Whole Planet Spirituality Forum & Retreat
October 29-November 1, 2026
Attendance in person is highly reommended. A limited virtual option is available.
This is the time. This is the place. Come to connect, collaborate and co-create a love-centered world, free of exploitation.
Where: Unity Village, Missouri near Kansas City (also limited virtual option)
When: October 29 - November 1, 2026
In our sixth year, we are once again calling all spiritually minded, planet-conscious and animal-loving people to enjoy three full days (Thursday afternoon to Sunday afternoon) of inspiration, learning, renewal and collaboration as we co-create a world that works for all beings on the planet. Experience the sacredness of the Unity Village grounds, home of the Unity movement where co-founders Charles and Myrtle Fillmore pioneered and advocated for ethical vegetarianism in the early 1900’s. Participate in the awakening of consciousness in the heart of our nation. Recognizing that we are all at different stages of our evolutionary process, we invite anyone - vegan, vegetarian or curious omnivore - who is open to sharing, learning and connecting. All lunches and dinners will be plant-based.
Our retreat theme this year is “Above All, Love All.” This reminds us to be steadfast, radiant expressions of love in all of our encounters. It calls us to embrace all of creation in our circle of compassion. It urges us to be love even in the most challenging of circumstances and toward the most difficult of people. Love is one of the highest vibrational expressions and when our actions come from that space, we raise the collective consciousness. Our movement toward a world that works for all must be led by and imbued with love, because it is simply not possible to create a world of non-violence and care if we act violently and uncaring toward others, even our presumed enemies. We will be challenging ourselves with these ideas during our time together. We will also enjoy fabulous plant-based meals, engage in spiritual practices and ceremony, honor our animal friends and their habitats, and enjoy the beautiful grounds of Unity Village. Bring your heart and willingness to connect with other wonderful people who are also called to live as love, above all.
Check back regularly or sign up for updates. Retreat e-newsletters will go out every other week beginning March, 2025.
Everything about the retreat is on this web page! Scroll down to learn about Unity Village, event speakers, testimonials from past attendees, the hotel, the retreat schedule and more!
Programming Includes (scroll down for schedule):
Workshops on Whole Planet Spirituality, Consciousness, Paradigm Shifts, Connecting with Nature, Opening the Heart and more
Featured Speaker
Morning body movement class
Spiritual practices centered on self-care and inner peace
Connection/collaboration with like-hearted people
Animals and World Religions traveling exhibit by curator Dr. Lisa Kemmerer
Evening social gatherings
Meditation, labyrinth, walking trails for renewal, restoration and self-care
Ceremony to honor animals (including humans) and habitats
Support in making values based lifestyle transitions to align your actions with your heart
Support of your creative process and effective action
Creative activities to support your inner journey and awaken the world
Wonderful plant-based meals - three lunches and three dinners prepared by local chefs
NOTE: Virtual attendance will include presentations but will not include group sharing sessions.
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“It is so amazing to be in this beautiful, relaxing place with other folks on their journeys and sharing with them their journeys and my journey. The education is so absorbing and the food is quite delicious.”
“My life has done a 180! This retreat was like a shot in the arm that saved my life for me. I was dying on the vine at my empty job, desiring to align with my core values and life purpose, needing community and love, healing and joy--and I received all that and more in full measure here! My heart overflowed with gratitude and I wept for the graces God was bestowing upon me at Unity Village in this beautiful retreat. I received insight and clarity into my next steps, my strengths and true heart's desires to serve in growing compassion for all life. I left completely inspired and lifted up.”
“I have been to three of these retreats so far. Each one has been unique and full of new information and inspiration. Each time I felt like I was home with my family of dear people who care so deeply about all sacred life and about each other. I will be back.”
"Being on Unity's beautiful grounds and spending time with the most loving and authentic people I have ever met has deepened my spiritual journey and consciousness in ways I could not have predicted."
