The Women
Sculptural Joshua Tree boulders with Casa Blanca in the distance

California · Archive

Joshua Tree

March 2023 · From the archive

The inquiry

Where does a gathering begin?

Before there were many chapters, there was a first circle. In March 2023, FADEN’s inaugural retreat took place among the boulders of Joshua Tree, where movement, sound, fire and time together gave shape to the beginning of a shared practice.

The landscape

At Casa Blanca, the boulders and open desert framed our first gathering. A landscape on a different scale from the lives we had stepped away from.

The experience

  • Holotropic breathwork
  • Ketamine assisted psychotherapy
  • Yoga
  • Movement
  • Immersive sound
  • Fire circles
  • Integration

From the chapter archive. Practices varied by gathering and were confirmed during preparation.

Five women standing together on the desert deck holding wrapped staffs aloft
Joshua trees and sculptural boulders beneath a blue sky
Women moving together with their arms raised in a sunlit room
A hand holding a painted flower card with a heart at its center

A participant’s reflection

“The FADEN retreat was just what I needed as I faced a big life decision: what to do next in my career. I was between jobs and wanted quiet time to reflect on this next stage of my life. The psychedelic journey, breathwork, yoga and healthy (and delicious) food helped me reconnect with myself and gave me a place to return to when I needed it in daily life. It was my first time doing a journey, and I was a little nervous. Lindsay and the team created such a nurturing and safe environment that I felt completely at ease. An unexpected gift of the retreat: I met some lovely new friends!”
L.K. · VP MarketingA personal reflection, not a promise of results.
Bowls and platters of food with flowers and leafy garnishes on a pale table
A woman drawing a flower in a notebook beside watercolor materials
A platter of berries, citrus and grapes arranged with flowers
A woman standing on the desert deck with one arm raised
Wrapped staffs, colorful handmade objects and cards arranged on a woven surface
A glowing sunset beyond the rocky Joshua Tree landscape
Women seated around a glowing fire on the desert deck at twilight
A Joshua tree lit from below beneath the darkening sky

Together beneath the open sky.

1 / 15

Joshua Tree

The Space

Casa Blanca, among the boulders. Desert light filled the living room and bedrooms; the deck opened onto the surrounding landscape.

From the setting of our past gatherings.

A curved living room with floor to ceiling boulder views
Casa Blanca’s deck overlooking the desert and boulders
A Casa Blanca bedroom with a king bed and desert light
An outdoor shower on a wooden deck beside towering desert boulders
A bedroom with a wooden queen bed and a glass door opening to desert boulders
A bedroom with white linen and glass doors facing the boulders and balcony
Sunset clouds reflected in a round pool on the desert deck

The living room.

1 / 7

The rhythm of a day

From first light to candlelight.

The shape a day might take. Each chapter is woven from its own place and practices.

  1. Dawn

    Waking slowly

    Breath, stillness, the first light.

  2. Morning

    Into the body

    Movement and practice, at your own pace.

  3. Midday

    The long table

    Nourishment, conversation, pleasure.

  4. Afternoon

    The deeper work

    Ceremony, touch or making with our hands.

  5. Dusk

    Unhurried hours

    Rest, water, the field, silence.

  6. Night

    The circle

    Candlelight, story and being witnessed.

Every gathering begins
with a conversation.

Ask about future gatherings