After years of caring for parents, partners, clients, and children, this retreat will help you nurture your own needs and dreams with the same love you’ve so freely given.
Take a rest from the screens and the static, and let the warm mineral waters carry your worries away
Learn tools and teachings for meeting and nurturing the needs you've put on hold for too long
Awaken the magnetic field of love that restores faith and gives life meaning
Reconnect to the wise woman within who holds the vision of the life you're meant to live
"I really tapped into some emotions that I haven’t had the time or energy for.
I worked through my personal abyss of darkness and cleared the pathways to follow my bliss!
Thank you again for what was one of my favorite 5 days ever.”
—Jane M., Boston, MA
A circle of women sitting and breathing together in person creates a magic that online programs just cannot replicate.
To step out of your life and into a container like this is a profound act of care.
Listen to Marcella's closest students describe it in their own words.
About Our Venue
As ancestors before you have done for centuries
Joyful Journey Hot Springs Spa is a peaceful oasis nestled in the Sangre De Cristo mountains of Southern Colorado's San Luis Valley.
It's one of the few places on earth with naturally heated geothermal water piped directly from private artesian springs.
For centuries, Native Americans tribes converged at this site to hold council and ceremony, laying weapons down and leaving differences behind as they came to this sanctuary to heal.
Today, Joyful Journey offers RV, tent, and tipi camping, along with yurt and lodge accommodations.
“The emphasis on deep feminine energy came at exactly the right time.
If you’re feeling the pull but also feeling the resistance, I encourage you to listen to the deeper voice calling you forward.”
—Meredith V., Silicon Valley, CA
Our rhythm is structured and spacious: periods of teaching and inner work balanced with generous time for rest, reflection, and communion with the healing waters of Joyful Journey Hot Springs.
Schedules are subject to change, yet the daily flow generally includes:
Sunrise soak in the mineral springs
Light, hydrating breakfast of juices and broths
Morning session: teaching, EFT Tapping, and journaling
Midday buffet lunch followed by restorative downtime
Afternoon gathering: creative practice, movement, or ritual
Optional evening ceremonies: labyrinth walk, star-lit soak, or sound healing
Early adjourn for replenishing rest
You can find the daily schedule in the FAQ section below.
Meet Your Retreat Leader
I’m Marcella Friel, and since 2014 I’ve helped nearly 80,000 women heal the spiritual roots of body shame and self-abandonment.
In my early 50s, when my life went completely upside down, I experienced a moment of grace where I saw clearly: I am not my traumas.
That realization set me on a path of reclaiming who I was beneath the patterns, the past, and the stories I had carried.
Now in my mid-60s, I guide women like you through loving, forgiving, and returning to yourself in a way that perhaps you never have before.
—Charmaine B., Moffat, CO
You Are So Worth The Investment
Because the journey begins the moment you say yes
Pay in full by September 1 and receive the complete Threshold Welcome Package:
Threshold Circle
A live group online gathering about a month before the retreat where we'll set our intentions and begin crossing the threshold together.
Preparing the Well Audio Series
Three exclusive guided audio meditations delivered to your inbox in the months leading up to the retreat to help you prepare your heart, body, and spirit for our time together.
A Personal Welcome in Your Mailbox
A handwritten note and blessing from Marcella to welcome you onto the path.
A Special Gift Awaiting You
A handcrafted welcome gift waiting in your room when you arrive at Joyful Journey.
Tuition does not include lodging and transportation.
Choose the payment plan by September 1 and receive:
Threshold Circle
A live group online gathering about a month before the retreat where we'll set our intentions and begin crossing the threshold together.
Preparing the Well Audio Series
Three exclusive guided audio meditations delivered to your inbox in the months leading up to the retreat to help you prepare your heart, body, and spirit for our time together.
Tuition does not include lodging and transportation.
Absolutely! Once you register for the retreat, you'll book your lodging directly through Joyful Journey Hot Springs. They offer a range of cozy, affordable accommodations to suit every comfort level:
Lodge Rooms (private or shared): $200–$245/night
Yurts (private or shared): $185–$225/night
Tipis, RV Sites, or Camping: $85–$165/night
Whether you prefer a plush room, a glamping experience, or sleeping under the stars, you'll find a setup that fits your needs.
Joyful Journey is located in Moffat, Colorado, in the San Luis Valley.
You can fly into either Denver International Airport (DEN) or Colorado Springs Airport (COS)—Colorado Springs is about an hour closer.
If you need ground transportation, let us know. We’ll do our best to connect you with fellow participants who might want to share a rental car or ride.
In late June/early July, you can expect warm, mostly sunny days and cool nights, with a chance of afternoon thunderstorms. Great conditions for soaking, ceremony, and restorative pause.
Be sure to check local weather conditions before you pack your luggage.
