Becoming Beloveds: Redefining Love in Midlife
Is financial aid for you?
We believe in making personal growth and education accessible to all, which is why we offer financial assistance on a needs-aware basis for many of our programs.
We aim to support individuals facing financial challenges, including but not limited to members of under-represented communities. Our goal is to empower those who may face barriers in pursuing their educational and professional goals. If you're experiencing financial stress that might prevent you from attending our workshops, we encourage you to apply for assistance.
Kari Cardinale
MEA Chief Content Officer
Steven Cardinale
Entrepreneur | Author of Synaptic Alchemy | Co-creator of Beloved Methodology
Reimagining love through Maslow's Hierarchy: The journey to more conscious relationships.
You’ve accomplished so much in life, and now you’re ready to bring the same clarity and intention to love—moving beyond old patterns into deeper connection.
The truth is, most of us were never taught how to love consciously.
We operate from unconscious patterns, react from old wounds, and wonder why our relationships feel more like work than joy. We settle for "good enough" when our hearts yearn for extraordinary.
Over Valentine's weekend 2026, transform your entire approach to love through an experiential journey that combines Abraham Maslow's hierarchy of needs with the timeless wisdom of conscious partnership.
Whether you're single and seeking deeper self-awareness, in a relationship and ready to elevate your connection, or navigating the complexities of midlife love, this retreat offers a path forward to becoming beloved both to yourself and another.
Set against the breathtaking 2,600-acre high desert landscape of our Santa Fe campus, this intimate weekend retreat guides participants through seven transformational levels of relationship development.
Leave with a clear diagnostic framework for understanding exactly where your relationships need attention, plus immediate tools for transformation.
The 7 Levels of Beloved Love
Level 1: CREATE LOVE ~ The Foundation
Physiological Needs: Building Your Sacred Container.
Transform your living space, daily rituals, and basic needs into conscious acts of love and self-care.
Level 2: BUILD LOVE ~ The Castle
Safety Needs: Creating Emotional and Physical Security.
Master the tools of emotional safety, including the powerful practice of eliminating "paper cuts" and creating "honey drops" in your daily interactions.
Level 3: NURTURE LOVE ~ The Garden
Love & Belonging: Cultivating Connection and Growth.
Learn to pay attention as the ultimate currency of love and practice transforming "lightning bolts" of separation into "divine sparks" of connection.
Level 4: ELEVATE LOVE ~ The Bridge
Esteem Needs: Building Confidence and Mutual Respect.
Develop individual and couple esteem while creating beloved habits that elevate your daily interactions into expressions of conscious love.
Level 5: REFLECT LOVE ~ The Mandala
Self-Actualization: Becoming Whole Within Yourself.
Create personal and relationship mandalas that reflect your journey to wholeness while understanding sovereignty within partnership.
Level 6: EXPAND LOVE ~ The Dance
Transcendence: Finding Your Shared Purpose.
Discover your shared purpose and learn to cultivate awe together, moving beyond individual fulfillment into transcendent love.
Level 7: INTEGRATION ~ Living as Beloveds
Taking It Home: Sustainable Practice.
Create actionable plans and ongoing practices to embody beloved love in your daily life long after the retreat ends.
Meet
Kari Cardinale
Pioneer Facilitator | Community Builder | Master Host | Social Entrepreneur
Kari Cardinale has spent nearly 30 years as a driven social entrepreneur, specializing in creative strategy, facilitation, and private consulting to bring out the best in thought leaders. A pioneer facilitator with expertise in the longevity industry and building communities online, she brings exceptional skill in creating deep connections both live and virtually.
With experience working alongside hundreds of experts around the world, Kari has produced two global summits on innovation in aging and caregiving while developing online programs at MEA that have served thousands of adults globally. Her journey from media contributor to community architect has shaped her distinctive approach to fostering meaningful human connection.
Known for her curiosity about everything and commitment to lifelong learning, Kari masterfully combines strategic thinking with heart-centered facilitation.
It’s an MEA legend that Steven and Kari bumped into each other during a beta MEA week, barely met during the week, became friends later, started long distance dating for two years and eventually Chip married them in a beautiful redwood grove.
