Empowering Retreat For Witches With Breathwork Near San Francisco
If you’ve been hearing the call of the wild woods, ancestral whispers, or simply seeking a powerful container to explore your witchy path, the Ritual & Renewal: Samhain Fall Retreat might be your next destination. From October 16th to 19th, 2025, this four-day Retreat For Witches merges the transformative magic of breathwork, Samhain ceremony, and the healing hum of Northern California’s redwood forests. Imagine embracing a witchy gathering in Northern California, guided by the wisdom of Samhain’s potent energies, all within a few hours’ drive near San Francisco. This transformative retreat, hosted at Spirit Camp, welcomes all who identify as women and feel a resonance with the path of the witch—whether you’re experienced in ritual arts or simply curious about awakening your ancestral ties.
Samhain, often referred to as the “Witches’ New Year,” marks a liminal time of the year when the veil is thin between the physical world and the spirit realm. Here, you’ll step into ceremonial space, forging deeper connections with your intuitive power through Breathwork circles, moonlit gatherings, and communal sisterhood. This retreat weaves old-world witchcraft themes—like honoring ancestors, lighting bonfires, and calling upon mystical archetypes—with modern mindful practices, ensuring you’ll leave rejuvenated, more self-aware, and ready to integrate your newfound magic into everyday life.
Samhain Portal: Why a “Retreat for Witches” Is Perfect Now
Samhain sits between the Autumn Equinox and the Winter Solstice. Traditionally celebrated by Celtic communities, it signals the end of harvest season and the start of the darker half of the year. Spiritually, it’s a time for reflection, letting go of old energies, and embracing guidance from ancestors and spirit allies. In a contemporary context, Samhain resonates with many witches who seek to align with natural cycles, harnessing the changes in daylight and temperature as metaphors for personal transformation.
When you join a Samhain breathwork circle, you’re connecting breathwork techniques—such as circular or conscious breathing—to the introspective magic that accompanies this season. As the nights lengthen, your own inner world softens, revealing hidden corners of your psyche that are ripe for healing and renewal. A Retreat For Witches during Samhain is, therefore, an opportunity to stand at a threshold—ready to release what no longer serves you and invite in the energies you wish to embody.
Dates & Location
Scheduled for October 16th–19th, 2025 (Thursday through Sunday), this New moon witches retreat 2025 conveniently takes place near San Francisco, making it accessible to Bay Area residents and out-of-state travelers alike. The retreat is hosted at Spirit Camp in Mendocino, a region in Northern California renowned for towering redwoods, ocean-kissed breezes, and a vibrant spiritual community.
Breathwork: A Key Practice in Modern Witchery
While many envision witchcraft as candle-lit altars, herbal brews, and mystical incantations, Breathwork has become a powerful tool in the witch’s toolkit—especially for emotional release and expanded awareness.
Ancient Roots of Breathwork
Breath-centric practices have existed in mystical and shamanic traditions around the globe. In yogic lineages, the term “pranayama” refers to harnessing vital life force via controlled breathing. Similarly, Indigenous cultures often integrate specific breathing patterns in trance states or healing ceremonies. Learn more.
Contemporary “Witchy” Intersection
Contemporary witches and magical practitioners increasingly recognize breathwork as a potent way to regulate the nervous system, enhance intuition, and prime the mind for ritual. By intentionally altering the rhythm and depth of your breath, you activate the body’s innate healing capacities—often revealing hidden emotions, ancestral memories, or insights that can fuel your magical workings. Learn more.
Physiological & Energetic Benefits
Breathwork can stabilize heart rate, lower stress hormones, and unleash creative energy. For witches, these benefits dovetail seamlessly with circle gatherings, where participants seek a heightened emotional or psychic state for weaving personal and communal spells. It’s also an ideal preparatory tool for Samhain, a transitional season that invites you to confront and reconcile shadow aspects of yourself. Learn more.
