Self-Guided Retreats
Self-guided retreats have certain advantages over attending a group retreat. They are relatively inexpensive, they can be done on your own timetable in places fairly close at hand (even at home), and you can structure the schedule and practice in a way that best serves you.
Disadvantages include not having a teacher, and not having the moral support of a group of like-minded retreatants. You also have to provide your own discipline. You could be the only meditator at a retreat center, and might have difficulty maintaining silence amidst other people with different agendas.
Retreat Centers in Our Area
Hermitage Spiritual Retreat Center
The Hermitage Spiritual Retreat Center has two possibilities for a retreat: the rustic hermitage and the log cabin hermitage.
You are responsible for your own food and meals. There are ample walking trails and sitting opportunities scattered about the wooded property.
With its proximity to Springfield and the ability to avoid all contact with other people, this is an excellent option for a true solitary retreat.
Assumption Abbey
Assumption Abbey is inhabited and run by Monks of the Cistercian order. They welcome many kinds of retreatants, so you will occasionally share space with others, primarily in the dining area.
Meals are served three times a day and are cooked in a big kitchen on the sequestered side of the abbey. This leaves a smaller kitchen available for light meal prep if you prefer. You can eat in the library or in your room if you don't wish to converse during meals. You wash your own dishes.
They don't have individual retreat cabins. The dorm rooms are small and plain, but comfortable. In most of the rooms, two rooms share a bathroom. To cut down on distraction, request a room away from the office and dining hall.
If the weather is nice you can meditate outside, but level ground is a bit scarce, so a small ground cloth can help. There is an enormous amount of space around the Abbey with very little going on. The many acres of woods have very few paths and very little flat land. Cell phone reception is spotty anywhere on Abbey land and there is no wi-fi.
If you are a light sleeper, please note that bells ring at traditional times for Catholic prayers including one at 3am.
Vision of Peace Hermitages
Vision of Peace Hermitages has seven hermitages which are pictured on their site. This retreat location is busier than most retreat centers due to of its proximity to St. Louis, MO. It is helpful to inform the staff that you intend to be silent for your stay if that is your intention.
The property fronts the Mississippi River and, while not large, is quite beautiful. The lower hermitages are mostly underground with one wall with windows high above and facing the river. Each hermitage has a well-supplied kitchen but you are responsible for your own food.
Osage Forest of Peace
Osage Forest of Peace allows you to experience the beauty and privacy of 45 wooded acres on a ridge between two lakes just 20 minutes from Tulsa, OK.
In the main building, there is a library, comfortable seating and a peaceful meditation chapel where you can join group meditation a few times a day, or sit on your own.
Outdoors, there is a woodland labyrinth, a Zen Garden, and nearly three miles of hiking trails with beautiful views. Basic cabins are available and include a bathroom with shower and two twin beds.
All meals are included for overnight guests and are served family style to accommodate dietary needs. You can chose to wear an “In Silence” badge to indicate to others that you are practicing in Noble Silence.
The Tulsa Zen Sangha holds one-day silent retreats here. If you plan accordingly, you can join their retreat which includes a Dharma talk and a chance to meet privately with a teacher.