Schedules are subject to change, but the overall flow looks like this:
Monday, June 28: Arrival Day
Plan to arrive at Joyful Journey between 3 and 5 p.m. Mountain time to settle into your accommodations, meet your sister retreatants, and have supper from the Joyful Journey menu.
In the evening we'll convene for an opening ritual to begin your journey inward.
Tuesday, June 29:
On the first full day of the retreat we'll turn inward to allow your inner voice to emerge, free from the world’s noise.
Through guided meditation, EFT Tapping, and reflective writing, you’ll strengthen your intuitive knowing and deepen your relationship with the power that is greater than your own being.
We’ll explore emotional honesty as a doorway to authentic connection and self-trust.
Gentle movement, silence, and ample resting time will help you integrate the day’s insights.
The timetable is subject to change but will unfold roughly as follows:
7:30 AM - Early-morning soak
8:30 AM - Breakfast
9:30 AM - Session 1
11:30 AM - Movement break
11:45 AM - Session 2
12:30 PM - Lunch and midday downtime
3:30 PM - Session 3
5:30 PM - Group labyrinth walk or optional supper
7:00 PM - Session 4
8:30 PM - Adjourn
Wednesday, June 30: Gratitude, Love & Purpose
On the following day we shift our focus from inner excavation to heart-centered regeneration.
Through gratitude practices, loving-kindness meditation, and creative expression, you’ll awaken the magnetic field of love that restores faith and gives life meaning.
The day culminates in a ritual of purpose that will clarify what it means to live as a light-bearer in your world.
Schedules are subject to change but will roughly follow the same pattern as yesterday:
7:30 AM - Early-morning soak
8:30 AM - Breakfast
9:30 AM - Session 1
11:30 AM - Movement break
11:45 AM - Session 2
12:30 PM - Lunch and midday downtime
3:30 PM - Session 3
5:30 PM - Group labyrinth walk or optional supper
7:00 PM - Session 4
8:30 PM - Adjourn
Thursday, June 30: Sacred Pilgrimage
After our morning soak and breakfast, we'll pack a picnic lunch and take an off-campus pilgrimage to local spiritual landmarks. We'll return to Joyful Journey for a spacious, restful late afternoon and a festive supper. We’ll close the day (and the retreat) with a sound bath under the stars to seal your transformation.
Friday, July 1: Departure
Morning soak, breakfast, and heartfelt goodbyes. Check-out by 10 AM Mountain time.
Here’s a suggested packing list:
Comfy clothing for sitting, lying down, and moving
A celebratory outfit for the opening evening
Easy slip-on shoes (for entering the yurt and hot springs)
A yoga strap, belt, or scarf
Swimsuit, towel, sunhat, and sun protection
Reusable water bottle
Journal and pen
Flashlight or headlamp
Bedding and towels (if camping in a tipi)
Anything else that feels comforting and fits in your bag
✨ And leave room for a few take-home gifts and souvenirs!
To honor the integrity of the retreat container—and to support both your journey and the collective experience—we ask that all participants attend the full retreat from Wednesday’s opening circle through Sunday morning’s closing.
Every part of the pilgrimage is intentional, and your presence matters.
Our meals are designed to support gentle nourishment, digestive ease, and intuitive eating—all lovingly prepared by our private retreat chef.
We follow an intermittent fasting-inspired rhythm, offering:
A light, hydrating breakfast (fresh juice, bone broth-based soup, vegetarian option)
A buffet-style lunch with a variety of simple, whole foods, dressings, and toppings to mix and match
Snacks and herbal teas available throughout the day
No formal supper is provided, but optional dinner can be ordered from Joyful Journey
Meals are served communal and casual in the Casita. While we can't customize every dish, the buffet-style setup allows you to build your own plate in a way that works for your body.
There will be no alcohol served during the retreat.
Cannabis is legal in Colorado, and Joyful Journey is a cannabis-friendly space. You’re welcome to bring your own alcohol or cannabis for personal use in the evenings, after sessions have concluded.
We ask that you arrive at all retreat activities in an alcohol- and cannabis-free state, to support the clarity and sacredness of our group container.
This retreat is for you if you’ve been feeling spiritually adrift in today's turbulent times, facing a crisis of meaning and feel exhausted by endlessly trying to fix yourself and worrying about the state of the world.
Retreat tuition is non-refundable, as your registration secures your space in a small, intimate group and supports significant planning on our end.
That said, if you need to cancel, I’ll gladly offer you a 6-month credit toward working with me—through private coaching, the Women, Food & Forgiveness Academy, or another program.
I strongly recommend purchasing travel insurance for peace of mind in case of illness, emergencies, or unexpected changes.
Take a moment to review the FAQ page above, where you'll find the answers to most questions you might have. (Feel free to reach out to me if you need more clarity with anything.)
When you’re ready, click the button below to choose your registration option.
Once you’ve signed up, you’ll receive an email from me with everything you need to prepare for your time at the retreat.