Retreat registration ends on September 19th ♥️
What would it mean to love yourself — not the curated version, but all of you, including the tender, the frightened, and the hidden?
What would it mean to hold every part of yourself with acceptance and love?
This immersive experience offers the space to be a real human being.
To embrace the love you need, and to offer the same to others.
In this journey, you will discover that you can be fully present with your own pain and vulnerability while being fully alive with joy — both at the very same time. You will discover that this is a doorway to opening your heart and true self.
Photo Credit: sananselmo.gov
In this Journey we explore
- Honesty, sincerity, and trueness as pathways to awakening
- Loving yourself and your patterns without condition
- Working with fear and the places we hide from ourselves
- Moving toward vulnerability rather than away from it
- Forgiveness as a living, moment-by-moment, practice
- The heart as a space that encompasses the whole universe
- The beauty and joy that opens with true connection between hearts
Return to the Wisdom of Your True Heart
Using the wondrous Ren Xue tools, you are invited to cultivate the heart qualities of honesty, sincerity, and truth — to help you bask in exquisite beauty, divine joy, expansive connection and oneness. Together, we will discover that when we meet our own patterns and habits with tender compassion — rather than opposition or resistance — something extraordinary happens. A natural spaciousness arises in which you can simply observe patterns without being ruled by them. Gradually you loosen identification with the false self and find yourself free to be profoundly moved by your own pure heart and the wisdom of the true self.
Practice Qigong Together
This retreat is offered to people with varying levels of experience with Yuan Qigong: from complete beginners to experienced practitioners. Yuan Qigong is easy to learn, safe & very effective. Together, we will explore practices that can open you to remarkable experiences of being nourished and guided by our own heart and true self.
Make Friends For A Lifetime
Be together with REN XUE practitioners from past retreats or see people you may know only from online events and classes. If you have never attended a REN XUE retreat, this is an opportunity to meet like-minded people and enjoy the warmth of good company.
This experience went far beyond my highest expectations—it's affecting my marriage positively, enhancing my work, and deepening my ability to teach.
C.C.
Fiona is a very powerful teacher. She brings her own perspective on the Ren Xue teachings that really help me deepen my understanding and also heal in a deep way. I am immensely grateful.
L.M.
Fiona's gentle spirit and the generous way she shared her wisdom has been life changing. I can go so much deeper and with so much more confidence than I had ever believed was possible.
Thank you from my open and joyous heart.
D.W.
Meet Fiona McLaughlin
Fiona embodies the transformative power of Ren Xue Qigong teachings. Her remarkable journey began with a terminal diagnosis giving her just two years to live. Through dedicated practice of Yuan Gong Qigong, she not only completely restored her health, but ultimately achieved self-realization through her deep connection with the Ren Xue principles. She lives to be of selfless service to the world and all humanity. Fiona’s gentle guidance will help you recognize and trust the quiet wisdom that has always lived within you.
Optional follow-on course:
A space to grow together
After a workshop, many participants tell us they appreciate having ongoing support. That’s why we’ve organized a six-session follow-up course for those who attend the workshop. Guided by Fiona, we will meet online weekly to help you stay connected with the community you’ve built and put the workshop’s learnings into practice. We will integrate what you've learned in the workshop into your daily life and work through any obstacles in your way. An opportunity to be supported in small groups will be provided between sessions. It’s a relaxed space to share experiences, ask questions, and support each other as you integrate what you’ve learned.
Experience holding every part of yourself
with acceptance and love
Join us
Detailed Information
We invite you and your loved ones on this amazing experience. Together we can experience the beauty and joy that opens with true connection between hearts.
Dates for in-person experience
6- days: September 22-27, 2026
Daily from 9am-5pm, with one hour for lunch
Dates for optional follow-on course (online)
Sundays: October 18, 25, and November 1, 8, 15, 22, 2026
9am Supplementary Yuan Qigong Practice
10am-12pm PT online workshop
Please note the follow-on course is for attendees only.
The follow-on course will be recorded so if you can’t attend all sessions a recording will be provided.
Accommodations
This is a non-residential immersive experience
Lodging and meals are NOT included
Optional boxed lunches may be purchased in advance
Location
Subud Center Marin
100 Sacramento Ave, San Anselmo, CA 94960
Please note this is an in-person event and will not be streamed online.
The retreat venue is now fully air-conditioned!'
Cost
$875 6-day in-person only
$1075 6-day in-person workshop + 6-week optional online follow-on course
More Information
Good to know
What to bring to the workshop
- Pack a lunch and snacks, meals are not included - however, boxed lunches can be pre-ordered for delivery for an additional fee. Refrigerator available for use in the kitchen.
