Spring Awakening: Cultivating Joy as a Resource

💫WHO: A small group of supportive *women of all ages, from all backgrounds, and walks of life interested in creativity and community. We have space for 10 folks!

*We welcome all women, including trans women, femme, non-binary, and gender-expansive folks who feel at home in a female-centered space.

🎭 WHAT: A 4-night / 5-day Therapeutic Women’s Retreat focused on the theme of ‘Cultivating Joy as a Resource’. Guided by creative, reflective, and expressive tools, we’ll explore what joy means to you and the ways we might cultivate, access, practice, and sustain joy in these uncertain times. We consider joy not as a ‘treat’ or ‘extra’, but as a birthright, responsibility, tool, and path forward.

🏜️ WHERE: New Mexico’s High Desert, just minutes from downtown Santa Fe, or, The City Different. We'll gather at Casa Encantada, a beautiful adobe estate on 4 private acres—complete with mountain views, plenty of private, cozy indoor spaces, a star-lit hot tub, and the pink bloom of Spring.

🌿WHEN: May 6th - May 10th (Mother’s Day Weekend). Programming starts around 4:00 pm on Wednesday, the 6th, and ends around noon on Sunday, the 10th. Attendees are welcome (and encouraged!) to extend their stay on either end to explore Santa Fe and nearby areas.

We’re not going to mince words: we are living in some dark times. This inquiry into how creativity and joy can be healing resources feels like a necessary conversation and invitation. Here’s what we want to offer and explore with our retreat theme:

1. Grounding in Joy Amid Complexity: We recognize joy not as bypassing the world’s violence, fear, or oppression, but as a nuanced act of agency in a sometimes bleak landscape.

2. Sparks of Joy as Practice: Rather than seeking wholesale joy, we cultivate small sparks—moments of whimsy, sensory noticing, and non-productive delights. These sparks fuel a deeper ember of joy and movement.

3. Joy as Responsibility: After discovering how we access joy, we ask: What is our accountability? Whether to ourselves, family, or community, joy becomes a tool—to co-regulate, sustain, and offer presence even amid scarcity.

4. Joy as Ongoing Practice: This isn’t just a four-day escape, but a chance to truly pause and re-set. We encourage participants to integrate joy practices into daily life—sparking, kindling, sustaining—as a way of fostering resilience and connection.

You don’t need to know exactly what this looks like yet, or even feel it. We’ll support each other in figuring this out together!

• We believe joy is a birthright and all of us hold creativity in our bones! This retreat is about taking intentional time in a very special natural setting to tap into the part of you that is grounded, creative, connected, and inspired.

• As licensed Creative Arts Therapists, we believe that creativity is simply another ‘way in’ to understanding ourselves and others. This retreat is intended to be inspiring and encourage self-reflection. You do not need to do, make, produce, or be anything!

• We are going to explore the practice of joy both collectively and individually, using our senses and faculties. This might look like reflective journaling sessions, expressive memory workshops, Hero’s journey challenges, guided gentle movement and breathwork, and solo time in nature, noticing what feeds you. Joy and creativity can show up in a shared meal, a laugh between friends, a kind word of encouragement, and moments of simply being present. This is enough.

EARLY COMMITMENT PRICING: Commit by February 14th, 2026 and receive $300 Off the cost of the retreat. (Could this be an act of love toward yourself?)

We also offer an ongoing $200 discount for BIPOC attendees (maximum discount of $350 if combined with early commitment)

💫 COST: Retreat pricing starts at $1,750 for ‘daytrippers’ (commuters) and goes up to $3,350 for the magnificent Ponderosa King Suite, which includes a fireplace, private bathroom, and mini fridge). These prices don’t include the discounts, so there are plenty of ways to make this affordable.

There are several price points in between for shared and private accommodations to meet all budgets, ranging from $1850 (with discount) up to $3000. The house and property are sprawling, so no matter which room option you choose, there will be plenty of space for privacy and solo time. The pricing information for all rooms is on our registration form HERE.

🪶 WHAT IS INCLUDED: The retreat is all-inclusive, which means room, all meals* & snacks, programming, workshops, materials, and off-site activities are included in the price. *This includes a simple set meal on Thursday night at the Blue Heron restaurant at Ojo Caliente Hotsprings. Optional add-ons are up to the individual attendee.

PAYMENT PLANS: To help folks budget, we have several payment options, including pay-in-full, two equal payments, or up to 4 payments, including a non-refundable registration fee. Please see our ‘Refund Policy’ and ‘Travel Section’ for more details about cancellation/refunds.

The retreat includes:

• 🛏️ Four* nights lodging at a sprawling, beautifully appointed adobe Casa on 4 private acres, with a hottub and outdoor firepit, just minutes from stunning downtown Santa Fe.

• 🌵Pick up and drop off from Downtown Santa Fe, or Santa Fe Airport, (ABQ airport is an add-on fee or shuttle fee of $50 per passenger)

• 📓 Spaciousness for Solitude & Reflection
  Enjoy unstructured and quiet time for journaling, resting, stargazing, or simply being—with quiet corners, open skies, and soulful stillness.

• 🎭 Daily expressive arts & drama therapy workshops facilitated by two licensed Creative Arts Therapists and seasoned Retreat Facilitators (Isabel & Hollis:)

• 🪶 Locally inspired jewelry-making with Salt Grass Jewelry’s Kristi Montaño

• 🥾 Guided hikes exploring the wonders of the High Desert landscape - blooming meadows and green Aspen trails.

• 💦 Afternoon/evening soak pass at Ojo Caliente Santa Fe Hot Springs, followed by a group dinner at the Blue Heron restaurant

• 🍲 Nourishing, home-cooked meals shared in community - farm-to-table dinners, ‘DIY’ lunch buffet options, daily brunch, healthy snacks, coffee, tea, and seltzers.** Meals will primarily be vegetarian-fare and we are happy to accommodate dietary preferences - just ask!

• 🌟 Gentle morning yoga and evening sound baths to tend to the body and soothe the mind - a gentle way to wake up, and get ready for sleep.

• 💫 A circle of like-minded women for support & connection

💆‍♀️ What is Optional? Taking advantage of what Santa Fe is known for, we will offer additional ‘wellness’ add-ons, including energy healing, massage, and other modalities at the request of retreat attendees.

*accommodations included only if staying onsite- day-tripper package excludes lodging.

**This retreat will be alcohol and substance-free. We ask attendees to abstain from bringing or imbibing substances during our time together.

Due to the intimate nature of these retreats, we are not able to offer full refunds should something arise between registration and the retreat date, except within 48 hours of registration (you will receive a full refund within this window)

If you need to cancel before March 6th, we can offer a 50% refund. After March 6th, we can apply 50% of the cost to a future retreat. If you opt for the payment plan with a $500 deposit, we are only able to refund this deposit within 48 hours.

We strongly recommend travel insurance for this reason, and will not be responsible for the loss of travel credits in the case of a cancellation.

In the case of severe weather or host-related health cancellation, attendees will have the option of a full refund or to apply their balance to a future retreat.