Light your soul on fire in this first of its kind experiential adventure. Retreat to the Blue Ridge Mountains, lose yourself in the Nantahala National Forest, and meet your inner truth. Spend three nights cracking yourself open, nurturing the soul, and allowing your inner light to shine powerfully through solitary communication with nature and heartfelt connection in group ceremony.
At the top of Little Scaly Mountain we’ll greet the sun on Meditation Rock before committing ourselves to deep healing work, the Sweat Lodge experience, and overcoming fear through Firewalking. After shedding all limitations, unlock your soul by claiming the source of your inner power, igniting your heart with the love of Mama Cacao, and receiving the medicine of Grandfather Fire during emotional processing in a group setting. All of these intentional rites are lightened with wild drum circles, Luminous Warrior ceremonial paint, and Sacred Sound Healing.
The final evening of the retreat will take place around a blessed fire where the Spirit of the Mountain will be channeled to share wisdom and answer your burning questions. Each attendee will get the opportunity to receive an intimate energetic blessing from The Spirit of The Mountain as we honor the ancient energies of the Eastern Continental Divide and how its evershifting landscape reflects our own spiritual evolution. Let this profound encounter be the next step in your journey back to the deepest parts of you. Welcome Home!
The Mountain has its very own food farm! During your stay at the retreat, you will be served three fresh meals a day directly from The Many Hands Peace Farm at the base of the mountain. Contributing to the environments regenerative culture and the retreat centers overall sustainability, the farm produces greens, berries, nuts, fruits, honey, herbs, eggs, edible flowers, mushrooms, spices, and teas that can be enjoyed in their dining hall. Served buffet style, all meals are planned and sourced with you in mind, inlcuding vegan, vegetarian, and gluten-free options. Let us know in advance if you have any allergies and how we can better assist your dietary preferences.
All guests will find warm welcome at The Lodge, a charming boarding house at the top of the mountain. While much less primitive than camping on the land, The Lodge gives everyone the opportunity to connect while enjoying the comforts of air conditioning and charging ports. All guests will have one to two roommates with the added benefit of a private thermostat and bathroom in each room. The Lodge boasts The Great Room meeting space and a library to give you the luxury of the indoors, all within feet of that gorgeous mountain view!
The Healers
This retreat is packed with amazing healers, teachers, and event facilitators who all have a passion to help you feed your inner fire.
Mary is the Founder and Teacher of Earth & Star, a Healer, Angel Medium, Shamanic Teacher, Hypnotherapist, and Bard whose role in this specific retreat is to soften you to your inner beauty through mindfulness meditation, sacred Cacao ceremony, healing journey work, and channeling the wisdom of The Mountain. By removing the blocks that have been keeping your inner self small, afraid, and powerless, Mary will fan the embers of your soul’s fire, igniting the breath of divinity, and guide you through the birth of who you were always meant to be - pure power. Through honest exploration of the shadow self, dying to attachment, overcoming fear, and releasing old belief systems, the floodgates open wide for true self-love, empowerment, and bliss, helping you discover the treasures that only you possess and have the power to wield. It’s time to step into your full power and let the authentic soul shine through!
Erin is the Vice President of Earth & Star, a Healer, Reiki Practitioner, and handywoman whose goal at “I Shine!” is to promote unity and peace through LAB group medicine (Life’s Anonymous Battles), offering a safe space of connection where you will be heard, accepted, and upheld. Spiritual revolution can cull up heavy emotions, long repressed feelings, and even euphoria that you will then consciously process and integrate with the support and compassion of your fellow warriors and the transmutative power of Sacred Fire.
Yona Frenchhawk is a full-blooded Cherokee Wisdom Keeper and Ceremonialist raised on the Qualla Indian Boundary in the Great Smoky Mountains. Coming from a matriarchal society, Yona shares Sweat Lodge medicine as a way to reconnect with the life and memories carried in the symbolic womb of Mother Earth and be born new once more. By allowing the body to sweat, the inner Spirit rises to meet the Divine, aligning you with the Oneness within and unlocking your inner Luminous Warrior. The Luminous Warrior is the light inside, the one with no fear or shadow, allowing you embody your full power and even express that champion through body paint, dancing, and music later in the drum circle. Sweat Lodge creates a transformative experience that honors both ancient practices and your personal journey to guide you toward healing and spiritual embodiment.