“Unity Village is the most peaceful setting for this spiritual retreat. You will find yourself surrounded by wonderfully compassionate people who care so much about all beings on our planet. You will be inspired and renewed. You’ll also make new friends who share your compassion."
“I truly benefited from all that was offered....the presenters, break out sessions with other attendees, the morning and midday prayers, the documentary, the evening cafes, and the closing ritual, and just being on the beautiful grounds of Unity Village. I feel empowered and emboldened to do my own inner work and to share this message more effectively.”
“This event was well thought-out, and had the right amount of activity, reflection, study and individual time. It provided a comfortable and welcoming environment to meet people and express oneself and their experience and have respectful and caring exchanges with the other persons attending. The speakers and activities engaged our attention throughout, even as we sat towards the back of the room. The people who came were all approachable, interesting and surprising. This is the second year that we attended and we are anxious to go again to learn, be in community and eat delicious food.”
“This retreat soothed my soul, inspired me and gave me so many things to think about and ideas, and made deep connections with some beautiful people.”
“I attended the retreat by myself not knowing anyone else and had a fantastic, enriching experience. I met new friends, made connections and had time to reflect. All my needs were met on every level. I came home revitalized and nourished mentally, physically and spiritually.”
“I went to the retreat primarily to hear the speakers who interested me. They delivered. However, it was the unexpected moments of connection during some of the group activities and evening 'games' at the cafe that provided joyful and heartfelt connections that I cherish.”
"Everything was delicious! I loved all of the vegan food served and was thankful the hotel was so accommodating too! I felt full and energized throughout the day and enjoyed the engagement in discussion during dinner time! The catering choices were brilliant."
"I definitely plan on returning next year because I made such good connections with many people, learned so much about myself and veganism through presentations and discussions, and of course, loved the amazing food!"
"I can't stop thinking about how great this retreat was. I already can't wait for next year!"
Accommodations
You can make your room reservations now for 2026. We have reserved rooms for our retreat attendees at the Unity Village Hotel and Conference Center, which is a short walk to/from the event space. The room rate is $149/night plus taxes. The direct number to make your reservation is 816-347-5537. If they do not answer, leave a message and they will call you back! When you call be sure to say you are with the “WHOLE PLANET SPIRITUALITY RETREAT.” That is how you will get the discounted rate. Do not wait until the last minute. Our block will sell out!
There are also three Airbnb’s on the Unity Village grounds and many other area hotels in close proximity. As the time for our retreat draws closer, we will facilitate people who want to find roommates. Some people chose to camp nearby.
If you live locally and would like to open a room in your home to a retreat attendee, please email me at revcarolsaunders@gmail.com.
For retreat updates:
NOTE: PLEASE CHECK YOUR SPAM FOLDER FOR THESE UPDATES AND MOVE TO YOUR INBOX FOR FUTURE EMAIL UPDATES. I SEND OUT MONTHLY OR BI-WEEKLY EMAIL UPDATES, SO IF YOU DON’T RECEIVE THEM, THEY ARE LIKELY IN YOUR SPAM FOLDER!
Event Host
Promotional Sponsors
Last year were were grateful to the Circle of Compassion for their financial donation to this event. It makes a big difference in what we can offer during this retreat. This year we are grateful to Fillmore Church, Compassion Consortium, and Interfaith Vegan Coalition for their willingness to promote our event through social media. We are open to any and all donations and acts of support for our event in 2026! Contact revcarolsaunders@gmail.com if you would like to be a 2026 donor or sponsor.
Registration
Registration for 2026 is not yet open. We will have three levels of registration - full experience, single day and virtual. Registration has increased due to higher meal and room rental prices. We may be able to accommodate a few partial scholarships.
Full experience: The retreat fee includes all programming, three plant-based dinners (Thursday, Friday & Saturday) and three plant-based lunches (Friday, Saturday & Sunday). Call the hotel (816) 347-5537 to book separately and mention your attendance at this retreat to get a reduced price. The Unity Hotel will NOT be serving a plant-based breakfast for us, but you can select plant options from their regular hotel guest breakfast if desired (included in your room rate) or walk across the street to the Fillmore Cafe. The 2025 registration fee for the full in person experience was $429. As in ast years the fee will rise two months before the event starts.
