Christ in the Wilderness

Christ in the Wilderness Christ in the Wilderness is a hermitage retreat center located south of Stockton, in the rolling hil Be Still, Be Silent, Be Restored
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Retreatants aren't the only ones frolicking through our Fall leaves. As rut begins, we're seeing even more deer than our...
10/27/2025

Retreatants aren't the only ones frolicking through our Fall leaves. As rut begins, we're seeing even more deer than our regular herd.

First frost, cozy cabins.
10/23/2025

First frost, cozy cabins.

The continuous unfolding of reds and oranges reminds us that this land is a constant gift. It's been a busy retreatant s...
10/19/2025

The continuous unfolding of reds and oranges reminds us that this land is a constant gift. It's been a busy retreatant season, with nearly a full house in October! Spots are filling quick in November, reserve your screen free spectacular today: https://citwretreat.com/reservations/

"Painted by the frosts, some a uniform clear bright yellow, or red, or crimson, as if their spheres had regularly revolv...
10/16/2025

"Painted by the frosts, some a uniform clear bright yellow, or red, or crimson, as if their spheres had regularly revolved, and enjoyed the influence of the sun on all sides alike,—some with the faintest pink blush imaginable,—some brindled with deep red streaks like a cow, or with hundreds of fine blood-red rays running regularly from the stem-dimple to the blossom end, like meridional lines, on a straw-colored ground,—some touched with a greenish rust, like a fine lichen, here and there, with crimson blotches or eyes more or less confluent and fiery when wet,—and others gnarly, and freckled or peppered all over on the stem side with fine crimson spots on a white ground, as if accidentally sprinkled from the brush of Him who paints the autumn leaves."
Henry David Thoreau, Wild Apples

From our latest newsletter: Spending time in solitude at CITW can create time for a digital detox from the screens that ...
10/14/2025

From our latest newsletter: Spending time in solitude at CITW can create time for a digital detox from the screens that can absorb so much of our time. Solitude allows a sacred space to go deeper and ask questions about transitions in our own lives and what we might be prompted to let go of. Solitude at CITW provides an opportunity to reflect and consider personal transitions, including aspects of life that may need to be rebalanced.
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Autumn, the briefest season of the year in Northern Illinois, is here! It’s a great time to spend a few days at CITW as the nights are drawing in, and the morning air is crisp with the scent of leaves. Trees and shrubs are laden with fruit and flocks of American Robins are voraciously feasting on berries and crab apples. With the drop in temperature, and the shorter amount of daylight, leaves are beginning to show their true colors, creating a palette of red, yellow, orange, purple, and shades of brown. Asters and Goldenrods are displaying their bright hues of blue and purple and yellow, inviting passing Monarchs to fuel up on nectar as they migrate south to their overwintering sites in Mexico.

Fall is a brief season of change, transition, and letting go throughout the natural world. It’s a wonderful time to visit CITW and spend some time in deeper reflection on transitions and letting go.

CITW during fall displays a beautiful autumnal space allowing us to slow down, take a walk along its many paths or just sit in the upper meadow, and maybe reflect on fall transitions in the natural world and within our own lives.

As I reflect on leaves changing colors, and gently falling to the earth, I notice how some leaves seem to just let go effortlessly, while other leaves hold on for dear life and refuse to let go until a brisk wind sends them flying and falling to the ground. Some leaves from young native Oak trees might remain on the tree all winter and into spring when new growth gently pushes them off the stem.

- Maura Neuffer

"The first peace, which is the most important, is that which comes within the souls of people when they realize their re...
10/13/2025

"The first peace, which is the most important, is that which comes within the souls of people when they realize their relationship, their oneness with the universe and all its powers, and when they realize at the center of the universe dwells the Great Spirit, and that its center is really everywhere, it is within each of us." - Black Elk, Lakota Oglala

CITW blesses retreatants with a renewed sense of timelessness: The presence of one's favorite tree, the cycles of migrat...
10/10/2025

CITW blesses retreatants with a renewed sense of timelessness: The presence of one's favorite tree, the cycles of migrating birds, and the eternal return of Spring.
On a lighter note, these two pictures were taken of Blue (1995) and Nashi (2025). 30 years apart, but equally blessing this place with their joyful presence.
Do you have a favorite tree, place or, creature at CITW?

One small renovation here has been building a small cat door at the main house. Our loved ones get to enjoy a little mor...
10/06/2025

One small renovation here has been building a small cat door at the main house. Our loved ones get to enjoy a little more of that CITW sunshine. And since this goes to the screen porch, we can confidently say no birds were harmed in the making of this project.

10/02/2025

Box elder bugs are everywhere right now. On windshields, screens, even in the air we breathe. At first it feels overwhelming, maybe even a little irritating. But then we pause and notice: what an odd and extravagant reminder of life’s abundance. These small creatures, paired up and persistent, remind us that the natural world moves with a rhythm far larger than our own plans.

Sometimes life, like these bugs, hows up in ways we don’t expect, filling every available space. Maybe the invitation isn’t to resist the swarm but to find wonder in it, even in the messiness.

What about you: do you see them as a nuisance, or a sign of nature’s wild generosity?

Address

7500 S Randecker Rd
Stockton, IL
61085

Opening Hours

Monday 6:30am - 10pm
Tuesday 6:30am - 10pm
Wednesday 6:30am - 10pm
Thursday 6:30am - 10pm
Friday 6:30am - 10pm
Saturday 6:30am - 10pm
Sunday 6:30am - 10pm

Telephone

(815) 947-2476

Website

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