Katie is a yoga instructor with vast knowledge of Shakti practice, kundalini breath, and yin/yang flow. Passionate about intentional movement, Katie will be the first face you greet in the morning, along with the sun, for intention setting and energy alignment, creating the perfect foundation for your days work. She infuses her teachings with peaceful integrity, an enlightening energy to incorporate into your personal practice. Katie will also teach you how to connect to the heartbeat of the Earth, trees, and animal spirits, unleashing your inner wild, as she leads an untamed drum circle around the fire to call up the Spirit of the Mountain.
Ron and Patty have trained in Sweden and Mexico to bring you a life changing firewalking experience. They offer transformative firewalking encounters designed to help you ignite your inner power, overcome your fears, and awaken your true potential, creating an unforgettable freedom in alignment with your personal growth. As Sundoor Certified Firewalk Instructors and esteemed Members of the Global Firewalking Association, they bring a wealth of experience and a deep understanding of the spiritual, emotional, and physical elements of firewalking. With their expert guidance, you'll not only walk on fire but also ignite a new path of personal growth and empowerment.
How Do I Prepare?
“I Shine!” Inner Fire Retreat is an all-inclusive stay. That means that meals, lodging, scheduled activities, and all group healing work is included with your ticket. All you have to do is show up and let us take care of you. There are limited spaces available, so act fast to ensure your place in the group. If the retreat is sold out before you can purchase your ticket, make sure to email us to be added to the waitlist in case a place becomes available for you.
Your time camping at The Lodge, undergoing the healing work, and bravely engaging in group activities will connect and bond you with other participants. Download the TeamSnap app to chat with other guests, view the event schedule, and receive live updates from the facilitators. Once your ticket is purchased you will automatically be enrolled in the group and sent an invitation to join via the email address you provided on your ticket.
The closest airport to The Mountain is Asheville Regional Airport (AVL), which is located about an hour and a half from the Nantahala National Forest. After booking your flight, make sure to plan for ground transportation to and from the retreat by reserving the round trip charter bus below. There are no public shuttles that service The Mountain area.
Check out this round trip transit service that we’ve pre-booked for you! For an extra fee, get a seat on the Young Transportation charter bus from the Asheville Regional Airport straight to The Mountain retreat! The shuttle has a bathroom, WIFI, satellite TV, and charging ports for a little luxury on your trip.
There will only be one charter ride available for all passengers. The exact time of departure TBD with a tentative plan to leave the airport by 2:30 pm EST on Thur and leave the retreat by 2:30 pm EST on Sun. In an attempt to accommodate everyone flying in, we will be in contact with all attendees before making the final decision on departure time.
The Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL) is the second closest option for long distance travelers, but requires a three hour Uber, rental car, or taxi service to The Mountain.
Pack Up
Your stay with us will include 3 nights, 2 full days, and 2 half days filled with varying activities that will continue, rain or shine. Check the weather before your stay to ensure you pack appropriate clothing for hot days and cool nights. You might like a swimsuit to wear during the sweat bath or for cool dips in the lake at the base of the mountain. Bring comfortable shoes built for daily hikes, a journal, pen, and skin protectants such as sunscreen and bug spray. A flashlight might come in handy, as well as your personal toiletries (shampoo, conditioner, toothpaste, toothbrush, etc). There is also a Mountain Store that could be of help in the event of forgotten items.
After the final ceremony, you may feel the burning desire to explore The Mountain further on your own or check out the surrounding areas. Highlands has a lot to offer amongst the Great Smoky Mountains, including theatre, live music, botanical gardens, museums, vineyards, waterfalls, gem mining, horseback riding, and river rafting. Or you can expand your horizons to the nearby cities of Asheville, Cherokee, or Greenville, for exciting experiences and enriching adventures. Don’t forget to arrange your ride back to the airport if you’re not using the pre-booked shuttle, and give yourself plenty of time to relax and integrate before heading back to city life.
For more information shoot us an email and we’ll be more than happy to have a chat. Feel free to click the links in each description above to explore the facilitators, the lodging, and the surrounding area in more detail. If you feel apprehensive to try some of the activities meant to connect you with nature and bare the soul, know that our goal is for you to feel safe, supported, and empowered. You have the power to overcome fear and change your life.