Friday, May 28, 2027 through Sunday, May 30, 2027
Silver Lake, New York
You’ve been committed to your healing for years.
You’ve faced your shadows.
You’ve learned to let yourself be seen in the struggle.
You’re comfortable in the darkness of the underworld.
Can you let us see you in the light?
Come embody your aliveness on a deeper level.
Come step into your relaxed and well-resourced era.
Come expand your capacity for pleasure, joy, and abundance.
I want to see you thrive. Unapologetically.
I want to see you shining brightly in your fullest expression.
I want to see you feeling fucking amazing inside of your life.
This is the work we will be doing together at the Unleash Retreat.
For me, the Unleash Retreat is so much more than a weekend away — it’s a safe, supportive space to truly slow down, breathe, and reconnect with myself on a deeper level.
Each year I leave feeling lighter, stronger, more grounded, and deeply cared for. It’s a beautiful and transformative experience where I can let go of the constant demands of everyday life — being a mother, wife, friend, daughter, therapist — and simply allow myself to rest, heal, and just be. Even in a house filled with 20 women, there is still so much room for peace, silence, reflection, and relaxation.
This will be my fifth year returning. Some years I’ve arrived knowing exactly what I needed to work through, and other years I’ve simply known I needed a break and deserved time for self-care. Every single time, the experience has met me exactly where I was.
What makes this retreat so special is the connection. We all come for different reasons and are on different journeys, yet there is something incredibly powerful about women coming together to heal, grow, and support one another. The emotions are real, the compassion is genuine, and the love and encouragement continue long after the weekend ends. If you’ve been craving time to recharge, heal, reflect, or simply pour back into yourself, I truly can’t recommend this experience enough. There is something magical waiting for you here. ~ Lori, who has attended every Unleash Retreat!
“I gained clarity and peace. I learned that it is ok to have my own dreams and to focus on myself. I am allowed to slow down and honor my own needs, trust my intuition, chase my dreams, and allow the magic and light within me to shine!”
Your investment includes:
Lakeside Accommodations:
The retreat will take place at Asbury Retreat Center on Silver Lake in New York State. We will be staying in The Manor. All rooms have two or three twin beds and a bathroom. There will be no more than two people in a room, unless you have a special request for a room for three. Please note, there is no air conditioning in the building. All rooms have a ceiling fan and floor fan. The location offers beautiful views of lake, including sunsets (my favorite!). There is ample outdoor space for relaxing, as well as a porch with rocking chairs, a labyrinth, and a deck at the water’s edge. We will also have access to kayaks for exploring the lake (weather dependent). All photos below are from previous retreats.
Also included:
All Meals and Snacks:
All meals will be provided by the retreat center. I will also provide snacks and beverages. Dietary restrictions and preferences will be honored. Please note this is a sober retreat.
A Weekend of Sacred Feminine Self-Care Programming:
My intention is to create a weekend filled with transformation, relaxation, and connection. We will be doing a lot of inner work during our time together. I balance the deep soul work we do during our Sacred Feminine Temple Ceremonies with time for rest and relaxation (see the tentative agenda below for details).
A Custom Goody Bag:
As you may know, I love a beautiful goody bag! Upon arrival, you’ll be greeted with a bag full of supplies to support your creative and spiritual practices throughout the retreat weekend and beyond.
A Private Telegram Group and Integration Call:
We will gather in a private Telegram group for connection and support before and after the retreat. The group opens on 5/14/27. We will also meet on Zoom on Thursday, June 17, 2027 at 6pm ET for an Integration Call. This allows us to reconnect after the retreat and continue to support one another.
“My biggest transformation was the amount of bullshit I was able to let go of. The stories I created and carried to define me. I was able to unburden and remove layers that were no longer serving me. Removing armor that I no longer needed. I am so grateful for you, Melinda! I hope you realize the difference you are making in this world. ”
Tentative Retreat Agenda:
Friday:
3:00pm Arrival
3:30pm Opening Circle
5:30pm Dinner
6:30pm Temple Ceremony
Saturday:
8:00am Breakfast
9:00am Body Language with Christina Venditti
10:00am Temple Ceremony
12:15pm Lunch
4:00pm Breathwork Ceremony
5:30pm Dinner
6:30pm Dance Party
Sunday:
8:00am Breakfast
9:30am Temple Ceremony
11:00am Closing Circle
12:15pm Lunch
1:30pm Departure
A note: this weekend is for YOU. Every single thing listed in the agenda is optional. ❤️
Since my first retreat it hasn’t been a question of whether or not to go...
It has become part of my life, like an annual checkup. The weekend is a pause from everyday life; far away from the noise and the to-do list. A moment to recalibrate the compass or choose a new path. I am not going to lie; at times it is scary to be 100% real with yourself and ask, “What do I need? and “What do I want?” There is also creativity, dancing, burning shit and swearing. That is the fun stuff!
