“Why Joy, Sisterhood, & Travel is the Spiritual Work that Sets You Free” E37

Lisa Schoenthal
Nov 14
4 min read

What if the most powerful spiritual work you ever do doesn’t happen in a workshop…or during hours of journaling…or in deep, emotional processing circles…but instead through joy, connection, travel, and simply being yourself?

That’s exactly what happened on our La Vida Sagrada retreat in Mexico. What began as a girls’ trip turned into something none of us expected: effortless, heart-opening transformation through play, presence, and sisterhood. This is the real story of how joy became the medicine none of us knew we needed.

The Truth About Transformation (It’s Not What You’ve Been Told)

So many women believe transformation has to be hard. That you have to dig, push, cry, analyze, or be uncomfortable to “grow.”

But in Mexico, the opposite happened.

There was no forcing.No structure.No emotional homework.No scheduled breakthroughs.

We simply showed up authentically.We laughed.We played.We let ourselves be seen.We let ourselves be free.

And somehow, that was enough.

Every woman on this trip experienced a shift—not because she was trying to—but because she allowed joy, presence, and sisterhood to open her heart.

When Fun Becomes Medicine

Here’s what our days looked like:

We danced on a boat under the sun, singing badly and joyfully until strangers joined us.We swam with dolphins and sea lions, letting nature become our teachers.We sweated and laughed in the spa, releasing stress simply by being in our bodies. We explored Día de los Muertos cemeteries, honoring ancestors and seeing how love continues beyond form.We sailed into a breathtaking sunset as a full moon rose behind us. We collapsed under the moonlight during a sound bowl session and fell asleep—snoring in unison—because we finally felt safe enough to rest.

It wasn’t curated. It wasn’t planned.It wasn’t structured “healing.”

It was living. And that living became the healing.

One woman even quit her job the next day because she realized joy mattered more than fear.

That’s what happens when women show up as themselves.

Sisterhood: The Catalyst We Forget We Need

There is something ancient and powerful about women coming together without pressure or expectation.

When women gather, walls come down. Stories are shared.Laughter becomes medicine. Tears come naturally, not forced. Connections form that feel like home.

This retreat reminded every one of us that we don’t need to “work” for transformation. We simply need each other. We need space to be authentic. We need permission to play.We need the freedom to let joy in again.

And most importantly: We need to remember that we are not meant to do life alone.

For the woman reading this who feels lonely or disconnected, please hear me: you are not too late to find your people. Soul friends are everywhere. Sometimes you meet them on a beach in Mexico. Sometimes you meet them in a spa. Sometimes you meet them on a boat singing ABBA with no shame at all.

But you will meet them. Hang out with our soul tribe and will introduce you!

The Beauty of Co-Creation

This retreat was also a powerful reminder of what happens when women collaborate.

Leah and I are both independent, driven, Capricorn energy all day long. We know how to do things alone. We’ve built careers, created programs, and led groups individually.

But co-creating La Vida Sagrada together expanded everything.

There was more depth.More support.More spaciousness.More joy. More ease.

It taught both of us that collaboration—when rooted in respect and authenticity—is transformative in its own right.

Women don’t just rise alone. We rise together.

Why Joy Is Sacred

Joy is not trivial. Joy is not a luxury. Joy is a spiritual practice.

It opens the heart. It disarms the ego.It dissolves fear. It invites connection.It returns you to yourself.

Joy is enough. Presence is enough. Authenticity is enough.

This retreat reminded us that “fun” can be spiritual, that freedom can be healing, and that showing up as you are is more powerful than pretending to be anything else.

Ready for Your Own Chapter of Joy?

If your heart is craving connection, adventure, and genuine sisterhood…If you’re ready to find your people and reconnect with yourself in a deeper way…If joy feels like something you want more of in your life…

I’d love to have you join my email list at www.LisaSchoenthal.com. You'll be the first to hear about upcoming retreats, girls’ trips, workshops, and transformational experiences.

This is your invitation to say yes to yourself. To remember your joy. To follow what lights you up. To be part of a sisterhood that sees you, supports you, and rises with you.