Immersive Retreat · August 21 - 23 + Monday, 2026
Finding Inner Peace in an Unpeaceful World
A Long-Weekend Retreat with Susan Drury at Amethyst Retreat Center
Date
August 21 - 23 + Monday, 2026
Location
Amethyst Retreat Center
Format
In-Person Long-Weekend Retreat
What Would It Be Like to Discover a Peace That the World Cannot Disturb?
We live in a time of extraordinary turbulence. The news cycle churns with conflict and uncertainty. The pace of modern life leaves little room for stillness. And even in our quietest moments, the inner world can feel just as chaotic as the outer one - a restless stream of worries, doubts, and the lingering echoes of experiences we have not yet fully processed.
Yet within each of us, beneath the noise and the busyness and the habitual patterns of the mind, there exists a place of remarkable, unshakeable peace. It is not something we need to create or achieve. It is something we need to remember - and to learn how to return to, again and again, no matter what is happening around us.
This long-weekend retreat at the beautiful Amethyst Retreat Center is an invitation to step out of the turbulence and into that place of peace. Guided by the ancient wisdom of the Tao te Ching and the compassionate, masterful facilitation of Susan Drury, you will explore how meditation, contemplation, and intentional action can expand your experience of peace ... not as an escape from the world, but as a way of being fully present within it.
The Tao te Ching, one of the world's most beloved spiritual texts, offers a radical vision of peace - not as the absence of conflict, but as a deep alignment with the natural flow of life. Over the course of this retreat, Susan will guide you into the heart of this wisdom, helping you discover how its teachings can transform not only your inner experience, but the way you move through every aspect of your daily life.
During This Retreat, You Will Experience:
Daily guided meditations designed to quiet the mind, open the heart, and connect you with the deep wellspring of peace that lives within you
Study and teachings on the Tao te Ching - exploring how this ancient text speaks directly to the challenges and opportunities of our modern lives
Gentle Chi Gung practice each morning - easy and accessible regardless of physical abilities, designed to harmonize body, breath, and spirit
Contemplative practices that help you turn your attention away from the turbulence of the outer world and toward the spaciousness of your inner landscape
Guided inquiry into the patterns of thought and emotion that keep you in a state of inner unrest - and how to compassionately dissolve them
Free time for personal integration, journaling, walking the grounds, and engaging with the natural beauty of the Amethyst Retreat Center property
Communal meals prepared with care and intention, shared in an atmosphere of warmth and connection
The option to remain in silence throughout the retreat - honored and respected for those who choose this path
Session Themes
Friday: Arriving in Stillness
Opening circle and intention setting - creating a sacred container for the weekend
Introduction to the Tao te Ching as a guide for finding peace in turbulent times
Guided meditation: Turning inward - discovering the stillness beneath the noise
Evening contemplation and gentle Chi Gung practice
Saturday: The Heart of Peace
Morning Chi Gung and meditation to open the day with presence and ease
Deep teachings on the Tao te Ching: The art of non-resistance and flowing with life
Guided inquiry: Exploring the inner turbulence that mirrors the outer world - and how to bring compassion to both
Afternoon free time for personal integration, nature walks, and journaling
Evening meditation: Expanding into spaciousness - letting peace fill the places where tension once lived
Sunday: Embodying Peace
Morning Chi Gung and meditation - anchoring the peace you have cultivated into your body
Teachings on intentional action: How to carry the wisdom of the Tao into your daily life
Closing circle: Sharing insights, setting intentions, and blessing each other's journeys forward
Monday: Integration & Private Sessions
An additional day for those who wish to deepen their experience
Opportunities for private one-on-one sessions with Susan in the afternoon
Personal time for reflection, journaling, and gentle integration of the weekend's teachings
"The Tao that can be told is not the eternal Tao. The name that can be named is not the eternal name. The nameless is the beginning of heaven and earth. The named is the mother of ten thousand things. Ever desireless, one can see the mystery. Ever desiring, one can see the manifestations."