Single day: If you can only attend for a single day, you can register for either Friday or Saturday. This registration includes all programming and lunch and dinner on that day. The 2025 fee for single day fee was $169.
Virtual: We highly recommend attending in person for the best overall experience. If you simply cannot do that, then virtual attendance is an option. The virtual experience will be held via Zoom. As stated above, virtual attendance will include presentations on Thursday, Friday and Saturday, but will not include group sharing sessions. This year the group sharing sessions include featured speaker Timber Hawkeye’s discussion sessions and the Sacred Service for Animals and Habitats. Live viewers will be able to hear Timber’s talk up until the time when people in the room begin to personally share. Virtual attendees will then be put in their own breakout session. The virtual registration fee supports the expense of two dedicated staff people plus equipment. The virtual fee remais at $109. Recordings of presentations will be available for two weeks after the event ends.
YOU CAN ALSO PAY BY CHECK. EMAIL REVCAROLSAUNDERS@GMAIL.COM FOR ADDRESS
PLEASE NOTE: YOU CAN CANCEL YOUR REGISTRATION WITH FULL REFUND LESS TRANSACTION FEES UNTIL SEPTEMBER 28, 2026. AFTER SEPTEMBER 28, YOUR REGISTRATION FEE IS NON-REFUNDABLE, BUT CAN BE APPLIED TO THE VIRTUAL OR DAILY EXPERIENCE.
About Unity Village
The Unity Village grounds are beautiful and offer many amenities. Sitting on 1200 acres, it is a Mediterranean-style campus with gardens, fountains, a nature trail, and multiple buildings. For reflection/renewal time there are several chapels, gardens, sitting areas, walking trails and a 90-foot diameter labyrinth, the largest paver labyrinth in the United States. There is also a 9-hole golf course on site. Tours of the grounds will be offered on Thursday afternoon.
Below are just a few photos of the Unity Village grounds and trails. The Fillmore Cafe, located across from the Unity Hotel, serves Messenger coffee, drinks and snacks. Here is a downloadable map of Unity Village. Our meeting room is the Fillmore Chapel.
2026 Featured Speaker To Be Announced
Meet the Organizer
Rev. Carol Saunders, Retreat Leader/Organizer
Rev. Carol Saunders is an ordained Unity and interfaith minister; founder/host of The Spiritual Forum, a podcast, prayer & retreat ministry; author of Wolf and the Lamb, an online ministry to awaken the world to our Oneness with all beings; and author/compiler of the booklet, The Forgotten Teachings of Charles Fillmore: How Our Relationship with Animals Connects to Universal Love, Ethical Living, Spiritual Development and World Peace. Rev. Carol believes social movements are only truly effective when they are movements of Love and Peace. This is her sixth year leading this retreat at Unity Village.
Schedule of Activities:
This schedule will be updated regularly as we fill in the program content. We recommend that you arrive on Thursday at least by 4 pm and stay through at least lunch on Sunday. If you arrive earlier on Thursday, there is a nature walk and a tour of Unity Village for you to enjoy. We do not recommend leaving on Sunday morning because there are reflective and group activities planned that will complete your experience. If you stay after lunch on Sunday, there will be a communication workshop designed to making the retreat as meaningful as possible.
For onsite attendees, you are free to attend any of the programming you wish and take personal reflection time as you see fit. The retreat meal plan begins with dinner on Thursday and ends with Sunday lunch. All lunches and dinners will be plant-based. Since the hotel serves the general public, they will serve a breakfast buffet, you can find some plant-based options among the regular breakfast served at the hotel for guests OR the Fillmore Cafe across the street will have a vegan breakfast sandwich available for sale.
Each morning we will offer a body movement session starting at 7:30 am. Coffee will be available outside our meeting room throughout the day.
