The Wise and Awakened Heart
Co-hosted by the Saskatoon Insight Meditation Community
and Edmonton Insight Meditation.
The divine abodes of kindness, compassion, joy and equanimity nourish the heart/mind in the capacity to respond with wisdom in all experiences of life. They also support awakening by easing the patterns of ill will and grasping. This retreat will cultivate all four aspects of the wise heart, in service of deep peace and strong, resilient engagement in the world.
This retreat will include dharma reflections, meditation instructions, and practice talks.
Date
June 5-11, 2027
Location
The Star of the North Retreat House
3A St. Vital Avenue, St. Albert, AB T8N 1K1
Registration
Registration opens Tuesday, November 3, 2026, at 6:00 p.m.
Link for metta retreat only: <coming soon>
Link for both metta retreat and insight retreat: <coming soon>
Note: From Nov 3-10, preference will be given to those registering for both retreats
Retreat Information
Registration Fee
The retreat registration covers the costs of your meals, accommodation, and shared expenses (such as teacher’s travel/room/board, facility rental, supplies, etc). It does not include any payment for the teachers or to the retreat organizers (Edmonton Insight Meditation Society/Saskatoon Insight Meditation Community). There will be an opportunity to offer donations (dana) to the teachers and organizers at the end of your retreat.
Registration Deposit/Payment: Upon receiving a confirmation email that a spot is available, payment in full or a deposit of 50% (with balance for deposits due March 15, 2027) is required within 10 days to secure your spot. If we do not receive initial payment from you within 10 days, we will offer the spot offered to you to someone on the waitlist.
We are offering this retreat on a sliding scale. Please select the highest rate you can reasonably afford to help ensure retreats are accessible to all.
Sustaining rate: covers the basic costs of this retreat
Benefactor rate: By selecting this amount above the estimated actual cost, your generosity supports those who need to select a lower rate to attend the retreat.
Supported rate: for those who require some support to attend, this rate is equivalent to receiving a partial scholarship
Metta retreat only:
Residential Retreat Benefactor: $1250
Residential Retreat Sustaining: $1050
Residential Retreat Supported: $850
Commuter Retreat Benefactor: $750
Commuter Retreat Sustaining: $600
Commuter Retreat Supported: $450
Both Metta and Insight retreats:
Residential Retreat Benefactor: $2900
Residential Retreat Sustaining: $2650
Residential Retreat Supported: $2400
Commuter Retreat Benefactor: $1800
Commuter Retreat Sustaining: $1550
Commuter Retreat Supported: $1300
The sliding scale will allow most scholarship needs to be self-selected. However, if you require additional financial assistance, please contact the EIM at edmontoninsight@gmail.com to inquire about available scholarships.
Accomodations
This retreat is a residential retreat. However, for those who are unable to stay on-site, there are a limited number of spots for commuters. As a commuter you would be expected to attend every session of the retreat, including meals, the entire day, but would go home to sleep and return again each morning.
There are 50 private single occupancy bedrooms for overnight accommodation each with their own bed, sink, desk and chair and access to shared bathrooms with showers. There are also 4 spaces for commuters.
Meals
Star of the North will provide vegetarian meals (ovo-lacto) for this retreat. If you are confirmed as a registrant for the retreat, we will send a special diet request form for you to complete so that the chef can do their best to accommodate any dietary restrictions.
Meals include:
June 5 Supper
June 6-10 Breakfast, Lunch, Supper
June 11* Breakfast
* Those participating in both the metta and insight retreats will also be provided lunch on June 11.
Cancellation Policy
Cancellation Policy – As we are responsible for payments to our venue (SON) in March 2027, if you need to cancel your registration after your place has been fully confirmed, a cancellation fee will be charged.
$50 fee for cancellations on March 15, 2027 or earlier. Cancellations after March 15, 2026, and onward, will not be refunded*
*Exception: if we are able to fill your spot with someone from the waitlist, you will be refunded less a $50 fee.
*Exception: For registrations at the Benefactor rate, we will refund the difference between the Benefactor and Sustaining rates.
Our teachers
Adrianne Ross is a retired family physician who has practiced insight meditation since 1984 and has been teaching since 1995. She co-founded the BC Insight Meditation Society (BCIMS) with the late Joanne Broatch and served as the guiding teacher for the Saskatoon Insight Meditation Community for many years. Influenced by both Thai and Burmese Theravāda traditions, as well as Tibetan Mahamudra and Dzogchen practice, she teaches classes and retreats across Canada and the United States. Adrianne is committed to making the dharma accessible, welcoming, and supportive for people of diverse backgrounds and abilities.
