Bestselling author Elizabeth Gilbert and humanitarian Dr. Tererai Trent present...

Awakening Magic

Apr 7 - Apr 12, 2025 in Baja, Mexico
Led by: Elizabeth Gilbert, Dr. Tererai Trent, Chip Conley, Thérèse O'Neill, Caitlin Allen

What if saying yes to your curiosity opened up possibilities beyond your wildest dreams?

Too many of us feel like we don’t have the right to dream big and pursue a life that truly fulfills us.

But what if awakening your dreams and unleashing your creativity not only allowed you to achieve your full potential but also brought beauty and meaning into the universe?

What if embracing and releasing the fear within you is required to allow your unique gifts to shine through and make the world a better place?

When you allow yourself to listen to the voice that only you can hear and uncover the “strange jewels” that are hidden within you, you will discover that you are capable of so much more than you imagine.

Whether you are looking to write a book, make art, find new ways to address challenges in your life, embark on a dream long deferred, or simply infuse your everyday live with more mindfulness and passion, allowing yourself to be curious and creative is what will help you find the inspiration you need to make your dreams a reality.

In this workshop co-facilitated with NY Times bestselling author Elizabeth Gilbert and humanitarian Dr. Tererai Trent, you will find your own place of creative and regenerative freedom and discover how to awaken the magic of who you are.

What you’ll gain

Through a combination of our MEA's curriculum and Elizabeth and Tererai’s teachings drawing from indigenous wisdom rooted in lived experience, modern research, and daily rituals, you will:

  • Explore creativity as a generative act of survival and defiance
  • Discover how to tap into your creative voice and express your inner landscape
  • Push back fear and despair to make your life a beautiful act of defiant magic
  • Discover or reawaken your dreams and find the inspiration you need to make them a reality
  • Identify the greater meaning of your life and embrace your creative inclinations as gifts from the universe
  • Approach your creativity with curiosity, openness, playfulness and joy – even when it’s tough
  • Learn from the collective feminine and find the confidence to share your unique gifts
  • Shake yourself free of all your cumbersome ideas about what you require in order to become “creatively legitimate”

By the end of your five days with Elizabeth and Tererai and the MEA faculty, you will feel reconnected to your dreams and your own boundless capacity for creativity and be energized and inspired to make your most magical dreams a reality. 

Meet your faculty

Elizabeth Gilbert

Award-winning author of Big Magic and Eat, Pray, Love

Author | Memoirist | Creativity Evangelist | Journalist | Adventurer

Elizabeth Gilbert captivated the world in 2006 with her best-selling memoir, Eat Pray Love. In the ensuing years, people around the world have sought her advice on how to lead a bold and inspired life, and she dedicated herself to exploring the mysteries of creativity and courage and how to manifest them more effectively.

Elizabeth’s investigations became the foundation of her book, Big Magic: Creative Living Beyond Fear, in which she digs deep into her own generative process to share her wisdom and unique perspective on creativity.

She worked in a Philadelphia diner, a western ranch, and in a New York City bar before Eat Pray Love catapulted her into what Oprah Winfrey called “rock star author” status.

A Pushcart Prize winner and National Magazine Award-nominated journalist, Elizabeth’s journalism has been published in GQ, Harper's Bazaar, Spin, and The New York Times Magazine, and her stories have appeared in Esquire, Story, and the Paris Review.

She is author of the memoir "Committed" and the novels "The Signature of All Things and Stern Men." Her latest novel, "City of Girls," is a rollicking, sexy tale set in the New York City theater world of the 1940s. Elizabeth divides her time between New York City, rural New Jersey, and everywhere else.

Dr. Tererai Trent

Humanitarian

Educator | Women’s Empowerment Advocate | Oprah’s Favorite Guest

Dr. Tererai Trent is an educator and women’s empowerment advocate whose compelling life story inspires people to fight for their own dreams, as well as the dreams of others.

Rooted in humble beginnings, Tererai grew up in a cattle-herding family in rural Zimbabwe, where cultural practices and a war that liberated her country charted the course of her life. Due to traditional women’s roles and cultural norms, Tererai did not have the opportunity to go to school.

 Undeterred, she still dreamed of an education and determinedly taught herself to read and write from her brother’s schoolbooks.

Despite being married young and having four children by the time she was eighteen, she never lost sight of her dreams. Dr. Trent could not have imagined that her steadfast determination, hard work and belief in herself would lead her to achieve her dream of studying in the United States, eventually earning multiple degrees and growing a prominent global platform with world leaders and international businesses and audiences where she advocates for universal access to quality education.

A two-time guest on The Oprah Winfrey Show, Tererai was named by Oprah as her “All-Time Favorite Guest” and received a $1.5 million donation to rebuild her childhood elementary school in recognition of her tenacity and never-give-up attitude. With the firm belief that education is the pathway out of poverty and a desire to give back to her community, Dr. Trent founded Tererai Trent International to achieve her mission of providing universal access to quality education while also empowering rural communities. Eleven schools are being built in Zimbabwe and education has been improved for over 6,000 children – and this is only the beginning.

This workshop is for you if...

