Hello! I’m Kara Simons, founder of Joyful Resonance.

If we haven’t met yet, welcome. I’m an attorney who creates oracle decks and gathers women in circle because I crave the nourishing magic that happens there. My work bridges the illusion of separation between physical reality and the unseen otherworld where imagination and spirit dance. At workshops and retreats, I curate opportunities to experience this through original guided meditations, animated discussions, and sharing of concrete insights from lived experience.

My Meaning-Making Retreat is for you if:

• You’re a curious seeker who prioritizes intuitive living;

• You want to strengthen your personal relationship with spirit independent of external authority figures; and/or

• You’re craving time with authentic community where you can be messy, mystical, and seen.

Our weekend together will be a warm, welcoming, inclusive space. When I build containers for experience, I prioritize horizontal relationship, non-judgment, and mutual respect. I know it will be a privilege to witness your magic and learn from you, too.

We’re gathering at Pendle Hill in Wallingford, PA, just outside Philly (about 10 miles from the airport). This peaceful Quaker center nestled in a storybook forest welcomes all for spirit-led learning, retreat, and community.

Read more of my WHY behind the retreat below—or scroll past for details and logistics.

WHY NOW?

It’s a wild and sometimes scary time to be alive, isn’t it?

We’re collectively living through the end of empire as the harm perpetuated by old systems and structures becomes fully exposed. Alongside the “it’s-about-damn-time,” this can also feel unsettling and disorienting. Being in liminal space prompts us to revisit big questions or even ask them for the first time: Who am I? Am I safe? What do I really want? Why am I here? How can I be of service? Is help available? What do I believe in?

No matter what you’re grappling with, learning how to claim and interpret signs will help you navigate the next right step with more ease and faith. Maybe you’re craving clarity, comfort, advice, confirmation, or something else altogether.

Whatever it is, I promise you’re not alone in it. I know this intimately from personal experience. For well over a decade, I’ve practiced how to consciously rendezvous with the loving guidance both inside and all around. Connecting the dots to understand how external signs and intuitive nudges reveal the bigger picture is my favorite thing to do—and to talk about. It’s how I make decisions, find meaning, and feel connected to the beyond.

WHY SIGNS?

My new self-help memoir, You Belong Here, tells the story of my life from late 2013 to early 2023 as I dissolved my childhood bubble of Mormon theology and learned to trust myself and my communications with spirit.

Asking for, receiving, and synthesizing signs supported me in navigating traumatic pregnancies with hyperemesis gravidarum, parenting challenges, and personal and professional relationships. It’s how I ultimately embraced everything I’m doing today through Joyful Resonance.

I know how it feels to hit rock bottom, to befriend fear, and to take chances. And I wouldn’t be living a life I love without help from beyond.

This truth is at the heart of everything I do: Everyone has the authority and ability to access the loving guidance surrounding us. My Meaning-Making Retreat is designed to help YOU feel just as supported and confident in working with signs.

Chances are you’ve heard of the concept of before. Maybe you’ve already been experimenting, and you’re ready to go deeper. Our restful weekend away from other responsibilities invites you to strengthen awareness, understanding, and self-trust in a community of believers.

I’ve also invited my friend Marisa Goudy to teach a special workshop on the power of Myth Work as another avenue to explore meaning-making. Marisa is a writing coach, myth worker, and story healer, who hosts the wonderful KnotWork podcast. More below!

WHY PENNSYLVANIA?

After organizing a handful of retreats in Iowa where I live, I finally said YES to traveling elsewhere. When I asked my spirit and guides where to go first, “Pennsylvania” dropped in. I have no personal connections there and had never visited. Following the signs that quickly led me to Pendle Hill was exhilarating! It invited me to practice what I preach with even bigger leaps of faith. Then, my husband and I made the impromptu decision to visit Pennsylvania with our three daughters for summer vacation. I’ve got to tell you— meeting the trees at Pendle Hill confirmed everything.

Thanks so much for perusing the information below. I can feel the group gathering already and look forward to your YES. Please reach out if you have any questions. I’d love to hear from you.

$875 (excludes travel and trip insurance)
Registration ends October 14, 2026
Register before September 18, 2026, to receive a free copy of my new book!

