Autumn Retreat-Upstate NY 2026

AUTUMN INTO WINTER

A Taoist Qigong & Neigong Weekend Retreat

As Autumn deepens, the world begins to change.

The leaves have fallen. The days are shorter. The light is lower and quieter. What was vibrant and outward-moving through Summer has gradually been gathered back toward the roots.

In the Taoist seasonal calendar, 立冬 (Lìdōng), the Beginning of Winter, marks this profound turning point. It is not simply the arrival of cold weather, but a shift in the energetic rhythm of the natural world: growth slows, resources are gathered and stored, and life begins to conserve itself for the months ahead.

We will gather Upstate for a weekend at this threshold between Autumn and Winter—a time to honor what Autumn asks of us to release, refine and let go, while beginning to cultivate the qualities Winter will require: stillness, rootedness, warmth, conservation and deep resilience.

This is a weekend to step away from the noise and activity of ordinary life, settle into the quieter rhythm of the season, and give ourselves time to gather and replenish.

QIGONG

Our Qigong practices will begin with energy gathering, balancing and cleansing practices such as Golden Ball, Phoenix Cleans Its Feathers, and Phoenix & Dragon Breath.

We will also work with practices that become increasingly subtle and slow, attuning ourselves to the qualities of Heaven and Earth and to the inward-turning energy of the season.

Our primary movement set will be Five Celestial Animals Qigong, a practice of embodying the elemental energies through movement, breath, imagery and intention.

For those new to the form, the retreat offers a strong introduction. For those who already know it, we will have the opportunity to refine, deepen and refresh the practice.

As the weekend progresses, our movement will gradually become quieter and more rooted, reflecting the movement from late Autumn toward Winter.

NEIGONG / INNER PRACTICES

Our inner practices will follow the same seasonal arc.

We will begin with Autumnal Qi—using this late-Autumn time to foster the release of what is old, unnecessary or burdensome, both emotionally and energetically.

But release is only part of the process.

As Autumn gives way to Winter, what remains is gathered inward. We will turn toward practices that nourish and conserve our energy bodies and help us develop the deep reserves that support us through Winter.

We will circulate and balance Qi through the Microcosmic Orbit, then begin to expand this foundation into Kan & Li, the Taoist Fire and Water practice that brings these complementary energies together to “cook,” refine and nourish our Qi and Shen.

The emphasis will gradually shift from letting go → gathering → storing → rooting.

DREAM PRACTICE

Winter is traditionally associated with the deeper, quieter realms of dreaming and inner exploration. We won’t have enough time during the retreat to learn the entire Taoist Dream Practice, but we will begin with the practice of “inviting the dreams.” But what we can do is very special: We will nap together on Saturday afternoon… experiencing the ancient way of sleeping in community…

Participants will also receive a short list of things to bring to help record dreams during the retreat and continue the practice afterward.

STILLNESS & TRANSMISSION

There will also be time simply to be still.

The retreat’s practices will not be about filling every moment. The late-Autumn landscape itself teaches us something about slowing down, and we will make room for silence, rest and integration.

We will follow our energetic practices with Microcosmic Orbit Meditation, allowing the work to settle, balance and digest.

This will also give me the opportunity to offer direct transmission, as I received it from Mantak Chia, Masahiro Ouchi and other Tao teachers.

This energetic thread through time, heart-to-heart, is a beautiful part of a Tao path that cannot be replicated online. Through transmission, we carry a connection to our teacher’s teacher’s teacher—the living thread of lineage.

A WEEKEND AT THE THRESHOLD

This retreat is an opportunity to experience the seasonal turning not simply as an idea, but through your own body and energy.

We will release what has completed its cycle, gather what is essential, and begin to root ourselves for Winter.

There is something particularly powerful about practicing together at this time of year, when the natural world itself is teaching us to slow down, turn inward and conserve our life force.

Come step out of the usual rush and into the quieter rhythm of Autumn’s end.

Release. Gather. Root. Rest.

LOCATION

Sony Point is about 2.5 hours from New York City by bus. Cost is approximately $30 each way, and buses are quite frequent. We will coordinate transportation from the bus stop to the center.

TUITION / FEE

Included in your tuition are all teaching fees, meals, and shared-room accommodation.

We will be a small group, so you can request to share a room with a friend, or a roommate will be assigned.

You may be waitlisted for a single room, as single rooms cannot be confirmed until later.

Shared Room: $645 
Single Room Supplement: $160