Together, they discovered their own journey to becoming beloveds and created this transformational program to share the wisdom, tools, and practices that led them to conscious love.
“The spark of inspiration is what turns a random passing thought from the recesses deep inside you, into a force that pulls you from your slumber and won’t allow you to rest.”
– Steven Cardinale
Meet
Steven Cardinale
Entrepreneur | Author of Synaptic Alchemy | Co-creator of Beloved Methodology | Business Strategist
Steven Cardinale has spent over two decades building successful businesses and exploring innovative approaches to human connection and conscious relationships. Author of Synaptic Alchemy and co-creator of the Beloved Methodology, he brings a unique analytical perspective to understanding how relationships can be transformed through practical frameworks.
With a professional career spanning clients like Janus Funds, Accenture, and Universal Music, plus experience as founder and CEO of a successful Software as a Service healthcare technology company, Steven has developed deep expertise in turning ideas into results. Steven mixes concepts from business, entrepreneurship, psychology, and economics to create unique frameworks for transformation.
His distinctive expertise includes:
Meet
Rev. Melanie Smith, MACP, LMFT
Experience Facilitator
Melanie a licensed psychotherapist and ordained interfaith minister with a master's in integral counseling psychology. She's also an award-winning photographer and former instructor at the Colorado Institute of Art. Melanie weaves creativity with evidence-based healing practices, drawing on her background in art, gallery curation, and sound healing.
With over 30 years experience, she founded 12Tigers Psychotherapy & Counseling to support individuals and couples on their healing journey. She's also the founder of Expert Relationship LLC and author of From Despair to Repair, a couples communication skills course. She's been a featured relationship specialist on 94.5FM KKOB radio and has presented at UNM Medical Group, New Mexico Collaborative Practice, and Albuquerque Mental Health conferences.
Known for her warm heart, intuition, and ability to go deep, Melanie also loves to laugh, revels in silliness, and thoroughly enjoys life's simple pleasures.
Supported by the MEA team
Lee Johnson
Head of Land, Livestock, and Mindfulness in Santa Fe
Lee likes to say that he’s as ordinary as dirt but as complex as soil. A former Course Director for the Colorado Outward Bound School and Certified Holistic Management Teacher, he has managed ranches in Nebraska and Tennessee as well as several ranches here in New Mexico. As steward of our four-square mil ...
View BioThis workshop is for you if…
What you'll gain
Master the 7 Levels of Beloved Love Framework
Learn a clear diagnostic tool that shows you exactly where your relationship needs attention. Move systematically from basic needs fulfillment to transcendent love, knowing that each level builds on the previous one.
Transform Daily Interactions Into Love
Discover how to eliminate relationship "paper cuts" and create "honey drops" – small, consistent actions that build trust and connection. Learn to pay attention as the ultimate currency of love.
Navigate Conflict With Wisdom
Understand which level of the hierarchy is being threatened during conflicts so you can address the real issue. Transform "lightning bolts" of separation into "divine sparks" of connection.
Create Your Relationship Vision
Leave with a clear roadmap for continuing to deepen your connection over time. Whether single or partnered, you'll know how to consciously design relationships that grow and evolve.
Our Agenda at a Glance
Monday:
Tuesday:
Wednesday:
Thursday:
4:00 PM: Arrival / Check-In
5:30 PM: Welcome Reception & Dinner
7:00 PM: Orientation Session
9:00 PM: Free Time
Friday:
7:30 AM: Mind + Body
8:30 AM: Breakfast
10:00 AM: Classroom Time
1:15 PM: Lunch
2:00 PM: Free Time
3:00 PM: Classroom Time
6:30 PM: Dinner
Saturday:
7:30 AM: Mind + Body
8:30 AM: Breakfast
10:00 AM: Classroom Time
1:15 PM: Lunch
2:00 PM: Free Time
3:00 PM: Classroom Time
6:30 PM: Dinner, Dessert & Graduation
8:00 PM: Evening Gathering
Sunday:
7:00 AM: Breakfast
10:00 AM: Checkout / Departure
*Please note that not all “classroom time” activities take place in the actual classroom.
