Sacred New Moon Yoga Retreat with Women’s Circle in Mendocino
If the moon’s cycles speak to your heart and you yearn for a spiritual sisterhood near the Bay Area, the Ritual & Renewal: Samhain Fall Retreat from October 16th–19th, 2025, may be precisely what you’ve been waiting for. Enveloped by Mendocino’s towering redwoods, this New Moon Yoga gathering invites you to rest, reflect, and realign during the potent Samhain season. Hosted at Spirit Camp in Northern California, this transformative retreat blends the symbolic power of the new moon, the introspective magic of Samhain, and the healing bond of a Women’s Circle for a once-in-a-lifetime moon-centered wellness retreat.
Picture starting your day with gentle yoga movements attuned to lunar rhythms, journaling beneath ancient redwoods, and connecting in heartfelt community circles. As the crisp autumn air ushers in the Samhain portal—often called the “Witches’ New Year”—you’ll immerse in meaningful rituals and personal reflection that help release old energies and cultivate fresh intentions. Whether you’re new to the concept of New Moon Yoga or a dedicated lunar devotee, this retreat offers sanctuary, inspiration, and sisterhood, empowering you to embody your most authentic self.
Harnessing the New Moon’s Power at Samhain
The Samhain Fall Retreat falls during a vital convergence of cosmic and seasonal energies. Samhain, a Celtic fire festival, marks the midpoint between the Autumn Equinox and Winter Solstice. This time naturally promotes inward exploration, ancestral reverence, and release. Layered atop Samhain’s mysticism is the new moon—a phase widely revered for planting “seed intentions” and birthing fresh perspectives. Together, they create a potent environment for introspection, making this lunar cycle yoga retreat California style ideal for deep transformation.
Why a New Moon Women’s Gathering Now?
As autumn foliage glows and the days shorten, the thinning veil between worlds can heighten intuitive awareness. The dark moon’s energy often illuminates hidden truths and latent potentials within us. During these four days, you’ll explore your shadow aspects, glean insights from ancestral stories, and rest in the supportive container of a Women’s Circle. This synergy of Samhain and the new moon forms the perfect crucible for spiritual alchemy—clearing old paradigms to make room for what’s ready to bloom.
Women’s Circle: A Tradition Through the Ages
Ancient Gatherings Across Cultures
For centuries, women have gathered in circles to share stories, exchange wisdom, and support community resilience. From ancient Mesopotamia to Indigenous societies across the globe, these circles acted as safe havens for birthing ideas, forging alliances, and passing on ancestral knowledge. Learn more.
Aligning with Lunar Cycles
Many of these circles historically coincided with new or full moons, recognizing how lunar phases can deeply influence emotional tides and collective energy. By meeting during the new moon, participants harnessed the energy of new beginnings. Worries or aspirations could be offered up, sealed by ritual, and nurtured by collective intention. Learn more.
Modern Resurgence
In today’s fast-paced world, the concept of a Women’s Circle has regained popularity among those seeking deeper connection and personal transformation. Gatherings often integrate breathwork, meditation, or yoga under the lunar phases, bridging ancient practices with present-day wellness. This movement emphasizes a return to intuitive, community-centered healing. Learn more.
Weaving Circles into a Moon-Centered Wellness Retreat
At a new moon women’s gathering, participants form a covenant of trust, creativity, and support. Whether you’re releasing emotional baggage, clarifying your soul path, or celebrating personal wins, the circle ensures no one journeys alone. When combined with New Moon Yoga—a practice that harmonizes breath, movement, and lunar wisdom—the result is a potent synergy of stillness, self-discovery, and shared empowerment. Learn more.
Photo of Deer Haven, one of the our many unique cabin spaces. This cabin has three beds. Cabins have between 1 to 8 beds each and provide several different sleeping arrangements for New Moon Yoga. All cabin spaces are included in Lunar cycle yoga retreat California.
Photo of Group Glamping Tents Setup in Sunset Meadow. We have 10 Glamping Structures that can be added with 1to 3 beds each. This can increase bed capacity of campus to 50 guests across 20 unique accommodation spaces.
Guiding Light: Rachel’s Approach to Lunar Yoga
Facilitating this Moon-centered wellness retreat is Rachel Simone Wilkins—an experienced yogini, energy worker, and ritual leader with advanced training in yoga, reiki, and embodiment practices. After moving from Maine to Northern California, she fell in love with Mendocino’s redwood forests, finding the perfect setting to host lunar-inspired retreats.
What Makes Rachel Unique?
Yoga Certifications: RYT-200 and RYT-500 credentials, plus specialized studies in Vinyasa, Restorative Yoga, and Yogic philosophy.
Spirit-Led Circles: Rachel frequently leads new and full moon circles, weaving guided journaling, breathwork, and storytelling into her sessions.
Inclusive & Heart-Centered: With a gentle, welcoming style, Rachel has an innate ability to create safe, sacred spaces where all who identify as women can awaken to their fullest potential.
Follow her daily insights at @rachelwilkinsyoga, where she shares tips on lunar cycle yoga, modern mysticism, and personal reflections on her path through the redwoods.
A Typical Day at the New Moon Yoga Retreat
Envision waking up to the fresh scent of dew-dappled evergreens, stepping onto your cabin porch, and taking a few mindful breaths beneath towering redwoods in Northern California. Each day of this retreat weaves together yoga, sisterhood, and Samhain rituals, leaving space for solo reflection and spontaneous forest walks.
