Ojai Retreat & Cultural Center

The Road Ends in Ojai
by Donna Strong, Vision Magazine

Beleaguered from the daily demands and the over stimulating trek across Route 101 in LA, I finally reached my destination spot in Ojai. Winding up the hill on Besant road, my senses began to stir from the light flickering through the trees lining my path. I was about to enter the grounds of the Ojai Retreat and Cultural Center, affectionately known as ‘the Retreat.’ At last I reached the end of the road. As I made it to the top of the hill, I knew I had crossed the threshold into an extraordinary place. Sighing with relief, I now had four days to rest, write, and rejuvenate.

Wednesday evening
Sitting on the deck overlooking the valley, I am called into present time by a hummingbird that pauses, taking a whiff of the rose oil in my exotic chocolate bar on the banister before it whizzes away. I sip tea and drink in its sensory delights. Waves of evening wind begin. I watch the tree branches sway in the breeze.

Wednesday night
The crickets inhabiting the hillside begin their call and response, pulsing like the heartbeat of the earth. Their circadian sounds rise to a crescendo as the light falls into the starry night. Here, in the “Valley of the Moon” as Ojai is known from the native Chumash word, A'hwai,’ the new moon twinkles, a silver crescent in the inky blue sky. I realize the most precious of luxuries, the feeling of being in the right place. The land feels immense and strong and inviting. For a while I sit on the deck and enjoy the night’s unfurling, curled into my wool wrap.

Inside at last, I soak in a luscious tub of steamy water, filled with scented aromatic oils. Surrendering to the elements, I feel myself letting go of what the Taoists call the ten thousand things. The currents are gusty; the rustling leaves of the California oaks sounds like a rushing waterfall. I drop into a cocoon of sleep in my sweet cottage room, known as the Balcony.

Thursday morning
Bird sounds herald the dawning of a new day. Lying in bed, the coverlet is a cool morning blue, providing a pristine airy feel that is crisp and clear in this cottage space. Overhead, the sky is an expansive cerulean color as I walk the path to pick up morning tea in the big house. Listening, I hear chits, chirps, and the caws of the crows, thrashers, towhees and orioles that reside on the rustic slope.

Thursday
I tap back into a childlike sense of flowing delight. I breathe with ease, accepting this state of buoyant harmony. A few moments of pleasurable sensory expansion registers as hours on the clock. No matter, all is well. Between lines of writing, I watch dancing butterflies wing by.

Sunday a.m.
After a few days of being infused in the sights and sounds of nature, I feel restored. Ojai has a mellow hometown feel, with abundant bucolic beauty. Yet it is also a bubbling hub for creatives and travelers–both tourists and spiritual pilgrims. There is subtle spiritual energy in this mountain mecca that is a beacon to people from around the globe. It calls people to explore and be catalyzed by the special quality that is palpable in this place.

The Retreat is a mirror of the best of Ojai, offering a place of beauty and expansive serenity for both leisurely relaxation and spiritual reflection. Being here, I have reconnected with a rich inner sense of peace that is resilient. Aligning with my intention to live in a calmly spirited manner, I am inspired by the words of Indira Gandhi. I am learning “to be still in the midst of activity and be vibrantly alive in repose.”

The canopy of trees brings a comforting sense of enclosure from my balcony room with a view. Nestled into the hillside, the deck offers glorious glimpses of the Topa Topa mountains draped in velvety green growth. This sojourner has found the end of the road and from here, it feels like being on top of the world.

The Ojai Retreat and Cultural Center is a nonprofit organization providing individual and group retreats. It hosts cultural and spiritual programs as well as community events. The Ojai Retreat has 12 bedrooms, a large public living area and rustic gardens on a 5-acre hilltop.

If you would like to spend time at the Retreat please call: (805) 646-2536