2025 Montana Retreats
The Art of Presence
Being present with yourself and in your life is the single most healing, inspiring transformative practice you will ever learn.
JUL 23-29
2025
Dancing Spirit Ranch
Whitefish, Montana
An amazing experience.
Join me…
…for 6 nights and 7 days just outside of Whitefish, Montana, cultivating deep presence, healing, intimacy and joy in one of the most beautiful and serene places on Earth. Through listening to live music; ourselves and each other; the sounds and silence of nature and through group breathwork and authentic relating, we will cultivate a deep awareness and experience the magical presence and continual movement of Life in all of its transformations. Being present with ourselves, the Earth and each other is the single most healing, inspiring and transformative practice we will ever learn . . . and the most creative.
We will explore the wonder and miracle of Nature on the beautiful Dancing Spirit Ranch, a peaceful yet dynamic place of conscious co-creation between man and nature, where the earth, the elements and the natural cycles of life are given center stage in the incredible beauty of the Rocky Mountains of Northwest Montana. It sits on 160-acres full of forests, ponds, and over 5 miles of walking trails leading you to a variety of sacred stone sites. From labyrinth walks to gong baths, the hidden treasures of Dancing Spirit Ranch will make this retreat unlike any other. The ranch has a variety of buildings that create a unique Western Village, perfect to house our nature getaway. From yoga and music in the School House, to nourishing meals in the Barn, every corner of the ranch has something memorable to offer.
We will enjoy delicious, healthy meals made with local farm-to-table organic ingredients. We will listen to music performed by myself and other guest musicians daily, sometimes in performance style situations and sometimes informally next to the roasting fire. During each nightly fire circle, we will share and entertain thoughtful, engaging and expanding conversation, and sometimes just contemplate and revel in the silent roar of quiet presence. Lie under my piano while I play for you and even sign-up for a personal private musical “reading,” which I will record for you. We will tone together using 12 crystal singing bowls. We will explore the wonder and miracle of Nature on beautiful Dancing Spirit Ranch, and even take a leisurely four hour river float on tubes, kayaks, canoes or paddle boards from town back to the ranch.
We will learn and practice various exercises to stimulate deep presence and listening. And we will have every afternoon free to do as we wish. Enjoy and explore the beauty and magic of nature; or nap in the sun by the lake; or kayak, paddle board; journal or visit with friends. All formal group activities will happen between sunrise and lunch and then again from dinner into the evening hours. Also, if you’re a musician and would like to play with me, bring your instrument. I’m sure we can find some time during the week to be present in our music together.
I am excited to meet you at Dancing Spirit Ranch, a meeting place of ancient tradition and new wisdom, a place of celebration for the animals and winged ones who share this land and sky, as well as the voices of the trees, the stones, the mountains and the stars. We also celebrate your voice...for in the stillness, splendor and simplicity that one can experience here, you can begin to feel the rhythm of your own heart while breathing deeply in connection with nature. With space to listen, you can start to hear and ultimately share the quiet voice that has too often been silenced in our rushing world.
Dancing Spirit Ranch has a variety of room types to cozy up in, all adorned with antique furniture and Pendleton blankets to create the perfect rustic touch for our Montana experience. During our free time, we can find ourselves reading in the Secret Garden, canoeing around the pond, and watching the stars dance in the sky while sitting by an open fire. There are 17 benches scattered amongst the walking trails, each affording a different view of ponds, mountains, grassy valleys or rock formations. The land and energy there has inspired the creation of a number of sacred rock works, each holding its own divine intent. The owners of the ranch work with the energetic pathways that flow beneath and above the land and the spiritual qualities of the stones to create these sites of connection and contemplation. The ranch’s surrounding mountains dominate the trails, and there are astounding views through the notch into the Great Bear Wilderness and Glacier National Park.
There will be a maximum of 22 attendees.
Please email me to discuss the retreat and your participation in it. I am so very much looking forward to this week together.
