Reframe: Yourself, Others and the World with Philosophical and Spiritual Practice

We are living through a shortage of wisdom. Digital worlds, the decline of inherited belief, global uncertainty, a loneliness crisis, and the equation of productivity with personal value all intensify one another, leaving many people feeling unmoored, disconnected, and without meaning. This festival offers a response: a chance to reframe.

The challenge is not only intellectual, but whole-person. It shapes how we understand ourselves, how we relate to others, and how we make sense of the world. Over 4 days in the crisp Colorado mountain air, you will listen to talks, practice together, share meals, and live in community as part of an integrated experience.

This is more than a break from routine. Through a blend of eye-opening theory and practical exercises, the program is designed to help you notice the patterns moving through your inner life and your relationships, and to meet them with greater awareness and agency. In short: reframe and live well.

What to Expect

Each day starts with a teacher’s talk, followed by morning practice, lunch, an afternoon practice, dinner, and an evening wind-down.

The talks place ideas within a larger perspective, while the practice sessions combine meditation, embodiment, practical philosophy, and dialogue to support insight and well-being. The festival also gives you space to shape your own experience.

You may choose to participate fully or take time for reflection and integration. Either way, the rhythm is designed to support both active engagement and contemplative pause.

Why Attend?

If you feel unsure about where you or the world is headed, and books and podcasts have not given you a clear next step, this retreat may be for you.

If you already practice meditation or yoga but still struggle to find lasting peace with yourself, others, or the world, you will have the opportunity to explore additional practices.

If you are seeking happiness or wrestling with the question of meaning, this retreat offers another way to approach both.

If you want to engage in transformative practice alongside like-minded seekers, explorers, and professional helpers, you will be in good company.

And if you care about your own well-being, the well-being of others, or the well-being of the planet, and are open to having your assumptions challenged in service of something better, this retreat is a strong fit.

Teacher Testimonials

"Everything we did aimed to align the mind and body. So that the physical and mental aspects were in constant dialogue, thereby better communicating with the world and the people around. To reconnect with our human nature and communicate what one truly feels and what's happening, without any fear."

"I appreciate how this workshop allowed us to experience more than one [domain], which reflects a fuller range of human experience – how we come in contact with the world, process information and express ourselves."

"The most powerful thing for me about this course was a sense of courage, which sprang from the web of connection within myself and between us. I found myself to be more truly myself, as well as really recognizing myself to be just a single stand in the whole boundless web. There is a sense in me now that we can make sense of the world together, not in a dried-out textbook way but in a way that unites the head and the heart. From this unity we can act."

Retreat Faculty

Ethan Hsieh works at the intersection of actor training and 4E cognitive science. With an MA in Professional Practice: Theatre and Drama Facilitation from Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts, Ethan has designed and delivered transformational community-building programs, retreats, and workshops in Taiwan, Japan, Indonesia, France, Czechia, and Singapore.

Taylor Barratt, Director of Practice and Education with Awaken to Meaning, brings more than 13 years of experience in facilitation, design, and training. Together with John, he has played a key role in the design and pedagogical execution of TIAMAT.

Dr. John Vervaeke is a cognitive scientist and award-winning educator at the University of Toronto. His research and publications span relevance realization, general intelligence, mindfulness, and wisdom. He is the principal designer of a range of philosophical practices, including Dialectic-into-Dialogos and Socratic Search Space.

Rick Repetti, PhD. is a philosophical consultant and Socratic dialogue facilitator, a faculty member of the Philosophical Practitioners Association of India, a meditation instructor at ATM, a founding member of the CUNY Mindfulness and Contemplative Studies group, a long-time practitioner and instructor of meditation and yoga, and a 4th degree black belt in Shotokan Karate.

Lodging

Several accommodation options are available during checkout. All choices include healthy meals and drinks. Inc V, VG, GF.

Single and Double Tents
Located in campgrounds throughout the property, these 12′ x 14′ tents include two twin beds, two bookcases, and a hanging clothes rack.* Each campground has a shared bathhouse. Summer platform tents are available from late May through early September. A tent may be booked as a single or as a double with a roommate.

Some campgrounds were affected by a recent wildfire, and signs of that impact may still be visible this summer, though the areas remain safe to use.

Bedding is not provided. Please bring your own twin sheets, blanket or sleeping bag, pillow, and towels.

Dormitories
Rooms sleep up to 7–8 people and are gender-segregated, with men in one dorm and women in another. Bathrooms are shared down the hall and include shower stalls.

Monk Rooms
A budget-friendly option for those seeking indoor, private lodging without a private bathroom. These rooms are located in the same hall as the Ridgen Dormitories and offer more privacy than the dorms. They include a bed, bedding, a private room and closet, plus a large window, desk, and desk chair for added comfort.

Single and Double Rooms
A good choice if you want your own space and your own bathroom. Each room includes a little more space, a dresser and closet, and an attached 3/4 bath with toilet, sink, and shower, but no bathtub.

Junior Suite
The Lodge Junior Suites feature a queen-size bed with a cozy comforter, a desk, dresser, closet, private bath with bathtub, and a sitting area.