The Sacred Pause
Journey Within
Registration is now open · Early bird rates through November 11, 2026
A gentle invitation to pause
In the depth of winter, when the natural world grows quiet and the land rests beneath the cold, we invite you to rest, too: to step away from the busyness of daily life, set down what you’ve been carrying, and give yourself the gift of a true pause.
You don’t need to arrive with a finished question, a writing project, or a particularly peaceful mind. Come as you are: tired, full, curious, uncertain, or simply longing for a little more room inside your life. We’ll begin there, together.
Over this intimate weekend, Shey will guide us into meditation and contemplative practice, and Valley will offer writing practices that invite what is waiting within you to find its way onto the page. Around and between them, there will be room for silence, shared meals, gentle ritual, rest, and unhurried time in Richmond Hill’s gardens and on its labyrinth.
Many of you have shared practice with us online, and those circles hold a closeness and depth we treasure. This weekend adds something lovely alongside them: the chance to gather in the same room and practice in one another’s presence.
This is a space held with care, where there is nothing to perform, produce, or figure out. We trust that when we slow down together, something larger than any of us has room to move among us. All are welcome.
Who this retreat is for
The Sacred Pause may speak to you if you are:
- longing for a true pause, a chance to breathe and remember yourself
- feeling stretched thin, inwardly crowded, or ready for renewal
- missing time to write, reflect, or simply be
- drawn to meditation, writing, or contemplative practice, whether you’re beginning or returning
- hoping for both solitude and the warmth of kindred company
- someone who has practiced with Shey or Valley online and would enjoy gathering in person, too
No writing or meditation experience is needed. Only a willingness to come as you are.
If this speaks to you, there’s a place for you in our circle.
The gifts of this weekend
Meditation
With Shey’s gentle guidance, you’ll be invited to settle beneath the momentum of daily life and meet what is here. Whether you’ve practiced for decades or never before, you may find your breath slowing, your heart softening, and a quiet clarity returning.
Writing
Valley’s writing invitations open a door to memories, longings, questions, and stories you may not have known were waiting. There’s no need to consider yourself a writer, to write “well,” or to share anything you’d rather keep private. The page becomes a place to listen differently.
Quiet
In a world that rarely stops asking for our attention, quiet can become its own form of nourishment. There will be generous time for journaling, rest, walking the labyrinth, sitting by a window, or simply being.
Community, in person
Gathering in person adds another layer to the connection many of us already share: meditating side by side, hearing one another’s words read aloud, laughter over supper, the hush of a room where everyone is breathing together. With just twelve of us, the weekend remains intimate and personal.
The shape of our weekend
We’re intentionally creating a retreat with room in it. Rather than hurrying from one activity to the next, our days will unfold within Richmond Hill’s contemplative rhythm of prayer, meals, quiet, and community.
Friday
Arrive from 4:00 p.m. and settle in. At 5:00 p.m. we’ll gather for an opening circle to begin our pause together, then share supper.
Saturday
A full and unhurried day of meditation, writing, reflection, community, rest, and time in the gardens and on the labyrinth.
Sunday
Morning practice, then at noon we’ll join Shey’s Feast for the Soul meditation together. We’ll share a light lunch and close with a simple ceremony by 2:00 p.m., leaving time to pack and depart at your own pace by 4:00 p.m.
Our detailed schedule is still being shaped with care. What matters most is that the weekend embodies what we’re teaching:
less hurry, more listening.
What you may carry home
Our intention is that you leave with a lived relationship to meditation and writing, not just ideas about them, but simple practices you can return to anytime. You may also carry home pages of your own writing, new companionship, and perhaps a clearer sense of what matters now.
Not answers to everything. Something quieter:
a place within yourself you know how to return to.
Meet your guides
Shey Khandro
Shey Khandro is a meditation teacher, transformational guide, and sacred artist who has spent more than 30 years exploring the meeting place of creativity, contemplation, and inner awakening. A former Tibetan Buddhist nun, Shey brings the depth of a lifelong practice together with a warmth and accessibility that help everyone feel at home, whether they’re new to meditation or have practiced for years.
Valley Jane
Valley Jane is the founder of Writing Fire, a practice rooted in the belief that writing can be both reflection and ritual. An award-winning teacher, memoirist, and retreat leader, Valley creates sacred spaces where people can quiet the noise of daily life and hear their own inner wisdom. Her work weaves together creativity, presence, energy work, and guided meditation.
Dusk over the city, from the grounds of Richmond Hill
The setting
Richmond Hill is a contemplative retreat house in the heart of Richmond, devoted to prayer, hospitality, spiritual growth, and healing. Its grounds hold contemplative gardens and a Chartres-style labyrinth, and its days follow a spacious rhythm of prayer, shared meals, and quiet. We’ve chosen to let the simplicity of this place become part of the retreat, not merely its backdrop.
A note about accommodations
Richmond Hill is a retreat house rather than a hotel, and its rooms are intentionally simple and spare. Linens and towels are provided, and most bathrooms are shared and located down the hall, so you may want to bring your toiletries and a cozy robe and slippers. We love this simplicity; it invites us, for a few days, to set aside some of the usual comforts and complexity of everyday life.
Richmond Hill’s first-floor spaces are connected by ramps, and an elevator serves the guest rooms. One single room has an accessible bathroom with grab bars and a shower seat, and two other bathrooms have walk-in showers. The route through the garden to the labyrinth is paved and step-free, though a few smaller garden paths are dirt.
If you have mobility, accessibility, or other needs, please reach out before registering. We’ll gladly share more details and help find the best fit for you.
Coming with someone, or on your own
Some people love to share an experience like this with a friend, partner, sister, or fellow traveler on the path. Our shared rooms are a natural fit if you’d like to come together. And if you’re coming on your own, please know you’ll be warmly welcomed. Sometimes the most meaningful connections begin with simply arriving.
A gift for yourself, or someone you love
So often we give our care, time, and energy to everyone else. This retreat is an invitation to turn some of that care toward yourself.
And if someone in your life comes to mind as you read this, you’re welcome to give a retreat place as a gift. With the holidays approaching, it can be a beautiful way to say, “You deserve a pause, too.” Simply reserve a place in their name when you register. If you’d like it to be a surprise, add a note and we’ll gently coordinate the details with you.
Retreat details
- Dates
- Friday, January 22 – Sunday, January 24, 2027
- Location
- Richmond Hill
2209 E Grace St, Richmond, VA 23223
richmondhillva.org - Arrival
- Friday from 4:00 p.m.; opening circle at 5:00 p.m. Early arrivals are welcome to drop off luggage and enjoy the gardens or neighborhood, though rooms aren’t guaranteed before 4:00.
- Closing
- Sunday at 2:00 p.m.; departure by 4:00 p.m.
- Group size
- Limited to 12 participants
Investment
Your retreat includes two nights’ lodging, meals from Friday supper through a light lunch on Sunday, all meditation and writing sessions, and use of Richmond Hill’s contemplative grounds. Please let us know about any dietary needs when you register.
A $400 deposit reserves your place, with the balance due December 21, 2026. Registrations received after December 21 are paid in full at registration.
Our full cancellation policy, including how we handle winter weather, is shared when you register.
Join us
If you’re longing for a quieter rhythm, for time to rest, write, meditate, and listen in the company of kindred spirits, we would be honored to welcome you, whether you come on your own, with a dear friend, or as a gift from someone who loves you.
Registration is now open. Because our circle is small, we encourage you to reserve your place early.
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