Body of Fire

a weekend retreat honoring menopause as a rite of passage

JANUARY 30TH - FEBRUARY 2ND

HOLDEN HOUSE

CALAIS, VT

Peri/menopause is not an ending. It is a threshold.

Join us for nourishing food, fires, sisterhood, and numerous ways to feel good in your body as we celebrate this potent transformation.

  • Moving meditation & somatic practices

  • Breathwork & body oiling

  • Foods to support menopause from holistic nutritionists

  • Fire celebration in a beautiful natural sanctuary

  • Time to rest, reflect & connect

  • 3 monthly integration Zoom group calls

  • No experience necessary!

Person sitting near a campfire at night, wrapped in a red blanket, with a full moon in the background.

Welcome.

I am 46 and have been postmenopausal for nearly 4 years. I walked the path largely alone and in the dark. It was hard. But I learned to follow the wisdom of my body and the process became a sacred rite of passage.

Peri/menopause is not an ending. It is a threshold. A portal into embodied wisdom. A fire that burns away what is no longer needed… so that what is — our essence, our power, our clarity — can come fully alive.

Across cultures and time, menopause has been known as the Great Awakener. In many Indigenous traditions, women become community leaders only after crossing this profound threshold.

I want to come together in conscious, even pleasurable relationship with this initiation. To hold each other in supportive sisterhood; to share wisdom and rejuvenate ourselves for the journey that lies ahead.

Menopause worked me. And it gave me back to myself; helped me find my essence, my sovereignty, my voice, my power, and my pleasure. I’ve shared more info about my background and menopause journey here in case you want it. But this isn’t about me. It’s about you. It’s about us. It’s about writing a different story and experience of menopause. For the collective good. 

It’s an honor to walk this passage with you.

With love + fire,

Melissa

A woman with wavy blond hair wearing a brown button-up shirt and a large pendant necklace, standing outdoors among green trees with sunlight filtering through the leaves.
MY MENOFESTO
MORE ABOUT ME

Who this is for

  • Anyone who’s ever had a moon cycle who wants to be in conscious relationship with menopause as a rite of passage.

  • Anyone beginning perimenopause who want to meet it with awareness and support.

  • Anyone in the full intensity of the transition - seeking grounding and connection.

  • Postmenopausal women who want to integrate its wisdom more fully, and support others to do the same.

  • We honor all gender identities & orientations who are crossing this threshold.

What to expect

  • Friday night: Arrive by 5pm. Opening circle.

  • Saturday: Movement + meditation; breath work; reflection; connection; nourishment for menopause; body oiling.

  • Sunday: Music + movement; rest + relaxation; time to be in nature; fire ceremony.

  • Monday morning: Closing circle. Depart before or after lunch.

  • Beautiful, nourishing meals and soulful connection throughout.

  • Intimate gathering for deep connection (limited to 12 women max).

(Schedule subject to change.)

If you’d like to stay longer at Holden House after the retreat contact us!

The location

HOLDEN HOUSE

CALAIS, VT

Holden House is a fluid home for a wide range of artists, healers, thought leaders, scientists, writers, activists, and planet lovers. A place to reconnect — with ourselves, others, and nature. A space for inspired ritual; for invigorating and playful gatherings; for deep, radical rest; and for birthing new ways of being together.

ABOUT HOLDEN HOUSE
A large yellow house with black shutters and a white roof, surrounded by snow-covered trees, in a winter landscape
Wood dining table with a green vase of yellow flowers, black modern chandelier overhead, and a blue sky mural on the wall in the background.
Two white wooden rocking chairs facing large windows with a snowy landscape outside, and a small decorative table between them on a colorful rug.
A neatly made bed with multiple pillows and a yellow throw blanket in a bright, minimalist bedroom with wooden floors and white walls, decorated with framed artwork.

Exchange

PRICING & REGISTRATION

This is an offering of the heart. We endeavor to create as rich and nourishing an experience as possible while keeping it accessible. Toward that end we are offering a sliding scale and ask that you meet it at your highest potential, to ensure this gathering is possible. Thank you!

Exchange: $880

Sliding scale scholarship level: $680

Sliding scale abundance level: $1080

Actual value: $1420

Includes:

  • 3 nights of beautiful, cozy accommodations

  • 3 days of deeply nourishing meals supportive of menopause

  • Special programming from innovative experts

  • 3 monthly integration Zoom group calls

  • Does not include travel to/from Holden House

Register by January 20 and get $50 off!

A wooden table displays a collection of dried white flowers and a spiral fossil shell. In the background, a large wooden bowl contains dried flowers and a lit candle in a small glass holder.

Register here.

Limited to 12 women.

Use Code LOVE50 for $50 off full exchange only.

If you are able to contribute at the abundance level, please Venmo the balance ($200) to @RizHome or Paypal to energeticliteracy@gmail.com. Thank you for helping make this event possible!

Contact us for sliding scale codes and/or payment plans.

Questions?

CONTACT US
Silhouette of a person with arms raised and hands forming a pyramid shape, behind them a bright light, with sparks and flames in the foreground and floating around.

Kindle your vitality. Ignite your power.

Find pleasure in the pause.

Special Guests

  • Rooted Nourishment

    Lisa Masé, author of The Culinary Pharmacy

    Amelia Eckles, Food Doula

  • Body Oiling

    Braelyn Gillespie, Bee Love Herbalist

  • Breath Work

    Lindsey Scott, Co-Founder Wellness 101

  • The Art of Ritual

    Ana Peltz, Co-Founder Quantum Co-Lab

Can’t make it this time? There will be more!

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