“And we pray, not for new earth or heaven, but to be quiet in heart, and in eye, clear. What we need is here.”
Dear Friends,
Though signs of winter still linger at the Ranch, there’s an undeniable shift in the air. As Montana’s winter gently slowly begins to release its hold, the land at the Ranch will soon begin stirring, stretching awake in a quiet, unfolding rhythm. The first baby shoots of prairie crocus, glacier lily, and yellow bell will bust through the thawing earth, their faces lifted to sunshine. Aspen groves, silent through the long cold months, will pulse and shimmer with visible evidence of new life, their leaves beginning to bud into coins of green. Ponderosa pines stand steady as ever, their deep roots a reminder of resilience through all seasons.
Much like this great turn of the wheel toward spring, the Feathered Pipe Ranch comes alive anew this time of year. The upcoming 50th anniversary summer season has such a delightful diversity of offerings—each retreat a unique bloom in a vast garden. From the steady, rooted discipline of Iyengar Yoga to the flowing grace of mindful movement and Vinyasa Yoga, from the ancient healing wisdom of Ayurveda to the soulful call of chanting and kirtan, each week’s gathering carries its own hue, its own fragrance. Some focus on resilience and renewal, others on cultivating deep compassion and presence, and still others on the joy of shared experience in nature.
Like the aspen groves, where what appears to be a forest is actually one interconnected organism sharing a root system, each retreat at Feathered Pipe is part of a larger whole—a living network of awakening and conscious living. Aspens nourish and support one another through unseen connections beneath the soil. And every gathering here—whether focused on resilience, movement, chanting, or stillness—draws from and contributes to something greater.
Finding Steady Ground in a Wobbly World
Let’s be honest: our world has been having some . . . moments. The kind of moments that make even the sturdiest among us wonder if we should be breathing into a paper bag. We know many are feeling stretched thin, worried, or even despairing about the state of things. We hear you. We can’t claim that a week at the Ranch can single handedly fix everything (if only!) but we know that time spent here—moving, breathing, giggling, swimming, strolling, gazing, resting, creating, drumming, singing, chanting—can be a potent tonic for navigating these wild times.
A vision was planted decades ago by our founders, who envisioned a retreat center that didn’t revolve around a single path or guru. A place where many paths to wisdom could be honored. That vision continues, reminding us that healing doesn’t come from one voice, one answer, one solitary dogma, or one way. It comes from gathering together, from learning, from reconnecting with what is steady and true.
A Soft Place to Land
The sit spots, the inviting Adirondack chairs on the chalet porch, the dock on the lake near an aspen grove, the Nature Deck, the lake, the labyrinth, the prayer-flag-drenched stupa—each of these and so many other sacred spots at the Ranch have purpose. They are there to hold, nourish, and restore you. To remind you what steadiness feels like, what deep rest makes possible. And how conscious connection—both inner and outer—is a balm in wobbly times. It’s a gift to yourself, and to this world, to let them work their quiet magic.
I hope you join us. Because growth is not a solitary act but a communal one: when we come together with intention, we strengthen not just ourselves, but the world around us.
If you’re already signed up to join us at the Ranch, come exactly as you are. And if you have it in your heart to offer a kind ear and a compassionate presence to those sharing the space with you, we will all be the better for it. If you’re a returning guest who knows the Ranch like an old friend, you might recall what it felt like to arrive for the first time—unfamiliar, unsure, and yet somehow already home. Let’s welcome one another, and especially cherished first-timers, with open hearts and arms, just like this place has always welcomed all of us.
With warmth and welcoming,
Anne Jablonski
Board President of Feathered Pipe Foundation
*Featured image credits: Zane Willliams