Dawn Retreat Center - A Center for Stillness and Peace

Typically, 8-14 people attend prior to Sunrise Meditation in the Mountains.
Registration Required Here
Enjoy a peaceful morning to reconnect with yourself, the mountains, and the quiet beauty of early September.
Sunday, September 13th, 2026
Yoga – 9:30–10:15am under the beautiful sky
Meditation 10:30am-12pm led by Rev. Nancy Neal – follows yoga (Register Separately)
For those who would like to arrive early and gently settle into the morning before meditation, Sara Drummond (RYT-500) will guide an accessible outdoor yoga practice from 9:30–10:15am.
Open to all levels, this gentle practice offers space to breathe deeply, move slowly, and arrive fully in the day. Yoga is offered freely, and love offerings for our teachers are always received with gratitude.
Meditation in the Mountains will directly follow. (Please register separately)
New to DAWN?
If you are new to Dawn, please know you are truly welcome here. There are no expectations and no experience required only a willingness to arrive as you are. You do not need any experience in yoga to attend, and we welcome you to register for Meditation in the Mountains after yoga.
What should I bring?
Your mat and anything to make you more comfortable. Bring your mat and your beautiful selves. Sturdy shoes and a water bottle are also a good idea but there are places to ground yourself barefoot if you choose. We will be in nature in the mountains, and the weather can vary so consider, depending on the time of year, sunglasses, hats, sunscreen, blanket, gloves, coat, etc. To check the weather use Cleveland, SC as your most accurate forecast but understand that mountain weather can change quickly.
Snacks and water will be provided.
*Weather cancellations – If you have registered you will receive an email, and we will indicate the cancellation on our website.
Dawn continues to be a volunteer-supported space, and your presence, participation, and quiet generosity help sustain these gatherings and the care of the land we are blessed to share

Typical meditation have 30-50 people in attendance. Registration Required Here
Find peace, clarity, and connection during a peaceful mountain morning designed to nourish the soul.

Sunday, September 13th, 2026
Meditation in the Mountains -10:30am-12noon led by Rev. Nancy Neal
Yoga – 9:30am-10:15am led by Sara Drummond, RYT-500 (Register separately)
September in the mountains carries a quiet sense of renewal. As the seasons begin to shift, the cooler air, golden light, and peaceful beauty of the mountains invite us to reconnect with ourselves, with nature, and with the present moment.

Join us on September 6th, from 10:30am-12noon for Meditation in the Mountains at the DAWN property. Whether this is your first visit or a familiar return, these mornings offer a chance to pause, reflect, and be held by the stillness and beauty of the land.
We’ll begin the morning gathered outdoors for a guided meditation led by Rev. Nancy Neal, Interfaith Minister at DAWN, offering a gentle invitation to breathe deeply and arrive fully in the present moment. After meditation, you’re invited to spend time on the land with a quiet walk, personal reflection, or simply resting in the peaceful surroundings. When the drum is heard, we’ll gather once more to close our time together with reflection and blessing.

Sara Drummond, RYT-500, will offer gentle morning yoga from 9:30–10:15 for those who would like to arrive early and ease into the day. This grounding practice is designed for all levels and offers a supportive way to prepare both body and mind before meditation begins. Yoga is offered freely, and love offerings for our teachers are always received with gratitude. (Please register separately.)
Following yoga, we’ll gather for our meditation surrounded by the peaceful beauty of the mountains. A simple and meaningful way to welcome the changing season together.
Childcare: Not available for this date.

New to DAWN?
If you are new to Dawn or new to meditation, please know you are truly welcome here. There are no expectations and no experience required only a willingness to arrive as you are. Our gatherings typically bring together 35–50 people, each on their own path, yet sharing in a sense of peace, connection, and community.

What should I bring?
We meditate in chairs outdoors, but later you may wish to sit or lay down on the grass, so a blanket is optional. We recommend a hat as we typically are in the sun. Sturdy shoes and a water bottle are also a good idea but there are places to ground yourself barefoot if you choose. We will be in nature in the mountains, and the weather can vary so consider, depending on the time of year, sunglasses, hats, sunscreen, blanket, gloves, coat, etc. To check the weather use Cleveland, SC as your most accurate forecast but understand that mountain weather can change quickly.
Snacks and water will be provided.

*Weather cancellations – If you have registered you will receive an email, and we will indicate the cancellation on our website.
Dawn continues to be a volunteer-supported space, and your presence, participation, and quiet generosity help sustain these gatherings and the care of the land we are blessed to share. Donate Today

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Small, limited group
Sometimes what we need most is not more information, noise, or striving, but space.
Register here
The Home Within Silent Retreat
Saturday, September 18th, 2026
9am-4pm
Cost: $150
Join us for a gentle day of silence and reflection on the beautiful land of Dawn Retreat Center. Surrounded by forests, streams, waterfalls, open fields, and the sounds of nature, this retreat offers an opportunity to step away from the constant movement of life and reconnect with something quieter and more essential within yourself.
This is not a rigid or intimidating silent retreat experience. There is no pressure to “do it right.” Whether you are seeking clarity, rest, healing, grounding, or simply a pause from the demands of everyday life, this retreat is designed to be welcoming, spacious, and deeply human.
You may be moving through change. Feeling burned out. Grieving. Overextended. Emotionally tired. Or perhaps something inside you simply knows it is time to slow down and listen more closely to your own inner voice.
The day will begin with gentle guidance from Nancy Neal, who will provide just enough structure and support to help you settle into the experience with ease. Each participant will have access to their own touchstone area for resting, journaling, contemplation, or simply being still, while also having full access to explore property throughout the day.
At any point during the retreat, Nancy will be available if emotions arise, support is needed, or you simply need a point of connection.
Silence has a way of softening the nervous system, quieting mental overwhelm and helping us reconnect with what truly matters. Even a single day can bring unexpected clarity, peace, perspective, and renewal.
This retreat is intentionally limited to a small number of participants to help preserve the quiet and spaciousness of the experience.
Please bring your own lunch and snacks. You are also welcome to bring blankets, journals, cushions, or anything else that would support your comfort throughout the day as you will have your own space to feather.
This is an outdoor retreat in nature, so please bring anything you may need depending on the weather, including a hat, sunscreen, bug spray, sunglasses, comfortable walking shoes, or a light jacket.
Click here for more information and registration.