Forest Church - Summer 2026

Forest Church is a sacred, nature-based gathering guided by Loto Wellness Collective’s Resident Mothers, where all are welcome to encounter the Divine in creation.

Forest Church is an invitation to step out of the noise and into the Presence of God—not within walls, but beneath the open sky, in the cathedral of trees.

We begin at the Angel of Shavano trailhead at the top of County Road 240, walking together in quiet reverence along a gentle 1-mile round-trip path to the waterfall. This is not a hike—it’s a contemplative prayer walk. A slowing. A softening. A return.

The forest becomes our sanctuary. The trail becomes our teacher. The water, a place to listen.

Afterward, we gather nearby at the House of Loto—private land stewarded by four generations of the Held family. Guided by our 2026 Healing Artists in Residency, our Mothers, we will enter into a shared practice of presence.

Each Forest Church gathering is unique, and may include:

• Shinrin-yoku forest bathing walking meditation
• Sound bath meditation
• Ecstatic dance
• Drumming
• Cacao circle
• Mindful movement (such as Tai Chi)
• Contemplative prayer and stillness
• Tikkun olam care for the land (trash pickup)

No two gatherings are the same—but all are rooted in the same intention: to attune our hearts to the voice of the One who created us.

Come as you are. Come willing to listen to Creation speak.

• Sturdy walking shoes (trail is gentle, hiking boots not required)
• A yoga mat or blanket (if you’d like to sit at the waterfall)
• Layers for changing mountain weather
• A water bottle
• Sun protection

Warm herbal tea will be shared at the close of our gathering.

Suggested Contribution: $25 (cash, Venmo, or PayPal accepted on-site — no one turned away)

Where: Meet at the Angel of Shavano Campground/Trailhead (CR 240)

When: Every other Sunday through the summer season, 1:00–3 PM MT (Please arrive early to settle in; we begin promptly)

Weather Note: Forest Church is weather-dependent (including lightning, wildfire risk, etc.).

Whether you’re a Salida local or simply passing through, this is a sacred invitation to slow down, breathe deeply, and reconnect with the Divine in the wild. The forest is calling.

is an experience designer, retreat host, and founder of Loto Wellness Collective. A fourth-generation steward* of this forest land, she carries forward a legacy of care, devotion, and deep listening—offering Forest Church as a modern expression of gathering with I AM in the wilderness.

*We respectfully acknowledge the unceded and ancestral territories of the Ute and Cheyenne Nations, and honor the traditional stewards of this land—past, present, and emerging.,

is a member of the “Tierra Corazón” Ecological Community in the mountains of Chiapas, Mexico, where she had the privilege to live during 2021 and 2022, and where she has participated for the past 5 years as a “Temazcal” (sweat lodge) fire keeper for the annual Vision Quest Ceremony.

is from Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. She is also the founder of Moonwitch Essentials, a living body of work that weaves together ceremony, natural alchemy, archetypal wisdom, and everyday ritual. Through botanical creations, symbolic practices, movement, and song, she guides people back to their intuition — to the truth of who they already are.

By registering for this event, you agree to participate with respect for the land, the community, and the sacred nature of this gathering. A portion of the proceeds from Forest Church supports reforestation through our Land Stewardship Fund.

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