LOCATION

Hello beautiful Northeast! Join me at Pendle Hill, a Quaker study, retreat, and conference center whose mission is “[t]o create peace with justice in the world by transforming lives.” No wonder the energy there resonated with me.

All photos below are courtesy of Pendle Hill. This event is not affiliated with any particular religious or spiritual lens. Persons of all backgrounds and belief systems are welcome and respected.

• Campus: Multiple buildings within convenient walking distance of each other in Wallingford, PA. It’s about 20 minutes from the the Philadelphia International Airport and only a short walk from the Regional Rail train station.

• Nature: Located on 24 wooded acres featuring walking trails, gardens, a labyrinth, and inviting outdoor sit spots.

• Lodging: We’re primarily staying in two buildings on campus: Harding House (which I’ve rented in full) and Firbank. We may overflow into another building if needed. Retreat fee is for double occupancy. There is one private suite available in Firbank featuring two double-occupancy rooms, sitting area, and kitchenette.

  • Attending with friend(s)? At checkout, you’ll have the option to name your roommate and/or request the suite for a group of four.

  • Single rooms are available for an additional fee charged in October based on room assignments ($135 max).

  • All lodging includes shared bathrooms.

• Group Spaces: We’ll gather in the meeting space in Harding House, except Saturday night when we’ll circle a fire pit outdoors. The house includes a small dining room and kitchen for snacks, as well as a screened porch. Other group spaces on campus are open to individual use when not rented by groups and may be available that weekend. This includes the library and art studio in Firbank.

The photos below show Harding House (with a view of the labyrinth), two of the six bedrooms, the screened porch, and the meeting space connected to the cozy dining nook.

• Meals: We’ll eat in the Main House on campus. All meals are included from Friday dinner through Sunday lunch. (If you’re arriving by noon on Friday, you’ll have the option to add lunch for an extra $17.) Most foods are homemade and prioritize organic fruits and vegetables from their garden. At check-out you will be asked to select your preferred dietary options: omnivore, fish and poultry, vegetarian, vegan, dairy-free, gluten-free, and/or peanut-free. However, there is no guarantee against cross-contamination because all foods are prepared in the same kitchen. It is not a dedicated gluten-free or peanut-free facility, nor is it a kosher or halal kitchen.

• Accessibility: Here’s an overview of campus accessibility from Pendle Hill. We will primarily spend time in Harding House and in the dining room at the Main House. Please let me know about any accessibility needs at check-out so I can help make arrangements if possible. Please note that one bedroom and one bathroom in Harding House are wheelchair accessible.

ITINERARY

Yes, we’re packing a lot into these few days! But the atmosphere will be relaxed and nurturing, without any pressure to perform or conform.

Schedule subject to minor changes. All meal times set by the facility.

Pre-Retreat Activities:

• “Collecting the Dots” - About two weeks before the retreat, I’ll send you a packet via snail mail. This will include writing prompts to help you identify question marks in your life where you could use help from the beyond. I’ll also share an overview about types of signs and my personal practices. Finally, this packet will include a log so that you can record what comes through. Kind of like a scavenger hunt but with your emotions. Yay! Fun mail!

• Zoom Introductions - On Sunday 11/1, we’ll have a brief call at 11 AM CT to meet each other and answer questions you may have.

• 12-1 pm: OPTIONAL LUNCH (add at check-out for $17)

• 1-4 pm: If you arrive early, explore the beautiful grounds and common areas.

• 4 pm: Official start of check-in at Harding House.

• 5-5:45 pm: Welcome Circle

• 6-7 pm: Dinner

• 7 to 9 pm: “What Is Magic?” - Together we’ll explore how to bridge head + heart and cast spells for what you want through connecting beliefs and choices. Includes personal reflection, group discussion, and guided meditation.

• 7:30-8:30 am: Breakfast

• 8:45 to 10:45 am: “Connecting the Dots” - Using what you’ve gathered ahead of time through “Collecting the Dots,” this activity will offer different access points for synthesizing signs, understanding them, and taking action steps.

• Free time

• 12 to 1 pm: Lunch

• Free time

• 3 to 5 pm: “Myth Work for Meaning Makers” - Led by guest facilitator Marisa Goudy, this special workshop will introduce Myth Work as a way of experiencing ourselves alive by weaving mythology, land, and the imagination. More details below.

