About Us
Our Story
Technology and social trends have disrupted old religious and spiritual traditions. In the wake of this unpredictable environment, materialism and reductionism have been propped up as weak substitutes for connection to divinity. More than ever, many feel lost, and yearn for something deeper. There is a crisis of meaning, a sickness of spirit. The ultimate intent behind Wheel Of Bliss is to address this problem, but its genesis has even deeper roots.
The land’s journey as a spiritual retreat center began in 2012, when it was originally acquired to serve a group of Tibetan Buddhist practitioners seeking a long-term sanctuary in the Blue Ridge Mountains. Over time, the space began to open up—first to extended community, then to a wider range of spiritual, wellness, and creative retreats.
By 2016, it had fully emerged as Wheel of Bliss—a space for transformation, connection, and renewal. Since then, the center has hosted hundreds of retreats across traditions: women’s circles, meditation, yoga, trauma healing, breathwork, somatic therapy, expressive arts, and more. What started with a specific lineage has grown into a multi-modal sanctuary that welcomes seekers from all paths.
In recent years, Wheel of Bliss has entered a new chapter. Under new stewardship, the land has undergone renewed restoration—physical, cultural, and energetic. Today, we honor the past while actively shaping a future rooted in integrity, inclusivity, and authentic service.
Whether you come as a facilitator, participant, or simply someone needing space to breathe, we welcome you into a living circle of practice, presence, and possibility.
Mission
Wheel Of Bliss Retreat serves as a sacred backdrop for spiritual leaders to host retreats. While its origins are Tibetan Buddhist, the space is offered in fellowship, so long as the practice is focused on connecting participants to divinity. In alignment with Buddhist ethics, our intent is also to only host retreats that (1) do not engage in practices that bring harm to others and (2) do not engage in practices that bring harm to the natural world.
While many religious and spiritual traditions meet this criteria, some do not. Also, often the individual leader is the best measure of whether or not this criteria is hit.
In addition to alignment between retreat leaders and our space, our leadership is aligned with the land on multiple dimensions. Vows with divinities, guardians, ancestral powers, and local & elemental spirits are kept. Regular offerings are made to the different classes of beings by our own leadership as well as our retreat leaders. The intent is to create harmony among all classes of beings that occupy the space: above and below; form and formless; within and without.
The result of stepping into this spiritually rich environment is palpable. Many retreat-holders liken the result of this environment to a spiritual wind on the back of participants. Because of alignment on multiple planes, retreatants have a window to connect to divinity. Deep revelations about one’s path and purpose surface. Participants can then bring these revelations back to home and take action and positively impact themselves, their families and their communities
As we continue on our mission to continue to build on the sacredness of our space, holding this alignment is of the utmost importance.
Vision
Across Asia and Europe, there are many holy sites that have stood for centuries and even millenia. These places of pilgrimage are recognized as gateways to divinity. The mere act of stepping foot in these spaces can open a door to the miraculous.
Blue Ridge is a part of a range of mountains that are the oldest in the world. There is natural power in this space, and these mountains are already sacred.
Our vision is that this sacredness continues to grow and flourish. In doing so, our intent for all who step on our land is that a door to the divine opens up – and practitioners now and in the future benefit.
Giving Back
In creating a sacred space for retreatants, we believe that it is also our duty to be stewards of our 63 acres of land.
As of 2017, we began implementing programs to increase the health and vitality of the forests, waterways, and wildlife on our land. Bliss currently qualifies as a certified Wildlife Habitat under The National Wildlife Federation.
Additionally, our staff is working with local, state, and federal conservation programs as well as private consultants to create sanctuaries for endangered species, protect our forests from man made and natural disasters, and transition to 100% renewable, off-grid energy sources.
