Ring in the New Year at Rising Circle Ranch

Cozy Fires. Clear Vision. Space to Celebrate What Matters Most As You Shape Your Intentional 2026.

Leave the noise of the holiday season behind and step into the quiet magic of the high desert with us.

Beneath star-strewn skies and beside crackling fireplaces, you'll find the space to exhale, reflect, and realign with what matters most.

It’s a beautiful opportunity for you to gather in community with other amazing humans as you honor what the past year has taught you – and step into the year ahead with clarity and intention.

Whether you're seeking cozy fireside reflection, crisp winter trail rides, or the deep joy of authentic connection with like-hearted people, this winter retreat offers a meaningful way to close the door on 2025 with grace and root yourself in what you want for 2026.

Surrounded by the quiet beauty of Rising Circle Ranch, you’ll have the space to slow down, reconnect with yourself, and remember what truly matters.

By the end of your five days, you will have:

Each day will offer a nourishing rhythm of spacious rest, guided reflection, and meaningful connection. And as the calendar turns, you’ll cross that threshold with intention – clearer about who you are and the kind of year you want to experience.

This is more than a retreat. It’s a return – to presence, possibility, and a truer version of yourself.

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 serve for over a decade within Stanford University’s John W. Gardner Center.

She recently wrapped up a mid-career break to reflect on purpose, study Spanish, travel, and volunteer with whale shark research and conservation. She serves as a Senior Associate with Heartwise Learning and is thrilled to be based back in Santa Fe after a 22 year stint in the Bay Area!

Derek Gehl

CEO of MEA

Derek Gehl is the CEO of MEA and a lifelong entrepreneur. For decades, he built and scaled companies in the digital world, while also coaching entrepreneurs and business owners who were working to bring their ideas to life. Along the way, he spoke to audiences around the world and supported thousands of founders, creators, and leaders who were chasing a big vision and trying to make it real.

For much of his life, Derek was a dedicated achiever, wired for progress and momentum. He loved the pursuit and was good at it. Then life started asking different questions, the kind that don’t get answered by hitting goals or checking the next box. MEA found him at the right time, and the work met him in a deeply personal way, helping him integrate ambition with presence, achievement with meaning, and drive with a more wholehearted way of living.

Today, Derek leads MEA with a pro-aging lens and a deep respect for the messy, beautiful reality of transition. He believes midlife isn’t a crisis to solve, but a threshold to cross, and he’s committed to creating spaces where people can slow down, tell the truth, and reconnect with what matters most. As a facilitator, Derek is practical, candid, and deeply human, bringing both real-world leadership experience and a genuine reverence for what’s possible in this season of life.

Outside of MEA, Derek is a devoted partner and father, and a lover of the outdoors and nature. He’s always exploring what it looks like to live well in the second half of life.