– Peter
What people are saying…
Your hosts
Peter Kater
From an early age Peter found inspiration, solace and healing in being present with and listening to the sounds of nature and music. Peter’s great love and passion for self-awareness, the miracle of nature and the gift of ever-transforming Life energy has been the inspiration in Peter’s music ever since he was a teenager. Through decades of practicing a wide variety of awareness techniques from mediation, to chanting and fasting, to energy and body-work and to participating in many diverse workshops, retreats and intensives, Peter is inspired to share his experience and expression of the Art of Presence.
Grammy-winning, multi-platinum selling Pianist/Composer Peter Kater has been a leading innovator of contemporary instrumental music for over 3 decades. He’s received many awards and accolades for his rich and diverse music including 12 Grammy Award nominations. A prolific composer, he’s released over 60 critically acclaimed recordings and has scored the music for over 100 television and film productions including 11 On & Off-Broadway dramatic plays. From solo piano and contemporary jazz ensembles to full orchestral works his music is heard all over the world crossing many genres from the Olympics, the Kennedy Center and Carnegie Hall to the treatment rooms of hundreds of thousands massage and healing practitioners. He is known for his many groundbreaking collaborations with musicians such as Native American flutist R. Carlos Nakai; Tibetan flutist Nawang Khechog; Sting guitarist Dominic Miller and Sacred Chantress Snatam Kaur. And as avid environmentalist and humanitarian Peter is a proud recipient of the Environment Leadership Award from the United Nations.
Jeremy and Melanie Roske
Melanie and Jeremy, a dynamic partnership, embody a harmonious blend of compassion, wisdom, and transformation in their co-creative work. Melanie, a radiant vessel of love, and Jeremy, a heart-opening sound healer, create a safe and nurturing space, guiding with a rich tapestry of holistic wisdom. Together, they empower individuals to tune into their innate intelligence for self-healing. Their strength lies in the love of their sacred union, a radiant power resonating through their joint expertise in Breathwork, Reiki, sound healing, meditation, and somatic practices. They nurture deep healing and personal growth, united in their mission to guide individuals on their journey to self-realization, creative exploration, and alignment with their soul’s guidance and truth – all anchored in love and empathy.
“Ahanah Breathwork takes a holistic Yin approach, inviting you to rediscover and calibrate your inner self. Through the art of conscious breathing and the frequency of sound, we encourage the subtle awakening of your subconscious, creating space for unexpected awareness and personal insights to emerge. The Breathwork invites the body’s energy channels to unfold gently, allowing anything you might have tucked away to surface and find its way out. This can include hidden emotions, physical tension, outdated beliefs, long-forgotten memories, deeply ingrained patterns, and the exploration of what lies within. This unique blend of sound frequency and somatic experiences opens the door to meaningful discoveries and transformative shifts, facilitating a relaxed journey of self-discovery and personal growth. It serves as a reset, allowing you to realign and restore your internal equilibrium.”
Robin & Tyler Gardner
Co-Founders of Dancing Spirit Ranch
These high school sweethearts grew up in Whitefish, Montana and were lucky enough to have these mountains as their playground. After high school, Robin moved to Manhattan to attend New York University’s Gallatin program of Individualized Study, creating her own major of “The Good Life”. Meanwhile, Tyler moved to Pittsburgh with a Division-I soccer scholarship to Robert Morris University and graduated with a double major in Hospitality and Business Management. After college, they developed a strong passion for travel and have since visited over 35 countries together. During their most recent backpacking stint, they completed a Yoga Alliance accredited 200-hour vinyasa flow teacher training in Bali with Jolie Manza. One of the their biggest lessons during all of their travels is that home is in the mountains. After a handful of years in San Francisco, Robin and Tyler decided to move back and combine all of their passions into one, Dancing Spirit Ranch. They are beyond thrilled to share their love for people, hospitality, and the Flathead Valley with everyone that comes to the ranch. And if they can’t find them there, you can usually find them hiking, skiing, or practicing yoga.