Sanctuary of the Inner Compass Retreat Center
As Executive Director of the Sanctuary of the Inner Compass, a 508(c)(1)(a) self-supported spiritual ministry and nonprofit, I oversaw the development and daily operations of a 145-acre eco-retreat and immersive art park in Sedalia, Colorado. Nestled within Everland’s visionary landscape, the Sanctuary served as a hub for healing, creativity, and connection—grounded in nature and guided by inner wisdom. I managed the 9,500 sq. ft. retreat center facility, stewarding its amenities, safety compliance, booking systems, internal programs, and revenue streams.
My leadership included full-spectrum oversight: from staff training and facilitator support to contract negotiation, payroll, social media direction, and customer experience. I designed and implemented spiritual and wellness-based programming, cultivated local partnerships, and led the strategic direction of the Sanctuary’s offerings aligned with the values of a sacred, inclusive space for healing, creativity, and connection in nature. The Sanctuary was not just a physical space—it was a movement grounded in sacred inquiry, resilience, and the power of collective imagination.
What Inner Compass Offered
• 3 years of fully booked retreats and community gatherings with renowned retreat leaders and artists
• Free monthly events: Sanctuary Sundays, sound healing, meditation, nature + art workshops
• Programming included yoga, ceremony, rites of passage, and wellness services
• Rotating gallery of 30+ local artists
Ethos
• Inclusivity without dogma
• Creativity as a spiritual path
• Connection as a healing force
Successful retreat bookings with 5-Star Google Reviews
Retreats & Sanctuary Sundays
Over the course of our operation, the Sanctuary of the Inner Compass hosted more than 200 transformational retreats and volunteer opportunities, each rooted in personal and collective healing. I led all coordination, logistics, calendar management, contract creation, and facilitator onboarding—ensuring seamless experiences for both guests and hosts. Our programming included guided meditation, breathwork, movement, singing and music, nature-based ceremony and art projects on the land, welcoming diverse traditions and modalities.
During COVID and beyond, we activated a robust Volunteer Day and Sanctuary Sunday model—bringing the community together outdoors for fire mitigation, land stewardship, art-based nature projects, and themed service events. I curated and facilitated public gatherings such as “Easter in Wonderland,” ecstatic dances, and daylong retreats, all designed to cultivate belonging and inspire joyful service.
Amenities, Art Installations & Renovations
As part of my directive to make the Sanctuary both inspiring and functional, I oversaw a number of high-impact renovations and art installations. These included:
Bathroom renovation upgrade by Victor Revera
A cedar wood sauna and cold plunge
Gratitude Spiral Labrynth
Extensive renovation and reactivation of the 9,500 sq ft retreat center building, essentially abandoned when we acquired the property
Ongoing upgrades to hospitality, safety systems, and infrastructure to meet retreat and lodging standards
I supported coordinated the installation of site-specific, immersive art experiences that embodied the Sanctuary’s ethos of wonder and play:
A Giant Swing by Tommy Lyle, in the forest canopy
Ursas Minor, a stunning found-wood sculpture by Tigre Bailando
A five-story custom Tree Net installation by TreeNet Willy, offering participants elevated rest and reflection in nature
The Portal Door by Laney Odom
Each piece was designed as a portal—inviting deeper introspection, sensory engagement, and reverent play within the natural world.
Impact
The Sanctuary of the Inner Compass was a living experiment in sacred space-making. Under my leadership, it became a nexus for healing, creative expression, and interconnection. We offered hundreds of individuals and groups a sanctuary where they could realign with their inner wisdom, contribute their gifts, and experience transformation in community.
Hosting hundreds of guests annually for retreats, workshops, and ceremonial experiences
Providing meaningful service opportunities that reconnected people with the land and one another
Advancing anti-racism commitments through inclusive policies and training
ZENDO harm reduction psychedelic sitter training for staff as well as CPR and first-aide training
Supporting mental wellness through immersive nature therapy and arts-based healing
Catalyzing dozens of facilitators, artists, and community members to share their unique medicine in service of collective evolution
Through the Sanctuary, I helped seed a model of spiritually-centered leadership, regenerative design, and imaginative resilience. Though the center has now closed, its influence lives on in the people who gathered there—and the values we anchored into the land.
