Step away from the noise of modern life and into a quiet, intentional space to reconnect with yourself and your community. This retreat gathers the skills of three leaders — Joel Emerson, Scott Garvin, and Tom Concannon — with many years of shared experience leading gay men on journeys of deep inner inquiry.
Encountering Inner Wisdom is a three-night, four-day retreat for gay men ready to unplug, reflect, and rediscover the deeper truths that live within. Through storytelling, Internal Family Systems-inspired sessions, meditation, journaling, yoga, and guided reflection, we’ll explore the inner narratives that shape us—and begin rewriting the ones that no longer serve.
Each day offers a gentle rhythm: morning yoga, nourishing meals, spacious downtime for rest or solo walks in nature, and intentional gatherings to reflect, listen, and grow. Highlights include sessions on shame and vulnerability, a creative “I Am” identity statement ritual, and an evening fire circle for storytelling and community ritual.
Whether you’re introverted, extroverted, or somewhere in between, there will be space for both solitude and shared experience.
Come as you are, and leave with more of who you are. No need to perform. Just presence, play, and possibility.
Fee: Each double occupancy spot in the main house is $950, inclusive of all taxes and fees. The Treehouse is available for an aditional fee, please call to inquire.
You may book a room together with a friend or be matched with another participant by the retreat instructors. The fee includes:
Accommodations
Welcome dinner, three meals each full day, and brunch on departure day
Yoga classes each day; yoga mats, cushions, clocks, straps and blankets are supplied by Willow
Other workshops and excursions are offered each day
A space to connect with community, make friends, and create memories to last a lifetime!
Payment schedule
A 25% deposit is due at booking.
A second payment of 25% is due Friday, June 13 , 2025.
A final payment of the balance is due Friday July 28, 2024
Rooms and Amenities at Willow
Willow is a comforting and nurturing environment — furnished with a harmonious combination of custom contemporary and vintage furniture, rugs, artwork and crafts.
We provide comfortable overnight accommodations in double occupancy rooms. All rooms have dedicated ensuite or hall baths. We are outfitted with all the comforts of a typical guest house — linens, blowdryers, individually controlled heating and air conditioning. Our mattresses, pillows and furniture are exceptionally comfortable. Our soaps, shampoos, conditioners, and lotions are organic. We support local craftspeople by supplying Willow with handmade and high quality goods — everything from lamps to rugs have been made by hand. You will feel very much at home.
The Colonial Revival main house offers open living space on the first floor: a grand foyer with sitting area and library, a spacious and light-filled living room with fireplace, a sunny veranda, a dining room, and a 14-person yoga studio painted in soft colors of the willow tree. The studio is fully outfitted with yoga mats, cushions, straps, blocks and blankets.
Meals at Willow
Meals are provided throughout the retreat, including dinner on arrival day, 3 meals each full day, and brunch on departure day.
Our menu is Indian, Tex-Mex and American-inspired vegetarian dishes with balanced proteins, fats and carbs. Our meals are healthy, filling, and made of local organic and natural ingredients. Please let us know at registration if you prefer vegan or gluten-free options. Please let us know if you have any food allergies. We cannot accommodate last minute requests during the retreat.
The Schedule—join if you wish—everything is optional
Friday
THURSDAY
12-5pm: arrive and get settled into your room
6pm: gather in the library and living rooms.
8:30-9pm: evening meditation
9-11pm: gather at the fire pit near the pond
FRIDAY
Morning Yoga
Session 1 Friday Morning: The Stories We Carry: Rewriting the script
Session 2: Friday Afternoon: Parts work and the power of Witnessing . Internal Family Systems overview and praxis
Evening Fire Session (Either Friday or Saturday night depending on weather): Optional Session- The Myth of Us- Collective storytelling and community ritual
SATURDAY
Morning Yoga
Session 3: Saturday Morning After Breakfast: The Stories we dont tell- Shame, vulnerability and Liberation
Session 4: Saturday Afternoon (30 minute short session to introduce the idea and then allow men to journal or go to Rock River and contemplate/think about what their statement would look like…almost like having time to do homework): Pivoting Towards Self/ Inner Wisdom- Crafting first iteration of the I Am Statement - considering what it would look like, to return to tomorrow’s session.
