Canyon Pilgrimage
A Retreat to Sacred Sites of the US Southwest
August 28 – September 10, 2027
Experience deep peace on CoreLight’s intimate spiritual pilgrimage to the sacred landscapes of the US SouthWest. This unique retreat, guided by Brad Laughlin, helps you connect with ancient power places, quiet your mind through meditation, and awaken to timeless mystery.
This intimate retreat is open to those who have participated in at least one CoreLight course
Experience Ancient Wisdom
A journey to the US Southwest is an initiation, a pilgrimage to an enchanting land imbued with rugged natural beauty and great spiritual power. It is an opportunity to reconnect with an ancient time and place when the land was honored and revered, when Mother Earth was held as sacred.
The extraordinary sites we will visit still hold that sacred vibration, and the spirit of the Anasazi Indians – the ancient ones – is a palpable presence there. As we make our meditative, mystical sojourn and contemplate our connection with these holy places, the soul stirs, and we awaken to our vast, timeless eternality.
The intention of our pilgrimage is to meditate and pray at these sacred sites, acting as human acupuncture needles to assist with the healing of the Earth. The loving, healing energy generated by the group helps to activate and illuminate the Earth grid in an especially amplified way.
Should your soul feel aligned with this intimate pilgrimage, Brad looks forward to walking beside you and sharing the spiritual gifts of this journey as your guide.
Explore Mystical Landscapes
Our pilgrimage together includes inspiring outings to high vibration sites including:
Chaco Canyon, New Mexico
Discover Chaco Canyon, a mystical high-desert power place where ancient stone echoes the movements of the sun and moon. Join us to explore sacred petroglyphs, meditate amidst pristine beauty, and touch the unsolved mysteries of a thriving culture that vanished into the stars.
Mesa Verde, Colorado
Ascend the high plateau of Mesa Verde, a mystical realm where majestic cliff dwellings hang suspended in time. Listen closely as the mountain wind whispers the secrets of the ancient ones who carved their lives into stone and vanished into myth. Here, among sweeping hundred-mile vistas, you will meditate, and breathe in a deep, palpable presence that transforms the soul.
Monument Valley, Arizona
Behold the sacred monoliths of Monument Valley, where towering red portals rise from the desert floor like ancient guardians of the earth. This legendary landscape is more than a timeless icon of the American West; it is a sanctuary of profound spiritual power and deep Navajo heritage. Pause your journey in this vast, quiet cradle of sandstone to absorb a wondrous panorama that humbles the senses and nourishes the soul.
Canyon de Chelly, Arizona
Experience the refined spiritual energy of Canyon de Chelly, sheltered by towering red canyon walls. In the crisp autumn sun, golden cottonwood trees illuminate this ancient Navajo sanctuary, where generations still live, work, and guard the land. We’ll retreat into this powerful vortex to connect with prehistoric ancestral ruins and absorb the deep, mystical magic of the Southwest.
Sacred Sites and Spiritual Energy
Our trip will include driving and hiking through breathtakingly beautiful countryside and desert, exploring ancient Anasazi ruins, meditating in profound power spots and gazing at magnificent vistas. Over the past decades Leslie and I have been guided to these sacred sites many times, and each time we make the pilgrimage, the powerful spiritual energy of the land facilitates enormous change and growth for us.
“Visiting Canyon de Chelly is much more than a retreat, it is a pilgrimage to a mystic land. This canyon has been a sacred power place for me since 1983, when I was called in a dream to visit there. The visit coincided with my first trip to Santa Fe. While at the canyon, I was blessed with a vision quest, which was life-changing and signaled an acceleration of my growth in Self-discovery.”—Leslie Temple-Thurston
Testimonials
Read below what previous retreat participants have to say about their experience.
“The energy of Blyde, the sacred mountain and Kruger National Park created a powerful backdrop for a profoundly transformative experience. It was a perfect balance of adventures, heart-opening discussions and deep inner work to explore shadows, conditioning and attachments. I cleared so many layers, reached a new level of peace within myself and left South Africa a changed person. I still experience the ups and downs of a full life, but I now navigate them with deeper awareness and a more grounded witnessing state."
—June H
“One of the most profound experiences of my life. The palpable energy of the canyon, exploring it by boat and at its rim, and the game drives through Kruger are memories I'll carry forever. The daily practices helped me release old patterns that genuinely haven't returned, and meditating in the presence of white lions was otherworldly. The food was exceptional, the accommodations luxurious, and the people I met made it all even richer. If you're considering this retreat, go. It nourishes the mind, heart, and spirit — I'll be grateful for it the rest of my life.."
—RGH
“If you are on a spiritual path and deeply concerned about the future of the natural environment, I recommend CoreLight’s “Return to Joy” retreat….. In this timeless environment you will experience many African wild animals, beautiful birds and plant life as well as spectacular scenery. All the while learning to tap into your own capacity for joy through meditative practices that deepen your experience of light, love and connection with nature. Brad exudes these qualities as well as a well-developed humorous approach that makes it easy to connect with him.”
—Christie G
“Every detail of this retreat was so gorgeously crafted: from the lovely accommodations…..the wonderful meals that we shared…..to the excursions that were planned every other day, giving us time to digest all that we experienced. Every day felt like a week in the best possible way. There is magic to be made in the Blyde River Canyon, and spending time at an immersion retreat called Return to Joy a necessity. My life is richer for having had this opportunity.”
—Diane D
“In addition to the deeply powerful, transformational inner work with Polarities, there were also wonderful places, sacred sites, filled with energy and beauty, and the warm welcome of the people in the local communities we visited. The entire retreat was designed with a lot of love and care. I recommend it to anyone. It is a great opportunity for profound personal transformation and for connecting with authentic South Africa. Don't miss the opportunity!”
—Eduardo A
“Traversing inner and outer landscapes, Brad led us on a journey of healing, both individually and with the beauty of Mother Earth. Joy was an essential component, paired with shining light on shadows that obscure the bountiful love within us poised for explosion. I would be on this retreat for the rest of my life if possible.”
—Ruth C
About Brad Laughlin
As a spiritual teacher for over two decades, Brad ’s dedication is to the transformation of consciousness and to helping people discover inner peace, love and joy amidst profound world change. His unique, potent, self-inquiry practices help free the mind, open the heart and foster connection with the natural world.
Brad believes that the greatest gift we can give the world is our own awakened consciousness and that global change can happen through individual willingness to change. He is the author of Living With Enlightenment—A Journey of Love, and with his life-partner, Leslie Temple-Thurston, is co-founder of the nonprofit CoreLight.org. Using ancient Truth teachings, yogic practices and spiritual psychology, he works with CoreLight students worldwide to dissolve old, limiting ego structures that keep us trapped in negativity, pain and fear.
Apply to join the retreat
Click through for retreat logistics and how to apply:
