This retreat is for thoughtful, capable adults who are familiar with the work of self-inquiry. People who are already competent in their lives, but open to seeing things differently.

It isn't crisis intervention, and none of us are licensed to provide it. If you're in immediate distress, please get that care first.

It also isn't for someone looking for a passive experience or a guaranteed answer handed to them, and it isn't for people looking to make every relational issue someone else's fault. Some self-accountability is required. You'll never be asked to take responsibility for someone else's harmful behavior, only to examine your own patterns.

This retreat takes place in a rustic setting with camping and uneven ground, so we ask that you be in relatively good health. If you're unsure whether the setting will work for you, reach out before applying.

Stone Hearth runs April 23-25, 2027, at Denham Forest in Auberry, in the Sierra foothills.

• Friday arrival: 2:00–4:00 p.m.

• Sunday departure: approximately 2:00 p.m.

• Applications close September 20

We keep the group small on purpose, and we personally call every applicant before the retreat happens.

• Camping space for your tent or camper (plenty of room for either)

• Outhouses and an outdoor shower on site

• Homemade hot meals throughout the weekend (community-prepared, everyone pitches in on prep and cleanup)

• All primary workshops and group sessions

• Access to the fire circle, dream circle, and evening activities

• Your own tent or camper

• Drinking water for the weekend

• A notebook. You'll want it for dream logging and workshop reflection

• Extra snacks or nonalcoholic drinks, if you'd like them

• This is a sober event. Please don't bring alcohol or other substances

We've kept Stone Hearth Retreat affordable on purpose. This work should be accessible, not exclusive.

• $297 single attendee

• $497 couple

Includes camping space, all workshops, and homemade meals throughout the weekend.

Optional add-on: A private 30-minute 1-on-1 Dream Session with Michael is available for those who want more individual attention. Limited to 5 sessions. Add it at the time of purchase, or at the retreat while spots last.

Friday, Arrive & Connect
Arrive between 2:00 and 4:00 p.m., set up camp, and settle into the land and the community. The evening includes introductions around the fire, dinner at sunset, and storytelling woven with dreamwork.

Saturday, Find & Map
The day opens with dream logging at sunrise and movement. Throughout the day, you'll move between men's and women's activities, time in nature, and Michael's three keynote workshops, designed to help you find and map your own hidden patterns. Shared meals are provided throughout, and the evening closes with live music around the fire. Bring a notebook, and come ready to go deep.

Sunday, Integrate & Relate
The day opens with a sunrise ceremony and moves into the final two workshops, Ego Integration and Compassionate Relating, focused on bringing what you've discovered into daily life. After lunch, we close in a circle together before departing around 2:00 p.m.

The complete schedule and preparation details will be sent by email after you sign up. Some activities may shift slightly with weather or the needs of the group.

What if I don't dream, or can't remember any?
You don't need to. We can do the same work with a meaningful scene from your life, free association, or a story that's stayed with you. Dreams are one doorway in, not the only one.

When you say camping, what do you mean?
You bring and set up your own tent or camper. There are outhouses and an outdoor shower on site. Bring your own drinking water. Hot meals are covered, and everyone pitches in on prep and cleanup. This is a sober event; this work requires presence.

I'm coming alone.
Great. Singles are just as welcome as couples. Hidden Survival Patterns shape how we date and protect ourselves, not just how we behave inside a current relationship.

Do I have to share everything with the group?
No. You decide what you're ready to say out loud. Facilitators hold clear confidentiality agreements, and the work is designed to reach real depth without pushing anyone past what they can hold.