Top Rated

Advent Retreat 2026: From Darkness Into Light

Name: Advent Retreat 2026: From Darkness Into Light
Start: 2026-12-04
End: 2026-12-06
Location: Osage Forest of Peace
Rating: 4.86

4.86194 reviews

141 Monastery Road, Sand Springs, OK, United States

Up to 25 in group

Dec 4 - 6, 2026

Retreat Highlights

Community.
Meditation.
Nature.
Hiking.

About this Retreat

Details of this retreat

Spend the first weekend of the Advent season reflecting on the themes of darkness and light. Emerge from disappointment, grief, anger, bitterness, and the rush of the world, and be embraced by a loving God who comes to be One among us. Sessions will focus on scriptures, stories, and themes of moving from darkness into light. Saturday evening will feature a special “Service of Lessons and Carols” in the Main chapel, which will also be a public event.

Schedule:

Friday, December 4th:

1:30-4:30 p.m. Arrivals and settling in
4:30 p.m. Afternoon Meditation (Main chapel)
5:30 p.m. Dinner (Main House dining area)
6:30 p.m. Advent Reflection: “In the Beginning…” (Bede Building)

7:30 p.m. Wasail, cookies, and fruit cake. (Main House)

9:00 p.m. Quiet Hours Begin

Saturday, December 5th:

From awakening to 9 a.m. Breakfast in silence (Main House dining area)

8:00 a.m. Morning Meditation (Main chapel)

9:00 a.m. Advent Reflection: “The people living in darkness…”

10:00 a.m. Break

11:00 a.m. Advent Reflection: “Your Word is a lamp…”

Noon Noon Meditation (Main chapel)

12:30 p.m. Lunch (Main house dining area)

1:30 p.m. Free Time until 3 p.m.

3:00 p.m. Advent Reflection and Tea Time: “Let your light shine…”

4:30 p.m. Afternoon Meditation (Main chapel)

5:30 p.m. Dinner (Main house dining area)

6:30 p.m. Service of Lessons and Carols (Main chapel)

9:00 p.m. Quiet Hours Begin

Sunday, December 6th:

(Silence until 9 a.m.)

8:00 a.m. Morning Meditation (Main chapel)

9:00 a.m. Cooked Breakfast (Main house dining area)

10:00 a.m. Closing Circle and Goodbye!

No visitors under 18 years old

No pets (service animals with certificate are OK)

No alcohol, tobacco, or recreational drugs

No weapons of any kind

No open fires

Cancelation policy
If the reservation is canceled within the 7 days before the scheduled retreat date and time, a credit towards a future stay is provided. A credit is valid for one year from the date of issue.
If the reservation is canceled up until the 7th day before the scheduled retreat date and time, a refund will be issued, minus any credit card transaction fees and donations. Refunds will be made to the original credit card on file or by check within two weeks of the notice of cancellation.
An exception may be made in the case of illness, death in the family, or inclement weather, in which case a credit towards a future stay is provided. A credit is valid for one year from date of issue.
When you register, you will have the opportunity to choose your cabin for the weekend. If you are planning on sharing a cabin with a friend, please register together by clicking "2" in the dropdown box by your cabin selection. This will ensure that you are charged the double occupancy rate. The Osage Forest of Peace may, due to repairs, maintenance, or unforeseen circumstances, need to reassign you to a different cabin of the same or higher category at no extra charge. Such a change will be communicated to you as soon as possible.

Schedule

Meditation.
Hiking.
Nature.
Labyrinth.
Zen Garden.

Note: Schedule is approximate and may change

Getting Here

Osage Forest of Peace, 141 Monastery Road, Sand Springs, OK, United States

Directions

FROM TULSA:
Take Hwy 64 West past the town of Sand Springs; exit at 177 West Avenue.
Turn RIGHT on 177 West Avenue and drive about 1 mile to Anderson Road.
Turn LEFT on Anderson Road.
Continue about ½ mile to the entrance to the Shell Creek West housing division.
Turn RIGHT into Shell Creek West housing division.
Turn RIGHT at Lakeview Drive.
Continue until you see Monastery Road.
Turn RIGHT onto Monastery Road until you come to the parking lot for Osage.

