Mount Shasta is an amazing place for spiritual retreats. Many see Mount Shasta as a 14,000 foot mirror which reflects and amplifies the truth in each of our hearts. People from around the world come to this part of California for retreats. Almost without exception, they experience a powerful connection with the divine in the context of whatever path they are on.
Andrew Oser, founder of Mount Shasta Retreats, is an inner and outer guide on Mt. Shasta. He has been hiking on the mountain for almost 40 years and guiding retreats here since 1982. Andrew has a great love for Mount Shasta and knows many powerful spots which visitors seldom find.
At these places, he guides visitors through a transforming inner journey of releasing old energies, reconnecting in the present, and getting fresh vision and inspiration for the way ahead. Andrew fell in love with Shasta during college. He used to come here for hiking trips but it wasn’t until 2006 that he moved here permanently and started Mount Shasta Retreats.
On his first encounters with the mountain, back in 1978, his heart was filled with pure joy when he spent several days adventuring around the area. He felt alive and connected with his own true presence (more than ever before). Over the next 28 years, he would visit the mountain every summer on a retreat. In 2006, he decided it was time to come back home.
His journey to Mount Shasta Retreats all began one full moon night in 1987. Andrew was camping at a spot in Mount Shasta when all of a sudden he had a vision of starting a non-profit organization. The idea was to help children unleash their potential through sport, as he was a Tennis Coach. He then moved to Washington, D.C. to start the Joy of Sports Foundation.
This foundation was a big success and earned him an honour with President Clinton. During these years, he would find peace by coming back to Mount Shasta – especially because the organization had its challenges. Andrew would run retreats in Shasta, coinciding with his non-profit work.
But as all good things must come to an end, in 2006 it was time to step down from his role at the Joy of Sports Foundation and focus his attention on Mount Shasta and spiritual retreats. Andrew Oser has been living in Mount Shasta ever since as a retreat guide, helping other spiritually curious people find connection with nature and their own true self.
History & Unique Beauty of Mount Shasta
Mount Shasta has a history with a variety of people. The Native Americans saw Shasta as a “big spirit”. It’s not the tallest mountain in North America but its sheer mass makes it one of the biggest. Native peoples would worship the mountain through a series of sacred rituals – some would even go to the mountain to die as it was considered a portal to the afterlife.
When the California Gold Rush hit in 1848, many different people from around the world immigrated to the area to work in the gold mines. This included Russians. Many Russians recognized the same “big spirit” that the Native Americans saw and so they had their own word for the mountain which was “schastye”, meaning “happiness” or “pure happiness” in Russian.
It became anglicized as “Mount Shasta” or the “Mountain of Happiness”. In the 60’s, during the Summer of Love, spirituality made a comeback in the American culture. India became a popular spiritual destination for tourists but then people began to realize that you didn’t need to travel all the way to India for that type of experience, as you could just go to Mount Shasta.
The city of Mount Shasta then moved away from its lumber roots to being more of a spiritual tourism destination, with many local businesses taking advantage of this shift in the economy. This really is a place where you can drop all of the worries of the world and just be yourself. The energy of the mountain has a memory and wisdom to it that is truly indescribable.
Why Book with Mount Shasta Retreats?
Mount Shasta is the type of place where you can simply put on your own hiking boots and take your own adventure, with its many great hiking trails and viewpoints. However, there is something truly special about booking a retreat with Andrew Oser. Firstly, while the whole mountain is incredible in its own right, there are certain sacred spots where the energy is amplified.
Andrew takes people to these sacred sites – and it doesn’t matter if you’re an experienced hiker with high fitness or someone low on fitness, or if you’re carrying an injury (there are sacred sites he can drive you to). This combined with the meditation that Andrew takes you through, and his knowledge of the mountain, makes for one unforgettable experience.
These retreats are suited for everyone, regardless of fitness level, nationality, age or spiritual background. Andrew has clients from Asia, South America, Europe, different parts of the United States and all over the world. Everyone responds differently to the mountain in their own unique way. As he said once in a sit-down interview with Active NorCal (video link here):
If someone comes and they’re Christian they might go on the mountain and say, “wow I never felt this close to Jesus Christ in my life”. If someone comes and they’re Hindu they might go on the mountain and say, “wow I saw a vision of Lord Krishna dancing”. And if someone comes and they’re Buddhist they might say, “wow I just felt this deep peace, I felt Buddha mind”.
While spirituality is a big part of Mount Shasta Retreats, so too is the physical exercise component. Andrew believes in the integration of mind, body and spirit – so he can take guests on long hiking adventures to complement the meditation and silent retreat aspects. This embodiment through exercise helps people bring themselves into the present again.
Guided Retreats and Spiritual Journeys
If you are ready to take your own unique spiritual journey on Mount Shasta then you can choose from a range of different experiences with Mount Shasta Retreats. Some of these experiences are suited for individuals, some are ideal for couples and other retreats make for the perfect group adventure – where you can form new friendships with other kindred spirits.
There are five different types of retreats and journeys you can have: Guided Spiritual Journeys, Guided Personal Retreats, Mount Shasta Spiritual Adventure Retreat, Mount Shasta Freedom Retreat and Mount Shasta Couples Retreats. The private retreats can be customized to your personal preferences, fitness levels and how much meditation you would like to do.
Andrew can offer whatever mix of guiding and silence you would like. Many tell him that he has a gift for guiding meditations and healing journeys. He greatly respects the magic that happens in the silence on the mountain.
The group retreats are unique. Not only will you connect with the mountain and its spiritual presence, but also with other people from around the world who are on a similar journey of rediscovery as yourself. These trips are life-changing and you only need to read the reviews to learn why.
Andrew has taken 5,100 clients on 1,000 tours spanning 15 years – so you know you are in good hands. The date-dependent group retreats are limited in number. If you want to ensure you don’t miss out on slots then you should get in touch with Mount Shasta Retreats now to book your slot!
Key Tips for Mount Shasta Retreats
There has never been a more important time to reconnect with your self and remember who you are. The pandemic has caused troubles for many people, and so these retreats might help you get away from the craziness of the recent past and focus on the future with a pure heart.
Each season at Mount Shasta brings something new to the table. Summer is warm and sunny and you can swim in the alpine lakes – but the hiking is slightly harder in the heat. Fall has mild weather and changing colors, which is great for photography. Winter is a spectacular time for going deep into the white mountain, while Spring offers more flowing water.
If you are thinking of booking one of the 2022 group retreats (Mount Shasta Spiritual Adventure Retreat or Mount Shasta Freedom Retreat), you should know that Andrew’s wife – Alex McIntyre – will be helping lead the retreats. This is nice to know for couples looking to connect with other couples.
But if you can’t make it, you can always consider doing private spiritual life coaching sessions with Andrew as he is an accomplished Life Coach. These calls start with guided meditations, helping you release fears and channel positive energies, and then the focus is on the future where together you will identify simple next steps to help you get to where you want to go.
You can also check out his products for healing and balance: his book “How Alternation Can Change Your Life” and CD “Come Home to Yourself”. These give you a taste of Andrew’s philosophy and outlook on life, which really can be summarised as infectious happiness. Don’t forget to sign up to his newsletter and be part of a Mount Shasta spiritual community!
Be sure to follow Mount Shasta Retreats on Facebook for up to date retreat information. Lastly, feel free to give Andrew Oser a call today on (760)-525-4512 or email him at andrew@mountshastaretreat.net to get all of your questions answered and to book your life-changing journey. Mount Shasta is waiting and she has so many beautiful gifts to offer you.