*Please note all times are estimates as some activities go longer or shorter depending on the group. This agenda is meant to give you an idea of the general flow of activities.
Step into transformation in the high desert
Rising Circle Ranch | Santa Fe, USA.
Our spectacular Santa Fe campus is located on an upscale regenerative ranch featuring traditional Pueblo architecture and nearly 2,600 acres of wildlife, hiking trails in the arroyo, and awe-inspiring beauty. Close to historic Santa Fe, an artisan’s mecca.
PLUS: Gourmet from-scratch meals, snacks, and drinks featuring locally sourced ingredients, made by our in-house chefs
Explore the Ranch
on Horseback
Our Rising Circle Ranch spans 2,600 acres of New Mexico high desert, offering guided horseback riding for all experience levels through diverse terrains under the vast Southwest sky
You’ll experience highlights like:
Horseback riding is an optional add-on activity you can book once you arrive on the ranch. Whether you’re seasoned or brand new to horseback adventures, this guided experience lets you discover the ranch’s natural wonders alongside our gentle horses.
Your Workshop Also Includes:
Stop Settling for "Good Enough" Love
Unconscious relationship patterns show up as emotional unavailability, people-pleasing, chronic conflict, or that nagging sense that something is missing.
You may find yourself repeating the same relationship dynamics, attracting unavailable partners, or feeling lonely even when you're with someone.
The cost of unconscious love is enormous.
Missed connections, wasted years, settling for less than your heart desires, and the gradual dimming of your belief that extraordinary love is possible.
This workshop is your chance to break the cycle.
In three focused days, gain the framework and tools to understand exactly what's been missing and how to create the conscious relationship you've been seeking.
In this experience, you will:
If you're ready to stop settling and start creating extraordinary love, now is the time to act.
Book Your Spot Today
Becoming Beloveds: Redefining Love in Midlife
Is financial aid for you?
We believe in making personal growth and education accessible to all, which is why we offer financial assistance on a needs-aware basis for many of our programs.
We aim to support individuals facing financial challenges, including but not limited to members of under-represented communities. Our goal is to empower those who may face barriers in pursuing their educational and professional goals. If you're experiencing financial stress that might prevent you from attending our workshops, we encourage you to apply for assistance.
“I came hoping to figure out what’s next for me. I left with a shared vision for us.”
– Judy Ryan, MEA Alumni
“This workshop gave us language, perspective, and permission to do retirement differently. We needed this.”
– Anderson Baker, MEA Alumni
“My husband and I danced together for the first time in 20 years. Something shifted for us in that moment.”
– Denise Vedder, MEA Alumni
Frequently Asked Questions
What makes this different from other relationship retreats?
This isn’t about communication techniques or surface-level relationship advice. We use Abraham Maslow’s hierarchy of needs as a diagnostic framework to understand exactly where relationships break down and how to systematically build conscious love. You’ll leave with practical tools and a clear roadmap.
Do I need to come with a partner?
Not at all. Whether you’re single, dating, or in a committed relationship, this framework helps you understand your own patterns and create the foundation for conscious love. Some participants may be single and use this as preparation for attracting a conscious partner.
Is this workshop appropriate for all relationship styles?
Yes. While examples may focus on romantic partnerships, the principles apply to any conscious relationship – including friendships, family relationships, and even your relationship with yourself. The framework is universal.
How is the Maslow approach different from traditional relationship coaching?
Traditional coaching often jumps to advanced techniques without ensuring the foundation is solid. Our hierarchy-based approach ensures you’re working at the right level. For example, you can’t solve trust issues (level 2) until basic needs (level 1) are met. This prevents frustration and accelerates results.
What’s included in the investment for Becoming Beloveds?
Everything: three days of immersive sessions, all materials, luxury accommodations at MEA’s Santa Fe campus, chef-prepared meals, and intimate experiences with a maximum of 24 participants. You’ll only need to cover travel to Santa Fe and personal extras.
Still deciding or have questions?
Connect with our helpful team of Advisors
Our Advisors are all MEA alumni who can offer genuine insights into our programs. They’re passionate about helping you finding the right fit to make your next chapter the best one.
Daniel Booz
Lucas Erie
Leslie Bartlett