Joy as Medicine
A Women's Weekend Retreat
Focused on PLAY, PLEASURE & PERMISSON
August 21-23rd
I WANT IN
This is your invitation...
for JOY to become your compass.
This retreat isn't about fixing yourself.
Because you don't need fixing.
This isn't a weekend of deep shadow work, emotional excavation, or trying to become a better version of yourself.
This is a celebration.
A gathering of women who are ready to put down the heaviness for a little while and reconnect with wonder, creativity, friendship, movement, nature, and joy.
Summer camp meets grown-up slumber party.
Think barefoot mornings, crafts with your friends, dancing in pajamas, sharing meals, sitting in circles, exploring nature, laughing until your stomach hurts, and falling asleep knowing you were fully present for your own life.
The world feels heavy enough.
Let's make some room for lightness.
Why Now?
Because joy matters.
Because delight matters.
Because laughter matters.
Because spending a weekend surrounded by women who genuinely want to see each other thrive matters is life affirming.
And because choosing happiness in uncertain times can be one of the most radical things we do.
The world doesn't need more exhausted women carrying everything.
It needs women who remember how to feel alive.
READY TO COME PLAY?
Joy as Medicine
is a three day, two night experience for women at the Harmony Mountain House in New Jersey.
But this isn't just another women's retreat.
There are plenty of retreats focused on healing.
This one is focused on remembering joy.
Here's what sets us apart:
We make play sacred.
We believe joy is not a luxury.
It's a necessity.
Play reconnects us to our creativity, intuition, vitality, and authentic selves.
We value connection over perfection.
No need to have it all figured out.
Come as you are.
Messy, magical, tired, hopeful, awkward, excited.
All of you is welcome.
We celebrate life.
In a world that often feels heavy, uncertain, and overwhelming, gathering in joy becomes an act of devotion, rebellion even.
A reminder that we're still here.
And that life is still beautiful.
This retreat is about pleasure as medicine, a pathway to healing, connection and aliveness.
What's included?
- Beautiful accommodations at Harmony Mountain House (camping, glamping, shared and private options)
-
Wholesome, nourishing and local plant based meals
-
Daily yoga + breathwork sessions
- Creative workshops and crafts
- Playful women's circles
- Picnic dinner under the summer sky
- DJ Slumber Party Dance Celebration!!!
- Access to nature, the grounds and garden
- Optional downtime for rest and solitude
- Free use of the hot tub and sauna
- Post-retreat integration circle
- New friendships, laughter and unforgettable memories
When we speak of pleasure, we're not talking about sexuality. We're talking about the simple, nourishing experiences that make us feel alive: bare feet in the grass, a delicious meal shared with friends, creating something beautiful, laughing until your stomach hurts, resting without guilt, dancing freely, feeling the sun on your skin.
Many women have been taught to prioritize productivity over pleasure, giving over receiving, and responsibility over happiness.
This retreat is an invitation to remember that pleasure is not selfish. It is a vital part of being human. When we reconnect with what feels good, we reconnect with ourselves.
Pleasure is joy experienced through the body. And that is powerful medicine.
YES I AM!
Why Harmony Mountain House?
This gathering also marks the final retreat at Harmony Mountain House in its current chapter.
For years, this space has welcomed seekers, dreamers, healers, artists, teachers, and women from all walks of life.
The walls have witnessed countless conversations. The studio has held tears and breakthroughs. The land has offered sanctuary.
Before this chapter closes, we're gathering one last time to fill the house with something unforgettable.
Rather than ending with sadness, we're choosing to celebrate.
The kind that will echo through these walls and send ripples out into the world.
The kind that becomes a story you tell years later with a shit eating grin on your face.
The kind that turns into a core memory.
Harmony Mountain House is more than a retreat center.
It's a place where women gather, connect, heal, celebrate, and create lifelong memories.
And this retreat holds special significance.
Joy as Medicine will be the final retreat hosted at Harmony Mountain House.
To fill the house one last time with laughter through the halls, dance parties under the stars, heartfelt conversations, creative expression, and pure joy.
To leave on a high note.
To create something beautiful together.
