Forest Hermitage Practicum

Forest Hermitage Practicum, designed for the Bachelor of Taoism curriculum:

Course Title: Forest Hermitage Practicum

  • Course Code: TAO-312
  • Credits: 3
  • Duration: One Semester
  • Prerequisites: Introduction to Taoist Meditation, Principles of Solitude, and Taoist Ethics


Course Description:

This practicum immerses students in the traditional Taoist discipline of temporary forest hermitage. Through a guided solo retreat, students will experience contemplative isolation, inner cultivation, and direct communion with nature as a method of aligning with the Tao. The course blends practical hermitage logistics, spiritual self-discipline, and ecological literacy rooted in Taoist cosmology.


Learning Objectives:

By the end of the course, students will be able to:

  • Design and implement a personal hermitage retreat using Taoist principles.
  • Engage in prolonged periods of solitude with disciplined self-regulation.
  • Practice internal alchemy, silent meditation, and observation of natural rhythms.
  • Reflect critically and spiritually on the hermitage experience.
  • Integrate Taoist ethical and cosmological insights into daily life.


Course Components:

1. Preparatory Phase (Weeks 1–4):

  • Lectures & Seminars:
    • The Hermit Tradition in Taoism
    • Logistics of Wilderness Solitude
    • Safety, Simplicity, and Ecological Stewardship
  • Assignments:
    • Personal Intention Statement
    • Site Selection and Retreat Plan

2. Retreat Phase (Weeks 5–8):

  • Independent Field Work:
    • 7-day solo forest retreat at an approved site
    • Daily practice of seated meditation, qi gong, observation journaling, and fasting protocols (optional)
  • Check-ins:
    • Remote mentoring via one scheduled call (if required)

3. Integration Phase (Weeks 9–12):

  • Workshops:
    • Sharing and Reflection Circles
    • Processing Solitude: Mind, Spirit, and Ecology
  • Final Project:
    • Hermitage Journal Submission
    • Presentation or Creative Reflection (poem, essay, painting, etc.)


Assessment Methods:

  • Participation & Preparation Assignments – 20%
  • Hermitage Plan & Safety Protocol – 10%
  • Retreat Journal – 30%
  • Final Presentation or Creative Work – 30%
  • Peer & Mentor Feedback – 10%


Required Readings:

  • Zhuangzi, selected chapters
  • The Book of the Forest Path (Instructor’s compilation)
  • Practicing Nature: Taoist Approaches to Ecology (course packet)