Ever typed “women’s retreat” into Google hoping to find a space where you can truly exhale… cry without apology, laugh from your gut, and feel held without having to hold everything all together?
That’s exactly what I found in the mountains of Western North Carolina at the Illuminate Retreat with Mika of Fierce and Free Feminine.
From the moment I arrived, I felt my shoulders drop. The misty mountain air, the warm, cozy home, the quiet—it all invited me to soften.
We journaled. We meditated. We moved our bodies with intention. We hiked part of the Appalachian Trail and stood in awe, breathing in panoramic views of North Carolina and Tennessee.
But honestly? The most breathtaking part wasn’t the scenery—it was the way I came home to myself. The way this retreat reminded me:
I am worthy. I am whole. I am allowed to receive.
As someone who’s used to holding space for everyone else—as a photographer, graduate student, and let’s be real, default dinner-maker—having meals cooked with love (shoutout to the magical Kim Hunter) and zero dishes to wash was more than a luxury. More than just a women’s retreat. It was a healing respite.
We painted with the wildly talented and nurturing Stephanie Chinn (check out Good Girls Make Bad Art!). We wrote from the heart with the brilliant and beloved Faith Scott (check out her TED Talk!). We ended with a sacred ceremony, writing words of truth and affirmation onto each other’s skin, and reading them aloud.
Two of these beautiful women wrote WARRIOR on my body (one said SAGE WARRIOR). I had NEVER been called that before…
I felt so seen. So loved. So fully me.
Another moment that will stay with me forever was a journaling practice where we wrote to our younger selves while holding a photo of ourselves (mine was little me and my Gam).
I sobbed. Because when a woman finally feels safe (like I did in this community of women)… her body lets its guard down and truly feels. That’s when the real healing begins.
Hilary Hart, author of Body of Wisdom: Women’s Spiritual Power and How It Serves, wrote:
“The inner experience of community and its impacts on our daily life free us from many of the delusions society has convinced us of, like the idea of scarcity, the need to compete, and the need to hoard resources.”
This women’s retreat was living proof.
We flourished in abundance and gratitude all weekend. There was no competition, no comparison—just community. We lifted each other up, shared our stories and our stillness, our light and our laughter, our divine power and inner wisdom.
We weren’t just healing—we were thriving. Together.
And now… something new and untamed is calling.
I’m beyond honored to be photographing Mika’s next adventure—a soul-igniting women’s retreat in Guatemala:
✨ Untamed Exploration: A Women’s Retreat in Guatemala | March 2026 ✨
Set in a hidden eco-sanctuary carved into the mountains near Antigua, this retreat is an invitation to remember who you are beneath the noise.
🌿 Wake to birdsong and volcano views
🌿 Share sacred space in women’s circles
🌿 Experience Mayan fire ceremonies and Temazcal
🌿 Hike volcanoes, wander vibrant Antigua, rest in treehouses
🌿 Nourish your body with fresh, soulful meals
🌿 Explore ancient Mayan temples in Tikal (optional add-on)
🌿 Be photographed in your power, presence, and wildness
This isn’t just a retreat—it’s a reclamation.
A remembering.
A rising.
If your spirit’s craving something more than what this patriarchal society has offered you… this is your sign.
You don’t have to carry it all.
You don’t have to heal alone.
Let yourself be held. Let yourself receive.
Whether you’re seeking rest, reconnection, or a rising—you belong in spaces like this.
And I’d be honored to witness and capture your transformation through my camera lens.
💌 Share this with a woman who needs this level of respite, of community, of self-exploration.
🌺 If Guatemala is whispering your name, if your body is telling you yes—listen. Your wild is waiting.