- Tablet/laptop or notebook & pens for personal notes and activities
- Floor seating: cushion or backjack (chairs will be provided)
- Due to the newly installed air conditioning, it is suggested you bring a warm shawl or blanket for sitting practice.
- Slippers or socks for the main practice areas
- Layers of comfortable clothing, as weather at this time of year can be unpredictable and may range from hot to cool and rainy
- Water bottle and/or insulated cup or Thermos for tea.
- Bring your own coffee or tea - hot water available in the kitchen
Ride share or Room to offer?
Looking after your mental health
If your mental state is unstable or highly changeable and it is not within your ability to return to a calm state, we would advise that this is not the time to attend a Ren Xue event. The kind of mental states which are referred to here include but are not limited to the following;
- severe depression
- strong fluctuations of mood
- mania
- disturbing or racing thoughts
- feelings of unreality
- extreme sleep disturbance
- paranoia
- feeling unsafe due to thoughts of self-harm or others feeling unsafe around you
- addiction
- extreme and uncontrolled anxiety
- or other significant mental health issues or disorders.
These experiences can be very distressing and our advice at this point would be for you to work with a health professional to stabilize your condition.
If, however you are comfortable that your mental health is relatively stable and that you can bring some clarity to any internal mental or emotional challenges that may come up as you reflect and work on your life, you are very welcome to participate, and may experience much benefit.
If you had a severe condition in the past or are currently experiencing a mild to moderate mental health disorder, we would encourage you to engage with support before, during and after the event. Participation is at your own risk, and you are strongly advised to discuss the potential risks and benefits of taking part with a health professional who knows you well beforehand. Sometimes current or previously challenging experiences do come up during a Ren Xue event. The Mental Health Advisory team of Ren Xue is also available to discuss your situation with you in confidence if that would be helpful. They are a team of experienced Ren Xue teachers and retired mental health professionals who advise Ren Xue participants and teachers around mental health matters.
Now that you have read this through, we hope you are clearer on the right decision for you. If you have decided that you would like to take part, please know that if you feel challenged or overwhelmed or have questions over the course of the event, you will have the support of many experienced teachers and we encourage you to reach out to any of the many helpful people available;
- teachers you already know or have had support from in the past
- teachers you meet as the event unfolds who feel like the right person to talk to
- your event contact person who emails you with updates
- the Guidance Team of Ren Xue
- your own health practitioner if you have one
- the Mental Health Advisory (MHA) - contact your event contact person for details
We are all here to help. Most of us have experienced various challenges as we have learned and practiced Ren Xue. For many of us, the support of our fellow Ren Xue teachers and practitioners has been essential in transforming our challenges into real growth in our own lives and our ability to help others.
Financial assistance
Who is eligible?
People living in North, Central or South America who could not attend the event without financial assistance.
Guidelines for applying
Financial Assistance is made possible by the generous contributions of donors in our Ren Xue community to the Waves of Change Financial Assistance Fund. It is intended to help those truly unable to attend the event without financial support. We are asking you to refrain from applying if you have the necessary funds in the form of savings or if you can find other means of assistance through family or friends. It is not possible for us to make a true assessment of your needs because financial situations are complex. This is why we are asking you to make that assessment yourself. Please take time to reflect on your situation, as your decision will affect others.
What the funds are for
Each Financial Assistance recipient will receive an equal amount. Financial Assistance is not a cash award. It will be applied towards the recipient’s registration fees for the workshop and the online follow-on course with Fiona McLaughlin. As an applicant, regardless of whether or not you receive financial assistance, your space in the workshop will be held until July 15, 2026. Once financial assistance is awarded, you’ll need to follow the payment schedule listed below. All prices are in US Dollars.
Financial Assistance deadline was June 15, 2026.
| June 15, 2026 | DEADLINE TO APPLY for financial assistance (FA). | |
| July 1, 2026 | RECIPIENTS NOTIFIED by email. | Recipients will receive equal amounts ($400 USD) |
| July 15, 2026 | PAYMENT DUE Full payment must be received by this date. | BALANCE DUE ($575 USD) |
| July 16 – August 1, 2026 |
Health Policy
BEFORE THE RETREAT
- We recommend masking during travel and on public transportation
- Please take a COVID test before the event
ON RETREAT
- Most classes and talks will be held indoors
- Masking is optional
We would ask you stay home if you become unwell and/or develop symptoms of a cold or flu, regardless of COVID testing results.
Thank you for ensuring that the retreat is a healthy experience for everyone. We look forward to being with you in September.