Acceptance and permission are assumed and do not need to be earned or awarded. Melinda creates the space where everyone is enough. Where women listen and sit together through the lowest of lows and celebrate victories big and small. Giving tissues instead of advice, hugs instead of judgment, witnessing instead of fixing. I go because I do not have to be productive, smiling, or achieving something. I can take a nap in the middle of the day if I want and I probably will! ~ Jen, who has attended every Unleash Retreat!
How good can you let it get?
Hi, I’m Melinda!
I used to think I had to struggle to fit in. I was terrified that no one would like me if I was too happy. My nervous system would be on high alert when things were going well, just waiting for the other shoe to drop. Now I’m living proof that leaning into pleasure, joy, and abundance is the key to creating a life that feels as good as it looks.
Many women are uncomfortable basking in the goodness of their lives. They have a hard time celebrating themselves and their accomplishments or worse, they can’t see their own brilliance and they struggle to love themselves.
If this resonates for you, I want you to know it’s by no means your fault. Our culture has taught us to be this way. Capitalism, white supremacy, and patriarchy would have us constantly on the go, focused on producing and performing, never pausing to rest let alone celebrate how far we’ve come. So, even though basking in celebration, joy, and pleasure might sound like the opposite of inner work, it’s actually quite an edge for most of us.
That’s why I’ve created the Unleash Retreat.
Because I’m here to help as many women as possible liberate themselves from patriarchal conditioning, reawaken their aliveness, and lean all the way in to pleasure, joy, and abundance.
I am a priestess trained in the Rosa Mystica and 13 Moon Mystery School lineages. I formerly worked as a therapist, yoga teacher, and wellness studio owner. I am also a trained breathwork practitioner and the author of two books about mindfulness and self-care, My Sacred Pause and Badass Self-Care. As a priestess, my work centers around Sacred Feminine ceremony.
I love hosting retreats! They are one of my favorite ways to work with women because we can transform so much in a weekend away from our usual surroundings and responsibilities. I can’t wait to gather with you for an amazing weekend of expansion, relaxation, and connection!
A weekend just for you.
To release what’s been keeping you stuck and small.
To remember the power of pleasure and honor yourself as a sensual woman.
To reawaken your aliveness and expand your capacity for joy and abundance.
To fill your own cup with rest and relaxation.
To spend time with soul sisters and be witnessed in your truth.
“I left with a clear head and a sense of calm, which I hadn’t experienced in forever…
I am so happy I treated myself to this soul-filling weekend and even more grateful for YOU creating this life-changing space for us. Melinda, you are truly magic!”
~ Anonymous, 2022 Retreat Participant
I've done a lot of work in sobriety and in therapy, but I've struggled to truly embrace certain ideas of healing in both my head AND heart. The Unleash Retreat helped me to get to the latter, thanks to the combination of Melinda's trauma-informed therapy background, the sacred, spiritual space of Temple, and being with other women looking to heal and grow in their own lives. It helped me to rediscover and celebrate the strength, confidence, and connection to the unseen that's always been within me.
~ Megan Ross, 2024 Retreat Participant
How good can you let it get? J
oin us for the Unleash Retreat and come find out!
Friday, May 28, 2027 - Sunday, May 30, 2027
Silver Lake, NY (about an hour from Buffalo)
I arrived feeling truly depleted. I was longing for reprieve and companionship. When I left the retreat, I felt energized (actually euphoric), and like I had met wonderful people I can call sisters and allies!
~ Ceaton Falgiano, 2024 Retreat Participant
“I left with a renewed sense of purpose in myself and where I want to go in my life. I came in feeling so down despite being happy, if that makes sense, and feeling certain dreams were not meant for me. You said, ‘You get to live your full and juicy life’ and it had such an impact on me. I feel joyful again and I feel like my dreams are important because they matter to me.”
“I gained a sense of belonging. Everyone was so welcoming, it felt safe in a crowd of strangers. I learned that most of us are searching for similar things. I really enjoyed how you guided us into meditation and looking inward. You made everything seem safe. I felt nurtured.”
~ Anonymous, 2023 Retreat Participant
“I feel like the stuff that I was able to lose was so powerful! I lost resentments that I have been holding onto; I lost some fear of vulnerability. I was able to unpack heavy emotional baggage that I have been carrying for years. I also gained lots of new soul sisters and a relationship with my inner child and knowing. I gained new perspectives and this powerful sense of inner strength and peace.”
~ Christina, 2023 Retreat Participant
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a Sacred Feminine Temple Ceremony?
A Sacred Feminine Temple Ceremony is a soul-level gathering of women. I think of it as a women’s circle with the power turned all the way up!
The path of the Sacred Feminine is a remembrance of what we’ve always known, deep down inside - that we are worthy and whole, just as we are; that we are powerful and magical beings; that love is the way forward.
During Ceremony, I use the ancient technologies of the Sacred Feminine (working with archetypal faces of the goddess and utilizing specific practices to help women connect with their soul-selves) to help you create a potent and direct connection with the wisdom of your soul.
What do I need to bring?
After you register, you will receive a detailed email about our time together, including a suggested packing list.
What if I register and then can’t come?
This is a non-refundable purchase. If you cannot attend the retreat, you can transfer your spot to someone else.