Thursday, October 16
1:00 - 5:00 Registration - Pick up nametag and retreat booklet. Meet and greet the retreat team.
1:45 - 2:45 pm - Mindfulness walk on Unity trails with Dianne Waltner (meet in hotel lobby)
3:00 - 3:45 pm - Afternoon workshop/discussion
4:00 - 5:30 pm Walking Tour of Unity Village Grounds and Archives
A representatvie from Unity Village will take you on a tour of the beautiful grounds of Unity Village. Meet outside the Unity Commons (red awning across the street from the Unity hotel).
5:30 - 6:30 pm Dinner
6:45 -8:30 pm Orientation and Introductions in the Fillmore Chapel
Friday, October 17 - The Fillmore Chapel
7:00 - 8:30 am Breakfast at the Unity hotel (with some plant-based options) or at the Fillmore Cafe (not part of retreat meal plan)
7:30 – 8:15 am Body Movement Session
8:45 – 9:00 am Morning Meditation/Music
9:00 – 9:50 am “Above All, Love All” by Rev. Carol Saunders
9:50 – 10:20 am Interactive Forum
10:20 – 10:35 am Break
10:35 - 11:15 am Group Connection
11:15 - 11:45 am Setting Intentions
11:50 am – 12:00 pm Prayer Circle for All Beings
12:00 - 1:00 pm Lunch in Executive Ballroom
1:15 - 2:45 pm Featured Speaker TBA
2:45 - 4:15 pm Workshops and Spiritual Practices TBA
4:15 - 5:30 pm Free Time/Group Time/Nature Time
5:30 - 6:30 pm Dinner in Banquet Room
6:30 – 7:30 pm Café Hangout
7:30 – 9:00 pm Evening Activities
Saturday, October 18 -The Fillmore Chapel
7:00 - 8:30 am Breakfast at the Unity Hotel (with some plant options) or at the Fillmore Cafe (not part of retreat meal plan)
7:30 – 8:15 am Body Movement Session
8:45 – 9:00 am Morning Meditation/Music
9:00 – 10:00 am Workshop
10:00 – 10:15 am Break
10:15 - 11:45 am Workshop
11:50 am - 12:00 pm Prayer Circle for All Beings
12:00 – 1:00 pm Lunch
1:15 - 2:15 pm Sound Bath
2:15 - 2:45 pm Spiritual Walk
2:45 - 3:15 Sharing
3:15 - 4:15 pm Panel Discussion
4:15 - 4:30 pm Break
4:30 - 5:30 pm Ceremony to Honor Animals and Habitats led by Rev. Carol Saunders
5:30 - 6:30 pm Dinner in Banquet Room
6:30 - 8:30 pm Cafe Hangout/Halloween Party/Open Mic (share your heart and talent)
Sunday, October 19 - The Fillmore Chapel
7:00 - 8:30 am Breakfast at the Unity hotel (with some plant options) or at the Fillmore Cafe (not part of retreat meal plan)
7:30 – 8:15 am Body Movement Session
8:45 - 9:00 am Meditation
9:00 – 10:00 am Debrief/Reflect on Weekend Dialogue with Rev. Carol Saunders
10:00 - 10:15 am Break
10:15 - 11:00 am Group Labyrinth Experience
11:00 – 11:45 am Group Sharing - Who Am I Going Forward?
11:45 – 11:50 am Closing Words (for those who have to leave early)
11:50 am - 12:00 pm Prayer Circle for All Beings
12:00 - 1:00 pm Lunch in Banquet Room/good-byes to those who are leaving
1:15 - 3:30 pm Afternoon Workshop
Ground Transportation to/from the Kansas City Airport:
For ground transportation to and from the Kansas City International Airport (MCI), we recommend BATS (Better Alternative Transportation Service). BATS has reliably served Unity retreats for many years and will coordinate shared rides to give you the best price possible.
Accommodation Options (click on photos and links):
Questions?
Do you have additional questions? Please first see if your question is addressed on our FAQ page. If it isn’t, submit your question below. Thank you.