To imprint a memory into the heart of this place and into the hearts of everyone who attends.
This final gathering honors everything it has given us.
And what better way to celebrate than through play?
To honor different preferences and budgets, we are offering four accommodation options:
Camping
Sleep beneath the stars and reconnect with nature. Bring your own tent or hammock and enjoy access to shared amenities, hot tub, sauna, studio space, communal kitchen, trails, and gathering areas.
Glamping
Enjoy a cozy outdoor experience with extra comfort. Beautiful yurts offer a charming blend of nature, comfort, and whimsy.
Shared Room
Stay in one of the thoughtfully designed bedrooms and enjoy connection and community while sharing space with fellow retreat participants.
Private Room
For those craving additional quiet and personal space, private rooms provide a comfortable sanctuary while still being fully immersed in the retreat experience.
What about shared amenities?
Everything in the house and land is shared including three bathrooms with luxurious tubs, plus extra showers & half baths.
There are tons of adorable community areas: two living rooms, full kitchens, dining spaces, a 1,000 sq ft movement studio, trail access, a bonfire pit, hammocks, hot tub, infrared sauna plus lots of nooks for chilling and chatting.
Plus, there are extensive arrays of books, tarot and oracle cards, herbs and a small boutique shop with locally made goodies.
These options were curated to meet you exactly where you're at—whether you're craving raw communion with the wild, cozy co-living with fellow seekers, or quiet internal reconnection.
Who's Leading this Retreat?
Hi, I'm Amanda.
I am a radical woman devoted to nourishing women and their families. As a ceremonialist and circle facilitator, I founded the Red Rose Temple, a sacred space in the Poconos that centers beauty, sisterhood and community. I am also a birth doula and support sovereign pregnancies and births. I am deeply passionate about holding intentional space and curating experiences for transformation. I'm also the founder of Spark Nature, a forest school for children, and a homebirth mama of three.
Hey, I'm Brandi.
I am a multidimensional artist, space holder, and sacred disruptor devoted to creating portals of transformation through ritual, creative expression, and elemental healing. As the founder of Spitfire Labs and the visionary behind Flower Moon Festival, I bring my passion for reclaiming inner power and emotional alchemy into everything I touch. With a grounded yet mystical presence, I love to guide others to move through rage, release, and rebirth with authenticity, beauty, and fierce tenderness—reminding us that we are allowed to take up space, burn through old stories, and rise rooted in our truth.
Joy as Medicine
Sample Itinerary
August 21st
Doors open - 3pm
Snacks and light bites
Shake, Stretch & Flow - 4pm
Dinner - 6pm
Opening Ceremony + Intention Setting - 7pm
August 22nd
Tea + Light Bites - 8am
Awakening Through Movement - 9am
Brunch - 11am
Permission to Play Women's Circle - 1pm
Creative Crafting - 5pm
Lux Picnic Dinner - 6pm
Cacao & Cuddles - 7pm
DJ Pajama Dance Party & Slumber Party Celebration - 8pm
August 23rd
Tea + Light Bites - 9am
Rest & Receive Yoga - 10am
Brunch - 12pm
Closing Circle - 1pm
We have been holding ceremonies at the Red Rose for three years to:
Honor the Wheel of the Year and celebrate earth based holidays
Center beauty, sisterhood and the Sacred Feminine
Heal the sister, witch and mother wounds
Hold the polarity of dark and light
Create a space for women to gather with intention, authenticity, vulnerability and devotion.
Together we have been dreaming up this retreat and feel incredibly thankful and excited to bring this to our community.
So what's next?
Choose the type of accommodation you prefer and make a payment using the options below. Pay in full, pay in two and pay in three installments available.
Please note - If Paypal doesn't work for you or if you prefer Stripe or Venmo, let us know so we can accommodate!
Spots are limited to 21 women total.
Are you one of them?
Pricing Options
Intrigued but want to know more?
Schedule a *free* 15-minute call to have your questions answered!
Let's Chat!FAQ
What is your refund policy?
How many women are coming?
What is the food situation?
Can I pick the room I want?
What is NOT included?
This is your invitation...
come alive again.
See you there, sis!