Sunrise Calm & Journaling
Rather than rushing into the day, you’ll have time to greet the morning quietly. Perhaps you’ll journal about vivid dreams, set intentions linked to the new moon, or simply sip tea while absorbing the forest’s hush. This gentle start gives you a chance to tune into your body’s rhythms before the group meets.
Mid-Morning Flow
Then, assemble for New Moon Yoga focused on gentle sequences, breath awareness, and restorative postures. In harmony with the lunar phase, these sessions prioritize introspection and self-nurturing, helping you reconnect with your heart space. Rachel offers modifications so every level—from brand-new yogi to seasoned practitioner—feels supported.
Afternoon Women’s Circle
After lunch, gather in a dedicated Women’s Circle to explore journaling prompts, group dialogues, and creative expression. Within this safe container, each woman has the freedom to share joys, struggles, or deeper reflections. Whether you’re navigating career transitions, healing past wounds, or embracing a new stage of life, the circle’s collective wisdom holds you in love and solidarity.
Evening Ceremony
As dusk falls, the forest transforms into a mystical tapestry of soft silhouettes and rustling leaves. Under the new moon’s dark sky, you’ll join in Samhain rituals—lighting candles for ancestral blessings, releasing fears or burdens into a ceremonial fire, or simply meditating on the hush of nighttime. These moments anchor your intentions and close the day with a sense of sacred connection.
Mendocino’s Magnetic Pull: The Perfect Backdrop
Nestled in Mendocino, just a three-hour drive from the Bay Area, Spirit Camp places you in the heart of Northern California’s Redwood sanctuary. If you’re arriving from out of state, you can fly into either San Francisco or Oakland airports and enjoy a scenic road trip through vineyards, rolling hills, and eventually, Redwood groves. Unfolding around you is a yoga under the redwoods in Northern California experience that merges nature’s majesty with the comfort of rustic-chic cabins and communal spaces.
Nearby Amenities: The town of Mendocino, just ten minutes from camp, offers coffee shops, organic groceries, art galleries, and breathtaking coastal trails. Many retreat-goers arrive a day early or stay longer to wander the ocean cliffs, browse local boutiques, or soak in the relaxed, bohemian vibe. For more info, check the Spirit Camp Retreats page, where you’ll find directions, accommodations, and additional events.
Common Questions from Moon Yoginis
Do I need to know my astrological chart?
Not at all. This retreat focuses on New Moon Yoga and Samhain’s energy from a universal perspective. While astrology can add depth, it’s not required to benefit from the practices or the communal circle.Can I join if I’m new to yoga?
Absolutely. All levels are welcome. Rachel’s approach is gentle, offering variations to accommodate beginners and challenges for more advanced practitioners. The emphasis is on listening to your body and honoring your limits.Is there a significance to Samhain + the new moon alignment?
Both signify release and renewal. Samhain acknowledges the end of the harvest and the start of winter introspection. The new moon is similarly a cosmic blank slate—perfect for planting intentions. Their overlap creates a profound portal for letting go of the old and ushering in new beginnings.
Local Spots to Soak in Lunar Magic
Beyond Spirit Camp’s Redwood glades, Mendocino County offers enchanting landscapes to enrich your retreat experience. If you have extra time, consider these two “lunarly” aligned destinations:
Mendocino Coast Night Sky Viewing
For stargazers and moon-lovers, the Mendocino Coast boasts dramatic ocean backdrops that elevate nighttime viewing to a near-celestial event. With minimal light pollution, you’ll often see a sweep of bright stars—or on clear nights near the new moon, a sky sprinkled with constellations rarely visible in city environments.
Pack a blanket and a thermos of tea, then find a quiet stretch of beach or a clifftop vista. In the hush of the night, reflect on your new moon intentions, letting the rhythmic waves mirror the ebb and flow of your own emotional cycles. It’s an excellent way to deepen your retreat insights, forging a playful yet reverent connection to the cosmos.
Point Cabrillo Light Station State Historic Park (Night Walk)
Located a short drive from central Mendocino, Point Cabrillo Light Station offers a glimpse into the region’s maritime past. By day, visitors can tour the historic lighthouse and surrounding trails. If you time your visit at dusk or slightly after, you’ll experience the park’s gentle hush—a perfect complement to your retreat’s reflective vibe.
While the lighthouse itself may close in the evening, the surrounding trails often remain accessible. Walking these paths at night, under the new moon’s shadowy sky, evokes a sense of timeless wonder. Bring a small flashlight or trust your eyes to adjust, noticing how the sea breezes and flickering light from the lighthouse’s beam add layers of magic to your journey. Use this moment for quiet affirmation or simply to enjoy nature’s symphony of wind and water.
Embrace the Lunar Renewal
A New Moon Yoga retreat can be so much more than an escape from routine—it’s a soulful homecoming, a chance to honor Samhain’s calling for inward reflection, and a supportive community where you can truly be yourself. You’ll leave with a clearer sense of purpose, a deeper appreciation for lunar cycles, and a strong sisterhood network that echoes well beyond these four sacred days.
If your heart resonates with the idea of realigning under the dark moon, gathering in a Women’s Circle, and immersing yourself in Redwood tranquility, book your spot now. To discover other spiritual gatherings, ceremonies, and wellness events, explore the Spirit Camp retreat calendar. Under the moonlit Redwood canopy, a profound journey of release, renewal, and reconnection awaits.
TOPICS:
New Moon Yoga, Lunar cycle yoga retreat California, New moon women’s gathering, Spiritual sisterhood near the Bay Area, Yoga under the redwoods in Northern California, Moon-centered wellness retreat, Mendocino, Northern California, Women’s Circle, Samhain Fall Retreat.
