We’re slowly returning to “regular” life after an incredible four days at retreat — still riding that wave of oxytocin that comes from being surrounded by loving, nurturing humans from sunrise to sunset. I keep finding myself smiling at the memories: sunrise labyrinth walks, sunset sound baths while floating on the pool, and the endless stream of laughter, hugs, and soft moments of connection that wove through our time together. The bonds we built rooted deeply — not only in sacred circle, but also around shared meals, casual conversations, and spontaneous joy.
One guided experience in particular stands out — our Sisterhood Circle. This was a practice of self-adorning, releasing through ceremony, and holding one another in full acceptance. In that space, we marveled at the beautiful dichotomy of womanhood: how we can cry and be witnessed in our rawest vulnerability while also laughing through tears, our faces glittered and glowing. From that moment, our group coined the phrase #glitterandtears — a perfect encapsulation of the complexity and beauty of life, and of the healing that happens when women come together to hold one another in truth and tenderness.
When we allow ourselves to show up fully — raw, real, and unguarded — and are met with compassion instead of judgment, we touch something sacred. These moments don’t always arrive in ceremony; sometimes they unfold quietly on a couch with a friend over coffee, or in a fleeting moment of being truly seen by someone new. Whether in the stillness of retreat or the rhythm of daily life, they remind us what it means to be human.
Because in a world that can feel heavy with grief and chaos, connection is where hope lives. We need each other — not just to survive, but to feel alive. My wish for you is that you find those spaces and people who let you be fully you — messy, radiant, and real. And when life offers you those moments of both glitter and tears, may you let them wash over you, knowing you’re exactly where you’re meant to be.
Xo,
April & Lena