Rooted Not Planted: A Queer Retreat [ONLINE]

An online silent meditation retreat for people who identify as queer. Open to experienced and new practitioners

Registration closes on September 28, 2026. If joining after this date, please contact us.

For nine years, queer practitioners have gathered in the California desert in October for silent meditation, community, and refuge. In this, our 10th year, we carry that spirit and history to a new home in the mountains.

“Rooted, Not Planted” is a silent Buddhist insight meditation retreat for the queer community, which includes all who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex, and agender. Led by Leslie Booker and Ian Challis, with Calvin Burnap assisting, this retreat will offer Vipassana and metta practice, dharma talks, and the rest of shared space and community with people who don’t have to explain themselves to be fully present.

This retreat was born at Dhamma Dena, shaped by Ruth Denison’s lineage and Arinna Weisman’s teaching, and held by a community that has shown up year after year to practice together and welcome new family. We bring our history, our love, and our commitment with us. The container has moved, the practice continues.

All queer-identifying practitioners are welcome, new and experienced alike. You don’t need a history with us to belong here.

GENEROSITY: Retreat Costs and Fees

Registration fees for this retreat support the cost of developing and offering BBRC programs, which include lodging, meals, and staff compensation. Teacher compensation is not included in your registration fees. We price fees to make programs as financially accessible as possible.

As part of this tradition, many meditation teachers (including the teachers of this retreat) offer their teachings without set fees or compensation. As a practice of generosity from the heart, participants are invited to offer “teacher dana” (donations-generosity) to the teachers at the end of the retreat. It is encouraged but not required. Learn more about dana here.

Is cost a barrier? Scholarships are available for those with reviewed, demonstrated financial need. Due to limited funds, not all requests can be honored. We ask that financial assistance be prioritized for those who self-identify as BIPOC, hold marginalized identities, or are in financial need. For more information, please contact us at guestservices@bigbearretreatcenter.org.

WHAT TO EXPECT ON THIS ONLINE RETREAT

This is a silent mindfulness retreat with alternating sitting and walking meditation, instruction, dharma talks, work meditation, and practice discussion with the teachers.

This will be a hybrid online retreat. The teachings in the meditation hall will be live-streamed for online participants. This retreat will be an interactive online retreat. Please plan to be present for the entire retreat and all the sessions. Presence is important for your personal practice and continuity, as well as the community container of retreat. The online retreat will be offered over Zoom. Please plan to have your video on during the sessions.

Online retreats offer the unique opportunity to deepen your practice in a “real world” setting, where meditation practice and regular life intersect more than in a typical residential retreat. This can be supportive for integrating the practice into daily life.

Learn more ABOUT RETREAT & SEE A SAMPLE SCHEDULE.

GENEROSITY: Retreat Costs and Fees

This retreat is offered on a sliding-scale basis to make it as financially accessible as possible. Please consider paying at the highest rate that you can afford: your generosity supports your fellow practitioners who need to pay less.

Registration fees for this retreat support the cost of developing and offering BBRC programs, which include lodging, meals, and staff compensation. Teacher compensation is not included in your registration fees. We price fees to make programs as financially accessible as possible.

As part of this tradition, many meditation teachers (including the teachers of this retreat) offer their teachings without set fees or compensation. There will be an opportunity to offer “teacher dana” (donations-generosity) to the teachers at the end of the retreat. It is encouraged but not required. Learn more about dana here.

Is cost a barrier? Nobody is turned away at Big Bear Retreat Center due to finances. We ask that financial assistance be prioritized for those who self-identify as BIPOC, hold marginalized identities, or are in financial need. For more information, please contact us at guestservices@bigbearretreatcenter.org.

FEEL WELCOME AND INCLUDED: A PLACE TO BELONG

Our intention is to be as accessible as we can, even in ways that we may not be aware of yet. We hope this is a space of inclusivity where people feel welcome and held. For us, it is a practice of consistent attunement, presence and care to our community. However you identify – race, gender, sexuality, disability, mental health, and so on – it is our wish to meet your needs for belonging.

What retreat participants have to say about our online programs

“Big Bear created an online retreat experience that was inclusive, supportive, and responsive. I felt held and cared about throughout the retreat.” – Bernadine

“This was a spectacular experience and one that could be appreciated by novice and experienced meditators and everyone in between. Doing it at home has helped me envision how to live more mindfully throughout my day.” – Deb

I felt very connected to the teachers, the teachings and the other participants, even while being on Zoom.  As a more experienced practitioner, this felt like such a good fit for where I am at and it met a need to bring mindfulness into my day-to-day home life. I felt Big Bear did an amazing job with the technical aspects of making sure we felt our questions were being heard and answered, and it just ran very smoothly.  I’m so impressed.  I feel so fortunate for the experience of getting such a well-curated online/home retreat.  – S.B.

See more of our online offerings on our SoundCloud, Dharmaseed & YouTube channel.