Chicago Meditates

Name: Mindful MenLiving: Weekend Meditation Retreat
Start: 2026-12-04T22:30:00.000Z
End: 2026-12-06T20:00:00.000Z
Location: Cedar Valley - UCCI

4.9•2834 ratings

About us

Welcome Meditators of All Traditions & Experience Levels!

The purpose of this group, as the Buddha said, is to seek out "wise and beneficial friends" who support us and our Meditation practice. We are a group of beginning and advanced meditators, extending an open invitation to anyone seeking to develop a meditation practice that is an integral part of a caring/care-full relationship to oneself and the world.

All teachers agree: The key to a successful meditation practice is regular practice. The development of Wisdom through regular meditation practice can lead to a decrease of "suffering" as well as an increase in Inner Peace and Compassion for oneself and others. This group is open to people who realize the benefits of meditating together and want to make a dedicated effort to sustain a once-weekly sitting meditation (with instruction, as needed). Most weeks, a reading with brief discussion and mingling follows.

This group is open to all schools of thought, meditation formats and experience levels. People of any religious tradition—Christian, Jewish, Hindu, Muslim, Buddhist, atheist, agnostic or without label for their spirituality—are welcome. People of all ethnicities, gender, sexual orientation and country of origin are welcome! We strive to lead lives guided by ethical commitments as set forth by the eightfold path articulated in Buddhist tradition while recognizing our unity with those from all the great spiritual traditions of the World.

We are a peer-lead group with facilitation of the evenings rotating between six group members. We are fellow practitioners and accept no remuneration for our time. Our benefit is the opportunity to practice with others on the path!
Please join us! You are most welcome.

Featured event

Mindful MenLiving: Weekend Meditation Retreat

Fri, Dec 4 · 4:30 PM CST

Cedar Valley - UCCI, 5349 Co Rd D, West Bend, WI, US

**Please note: in order to secure your place for this retreat you must register by way of the link just below or the one at the end of this summary. Your RSVP on our meetup website will only declare your intention to attend.

A Mindful MenLiving meditation retreat

## What this weekend is

A weekend meditation retreat for men in the Wisconsin woods: sitting, walking and mindful movement, mostly in silence, with lodging and meals included. You’ve had ten thousand evenings. How many do you remember?

Two unplugged days, far from the beaten path, with the whole retreat center to ourselves. In Tony’s words: a night is long when you’re finally awake for all of it.

### The weekend

Open to all men — new to meditation or long-time practitioners — who are willing to sit, listen, and engage respectfully.
Simple mindfulness sitting practice, walking meditation, and movement like Qigong and yoga, so the inner noise can settle like silt at the bottom of a pond.
Time to look honestly at how we were shaped as men and how those patterns show up today. With awareness, we can release what no longer serves and choose what does.

### How we practice

Seated and walking meditation, mindful movement, and intentional pauses
Clear guidance for newcomers and depth for experienced practitioners
Open time outdoors on the grounds
Simple agreements: confidentiality, respect, and phones off

### Comfort

Wear loose, comfortable clothing. Bring a cushion or bench if you use one; chairs are available. Bring warm clothes and shoes for walking the grounds and for the fire on Saturday evening. A small notebook is useful.

## How the weekend runs

The weekend is held in noble silence, and it moves in an arc. Friday evening we arrive talking: dinner, an opening circle, connection work in the spirit of MenLiving. Silence begins at night’s end and holds through Saturday, meals included. Saturday night’s fire breaks the silence, but stays quiet. Sunday late morning we break silence for good and come back to where we started: connection, integration, and a circle of men.

### Saturday night: the fire ritual

All weekend the silence gathers; Saturday night it walks with us to the fire. Each man burns, without a word, something he wrote earlier that day — whatever he’s ready to release. Then, lighting a candle from the same fire, he speaks his first words of the evening: a word or a phrase for what he’s carrying forward. It’s the turning point of the longest night: what you’re done with behind you, a lit candle in your hand.

### The schedule

Friday. Arrive and register by 4:30 PM. Dinner at 5:30, in conversation. Opening circle and connection work at 6:30. Noble silence begins at night’s end.
Saturday. Practice blocks, movement, optional time in nature. The evening fire: burn something you’re ready to let go of, light a candle for what you’re carrying forward, a short window of quiet conversation, then back to silence.
Sunday. Morning practice. Break silence late morning. Connection circles and integration. Depart at 2:00 PM.

## Cost and lodging

Two nights’ lodging with private bath, towels and bedding, the meeting room, and six meals starting with Friday dinner. If on-site rooms sell out, nearby hotels are available and the fee is adjusted. No donation is requested; the registration price covers all costs.