Americans spend 90 percent of their time indoors, and researchers have found that a weekly minimum of just 120 minutes in nature is enough to measurably shift our health and well-being. This piece walks through the research on light, forests, water, and the brain, and why we build every Moonwake retreat around nature.

You're just as married without the ring, and just as old without the candles, but somehow it matters to us to make an invisible transition visible. This piece explores why ritual has shaped human life for thousands of years, how it helps us pay attention and move through uncertainty, and why it's woven into every retreat we host at Moonwake.

On August 12, 2026, the Sun’s light will be obstructed for two minutes, and there’s nothing it can do about it. This reflection explores what eclipses can teach us about obstruction, alignment, and the difference between being passive and being patient.

Sound healing isn't a new wellness trend, it's one of the oldest practices on earth. From Egyptian temple chambers to Peruvian ceremonial sites engineered for acoustics, explore where the practice actually comes from, what it does to your nervous system, and how Moonwake brings sound into every retreat and gathering.

Moonwake Retreats co-founder Amanda Schmidt shares the personal healing journey that led her to Peru and a transformative encounter with Mother Earth. She came home with one profound truth: our disconnection from nature is a disconnection from ourselves. And nature, given the chance, knows exactly how to bring us back.

On February 1, we hosted Moonwake by Candlelight, a winter wellness gathering in Washington, DC designed as a gentle pause beneath the Snow Moon. Through sound, ritual, and the Five Elements, thirty women gathered in community to rest, release, and reconnect. Read more about the evening and the intention behind it.

The Five Element Method is Moonwake’s nature-based framework used to guide our retreat participants through an intentionally sequenced arc of renewal. Our method is rooted in the five elements of nature —Water, Air, Fire, Earth, and Stardust — using science-backed practices, ancient ritual, and nature immersion to create lasting transformation and healing.

The Osa Peninsula is more than a destination - it’s an opportunity to return to yourself. This tiny corner of the world is secluded and untouched. It’s surrounded by extraordinary biodiversity, rooted in a community that deeply respects nature, and guided by the spirit of pura vida. It’s the perfect place for the type of wellness retreat that encourages you to slow down, reconnect, and begin again.

Science shows that awe isn’t just a nice feeling, it’s deeply restorative. Awe reduces stress, increases connection, and returns us to the present moment. It can also help us access clarity and perspective during times of burnout, life transition, or grief.

Meet Michelle Risinger, Co-Founder and Director of Possibilities at Moonwake Retreats. Drawing from leadership psychology, wellness coaching, and embodied movement, Michelle shares how reflection, integration, and the wisdom of Water shape the Moonwake retreat experience.