You’re feeling called to explore your creativity at a deeper level

You’re wanting to cultivate a stronger connection with your inner voice

You have big dreams but aren’t sure how to make them a reality

You wish you had big dreams, but are feeling lost and uncertain about what you really want

You’re ready to unlock your creativity and add more beauty and meaning to the world

You have a book or other creative project inside you, yearning to break free

You’re looking for more magic and mystery in your life and ready to step out of your comfort zone to find them

You love Elizabeth and/or Tererai and are excited for the chance to learn from them in person

Do this powerful work on our awe-inspiring beachside campus in Baja

Baja, Mexico

El Pescadero Resort

A stunning oceanfront property offering all of the amenities of a luxury hotel with beautiful beaches perfect for swimming or surfing. Located on the southern tip of the Baja Peninsula, just a short drive from Todo Santos, the “Pueblo Magico”.

  • Beach walks
  • Poolside lounging
  • Warm ocean waves
  • Fire pits
  • Magical sunsets

Meet your MEA facilitators

In addition to the powerful sessions conducted by Elizabeth and Tererai, you will be guided through the core MEA curriculum by our seasoned faculty members:

Chip Conley

Founder

A three-time TED speaker on the big stage, Chip Conley is one of the world’s leading experts at the intersection of business innovation, psychology and spirituality.

As one of the creators of the boutique hotel movement and the “modern elder” to the young Airbnb founders, Chip’s been a disruptor and expert on entrepreneurship and business leadership. He’s a globally-recognized thought leader on the future of work and the competitive advantages of a multi-generational workplace.

Inspired by his experience of intergenerational mentoring as a “modern elder” at Airbnb, where his guidance was instrumental to the company’s extraordinary success, Chip founded MEA and has since dedicated his midlife years to reframing the concept of aging and supporting people in navigating midlife with a renewed sense of purpose and possibility.

Thérèse O'Neill

MEA Facilitator Lead

Thérèse O’Neill is the Facilitator Lead for MEA’s Baja campus. She is a longtime educator in California and in Mexico, working with Nest Global to provide education access to young asylum seekers and refugees. She holds degrees from UC Berkeley and Stanford, with a background in trauma-informed education and psychology. She is a resident of Baja, where she makes textiles and travels in her free time.

Caitlin Allen

Experience Facilitator

Caitlin Allen, based in Baja California Sur, works in wellness, environment, and community sectors as Social Impact Manager for MEA Baja. She co-founded Alianza Cero Basura, championing waste management improvement. Passionate about regenerative living, she also curates transformative experiences as an MEA Experience Facilitator.

 

 

 

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Creativity happens when you follow your inner guidance system

To understand its message, you have to drown out all outside opinions, noise, and influences, and listen to that inner sage within you – even if it leads us to make choices that your family, friends, and culture might not understand.

Healing requires the same fierce energy and a willingness to access a deep inner “knowing” that can best be reached through mystical avenues and spiritual courage.

Elizabeth and Tererai will help you overcome your fears and awaken the magic of who you truly are.

Are you ready to follow the voice that only you can hear?

People come for the workshops,
but they stay for the community

This is truly MEA’s “secret sauce” and something you can only experience in person: the powerful connections you will make, not only with your fellow participants and the incredible MEA faculty, but also the deeper sense of connection you will feel to your own inner self and the natural world around you.

Research into aging shows that your relationships play a HUGE role in your health and wellbeing later in life. At MEA, you will make deep and lasting connections and become part of a larger community that will make your life richer and more meaningful.

Many of our alumni cohorts have stayed in close touch for years after their workshop and we have a growing number of local alumni chapters all over the world. It’s a joy for us to see them continuing to offer each other community, friendship, and support as they create thriving midlives for themselves. So if you have been feeling at all disconnected or isolated on your journey, we would love to have you join us!

Have we mentioned the food?

The MEA experience is designed in part by Chip Conley, a world-renowned boutique hotelier, which means the food is amazing.

All of the ingredients are locally sourced, organic, and made from scratch in our kitchens by hand-picked chefs. The delicious breakfasts, lunches and dinners will leave you feeling nourished inside and out – not to mention the blended drinks made with fresh fruit and other top-shelf ingredients. 


Each retreat center has multiple kitchens that always have snacks and beverages available. At MEA, we believe that thriving is delicious!

Your Workshop Includes

  • 5 days and nights of lodging at our boutique luxury retreat center in Baja or Santa Fe with all of your meals, snacks, drinks and other amenities included
  • Daily sessions and experiential activities to help you connect with your inner self, envision your desired experience, and release what no longer serves you
  • Meditation covering a range of practices to soothe your nervous system and help you cultivate greater mindfulness and presence in the moment.
  • Movement to get the energy flowing and build your strength and agility as you chart your course forward to the life you want to live.
  • Incredible bonding experiences with the most amazing humans you’ll ever meet.
  • Three delicious, chef-prepared meals plus snacks throughout the day prepared from scratch with the freshest local ingredients.
  • Festive gatherings to cultivate connection and celebrate the joy and beauty of life.

Tuition starts at $5,000

Ready to start your journey?

Awakening Magic

Apr 7 - Apr 12, 2025 in Baja, Mexico
Led by: Elizabeth Gilbert, Dr. Tererai Trent, Chip Conley, Thérèse O'Neill, Caitlin Allen

Step into your next chapter with confidence and ease, knowing that every detail of your experience is being taken care of by our world-class faculty and hospitality team.

Starting at

$5,000 per person

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

Dana Anton

Lucas Erie