SUNDAY
Morning Yoga
Session 5: What is your Inner Wisdom answering to the prompt “I Am…”, and give time to craft our first version of the I AM Statement. Maybe we can collect/envelope/address that current version and then mail out to the participants in the future (1-2 months after retreat)
Closing circle/affirmation circle and retreat ends by 12 noon, so people can leave or go to river etc.
Want to stay longer? Extend your retreat experience!
Willow encourages retreat participants who wish to stay in the area longer to book rooms or book the treehouse on nights before and after the retreat at sharply reduced rates. Extended bookings include a hearty continental breakfast.
Individual rooms are $135-185/night for up to two people. A discount of 15% applies to bookings of 3 or more nights.
We offer a seven-night single occupancy rate of $685 in selected rooms, subject to availability.
What to Bring
Shoes: house slippers, outdoor shoes
Hiking shoes and outdoor clothing
Your birthday suit and a robe or a wrap for areas of the yard that are visible to the street
Flashlight or headlamp
Meet our cats
Willow is home to two sweet and friendly cats, Bear and Scratch. They love our guests and they absolutely adore being petted. But we ask that guests not pick them up. Too much of that and they will become stressed little souls.
We do our best to keep cats out of the guest rooms so that people with allergies can comfortably stay with us. Please help with this by discouraging the cats from entering or napping in your room.
Traveling to Willow
Willow is located in the beautiful and quintessential village of South Newfane (population 300), a satellite of Newfane (population 1,700). We are located 20 minutes northwest of Brattleboro, 20 minutes northeast of Wilmington, and 20 minutes east of Dover and Mount Snow.
By car:
From Brattleboro, take Route 30 north about 9 miles. Go left on Depot Road where the West River and Rock River meet; travel 2 miles on Depot Road until you cross a small bridge over the Rock River; go left on Dover Road through the village of Williamsville; after passing through Williamsville you will cross a covered bridge. Willow is exactly 1.2 miles on your left. If you come to a stop sign you have gone 300 feet past our driveway.
From Wilmington, take Route 100 north toward West Dover about 3.5 miles. A half mile past the River Valley Market, take a right on East Dover Road; travel 1 mile. Take a right on Dover Hill Road; travel 8 miles on Dover Hill Road and E Dover Road (they are continuous) until you reach a 3-way stop sign in the village of South Newfane. Willow is 300 feet past the stop sign on your right.
By train: the daily Amtrak Vermonter stops in Brattleboro as it travels from Washington DC to Montreal and back. You can pick it up in New York, Hartford, Springfield to the south or in Montpelier to the north. Taxis are available in Brattleboro or Willow’s owners will pick you up in Brattleboro on the Vermonter’s arrival at 5pm (note this is after check in time).
By plane: Travelers may find Hartford (BDL—64.4 miles, 90 minutes) and Boston (BOS—85.7 miles, 2 hours 20 minutes) to be most convenient. Other nearby airports to check are Rutland VT (RUT, 55 miles, 1 hour 20 minutes), Manchester NH (MHT—85 miles, 2 hours), Albany NY (ALB—73 miles, 1 hour 40 minutes), and Worcester MA (ORH, 81 miles, 1 hour 50 minutes).
A note on driving: We are located in rural Vermont! You may have spotty cell service in areas throughout our area. Be sure to set your GPS before leaving from home. Set it by typing our business name “Willow Vermont Retreat” into your search bar. Please don’t use our address, as most GPS engines get rural addresses wrong. But don’t worry one bit, just remember this: following our guidance will land you safely with us; following Google to our address will lead you 4 miles off target.