Breathwork at Spirit Camp’s Witchy Retreat
In this spiritual sisterhood weekend, each morning begins with guided breath sessions that awaken your senses and ground you in the Redwood ambiance. Under the gentle guidance of your retreat facilitator, you’ll learn to move stagnant energy, release tension, and cultivate a receptive, magical mindset before stepping into the day’s circle or ritual. When combined with Samhain’s alchemical energy, these sessions become a catalyst for profound ancestral healing, soul alignment, and renewed clarity about your personal witchy path.
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 Retreat For Witches. All cabin spaces are included in Witchy gathering in Northern 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.
Facilitator Profile: Rachel’s Witchy Wisdom
Rachel Simone Wilkins—the retreat’s main facilitator—brings a rich background in yoga, reiki, dance, and ceremonial magic. Originally from Maine, she discovered Mendocino’s redwood forest as a place of deep inspiration, weaving her healing modalities into an inclusive approach that honors diverse spiritual expressions. Rachel’s Instagram feed (@rachelwilkinsyoga) offers glimpses into her daily practice of breathwork, intuitive movement, and nature-based rituals.
What Makes Rachel Unique
Yoga & Shamanic Training: With advanced certifications in yoga, she also received attunements in Shamanic Reiki, blending physical alignment with energy healing.
Ceremonial Magic & Dance: Rachel believes in activating the body’s wisdom through ecstatic movement, drumming, and chanting—essentials that can amplify one’s ritual intent.
Inclusive Witchcraft: She creates safe, sober spaces where witches of any tradition (or none at all) can explore their identity, shadow, and spiritual gifts.
Expect a welcoming environment where you’ll be encouraged to experiment, whether that means chanting around the bonfire, journaling beside an old-growth redwood, or quietly reflecting on your breath in a circle of supportive sisters.
Casting the Circle: The Spirit Camp Retreat Experience
New Moon Alignments & Witchy Workshops
Though Samhain looms large in the retreat’s themes, we also honor any astrological influences active that week. The retreat often coincides with a new moon or dark moon in Scorpio—a time perfect for introspection, spellwork, and clarifying your intentions for the months ahead. Workshops might include altar building, sigil creation, or guided meditations that harness your intuitive gifts.
Daily Breathwork Sessions
Anchoring each day is a dedicated Breathwork session, held in Redwood Lodge or outside if weather allows. You might start with gentle stretching, tuning into your body’s sensations, and then settle into circular or “conscious connected” breathing. As your breath deepens, you’ll notice barriers to self-expression falling away, replaced by a sense of wholeness and clarity.
Samhain Fire Ceremony
Samhain calls for a nightly bonfire under the star-studded Redwood canopy. This “witches’ fire” acts as a focal point for releasing old patterns, communing with ancestral spirits, or simply warming your bones in late October’s crisp air. Under Rachel’s guidance, you may write down limiting beliefs or heartaches on a piece of paper, then cast them into the flames—symbolically burning away what no longer serves your path.
Safe and Sober Witchy Space
All scheduled retreats at Spirit Camp maintain a sober environment, focusing on natural states of consciousness through breath, movement, community, and the innate magic of the Redwood forest. This approach ensures that participants can experience the retreat’s transformative power without relying on outside substances, leaning instead on the synergy of the environment and collective energy.
Finding Your Way to Magic Near San Francisco
One of the joys of attending a witchy gathering in Northern California at Spirit Camp is how easy it is to reach from the Bay Area. Located near San Francisco, the center is roughly a 2–3 hour drive, depending on traffic. If you’re flying in from out of state, you can arrive at San Francisco International or Oakland International Airport, rent a car, and then meander north through scenic highways dotted with vineyards, rolling hills, and eventually, stands of ancient redwoods.
Mendocino itself is a short distance from the retreat center, offering a bohemian haven of coastal trails, cozy coffee shops, and artisan boutiques. Many witches enjoy arriving a day early or staying a bit longer to explore the region’s esoteric charm. From local apothecaries carrying herbal concoctions to the enchanting Redwood forests, you’ll find plenty of ways to extend your ancestral magic event near the Bay Area into a full-fledged spiritual journey.
