Crossing the Unknown Sea: Navigating The Thresholds of the Mid-life Voyage
David Whyte
Poet | Philosopher | Founder of Conversational Leadership
Find your bearings in the sea of midlife change.
After decades of building a life — career, family, identity — the old answers may no longer satisfy.
The roles once fulfilling now feel limiting. The drive that lit you up now feels like a grind. And quietly, consistently, the real questions keep knocking:
What’s ending? What’s next? Who am I becoming now?
Midlife isn't a breakdown – it’s a crossing.
In the words of internationally renowned poet & philosopher David Whyte, midlife is “the place where we stop trying to be the person we wanted to be, and start surrendering to the person we actually are.”
If you feel that quiet shift inside, whether you’re navigating a transition, grieving an old dream, or simply sensing the call to live more honestly, this experience is for you.
Over four immersive days in Santa Fe, David will guide you through the terrain of midlife as a profound invitation: to shed what no longer fits, listen for what’s calling, and step more fully into your second life.
Through poetry, storytelling, and rich conversation, you’ll explore the “second self” – the deeper, truer identity that’s waiting beneath the surface.
Leave with clearer language for your longings, a deeper connection to who you’re becoming, and the courage to live from that truth, not just think about it.
This is soul work with a rare and remarkable guide.
“In the middle of the road of my life I awoke in a dark wood, where the true way was wholly lost.”
– David Whyte, Midlife and the Great Unknown
Meet
David Whyte
Poet | Philosopher | Founder of Conversational Leadership
David Whyte has spent over three decades exploring the conversational nature of reality, where poetry, presence, and deep listening meet.
As the author of ten books of poetry and four prose works including The Heart Aroused, he introduced the soul into the corporate world, showing how poetic insight can guide personal and professional transformation.
David’s voice is sought by leaders and seekers alike, from the boardrooms of Fortune 100 companies to the mountains of the Himalayas. A trained marine zoologist and naturalist, he brings a fierce reverence for both the outer and inner wilderness.
Supported By the MEA Team
Mary Hofstedt
MEA's Content Facilitator
Mary Hofstedt is an experienced non profit leader and educator who strives to advance a more hopeful, caring, and connected world. Her passion for youth and community development led her to work with Challenge Success, spearhead a coalition of youth and adult partners to develop a community arts center, and ...
View BioDarby Rose
Experience Facilitator
Darby Rose is a multidisciplinary artist, arts administrator, cook, actor and animal lover, currently living in Santa Fe, NM. Born into a family of travelers in Austin, TX, she’s lived more places than she can count — all over Texas, Boston, Jackson WY, Baltimore and Los Angeles, to name a few; and outsid ...
View BioLee 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 BioDaniel 'DL' Landes
Experience Facilitator
Before joining MEA, Daniel “DL” Landes spent decades as a restauranteur, author, and publisher. As the owner of multiple restaurants in Denver, CO – and then a hostel in Mexico – he dedicated himself to creating environments where people could work out their humanity while eating and drinking (which i ...
View BioThis Workshop Is For You If…
What You'll Gain
Clarity for What’s Changing
Language, insight, and stillness to help you name what’s ending and listen for what’s beginning.
Connection to Your Second Self
Discover the deeper identity waiting beneath roles, ambition, and expectations.
Tools for Inner Reorientation
Reflective practices, questions, and poetic frameworks that help you find your footing in unfamiliar terrain.
Courage to Begin Again
Step forward into your next chapter with presence, perspective, and self-honesty.
Soulful Community of Fellow Travelers
Engage in meaningful dialogue with others navigating midlife thresholds, and realize you’re not doing this alone.
Our Agenda at a Glance
Sunday:
4:00 PM: Arrival/Check-in
5:30 PM: Welcome Reception & Dinner
7:00 PM: Orientation Session
Monday:
7:00 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
5:30 PM: Free Time
6:30 PM: Dinner
8:00 PM: Free Time
Tuesday:
7:00 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
5:30 PM: Free Time
6:30 PM: Dinner
8:00 PM: Free Time
Wednesday:
7:00 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
5:30 PM: Graduation
6:30 PM: Celebration Dinner
Thursday:
7:00 AM: Breakfast
10:00 AM: Checkout/Departure
Friday:
Saturday:
*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:
The Second Half of Life Deserves Your Full Attention.
Midlife doesn’t come with a roadmap.
You’re no longer energized by the same goals, and you’re not sure what comes next.
If you don’t make space to reflect, it’s easy to stay busy, avoid the hard questions, and miss the opportunity to reshape your life with clarity and intention.
This 4-day workshop with poet and philosopher David Whyte is your invitation to pause, take stock, and make conscious choices about how you’ll live the second half of life.
You'll walk away with:
Don’t wait for a crisis to listen. The questions are already here — now is your time to answer them.
Book your spot today
Crossing the Unknown Sea: Navigating The Thresholds of the Mid-life Voyage
Frequently Asked Questions
How is this different from other retreats or personal growth workshops?
This is not self-help or performance coaching. It’s a poetic deep dive into the second half of life – an inquiry into identity, longing, and the soulful reorientation that midlife demands. David Whyte brings a rare blend of language, presence, and depth to this experience, guiding you to uncover truths that don’t appear on to-do lists.
Do I need to be a writer or know poetry to attend?
Not at all. You don’t need to be a poet, you just need to be curious. Poetry here is not for performance; it’s a companion for personal insight, clarity, and truth-telling. David’s work opens doors, not literary critique.
Is this only for people going through a crisis or major transition?
No. While many participants are navigating change – career shifts, loss, divorce, retirement – others come simply to reflect, reconnect, and reimagine. Midlife isn’t always loud. Sometimes, it whispers. This workshop meets you wherever you are.
I’m still working full-time or growing a business. Is this for me?
Absolutely. This isn’t about retreating from ambition, it’s about aligning your life’s energy with what matters most. Many participants are still in high-output seasons but want to lead with greater authenticity, purpose, and grace.
What’s included in the workshop investment?
Your tuition includes:
- Four nights’ lodging at MEA Santa Fe
- All meals, snacks, and beverages
- Daily sessions with David Whyte
- Equine-assisted learning experiences
- Nature immersion, fireside circles, and reflection time
The only additional expense is your travel to Santa Fe.
What if I’m not sure I’m ready?
You don’t have to be “ready.” You just have to be willing. Willing to ask the real questions. Willing to sit with what’s unresolved. Willing to let your life speak. If there’s a quiet voice inside you saying, “Something has to shift,” that’s enough.
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