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Joy & Appreciation - A Thanksgiving Retreat

Name: Joy & Appreciation - A Thanksgiving Retreat
Start: 2026-11-27
End: 2026-11-29
Location: Ratna Ling Retreat Center
Rating: 4.95

4.95270 reviews

November 27 - 29, 2026

About this Retreat

Your Guides

George

Karmyn

George Wiegand

George Wiegand is our well-known and loved meditation teacher and volunteer at Ratna Ling. He has been a student of our Founder Tarthang Tulku and a full-time volunteer in Nyingma organizations for 40 years, as a chef, baker, kitchen manager, temple builder, book binder, and pressman.

He earned his Masters of Education in Counseling in 1974. After teaching high school while in the Peace Corps, he served as a Counselor at a Catholic high school before moving to California in search of a meditation teacher. He intensively trained in Tibetan Yoga (Kum Nye) from 1982-1986 at the Nyingma Institute in Berkeley, and then moved to the Odiyan country center.

George describes his daily practice as meditation in action, working on projects in the Nyingma community, cooking, baking, building temples, printing, binding books, and teaching Tibetan meditation. His active meditation has been a solitary practice, internally studying the working of his own mind as he performs dharma activities. Some of his greatest lessons have come from caring for a dying parent and teaching communication to teenagers at a mindfulness-based youth treatment center.

His hobbies include bread baking, basketball, and choir singing.

Karmyn Ojeda

Karmyn Ojeda Egle is a devoted practitioner and teacher whose journey bridges the realms of physical awareness, meditative practice, and Tibetan Buddhist wisdom. Karmyn has dedicated herself to exploring the intricate connection between body and mind through the transformative practice of Kum Nye, a Tibetan healing system. Karmyn’s practice resonates with those seeking a meaningful integration of body, mind, and spirit. Through her guidance in Kum Nye, Yoga, and meditation, she creates spaces where practitioners can cultivate deep relaxation, heightened presence, and a profound connection to themselves and the world around them.

Karmyn is trained in Meditation, Reiki, Therapeutic Yoga, Breath-based Hatha Yoga (200 RYT), and a 300-hour Yoga Teacher Training. Her training encompasses intensive retreats and seminars across Europe, the United States, South America, and Asia, drawing on those experiences to design inclusive classes with a warm, grounded presence.

Originally from Argentina, Karmyn moved to the USA in 2018, where she has been a full-time volunteer at Ratna Ling, supporting diverse activities. Her practice is infused with a love for nature, motherhood, gardening, cooking, and the artistry of textiles, reflecting an aesthetic sensibility and mindfulness in everyday life.

Details of this retreat

For this special Thanksgiving retreat, we are offering a sliding scale to allow you to give what you can. We hope you can join us!

For many folks, Thanksgiving weekend is a time to feast, gather with family, give thanks for each other, and shop the Black Friday sales.

But maybe you need something different for yourself this year. Maybe you want silence, time to do less, a space to eat less, and an opportunity to be offline.

Ratna Ling is offering this weekend as a time to still give thanks, but to also experience the joy of silence, solitude, slowness, and being in nature. This retreat is a time to feel appreciation for yourself and your life, and reflect on all the things you are grateful for.

The schedule includes:

Silent Mornings
Meditation
Dharma Talks + Discussion
Journaling + Reflection
Movement + Relaxation
Nature Walk

Schedule (Subject to change):

FRIDAY

3pm Check in
5:30 Dinner
6:30-8pm Welcome, Journaling, and Meditation

SATURDAY

Please observe silence from waking until 9am.

7am Meditation - George
8am Silent Breakfast
9-10:30am Cultivating Joy & Appreciation - Linda + George
11:30am Nature Walk - Carmen
12:15 Lunch, Free Time
4:30pm Kum Nye - Carmen
5:30pm Dinner
7-8pm Relaxation + Sound Meditation - Linda

SUNDAY

Please observe silence from waking until closing circle.