Jeanne Corrigal has been practicing with the Saskatoon Insight Meditation Community since 1999, and became their guiding teacher in 2016. She is also the guiding teacher for the Regina Insight Meditation Community, and the Prairie Sky Insight Meditation Society. Jeanne is a graduate of the 2017-2021 IMS teacher training program, with training primarily in the Burmese lineage of Venerable Mahasi Sayadaw, and the Thai Forest Tradition of Ajahn Buddhadasa, with a great affinity for the teachings of Thich Nhat Hanh. She is a certified MBSR teacher, is certified with Indigenous Focusing Oriented Trauma Therapy (IFOT), and has trained with Mindful Schools and Somatic Experiencing. She has taught with Mindfulness Magazine, Lion’s Roar and Tricycle’s online programs, and teaches across North America. She is Metis, and one of her first teachers in loving presence was Cree Elder Jim Settee.
Rachel Lewis began practicing insight meditation in 2003, while completing her physics PhD at Yale. Since 2011, she has taught dharma and meditation classes and retreats in British Columbia and beyond. She completed the IMS/IRC 4-year teacher training in 2021, and is a guiding teacher of the British Columbia Insight Meditation Society. Her dharma teaching interests include the power of music, humour, and creativity to increase our capacity for learning, as well as the way that practice supports and is supported by social justice work.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is mettā meditation?
Mettā is often translated as loving-kindness or goodwill. It is a meditation practice that cultivates an attitude of friendliness and care toward ourselves and others. Through repeated practice, we develop the capacity to meet life’s experiences with greater warmth, openness, and wisdom.
What are the four divine abodes (brahma viharas)?
The four divine abodes are qualities of the heart that can be cultivated through meditation:
- Mettā (loving-kindness): Wishing ourselves and others well.
- Karuṇā (compassion): Responding to suffering with care and a wish for its alleviation.
- Muditā (appreciative joy): Finding happiness in the happiness and good fortune of others.
- Upekkhā (equanimity): Meeting life’s changing circumstances with balance, steadiness, and wisdom.
Together, these qualities support a heart that is both caring and resilient.
Do I need previous experience with mettā meditation?
Previous experience with mettā practice is not necessary. The retreat will include meditation instructions and guidance to support participants in developing and deepening their practice.
What if I find loving-kindness meditation difficult?
It is quite common to encounter difficulties with mettā practice. Feelings of warmth or kindness may not arise readily, and the practice can sometimes bring up challenging emotions. The invitation is to approach whatever arises with curiosity and patience. The teachers will offer guidance and opportunities to discuss your practice.
Is this retreat only about loving-kindness?
The retreat will explore all four divine abodes: loving-kindness, compassion, appreciative joy, and equanimity. These qualities complement and support one another, helping us cultivate a wise and awakened heart.
What is a typical day like?
Each day includes periods of seated meditation alternating with walking meditation to support sustained awareness and refresh the body. Mornings usually begin with guided meditation to help establish the practice, and evenings often feature a Dharma talk exploring the teachings in depth. Afternoons may include practice of the Brahma Viharas — the four immeasurables: loving-kindness, compassion, sympathetic joy, and equanimity. There will also be an option to participate in a period of mindful movement.
What does noble silence mean?
Noble silence is a supportive practice where participants refrain from verbal communication to deepen focus and reduce distractions for themselves and others. During this time, phone calls, reading, journaling, and other forms of communication are discouraged to help everyone settle more fully into their meditation.
Will there be time for questions or discussions?
Yes. Each participant will have the opportunity to attend either group or individual practice talks with a teacher. Some time may also be set aside during daily sessions for questions and answers. Additionally, participants can leave notes for the teachers at any time.
What is the practice of dana?
Dana, or generosity, is a fundamental Buddhist practice of giving that supports the accessibility of the teachings. The retreat fee covers the basic costs of hosting the event. Teachers offer their time and guidance, and retreatants have the opportunity to offer financial support at the end of the retreat, according to their means and capacity. The intention is to support everyone to attend and to support the teachers in being able to carry on teaching the dharma, within a reciprocal cycle of generosity and gratitude.