- Tao te Ching, Chapter 1
What Participants Say
"Susan's meditations have been a game changer for me. I can't speak highly enough about Susan and this community and the positive shifts I have had in my life since beginning."
- Carrie Bebenek
"I feel much gratitude for the teachings Susan offers. I find the sessions assist me to connect more deeply with myself. Susan skillfully creates a safe, neutral, healing space where 'all' are welcome."
- Georgia Hill
"Susan's class gives me a specific time to sit quietly and be with myself. This work has helped me calm myself and has helped me in many aspects of my life. I always leave our sessions with words of wisdom and a sense of calm."
- Barbara McCarthy
About Susan Drury
Transformational Mentor & Teacher
Susan has been teaching meditation and healing for more than 25 years. Her self-exploration and meditation techniques help you step into an expanded field of awareness and experience a remarkable connection with yourself. Her background includes 30 years of professional training, certification, and practice in craniosacral therapy, homeopathy, the Present Child Method, and Transference Healing.
A Retreat Into the Heart of Stillness
There is a particular quality of peace that can only be found when we step away from the demands of daily life and give ourselves permission to simply be. This retreat is designed to create exactly that kind of space - a space where the nervous system can settle, the mind can quiet, and the heart can open to a deeper experience of life.
The Amethyst Retreat Center provides the perfect setting for this kind of inner work. Nestled in the natural beauty of its surroundings, the center offers a sanctuary from the noise and speed of the modern world. The property itself becomes a teacher - inviting you to slow down, to notice, to breathe, and to remember what it feels like to be at peace.
Susan's approach to this retreat is deeply rooted in the wisdom of the Tao te Ching - a text that has guided seekers toward inner peace for over 2,500 years. But this is not an academic study. It is a lived experience. Through meditation, contemplation, gentle movement, and the kind of honest self-inquiry that can only happen in a space of absolute safety, you will discover how the ancient wisdom of the Tao speaks directly to the challenges you face in your own life today.
Whether you are new to meditation and spiritual practice or have been on this path for many years, this retreat will meet you exactly where you are. Susan has a rare gift for making the most striking teachings feel accessible, practical, and deeply personal. You will leave not only with a greater understanding of peace, but with a felt sense of it in your body - and with tools and practices to sustain that peace in your daily life.
Private Sessions with Susan
For those who wish to go even deeper, Susan is offering private one-on-one sessions before and after the retreat weekend. These sessions provide an opportunity for personalized guidance, healing, and exploration tailored to your unique journey and the specific challenges you are navigating in your life.
Private sessions are available on Thursday and Friday morning before the retreat begins, as well as Monday afternoon following the retreat. These sessions are offered on a first-come, first-served basis and tend to fill quickly.
Thursday
Before retreat
Friday Morning
Before retreat
Monday Afternoon
After retreat
What to Expect
Daily gentle Chi Gung practice ... easy and available regardless of physical abilities, designed to harmonize body, breath, and energy
Study and teachings on the Tao te Ching - exploring its timeless wisdom as a guide for navigating the complexities of modern life with grace
Guided meditations to deepen your connection with the stillness and peace that already exist within you
Free time for personal integration, nature walks, journaling, and quiet reflection amidst the beautiful surroundings
Communal meals shared in an atmosphere of warmth and mindful connection
The option to remain in silence ... for those who prefer this, it will be honored and respected throughout the retreat
A small, intimate group setting that allows for genuine connection and personalized attention from Susan
About Amethyst Retreat Center
The Amethyst Retreat Center is a sanctuary dedicated to healing, growth, and spiritual renewal. Set amidst the natural beauty of its surroundings, the center offers a peaceful, nurturing environment that is ideal for the kind of deep inner work this retreat invites. The grounds, the accommodations, and the atmosphere all contribute to an experience of being held ... allowing you to fully relax, let go, and open to the transformation that awaits.
Visit Amethyst Retreat CenterStep out of the noise and into the stillness. Join Susan at the beautiful Amethyst Retreat Center for a long weekend of peace, wisdom, and deep inner renewal.
Visit Amethyst Retreat Center for Registration