Accommodation

Our guest cabins provide a cozy and simple spot in the Forest to focus on what truly matters during your retreat. Many guests comment that they experience deep peace upon arriving at the Forest. Staying in a guest cabin allows you to experience the serene rest that comes with sleeping in the woods. STANDARD CABINS Our standard cabins feature a full bathroom, heating and air conditioning, and WiFi access. They include: Twin beds Bathroom with shower Bed linens, pillows, blankets, and towels Hair dryer Desk Dresser Comfortable chair Alarm clock Hand soap Makeup remover wipes Tissues Insect repellent Umbrella Flashlights GUEST HERMITAGE Our guest hermitage cabin is located in a private spot with big picture windows for looking out at the forest. This cabin features two rooms and a larger bathroom. There is a microwave, small refrigerator, plates, mugs, and eating utensils. A private deck is perfect for experiencing the wonder of the forest in solitude. This cabin includes: Twin beds Bathroom with shower Bed linens, pillows, blankets, and towels Hair dryer Desk Dresser Comfortable chair Alarm clock Hand soap Makeup remover wipes Tissues Insect repellent Umbrella Flashlights

Cabin #1 (Gertrude)

Cabin #10 (St. Scholastica--Upgraded Cabin)

Cabin #11 (Subiaco--Hermitage Style/Two Rooms)

Cabin #12 (Guadalupe--Hermitage Style/Two Rooms)

Cabin #13 (Mechtilde)

Cabin #14 (Clare--One Queen Sized Bed)

Cabin #2 (Hildegard)

Cabin #4 (Placid)

Cabin #5 (Sophia)

Cabin #6 (Mary--Upgraded Cabin)

Cabin #7 (St. Bendict)

Cabin #8 (Brigid--Hermitage Style/Two Rooms)

Cabin 3 (Maur)

Commuter: Saturday and Sunday

Includes retreat sessions and meals on Saturday and Sunday only. Overnight lodging is not included.

Venue & Amenities

A/C in Rooms

Free Wifi

Spa

Sauna

Pool

Towels

Free Parking

Kitchen

Tour Assistance

Hot Tub

Coffee/Tea

Cafe

Restaurant

Fitness Center

Yoga Studio

Housekeeping

Bicycles For Rent

Entering the Forest is a peaceful experience and you'll have the opportunity to meditate in a beautiful Meditation Chapel with large windows looking out into the woods. Other meditation areas include a traditional Zen Garden, a woodland labyrinth for walking meditation, and an underground meditation chamber (the Cave of the Mothers) with wonderful acoustics for chanting.

Our retreat center also has a trail system along wooded bluffs with views of Shell Lake and downtown Tulsa. You can rent a cabin to experience the peaceful setting overnight for your own personal retreat. Our rental rates include three meals a day in our dining room, where you'll eat alongside other guests and residents of our community. The Forest also offers a full range of programs and retreats on meditation and spiritual topics.

You have a range of options to experience meditation in a way that suits you. You might choose to join our resident community for meditation held Tuesday through Saturday at 7:00 a.m., 12:00 noon, or 4:45 p.m., and on Sunday at 9:45 a.m. in our Meditation Chapel. Here you'll experience a meditation of 25 to 45 minutes with others who can help guide you.

Or, you may wish to simply rake the Zen Garden as you contemplate the prayer flags in the trees overhead. If you prefer to move while meditating, walking the labyrinth or hiking the trails will give you a chance to reconnect with nature. The Cave of the Mothers provides you with a dark, quiet place where you will be amazed by the sound of your chanting reverberating all around you.