For additional event details and the complete schedule of lodging options—ranging from private cabins to bunkhouse accommodations—visit the Spirit Camp Retreats page.
Witchy Q&A
Do I have to be an experienced witch?
Not at all. This retreat suits all levels—from the “witch-curious” to those who’ve been spellcasting for decades. The common thread is a desire for respectful, open-minded exploration of feminine power and natural magic.Will there be a dress code or costume?
Some participants delight in wearing ritual garb or black velvet cloaks, especially around Samhain. You’re welcome to dress in ways that reflect your personal magic, but there’s no requirement. Comfortable, weather-appropriate layers are key for Redwood nights.Is the breathwork intense?
Breathwork can be powerful, but you’ll be guided gently. You’re free to pace yourself or pause if needed. The facilitators prioritize safety and emotional well-being throughout each session, ensuring you have the support to go as deep as feels right for you.
Local Happenings to Enhance Your Witchy Holiday
While Spirit Camp offers ample space for ritual, rest, and nature immersion, exploring a bit of Mendocino County can further enrich your experience. If you want to extend your stay, here are two spots that resonate beautifully with the mystical atmosphere of a Retreat For Witches:
Mendocino Headlands State Park
Perched at the edge of the Pacific, Mendocino Headlands State Park beckons with dramatic cliffs, hidden coves, and winding trails. The park’s coastal bluffs provide a striking contrast to the forest environment of Spirit Camp—here, you’ll witness pounding surf, swirling sea mist, and perhaps even migrating whales if you’re lucky. For witches, the ocean’s vastness can feel deeply magical, reminding us of the fluid nature of emotions and energy work.
On a crisp autumn afternoon, there’s nothing quite like wrapping a shawl around your shoulders, breathing in the salty air, and pausing to meditate on the rhythmic crash of waves. Some retreat-goers bring offerings—small seashells or crystals—to place near tide pools as a gesture of gratitude to the water element. If you’re integrating the weekend’s revelations, a contemplative walk along the headlands is an ideal way to ground yourself before returning to daily life.
Fort Bragg’s Glass Beach
A short drive up the coast lies Glass Beach in Fort Bragg—once a dumping site that the ocean has reclaimed and transformed. Decades of waves have polished broken glass into colorful pebbles, turning trash into treasure. Now, the shimmering fragments provide a kaleidoscope of sea-worn gems, perfect for a moment of quiet reflection on transformation and renewal.
Standing on Glass Beach can feel symbolic of the retreat’s theme: letting the waters of time soften sharp edges, turning pain or old baggage into something more meaningful. You might collect a single piece of sea glass (if local guidelines permit) to keep as a talisman of your Samhain revelations. Or simply gaze across the beach’s mosaic, reflecting on nature’s capacity to cleanse, reimagine, and heal even the roughest remnants of the past.
Step Into Your Power
This Retreat For Witches isn’t merely a weekend getaway—it’s a sacred invitation to harness Samhain’s gateway, explore the transformative potential of Breathwork, and celebrate your intuitive gifts in a circle of women who share your curiosity and courage. Under the watchful guardianship of redwoods, you’ll find new dimensions of clarity and connection, nourished by a sisterhood that honors your magic as part of a spiritual sisterhood weekend.
If you’re ready to claim your place around the bonfire, learn the mysteries of your breath, and step boldly into Samhain’s mysteries, register for the Witchy Retreat here. For a peek at all upcoming thematic events, check the Spirit Camp calendar. The Redwood forest awaits—bring your wild heart, your open mind, and let the ancient whispers guide you home to your most empowered witchy self.
TOPICS:
Retreat For Witches, Witchy gathering in Northern California, Samhain breathwork circle, New moon witches retreat 2025Spiritual sisterhood weekend, Ancestral magic event near the Bay Area, Near San Francisco, Northern California, Breathwork, Mendocino.
