Self-Love Day Retreat

February 16th, 2025 | 10:00 AM - 6:00 PM

“How you love yourself is how you teach others to love you.”

Rupi Kaur

Discover the Power of Self-Love: A Day Retreat at Just Love Forest

Late winter carries a particular kind of stillness.
The holidays have passed. The days begin to stretch.
The forest rests in that quiet moment before becoming again.

In this in between season, we gather at Just Love Forest.

Self Love Day is an invitation to emerge gently from hibernation, to tend what has been resting, and to begin the year rooted in love. Not the performative kind. The lived kind. The kind that knows how to stay with what is real.

Morning Gathering: Rose Tea Circle

We begin the day nestled in the warmth of the heated yurt, rose tea steaming in our hands, gathered in circle with Bala. This is a slow arrival. A time for deep introductions, for listening, for letting the body remember that it is safe to soften. Like the forest in late winter, we wake at our own pace.

Lunch: Heartfelt Nourishment

A lovingly prepared, organic, plant based vegan lunch will be shared, nourishing body and spirit alike. Eating together becomes part of the practice, a simple act of care held in community.

Loving Kindness Art Experience:

Heart Cards for the World Beyond the Forest

In the afternoon, we turn toward the heart through a Loving Kindness art experience guided by Heather Cape. Through a gentle, guided meditation, you will be invited to listen inward and identify ten people you carry in your heart. These may be people you deeply appreciate, people you wish to thank, people you long to reconnect with, people you want to apologize to, or simply those you want to remind that they are loved.

From this meditative space, you will create ten hand painted heart cards, postcards infused with presence, color, and personal messages of love or appreciation. No art experience is required. These are offerings, not performances. You will take the cards home with you and mail them after the retreat, allowing the medicine of the day to continue rippling outward long after you leave the forest.

Sound Healing with Sarah:
Where the Body Remembers How to Rest

As the afternoon deepens, sound carries us inward.

We’ll be guided by Sarah Woolson, licensed psychotherapist, board certified music therapist, and founder of Woolson Wellness, through a deeply restorative sound healing and somatic experience. Drawing from her work supporting anxiety, trauma, grief, and identity, Sarah weaves sound, stillness, and body based practices to invite nervous system regulation and emotional integration. Crystal bowls and resonant tones create a container where effort can soften and the body can release what words alone cannot reach.

Closing Circle & Cacao
Sealing the Day with Warmth and Intention

We close the day gathered once more in circle, sharing ceremonial grade cacao with Sofia Castro. Reflections are welcomed. Silence is honored. Loving kindness is extended inward and outward, marking our transition out of winter’s inward pull and into the unfolding year ahead.

This day is not about fixing yourself.
It is about remembering what you already are.

All genders are warmly welcome.

Sliding Scale Payment
At Just Love Forest, we believe access to healing and renewal should not be limited by finances. Sliding scale options are available. If cost is a barrier and you feel called to attend, please reach out.

Standard Rate: $200
Sustainer Rate: $300
It’s All Good Rate: $150

A high quality vegan lunch is included.

After registering, you’ll receive payment details and an individual RSVP form to sign the waiver and help us prepare to welcome you.

Questions or accessibility needs can be shared at bala@justloveforest.com.

Join us this Valentine’s season to wrap up winter, open the heart, and begin the year held by land, community, and love at Just Love Forest

What to Expect

Join us with an open heart and no prerequisites! Whether you're new to meditation and sound healing or have some experience, you'll find our retreat welcoming and enriching.

Here's a little of what's in store:

Comfort in Practice: To enhance your experience, we will provide tri-fold cushions for added support during meditation sessions. If you have a favorite meditation cushion, feel free to bring it along for that personal touch of comfort.

Embrace the Experience: Our retreat offers a unique blend of instruction and guidance in a supportive environment. Everything we offer is designed to be practical and applicable, ensuring that what you learn here can beautifully complement your daily life.

Prepare to embark on a journey of inner exploration, healing through sound, and the cultivation of mindfulness and compassion. We're here to support you every step of the way.

Meet Your Guides:

About Bala Yancey

Bala is a certified forest therapy guide affiliated with the Association of Nature and Forest Therapy, and a dedicated student in Jack Kornfield and Tara Brach’s two-year professional training program at the Greater Good Science Center, University of California at Berkeley, Bala brings a wealth of knowledge in mindfulness, self-compassion, loving-kindness, and meditation. His teachings are practical and accessible, designed to resonate with people from all walks of life.

About Sarah Woolson
Sarah is a licensed mental health counselor and music therapist in private practice in Alpharetta, GA. Sarah specializes in using music and creative expression in her work with clients, bringing a reflective, embodied approach to mental health treatment. Sarah also provides ketamine-assisted psychotherapy, interweaving music and sound to support individuals seeking inner wisdom and powerful change. Sarah is passionate about the power of music and what it brings to the human experience.

About Heather Cape

Heather Cape is combining her passion for art and the forest to promote wellness and creativity through mindful nature art. As a loving mother, Heather balances homeschooling and pursuing art, with caring for her family, 3 dogs, and Sheldon, their beloved tortoise. Heather also enjoys singing, guitar, and dancing as other avenues for art expression. This workshop focuses on reconnecting individuals with their inner child through the natural world, using techniques that highlight mindfulness and self-expression. Heather’s deep commitment to environmental education and the benefits of art makes her a cherished member of our community.