A Living Temple
Rootstock is not a retreat center. It is not simply a ‘venue’ for you to gather.
Rootstock is the home of Beana Bern and a living, breathing temple.
Born out of Beana’s need and desire to create a safe place for herself to feel and be felt, hear and be heard, see and be seen, and evolve into the most authentic and gleaming expression of herself she could imagine - her highest timeline - the origins of this place are epic and mythic and pure magic. There’s a reason why you’ve found your way here and there’s a reason why you feel called to bring others here.
Located on ten deeply magical acres in Vermont’s beautiful Northeast Kingdom, every bit of this sacred hill has been courted and then met with a deep desire to listen, from that deep listening, temples were born. Spaces to come back into contact with all that is holy. There is a Belly for gathering on the Earth, complete with a window to God and the stars above. The elemental sanctuary that is the bathhouse, where pure mountain water heated by the fire cleanses and purifies and softens. There are nests and nooks to rest and commune. There is the Dragon and the Grandmothers and Grandfathers and the Cosmic Egg and the vast gardens full of food and medicine.
What makes Rootstock so special is the relationally that is cultivated with the ancestors and spirits of the land through tending, the work that it takes to keep it alive. Chopping wood. Carrying water. Washing dishes. Shovelling Snow. Blessing the Fire. Thanking the Trees. The mundane magic of conscious house holding elevated a simple rustic retreat into a vortex and portal and imagination farm teeming with possibilities, in service to beauty, and rooted in care.
It is a privilege to animate these temples and, on the rare occasion the calendar opens and an aligned request arises, we consider sharing this space with other facilitators and guides.
Sharing the temple that is Rootstock is not a revenue stream, it is an offering to our community and all of Creation. The lucky few who get to bring their work or their communities here understand that and recognize that holding space in this place comes with some responsibilities. Folks holding space here commit to:
Honouring the land and its ancestors before beginning any work with people.
Respecting the Temple Tenders and committing to read and uphold all the agreements defined in your contract.
Ensuring radical self-responsibility in both holding & staffing the work so it’s supported, grounded, safe, and impactful
Leaving Rootstock and those that tender and live here as good or better than you found them, embodying a spirit of generosity and respect
Thank you in advance for your grace if we’re unable to accommodate your request. With a relatively full calendar, and, clarity and a discerning lens on what is in service to our mission we are limited on what we say YES to.
More about our living temple:
Maximum capacity for gatherings here is 25 people year round, including staff and facilitator’s. Small and intimate gatherings are what makes the Earth here sing! and what keeps the time together potent.
Private, semi-private, dormitory, and camping accommodations are available, upon request.
Staffing and cleaning fees are required for all gatherings here due to the unique nature of this place, its rustic infrastructure, and the positive impact that comes when a resident here, a temple tender, invites our guests to engage.
Before you complete the inquiry form below, please reflect deeply on what we’ve communicating here and check-in with yourself to ensure that you are both prepared for and committed to inhabiting these temples with reverence, dignity, and maturity. If you’re feeling enlivened and called to bring your people here consider our pricing, this is a ballpark, depending on your specific request there may be additional fees.
Full Day Retreat (no bathhouse) - $2000 This price includes access to The Belly, Coat Mahal, Community Cabin, & Land Access for 8 hours for up to 25 people total. Staffing ensures the space is prepared, orientation of facilitators & guests as needed, navigation & organization, guidance around set-up & breakdown, cleaning the spaces when gathering is complete. Dishwashing, catering, service and other support roles are not included.
Overnight Accommodations: Ranging from $25 campsites - $400/night private cabins, there are options.
Bathhouse Add-On - $65/person with a 5 person minimum ($325-$1625) This price includes a 2 hour session in the Oasis, the wood-fired bathhouse. Parties of 10 or more will get an additional hour to soak.
Kitchen & Supply Rental - $200 flat fee. Dishes, crockpots, serving utensils, mugs and other amenities can be rented for day use. Dishwashing not included.
Catering - Price varies
Facilitation/Healing Add-Ons - Price varies. Yoga, sound healing, energy healing, massage, sharing circles and other kinds of experiences might be available.
venue rental FAQ
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Start times vary per retreat. This will be defined in your contract and will include set-up time/break down, guest arrivals/departures and check-in/check out times for overnight guests.
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Bedding and towels are not provided - guests are responsible for bringing their own.
Other helpful items include a headlamp or flashlight for nighttime navigation, a robe if you’ll be using the Bathhouse, and any personal toiletries.
Our north-facing hill can get chilly even in the summer, so bringing layering pieces of clothing is a good idea too.
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Tea and coffee, and additional amenities are available for sale and by donation in all dwellings.
Please note that bedding and towels are not provided - guests are responsible for bringing their own.
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Events at Rootstock occur year round - rain, shine, ice, or snow. 4WD/AWD vehicles with good snow tires are the surest way to enjoy winter visits, as the hills are steep here and the snow can be wild.
Even during the summer, this north facing hill can get chilly, so we recommend bringing plenty of layers.
Please note that the outdoor kitchen and campsites are only available seasonally (June - October).
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Both packages include 4 hours of bathhouse access for up to either 10 individuals (Elemental Retreat) or 20 individuals (Sweet Retreat). Additional guests up to 25 may be added at the rate of $45/person. Additional hours of bathhouse access may be reserved at the time of booking for $150/hour.
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Candles not contained in proper vessels are PROHIBITED. Burning candles left un attended is PROHIBITED. Failure to respect this essential rule will result in heartbreak, no invitation back, and a bill for any damage/cleaning needed
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Your reservation will not be confirmed until you sign your personalized retreat agreement and pay a nonrefundable 50% deposit. The remaining 50% will be due 10 days prior to your retreat.
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All retreat bookings require a nonrefundable deposit of 1/3 of the total booking fee. Cancellations made 5 or more days prior to arrival are eligible to receive a partial refund. Cancellations made within 5 days of arrival are nonrefundable.
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Rootstock is a healing temple and we therefore require that guests practice conscious consumption of any mind-altering substances.
Cigarette smoking is only permitted in designated parking areas.
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Smoking is not allowed inside any of the dwellings at Rootstock. Guests who wish to smoke are invited to do so only in the designated parking areas and must take any cigarette butts with them when they leave.
The use of synthetic fragrance is prohibited in all dwellings and indoor spaces.
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Guests should wash all dishes, remove and dispose of trash and recycling, and leave the space clean upon checkout. A $75 trash/recycling fee will be charged to guests who leave behind their trash. Composting is available on site.
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Pets are not allowed. Not even the sweetest, kindest, quietest ones. Sorry, we love our four-legged brothers and sisters but this is not the place for them
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Rootstock Retreat is not responsible for any items left behind. We will not hold belongings or mail forgotten items. You pack it in, you pack it out - or you let it go.