soul. Soul on deck shines like gold in dark times. The light of the soul throws sparks, sends up flares, builds signal fires, and helps proper matters catch fire. To display the lantern of soul in shadowy times—to be fierce and to show mercy toward others—are acts of immense bravery and necessity. Struggling souls catch light from other souls who are fully lit and willing to show it. There can be no despair when you remember why you came to Earth, who you serve, and who sent you here. The good words we say and the good deeds we do are not ours—they are the words and deeds of the One who brought us here.” — Dr. Clarissa Pinkola Estés Together, we will explore what it means to be a pillar of light in this world, a present, divine human being in this life, awakening your true presence, tending your human life, and shining from the inside out. We will be held in a field of silence to support deep inward listening, with times for teachings, questions, and shared inquiry woven throughout the retreat. “Wherever I stand, may I be the soul of that place.” — Rumi

Location

Crestone, CO, United States

Crestone, Colorado, is a tranquil town nestled at the base of the stunning Sangre de Cristo Mountains in the San Luis Valley, known for its breathtaking natural beauty and spiritual diversity. As a unique spiritual hub, Crestone hosts a variety of religious and spiritual centers, including Buddhist stupas, Hindu temples, and Christian retreat sites, which attract practitioners and visitors from around the world. The town's serene environment makes it an ideal destination for those seeking peace and introspection. Outdoor enthusiasts can explore numerous hiking trails that lead into the mountains, offering awe-inspiring views and access to pristine wilderness. Nearby, the Great Sand Dunes National Park adds to the area's allure with its extraordinary landscapes of vast dunes set against the dramatic mountain backdrop. With its small yet vibrant community and focus on spirituality and nature, Crestone offers a peaceful retreat for both adventurers and seekers of inner peace.

Venue

Vajra Vidya Retreat Center

★ Reviews

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Yoga Studio

Yoga Studio

Garden

Garden

Towels

Towels

Coffee / Tea

Coffee / Tea

Cafe

Cafe

Free Parking

Free Parking

Shower

Shower

Balcony

Balcony

Bathroom

Bathroom

Accommodation

Private Room · Shared Bath · Meals Included

Private room for 1

$680 USD total

Private Room · Private Bath · Meals Included

2 Rooms Left

Private room for 1

$710 USD total

Retreat Access without Accommodation

For those who prefer to handle their own lodging arrangements

$545 USD total

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Vajra Vidya Retreat Center is located on 35 acres of blessed land at the foothills of the Sangre De Cristo Mountains. Vajra Vidya is one building with two wings and a shrine room at the center. It was built with traditional Tibetan buddhist architecture and is both a retreat center and monastery. It houses monastics, devoted practitioners who are all long term residents, and visitors looking for private and group retreats.

Meals

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Meals provided

Breakfast · Lunch · Dinner

Diets catered

Vegetarian · Vegan · Gluten-free · Dairy-free · Nut Allergy Friendly

Our sunlit dining room is the heart of our center. It’s where retreatants and visitors share wholesome vegetarian meals and connect between sessions. Breakfast, lunch, and a light evening soup are served on a set schedule each day. After meals, we tidy the space together as a practice of karma yoga—caring for the place that cares for us. Tea and coffee are available during dining room hours from 5:00AM - 8:30PM.

Schedule

7-7:30am Silent Sitting 07:30 - 08:00am Breakfast & Clean-Up 09:00 - 10:00am Community Meditation Practice with the resident Tibetan Khenpo (optional) 10:30-12:30pm Teaching and Practice 12:30pm Lunch, Clean-Up and Break 3pm-5:15pm Silent sitting with breaks. Some days there will be either small discussion groups or small group meetings with Elizabeth 5:30 Dinner & Clean-Up 7pm-8:30 pm Q&A, teaching, practice The shrine room is open for practice 24 hours a day

Testimonials

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I've been to two of Elizabeth's retreats at the Mother Center and grow spiritually and emotionally each time. Her guidance is an ideal balance between the inspirational and the practical. Life gives me the opportunity to stand in my strong spine with an open heart, as she teaches me, just a few hours after I return home from the retreat, and I knew what to do.

Christine Tracy, USA

Thank you so much for an awesome retreat.  The learning on top of learning- there is so much wisdom and knowledge and clarity in here! Elizabeth has this amazing ability to read a situation and offer multiple ways to work with it, as well as a gift of explaining big concepts and offering them in an organized and helpful way. This retreat, and Elizabeth’s other work with me, has really been transformative for me, in all of my relationships and in my connection to myself.  Her guidance has really allowed me to grow in ways I did not know was possible. I have been putting this toolbox from class to use in my life, and it has been helpful in a very powerful way. Thank you for taking the risk to teach me concepts I did not know I needed nor understood.  I am beyond appreciative. I could go on and on…from my heart I want to say thank you for doing what you do!

Kevin Sullivan, USA

Elizabeth helps bring the true sense of ‘awe’ into daily life through her teachings. I feel that I have felt more, seen more, and experienced more working with Elizabeth than anyone else. Elizabeth’s teachings are vitally important, deeply powerful, and so rare. My mind, heart and body slow down within moments of listening to her voice; a sense of calm, internal centering, and clarity permeate me. It’s as if I am in nature when I am around her; standing amidst the redwoods or sitting next to a flowing stream. Elizabeth summons my best sense of self forward, reminding me of who I want to be in the world and how to live from that place. Elizabeth has felt like an angel on my shoulder, and the most helpful reminder of how to live from my heart and light.

Thomas Swanwick, USA

What makes it possible for that mysterious space, that is so healing and spiritually elevating, to open up between two people? It requires the ability to deeply and wholeheartedly listen to oneself and to the other. It also requires the humility and courage to be honest – with oneself, and when appropriate and beneficial, also with the other. In interviewing Elizabeth for the Experience of Being project I found her to be all that. This makes her not only an effective teacher and healer but also, and to my mind more importantly, a trustworthy and reliable one.

Amir Freimann, Israel

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Host

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Elizabeth Astor

Boulder, CO, USA

About Elizabeth Astor ...

1 language

English

Teaching for 3 years

Joined Insight Timer in Feb 2023

What's Included

3 meals a day

Accommodation (unless on commuter option)

Teachings

Not Included

Transportation to and from the retreat center

FAQs

Guest requirements

  • Sincerity on the path, willingness to hold the silent container.

Cancellation policy

The remaining balance for the retreat is due 30 days prior to the start date. If this balance is paid earlier than these 30 days, you are eligible to cancel and receive a full refund of this remaining balance, provided you do so at least 30 days before the retreat begins.

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