8am Kum Nye - Carmen
9am Closing Circle
10am Brunch
12pm Check Out

For directions to Ratna Ling - Ratna Ling Retreat Center 35755 Hauser Bridge Rd Cazadero, CA 95421
Accommodations are beautiful lux cabins

Ratna Ling Lotus House - New

ADDITIONAL DETAILS

Transportation to/from Ratna Ling is NOT included - carpooling encouraged
Payments are nonrefundable and transferable to a future Ratna Ling stay or retreat
Each cottage includes TWO private rooms with queen beds, large dining & living area, gas fireplace, spacious deck, jetted tub, linens/towels/hand soap, kitchenette with tea & coffee, complimentary wireless internet.
Vegetarian meals are served during our weekend together.

What people are saying about this retreat:

“I really liked the slow movement aspects f the walking around the temple and the Kum Nye. I appreciated the space and time, and the kindness of the leaders and the participants.”
“The retreat offered good reminders that we are not our thoughts. Made space and time for me to reflect.”
“I enjoyed the secular nature of the program and the time for introspection and sharing. The teachers seemed so happy to be here."

“The environment here along with the program's teachings were so beneficial. I easily found peace and tranquility with the space that the cottage afforded me."
“The schedule was perfect to experience everything without feeling rushed. My favorite part was the temple tour and nature walk.”
“I appreciated the structure of the program and the experience of the teachers."

Getting Here

Ratna Ling Retreat Center

Directions

San Francisco International and Oakland International airports are approximately three hours south of Ratna Ling by car. Alaska Airlines flies to and from Sonoma County Airport in Santa Rosa which is approximately 1.5 hours from Ratna Ling by car. Unfortunately, there are no shuttles that bring you directly to Ratna Ling, so it is best to rent a car or email us to support in coordinating a carpool with fellow retreatants.

Accommodation

14 guest cottages on 120 acres of property. Each spacious, quiet cottage has 2 private rooms, with high ceilings and a deck with a view. Cottages include jet tubs (or ADA shower), towels, deluxe linens, refrigerator, tea kettle, coffee/tea, kitchen sink/counter, diningware, dining table, and living room with a stove fireplace. Free wifi available and a landline telephone. Guests can choose to have an exclusive cottage for ONE person; a private room for ONE person in a SHARED cottage; or a cottage for TWO people. Any additional guest after TWO is $100 per person per night. Meals and classes 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

Three miles from the beautiful Sonoma coast. Organic, vegetarian meals. 120 acres of redwoods, canyons, reservoirs, and wildlife. Sacred architecture timber cottages and communal spaces. Featured stupas, gardens, and temple empowered by Tibetan Buddhist Lama Tarthang Tulku Rinpoche.

Meals

Menu Types

Vegan

Vegetarian

Pescetarian

Ayurvedic

Includes Meat

Organic

Gluten Free

Dairy Free

Nut Free

All of our meals are organic and vegetarian, made with love and care. We provide homemade yogurt and granola for breakfast. Lunches and dinners always include salads or salad bar. Each meal is self-served on a buffet table.

Customer Reviews

4.95 out of 5.0 average rating

Anonymous • Sep 15, 2026

5.0

Verified

Amazing!

Absolutely amazing! What a wonderful weekend spent at Ratna Ling.
Property- Beautiful and peacefully located in the redwoods. All around views. The cabins are very cozy with lush bedding. The food was so tasty and healthy. Everything is grown at the property or is locally sourced.
The yoga classes and the itinerary in general were so thought out. Went for a hike to the beach which was just a 2 miles drive down the road a a 4 mile round trip hike to the water. Through the redwoods then out onto the beach.
You arrive. Park your car. And from there you don't have to think about anything. It is all set out for you.
Planning to return in May.
Oh I do not miss the Temple tour. Unbelievably beautiful was not expecting to see what I saw when they opened the doors. Not to be missed!

