—Amanda P., East Lansing, MI
Imagine moving through the holidays feeling …
Calm and grounded, able to keep your focus on what matters most without racing through your days
Present and centered, returning again and again to a place of inner peace admist the busyness
Nourished instead of numbed, savoring food, company, and beauty without self-judgment
Rested and radiant, giving yourself full permission to slow down and simply be
What would it mean to you to have peace of mind that carries you beautifully into the new year?
—Frances H., Ft. Worth, TX
Join a community of kindred women gathering to rekindle their sacred inner light
In this three-hour online gathering, I’ll guide you through the EFT Personal Peace Procedure — a powerful process drawn directly from my Women, Food & Forgiveness Academy curriculum — to clear lingering emotional weight from the year that’s ending.
Then we’ll move into our “Year in Review, Year to Come” ritual, taking a good retrospective look at 2025 and clarifying what your soul wants to create in 2026.
Finally, we’ll step into the kitchen with Mary Sheila Gonnella, a board-certified nutritionist and natural-foods chef, who will demonstrate how to reduce sugar and alcohol gracefully while still celebrating the season’s delights.
Through quiet reflection, EFT Tapping, community sharing, and nourishment, you’ll set the stage for making this your most meaningful holiday season yet.
—Marjorie K., Boston, MA
You’ll leave the retreat with ...
✨ Emotional Lightness
A nervous-system reset to restore clarity and perspective
🕯 Spiritual Renewal
Rituals that reconnect you to the sacred nature of the holiday season
🍲 Practical Nourishment
Simple kitchen practices to support steady energy and mindful eating
🤝 Community Connection
The shared wisdom of women walking the same path — many of whom return annually to begin again together
🌅 Clarity for the Year Ahead
A personal vision infused with peace, gratitude, and realistic self-care
I’m Marcella Friel, founder of the Women, Food & Forgiveness Academy, author of Tap, Taste, Heal, and a lifelong student of forgiveness and feminine wisdom.
For more than three decades I’ve walked a path of spiritual practice and recovery, rooted in Buddhist teachings and 12-Step living.
These traditions taught me that genuine liberation arises from compassion toward ourselves and service to others.
This is the spirit in which I welcome you: one heroine to another, serving each other with love, respect, and support.
—Mary Sheila Gonnella, Occidental Nutrition
Still wondering if this retreat is right for you?
Here are a few common questions to help you feel clear and comfortable before joining our circle.
If you have questions that aren't answered here, please reach out to me—I'm here for you!
Absolutely. Whether this is your first retreat or your tenth, you’ll feel welcomed and supported every step of the way.
This retreat is just 3 hours—but the benefits will ripple through your entire holiday season and beyond. When you pause to take care of yourself, you show up better for everything and everyone else.
In the spirit of community, I do encourage you come prepared to be on camera. That said, you’re welcome to take intervals off camera as you need to.
This is a live experience designed to immerse you in the moment, so I do encourage you to attend live.
A recording will be available and will be yours to keep for viewing anytime you like.
Just a few simple things...
Wear a white or light-colored top
Bring a candle that you can light and keep safely lit for the duration of the retreat.
If you can, create a space where you can lie down or recline in a chair while still being on zoom.
And then, of course, I suggest you prepare for the retreat in the usual way:
Eat a good meal before joining the call.
Have a journal, water, and tissues handy.
Plan to log off all other technology for the duration of our time together.
Please feel free to reach out if you've got questions. You know where to find me!
Yes — at the end of our retreat, I’ll share how you can keep the light growing through a free 45-minute Illumination Call with me. It’s simply a space to explore what’s next for you — whether that’s continuing to work with me or taking a the next steps toward peace in your own way.
But they don’t have to
Join me for "Let There Be Light" and take this sacred pause for yourself.
Together, we’ll reflect, release, and step into the new year with clarity, calm, and intention.
Know some girlfriends who would love to join us? Invite them along!