Meet Your Guides
Felicia Mendes, Ed.S.: Retreat Founder and Owner
Radiant Resurgence Retreat is founded by Felicia Mendes, who has a background in psychology, government policies, and extensive experience in organizing retreats and events. She studied psychology at the University of Colorado-Boulder followed by a graduate degree from the University of Denver. After working as a school psychologist for 9 years in the Denver Metro Area she was called to create system-level change and pursued a career in state government work as the Workforce Development Specialist for the Early Childhood Mental Health Consultation Program. During this career change, she experienced her divorce. Like many women who go through divorce, she used this time as an opportunity for self-discovery and growth. After utilizing many tools to support healing such as counseling, meditation, psilocybin therapy, and a self-growth course (included in the retreat), she felt called to help other women embarking on a new chapter of life. Felicia is a passionate advocate of mental health and believes true happiness begins from within. She lives in Denver, CO with her 7-year-old son. Read her interview with CanvasRebel Magazine!
Ashton August, MFA in Creative Nonfiction Writing: Yoga Instructor, Motivational Author and Speaker
Bodhi Calagna: Psychedelic Guide, hypnotherapist, and sound alchemist
Bodhi has been exploring non-ordinary states since the early 90s when they began DJing in underground raves and queer nightclubs. The dancefloor was their temple and an instrumental part of their journey to connect with the devine through music psychedelics and spirituality.
To this day they continue to share their love of music headlining dance festivals and nightclubs worldwide while producing original music and remixing artists ranging from Yoko Ono, Porangui, and Liquid Bloom under the moniker Calagna. In 2016 Bodhi founded Remix Your World for LGBTQ+ journeyers to explore identity, life transitions, creative blocks, and sexuality. As a sacred space holder, they bring joy, light, and playfulness into deep, dark, and edgy spaces of transformation within a safe and supported container. Bodhi has completed Psychedelic-Assisted Therapy training with the Center for Medicinal Mindfulness in Boulder Colorado, Clinical Hypnotherapy through the Wellness Institute in Issaquah, Washington, and received their Life Coaching certification through Erickson International in Vancouver, Canada.
Bodhi offers sacred mushroom ceremonies in beautiful Colorado, integration coaching, cannabis-assisted therapy, sound healing, and hypnotherapy, in person and online. Read their interview with CanvasRebel Magazine!
Vanessa Cruz: Licensed Practical Nurse, End of Life Doula, and Psychedelic Guide
Vanessa began learning about plant medicines from her grandmother and great grandmother in the mountains of New Mexico at 5 years old. Since that time, she has been immersed in various healing paths through herbalism, curanderismo, yoga, breathwork, meditation, and earth medicines. As an Indigenous woman credentialed in Mindfulness Based Psychedelic Guiding, Vanessa supports individual’s direct experience of the sacred through ceremony, ritual, and spiritual connection. Inviting in practices and ceremonies held for generations allows an opportunity to celebrate, give gratitude, or prepare for various struggles or difficulties in life and death. Returning to ancestral knowledge and earth-based practices creates a conduit of transformation from fear to awe, pain to beauty, and anger into gratitude through a decolonized approach.
Vanessa received her practical nursing education through Concord Career Institute in Denver, CO, and has taken advanced nursing courses through Colorado State University – Pueblo. Vanessa completed MAPS MDMA Therapy Training Program, Ketamine Nurse Guide Training through KetaMD, and advanced training in Mindfulness-Based Psychedelic Therapy through the Center for Medicinal Mindfulness. She has completed 40 plus continuing education hours as a Cannabis Nurse educator supporting individuals exploring Cannabis as medicine. Vanessa co-facilitates a monthly group Herb & Bones encouraging conversations about death and psychedelics.
Connect with Vanessa at TheAwakenedBody.org.
Courtney Love: Life Coach
Courtney is an astrologer, life coach, yoga and meditation teacher. She created the course Becoming the One. This 4-week pre-retreat course is designed for you to explore your habits and patterns in relationships so you can discover your heart’s truth and transform your love life. Through readings, powerful meditations, breath-work, visualizations, clarifying journaling exercises, somatic practices, and facilitated sharing circles, you will recognize and release your hidden inner obstacles to love, so you may bring more clarity, love, and intimacy into your life. Becoming the One is an invitation to date (and LOVE) yourself and become intimate with your own barriers, so you may cultivate healthier, lasting relationships with yourself and others.
This group program is adapted from the bestselling book Calling in ‘The One’ by Katharine Woodward Thomas and is open to all individuals, regardless of your relationship status - single, newly committed, situationships, multitionships, married, and even it’s complicated. This program will increase your self-awareness and give you tools to foster a sustainable relationship, wherever you are, because it really all starts with you on this forever journey of connection.
Emily Wikel: Breathwork Facilitator – Embodiment Guide
Emily Wikel (500HR RYT, Embodiment Guide, and Breathwork Facilitator) is here to guide you in finding deep unconditional love, freedom, and Spirit through the medium of the body. Her mission is to connect you to the love and truth that is intrinsically inside yourself.
Upon discovering the practices of yoga and breathwork, she began her journey as a dedicated student, taking 1000’s of hours of training in yoga, trauma awareness, breathwork, psychic development, somatic healing, and energy work. She has been teaching yoga for 7 years and supporting others in awakening their own channel through her ceremonies for 2.5 years. Her spaces are deeply coded with intentions of safety, integrity, healing, and embodied wholeness; this is her primary work & objective!
She has a deep passion for natural medicines and is both excited and grateful to help actualize sharing psychedelic education/resources, magical classes/events, and safe community spaces.
Jocelyn Martinez, Gut Health Coach and Healthy Lifestyle Chef, CHC, CWBC-TCM
Jocelyn Martinez is a certified Health and Gut Health Coach; with the heart of a passionate chef, her transformative mission is to demonstrate that food can be both healing and delightful. As the visionary founder of SoulSmile Health & Wellness, LLC in Pueblo, CO, Jocelyn draws over ten years of holistic health expertise to inspire countless individuals to embark on life-changing journeys through personalized nutrition and fostering a healthy relationship to our food. Her profound knowledge in gut health allows her to tackle digestive challenges effectively while enhancing overall vitality through her culinary artistry. Her business specializes in gluten-free and dairy-free diets, vegan options, and tailored solutions for special dietary needs—all crafted to create stress-free eating experiences. Acknowledging that personalized nutrition is vital for sustainable wellness
As a personal retreat chef, Jocelyn crafts exquisite menus brimming with nutritious ingredients designed to rejuvenate your body and enhance mental clarity. Each retreat features uniquely inspired dishes that harmoniously blend nutrition with flavor. Thoughtfully centered around themes of healing, seasonal ingredients, and the vibrant energy of the retreat itself, Jocelyn strives to create extraordinary dining experiences that resonate deeply with every participant.
Through her unwavering passion for healthy living and culinary creativity, Jocelyn Martinez inspires others on their paths toward wellness—reminding us all that nourishing our bodies can truly be an enjoyable adventure!