Natasha • Sep 09, 2026

5.0

Verified

Amazing experience

I attended Ratna Ling’s “A Weekend of Self-Care” retreat over Labor Day weekend, and it was truly one of the best things I have ever done for myself. From the moment I arrived, the peaceful natural surroundings made it feel possible to slow down, breathe, and step away from the responsibilities and noise of everyday life.

The retreat offered a beautiful balance of guided classes, quiet reflection, meaningful connection with other women, and time to simply be alone. Rosalyn White and Erica Martzen created a warm, welcoming environment where I felt comfortable participating if I wanted to, there was never any pressure. Nothing felt forced or overwhelming. The cottages were a comfortable peaceful place to rest. The food was gluten free and vegan. This isn’t my usual diet but I tried many new things and I was all very good. Prepared right there on the property fresh everyday.

What made the weekend so meaningful was having the space to reconnect with myself and find a sense of peace within. I left feeling lighter, more grounded, and reminded that caring for myself is not selfish but necessary.

If you are a woman who spends most of her time caring for everyone else, feels emotionally drained, or simply needs space to reset, I wholeheartedly recommend this retreat. You do not need to have experience with yoga, meditation, or retreats… I had zero experience with any of it and felt totally welcomed. Ratna Ling is a very special place, and I hope to return.

Anna • Sep 08, 2026

5.0

Verified

Wonderful connection and reset!

Ratna Ling is a very special place filled with warmth and beauty. Expect to find inspiration, connection, and new ways of living in your daily life. Erica and Rosalyn were wonderful teachers, the food was amazing, and I will always remember my time here. Highly recommend!

Rosalyn • Sep 08, 2026

5.0

Verified

Ratna Ling Shines Like A Jewel

It was a joy to lead a retreat with Erica M. this past weekend. The exquisite facilities are beautifully designed and well-maintained. The gardens and natural landscape surrounding it are lovely and peaceful. The food was wonderful, fresh, and healthy. The staff was helpful and friendly and showed a connection to the spiritual tradition on which Ratna Ling is based.

The people attending the retreat were a very nice mix. Some came from as far away as South Carolina, while most were from the Bay Area. They were professionals, from a nurse to a tech industry worker to a retired Wall Street stockbroker. Many were there for the first time., but there was a quick bond that formed, based on an openness to caring and kindness. Many people shared their contact info to stay connected with each other.

Thank you, Ratna Ling, for providing the space to allow this amazing connection to take place.

Angi • Sep 02, 2026

4.0

Verified

Time away but still present

As was my time last year, overall a very pleasant experience. The cabin is lovely and very comfortable. The food was very good for me. I most appreciated the special little meals that were brought to me because of my not being able to tolerate onions and garlic. The room for yoga was perfect, as was David's yoga. David is the best and he made my yoga and meditation experiences really special. Meditation in the temple was an experience I will carry with me for a long time. I don't want to say anything negative, but I think you should be aware that the shower valve in Cabin 17 is really faulty and getting scalded by hot water is a real possibility. It is impossible to adjust the water to STAY at a comfortable level for any length of time before it reverts to scalding or cold. There is a provision in California law regarding water temperature setting for facilities used by individuals who have no control over water temperature i.e. apartment buildings, rentals etc. and the temperature setting is much lower than what the setting is for your cabins. The regulation valve should be repaired and the water temperature turned down. The salad on our first meal on Friday was not fresh and was wilted and had spoiled leaves throughout. Otherwise, the food was great. I hope next year we are back in the cabins that are closer to the main lodge, as we had to drive to the lodge each day, because the walk would have been too much for me in addition to yoga.
I love coming to Ratna Ling and will continue as long as I can. ☮️ ❤️ Angi Shine

Joy & Appreciation - A Thanksgiving Retreat

About this Retreat

Your Guides

George Wiegand

Karmyn Ojeda

Details of this retreat

Getting Here

Directions

Accommodation

Venue & Amenities

Meals

Menu Types

Amazing!

Amazing experience

Wonderful connection and reset!

Ratna Ling Shines Like A Jewel

Time away but still present

For 1 guest in a Private Room, Shared Cottage

Have a question for your host?

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