Meals

Menu Types

Vegan

Vegetarian

Pescetarian

Ayurvedic

Includes Meat

Organic

Gluten Free

Dairy Free

Nut Free

Breakfasts are a self-serve buffet style with cereal, oatmeal, yogurt, toppings such as nuts and raisins, hard-boiled eggs, and a variety of milks from dairy to dairy free. On weekends, we additionally offer a variety of breads and toppings for toast. Lunch is our main meal of the day and is eaten together in community. Before the meal, we all circle around the table for a blessing and to introduce ourselves. Food options typically include a meat, a variety of vegetables, tofu or other protein for vegetarians, salad bar, and a healthy dessert. Supper is a light meal and is eaten together in community. Food options typically include a hearty soup, a meat, a variety of vegetables, crackers, salad bar, and a healthy dessert.

What's Included

Meals.
Meditation.

What's Not Included

Airfare.

Customer Reviews

4.86 out of 5.0 average rating

Charles • Jul 20, 2026

5.0

Verified

Personal retreat healing

The Osage Forest of Peace will will always hold a special place in my heart. My first retreat there offered space for personal healing and growth. The staff and guests at that time were so nice and welcoming and I found myself opening up and communing more than I had imagined. It is also a place you can be contemplative on your own.
The walking trails are nice and would offer different experience with the seasons. And the food was so good, really great.
I am greatful that I attended.

Jan • Jul 19, 2026

5.0

Verified

Always a beautiful experience

Attended the 3rd Saturday sangha and, as always, am grateful for this beautiful space and the people to share it with. Lunch is a special treat after a morning of meditation.

Susannah • Jul 07, 2026

4.0

Verified

I thought everything started at 6.

It actually did not start until 6:30, then dinner was half an hour. Then the presentation started. The woman projected well and was a good speaker/actress, but the man had a feeble voice and read right into his folder. It was supposed to be over at 8:00, but still going at 8:10. I had to meet a friend at the airport, so I had to leave before it was over. It's a long way to drive there, no matter where you are coming from, then an hour wait for it to begin, then more than an hour presentation, then the long trip home. The food was good and the presentation was sincere, but I do not believe it should have taken so long. Maybe just drinks and finger food if eating is important. Definitely don't invite people to arrive at 6 and then wait half an hour to eat. Another time I would just grab a snack in the car and arrive 7;00 when it actually starts. Time it so you know how long the presentation really is. If it is 1,5 hours, olam for that. Just whatever it is. The best part of the evening was when the African American lady spoke. I enjoyed every minute of what she had to offer.

Karen • Jun 25, 2026

5.0

Verified

Pleasantly Surprised

My friend and I hiked this early one weekday morning. Very, very serene and peaceful. Looks to be very well kept. I’m planning to get a cabin during the week soon. You will not be disappointed!

Kendel • Jun 24, 2026

5.0

Verified

Peace Indeed

I sought out Osage Forest of Peace after my husband had died.. I was feeling spiritually exhausted and was seeking to “lose self” and draw closer to God’s presence in my new and bewildering reality. My first experience at the Forest of Peace was their 2026 Summer Solstice weekend, and I now know that I have found my retreat and respite for future periods of reflection and meditation. The forest stewards provided the most delicious food, coziest accommodations and loving guidance I could have found anywhere, all for an affordable price and a thirty minute drive from home. There is no condemnation, judgement, or misunderstanding here. My only concern was to spray myself consistently in hopes of avoiding ticks; given the current wet season and the beautiful forest setting, all of us had to be mindful of this, but the benefits of the meditations, a forest bath and a sound bath far outweighed the inconvenience of applying tick/mosquito repellent periodically.

I did start out on a walk on a trail that was rewarding me with sights of mushrooms, anthills, rocks, leaves and more treats to the point that two hours had passed and I could not find the trail head to guide me back to the main site. I wasn’t “lost”-I could tell where I was on the map-but need help finding the way back. Help was a phone call away, and David found me and guided me back. I had reached my limits physically and am forever grateful for his coming and assisting me in finding my way.

Anyone seeking a welcoming place in their life may be assured that the Osage Forest of Peace is there for us. It can be a challenging world, and I thank God and the hardy nuns from 1980 for giving us this precious resource for our souls. We need to support the forest and one another in our journeys here on earth, for ourselves and those who will come.

Advent Retreat 2026: From Darkness Into Light

Retreat Highlights

About this Retreat

Details of this retreat

Schedule

Getting Here

Directions