Schools & Retreats

Founded in 1968, The Lama Foundation has served for over thirty-five years as a Meeting of the Ways for followers of all spiritual traditions who have sought to follow a more spiritual orientated lifestyle. Located approximately 20 miles north of Taos, New Mexico, Lama Foundation is about 109 acres, bordered by Carson National Forest to the north, east and south. Lama Foundation is extremely fortunate to have been guided to land with a natural mountain spring that supplies an ample amount of pristine water. The Foundation looks westward for some 100 miles on a clear day and nestles up against the Sangre de Cristo mountains to the east. The land and air itself feel special, imbued with a unique holy vibration that cannot help but nurture one's deepest places. From day one, the "Lama Beans" have created beautiful and sacred natural buildings that may give one an other-worldly, utopic feeling. From the original geodesic Dome, to the sky-lighted kitchen and to the unique Hermitages and residences, Lama Foundation has become a cutting edge school for natural building and permaculture practices. Lama Foundation has been well known since the early 1970's as one of the first spiritual retreat centers to welcome All spiritual traditions. Ram Dass collaborated with the Lama residents to create his seminal volume "Be Here Now" in 1970. The Sufi Saint Murshid Samuel Lewis chose Lama Foundation as his final resting place in 1971. There is a long list of other spiritual teachers who have taught at Lama including: Meher Baba, Stephen Levine, Jack Kornfield, Baba Hari Dass, Chogyam Trungpa Rinpoche, Father Thomas Keating, Rabbi Zalman Shachter-Shalomi, and Joshu Sasaki Roshi. Each summer, Lama still offers a diverse calendar of retreats and educational programs. There are also Hermitages available year-round.<br/>

Laughing Waters Tea Garden is a Retreat Center. on three acres of pristine piñon and sage-studded high desert, situated in the lap of the Sangre de Christo Mountains, a 15-minute drive from the Wild Rivers Park on the Rio Grande Gorge, 20 miles north of Taos, New Mexico, 20 miles south of the Colorado State Line, and featuring views of the Village of Questa, and Flag Mountain above Lama. Visit the grounds page for a visual sketch of the physical surroundings, and the process page for progress in bringing Laughing Waters Tea Garden into manifestation. Their purpose is to invite participants to creative events, such as Workshops and Performing Arts Productions.

Leaping Lizards is a licensed Educational Institution based on the Arts, since 1989, using certified teachers. Imagine traveling to outer space; imagine going back in time when dinosaurs lived; imagine what lives underground? At Leaping Lizards School and Camp they open your child's eyes to all these wonders and more. Leaping Lizards School helps children use their skills in imagination, observation, and critical thinking to understand new concepts. Leaping Lizards goal is to provide a safe and loving environment in which children can evolve into happy kids equipped with a wide range of skills, including language, coordination, balance, social, and manipulative skills. Leaping Lizards exciting programs include an introduction to science, letter recognition, numbers, arts and crafts, music, physical education, and field trips. Leaping Lizards encourages children to share and to play, fostering cooperative learning. Most important of all, our school and summer camp are places where a child can experience love and friendship away from home. Children possess a natural curiosity and a need for creative discovery. By exposing children to a variety of ideas, activities and facts, you can help them use their skills in imagination, observation and critical thinking to understand new concepts.

Lori tries to inject the mood or atmosphere of a place, person, or thing into her work. Lori teaches watercolor workshops for The Taos Institute of Arts. Lori's had 15 "One-Person" shows and has been included in many group shows and juried exhibitions<br/>

The Ocamora Retreat Center is a land-based retreat center on 265 unspoiled acres in Northern New Mexico. The land is rich and fertile with broad hay pastures, meadows, orchards, a stream, and mature organic gardens. Ocamora has been lovingly cared for and is home to abundant wildlife and native high desert trees, grasses and wildflowers. The setting is ideal for an educational or meditation center, a group or extended family homestead, a think tank or spa.

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Ru Yi, a Chinese word which can mean "as your heart-mind wishes". It is also a good luck charm which is shaped like a short scepter. It is a symbol of Buddha, and is also regarded as a sign of longevity. Ru Yi Studio offers Chinese cultural arts that can be applied to today's life styles. It is a working and learning place where east and west meet and interact to enlighten the senses and strengthen the body and spirit. Ru Yi Studio/Gallery offers a quiet sanctuary for those who wish to recapture the culture of ancient China and its healing art forms. Director of Ru Yi Studio/Gallery, Pearl Weng Liang Huang was born in China with education and training in the Chinese traditional cultural arts. After coming to the United States to continue her education, she became involved in the east/west theater synthesis. She is an active member of the Screen Actor's Guild and the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists. Ru Yi Studio/Gallery of Chinese Cultural Arts offers private, intensive training, group workshops and instructions for: Chinese brush calligraphy as healing meditation, Dancing brush energy healing QI Gong, and Tai Ji.

The San Cristobal Ranch Academy is a therapeutic learning center where residents embrace a broad range of opportunities designed to help them make a productive transition into adulthood. Through a combination of ranch, educational, employment, counseling and adventure services San Cristobal Ranch Academy helps 18 to 25 year-old men struggling with poor self-esteem, anger, depression, school failure and substance abuse learn to live and work in diverse environments.<br/>

Sean Murphy teaches creative writing/literature at University of New Mexico-Taos, & leads writing workshops around the US. Sean Murphy co-taught for 4 years with Natalie Goldberg (Writing Down the Bones) in her writing/meditation seminars.
Sean Murphy is a Visiting Writer for UNM-Albuquerque and Naropa University in Boulder, Colorado, and has been a teacher or presenter for: Taos Institute of Arts, Taos Writers Conference, Southwest Writers , Word Harvest of Santa Fe, SOMOS, Recursos of Santa Fe, Boulder Community Schools, Summit Huts Association, CO, Zen Mountain Monastery, NY
Murie Center, Jackson, WY. Sean Murphy is an MFA graduate in writing from The Naropa Institute, founded by Poet Allen Ginsberg and Tibetan Lama Chogyam Trungpa Rinpoche. The emphasis in Sean Murphy's workshops is on the creative process, providing an opportunity for all writers, beginning or experienced, to explore new approaches and increase their skills within a supportive and inspiring environment. Books by Sean Murphy: "The Time of New Weather", The Finished Man", "The Hope Valley Hubcap King", and"One Bird, One Stone: 108 American Zen Stories"

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