Quiet, Contemplative and Spiritual Places on Campus

Used by faith communities as well as for interfaith services involving leaders from all the different faith groups. College ceremonies, concerts, lectures, weddings, the annual vespers concert, and special commemorations also take place in the Abbey Memorial Chapel. When not in use, please feel free to sit, pray, meditate or rest for a while.

The Abbey Interfaith Sanctuary is open to students of all faith backgrounds (and no faith as well) for reflection, journal writing, meditation, and walking the sacred labyrinth. Formerly a small Christian prayer chapel converted by students, staff, and faculty over a two-year period, Abbey Interfaith Sanctuary holds sacred objects and texts from various faith groups represented on campus.

MoAsis is a tranquil space where you can unplug, take a breath, and make time for a peace and stillness.

Located right off the Torrey common room. This room offers a soothing water fountain, massage chair, meditation cushions, an iPad for guided meditation, soothing music, yoga mats and adult coloring books.

The Botanic Garden’s outdoor spaces are off the beaten path and offer several discreet places to sit, contemplate and enjoy the beauty of our natural surroundings. You will also find peace in the Talcott Greenhouse, open to visitors and community members alike. 

The lakes offer peaceful places to sit and think or just listen to nature.

Wa-shin-an (“peace-mind-house”) is the Japanese garden and teahouse located on the top floor of the Eliot House. It is a hidden jewel of beauty and serenity at the heart of Mount Holyoke’s campus.

During the academic year, Wa-shin-an is open to the campus community and the general public during posted hours. Visitors are welcome to use the Japanese garden and teahouse for contemplative practices such as meditation, prayer, sketching, reading poetry and quiet sitting.

Please contact Student Involvement and Belonging for information about open hours, Japanese Tea Ceremony demonstrations and to inquire about private visits for classes and other interested groups.

Eliot House was conceived in 1956 by the chair of the Fellowship of Faiths, a student organization dedicated to supporting Protestant, Catholic and Jewish students. The Fellowship of Faiths dreamed of a religious center that would serve all students of faith by providing “faith education, worship and social services to students.” The house marked the symbolic shift in the religious identity of the College from a Protestant to a nondenominational campus serving a multifaith student body and community. In 1984, a space was created on the rooftop of Eliot House to include a traditional Japanese meditation garden and teahouse called Wa-Shin-An, translated as “Peace-Mind House.”

As student faith needs have shifted, many of the student religious and spiritual programs and resources have transitioned to the Community Center along with other spiritual and contemplative spaces. The Elliot House continues to hold a special place in the history of the College’s commitment to supporting students.