Sacred Spaces extends to Taohe, 27-wooded acres and 2 cabins on our own private reservoir in Barre, Massachusetts.

Teeming with wildlife, this pristine sanctuary invites deep relaxation and harmonization of body, mind and spirit.

For Images of Taohe Retreats click here

Wilderness Retreats at Taohe (Tay-oh-hey)
Individual and Small Group Retreats

Fall 2011 Day Retreats, $80

Fall 2011 Weekend Retreats, $180
September 24-25, 9AM Saturday to mid afternoon on Sunday, Moms and Young Ones Retreat
October 8-10, Columbus Day Weekend, 9AM Saturday to mid afternoon Sunday OR Monday, optional 3rd Day
November 12-13, 9AM Saturday to mid afternoon on Sunday

Sacred Spaces retreats have a just a 3 simple essential elements:
     nature
     quiet
      you

I provide sustaining meals and an invitation to silence. With this, you may relax deeply into the beauty and wonder of simply being in the natural world.

We meet at Sacred Spaces in Southborough and carpool one hour to Taohe - a private lake and woodlands with abundant wildlife, two woodstove-heated cabins, canoe, kayak and more. Yet it is the little things that make it perfect - a secluded grove, a small turtle, owls calling, a big rock to warm on, a silent meal. This is a place to rest and harmonize your being. Healthy and delicious vegetarian (or vegan) meals.

For more information call Judy at 508-624-7519 or send an e-mail

"Taohe" means being in harmony with the environment.The sound of it is soft and clear.

At Taohe, twenty-seven acres of woods, a private lake and a 1930's cabin enable you to leave everything behind and discover yourself as a simple being of nature.

Taohe is nearby (30 minutes west of Worcester) and is yet miraculously secluded and a most prisitne natural environment. Here you can come back to who you are in your natural, open, friendly and quiet being as you find yourself amidst hemlock and oak, hills and lake, owls, moose, otter, hawks, deer, songbirds, sun, wind and water.

There are hundreds of acres of surrounding New England forest to hike. There is a canoe and kayak to explore the waterworlds. The cabin is primitive yet cozy as you learn to be without usual conveniences such as electricity and using a handpump for fresh water.

You may join a scheduled group retreat or tailor a personal retreat anywhere from a day visit to several days or a weekend. Your time at Taohe can be as structured or unstructured as you like. Scheduled retreat weekend may include individual and group time with periods of silence, walking, time in nature, laughter, song, journaling and sharing - and of course, sleeping and eating wonderful home cooked meals.

Taohe is a special place where you don't have to work at being in the moment - you're just quietly there.
                                                                                                      H.B. Natick

Thank you again for the solitude and quietude of this amazing place. There were 4 deer romping and racing through the woods and water across the lake this morning. It's so wonderful to feel (or be) a part of nature again! Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.                                                                  M.E. Sudbury

OwlBird Cabin

Turtleback (Wee Little Hermit) Hut

The Story of Taohe

About 10 years ago, my last living grandparents died. My parents passed on to me a portion of their inheritance. Believe me it wasn't much. It could have disappeared on a big hdtv and a couple of concert tickets!

I decided to use the money as a deposit on "retreat land" - I wanted a place I could go to be in nature. I had grown up overseas in small tribal communities in relationship with the natural world. Returning to the states in my teens was difficult in many ways, but my family spent summers at my uncle's remote Michigan lake. That refuge in nature was a connection to sanity, to what I knew was true in the midst of so much noise, overwhelm and confusion. Now, something in me was calling to find a similar refuge.

For 3 years or more I checked real estate sites on the internet almost daily for new listings, traveling hundreds of miles over mapped and unmapped roads to look at listings. Nothing that seemed within my reach financially was "right."

Then I saw the listing in Barre. With about 12 photos. It looked too good to be true. I called immediately. The agent already had a full day of appointments with prospective buyers that Saturday. "Besides," he said, "you wouldn't want it, thereีs no electricity or running water and it's nearly a mile from the road."

"That's exactly what I've been looking for." I said. "I can be there in an hour. Will you meet me there today?"

It was April. There was still snow on the ground. He said, "Meet me at electric pole number 62, there is a cartpath there and I will drive you in, in my truck."

I arrived ahead of him. I couldn't wait, parked and began walking in. Not knowing the way, I trusted my instincts at the turns in the road. Arriving at the little cabin, I walked up to the lake's edge and saw that the lake was untouched - no other people, no other cabins, just gorgeous radiant natural beauty - water, birds, hemlock, sky. My legs trembled and my knees gave way, a few tears flowed. Such a rare treasure. Such beauty.

The agent arrived in his truck. I signed the offer to purchase with an asking price that was double what my small deposit would secure. Now came every effort to raise money.

There were so many ideas. Friends helped and we created a weekend Wholistic Expo and flea market fundraiser - with exhibiting vendors, events, live music, and food. We narrowed the gap and in the end, my parents came through with the final balance that was needed saying, "This would have been your inheritance when we pass away. We want you to have it now for this."

And so these 27 acres with lake front on a private reservoir came to my hands and heart for caretaking. I take it seriously and consider the wildlife -the fox and phoebes, the owls and turtles, the deer and sassy little red squirrels - all to be family. It is my great joy to simply be here experiencing the amazing interplay and movements of change in natural harmony. The creatures are as curious about me as I am curious about them and we get to know one another.

It is also a great joy to share this gem with people who celebrate and come alive in the wilderness as I do. I love getting to know new friends and watching people unwind and relax into the ever-present joy of simply being alive! Of discovering ourselves, reflected in nature. It is ngreat introducing people to life without the usual conveniences of electricity and faucets, with woodstoves for heat and lamps and candles for soft light in the evenings. And I love feeding people so preparing good meals is a fun part of the Taohe experience.

I gave this place a name, Taohe. It is pronounced "tay-oh-hey." The sound of it is soft and clear. It means being in harmony with life. The word comes from this quote that I read in LIFE magazine as a teenager.

Ease is the voice of the living earth
Telling an organism
it is in harmony
with its environment.

"Taohe" comes from the first letter of the words: Telling An Organism Harmony Environment - Taohe.

Simply being here fills me and the friends who come here with gratitude. What I have found is that it is this experience of gratitude and sharing that brings great happiness.