• Free time

• 6-7 pm: Dinner

• 7 to 9 pm: “Signs Story Time” - Under the stars, we’ll gather around a fire pit for another guided meditation, followed by swapping personal experiences. Sharing the role of signs in your life is an opportunity to claim them, while hearing other people’s stories helps build evidence that the practice offers real guidance. Both are especially powerful in a circle of those who believe.

• 7:30-8:30 am: Breakfast

• Check-out of rooms

• 9:45 am to Noon: Integration Activity and Closing Circle

• 12 to 1 pm: Lunch

• Travel home on your own schedule

ANCHOR

GUEST FACILITATOR

Marisa Goudy is a myth worker, a writing coach, a podcaster, and an author. A longtime student of Celtic mythology, Marisa holds degrees in Irish studies from both Boston College and University College Dublin. As a teacher and guide, her work blends the scholarly with the creative and the practical with the mystical. 

Marisa is the author of The Sovereignty Knot: A Woman’s Way to Freedom, Power, Love, and Magic and the host of the KnotWork Myth & Storytelling podcast. You can find her writing at the Myth Workers’ Hearth over on Substack. Her online program the Authors’ Knot brings together writers from around the world. She lives in the Hudson Valley, the original land of the Esopus Lenape people. Learn more about Marisa and her work: www.marisagoudy.com/

Myth Work for Meaning Makers: The myths of the ancestors are treasure troves of meaning. You might think of myth as our richest source of personal and collective understanding. Mythologies from around the world help us make sense of who we’ve been, who we are, and what might be possible. Myths help us find ourselves in the great interwoven relationship of land, culture and the timeless truths  of human nature.

During this session on Saturday afternoon, Marisa will share stories from her own ancestral tradition, Irish folklore and Celtic mythology. Weaving characters, symbols, desire, and the power of place, you’ll find new ways to access your own inner wisdom and feel more connected to your own family lineage and soul tradition. 

You’ll be invited to write into the messages that emerge and consider how the oldest stories could help make sense of and shape your own stories.  

CONNECT WITH KARA

A virtual reading is a perfect opportunity to sample my work. I also love reading for retreat participants to enhance the experience before and/or after the gathering! You can book now or add to your registration at check-out.

1:1 Oracle Reading with Kara (30 mins) - $50

A tender holding-of-space to move through whatever surfaces with integrity and compassion. Using my original decks, Prairie Majesty Oracle and Song of the Grandmothers, we synergize wisdom from nature beings, insights I receive from the otherworld, and most importantly YOUR inner Knowing for action steps to take next.

RETREAT COST

$875 total per person. Includes everything except transportation and trip insurance:

• Lodging: Two-night lodging with towels and linens provided in double occupancy room. All bathrooms are shared. Please review Pendle Hill’s tips for preparing for your stay for more information about amenities, packing suggestions, and other notes.

• Single Room Option: At checkout, you can upgrade to a single room; the fee will be $135 or less depending on your room assignment in October. If you want to secure a single room in a specific building, let’s talk.

• Meals: Six meals from Friday dinner to Sunday lunch. At checkout, you can add lunch on Friday for $17 more. Please note you won’t be able to check-in to your room until 4 pm. You’re welcome to drop your luggage at Harding House and hang out that afternoon in community spaces and/or explore the grounds.

• Retreat Fee: All community discussions, reflections, experiences, and workshops. This includes a special pre-retreat activity you’ll receive in the mail about two weeks before we gather.

• Bonus: Pre-retreat Zoom call to introduce ourselves on Sunday 11/1 at 11 am CT, plus private chat group on Signal to facilitate community before and after.

  Participants are responsible for all transportation to and from the retreat and trip insurance if desired. Any lodging/meal upgrades will be billed as a separate invoice in October. I will have some snacks/treats to share, but please bring anything else you like.

  No drugs, alcohol, incense, room sprays, or candles. Pendle Hill also asks guests to avoid scented grooming products when possible.

  REGISTRATION ENDS OCTOBER 14, 2026

ADDITIONAL DETAILS

• Payment Plan: You can opt to split payments using the following coupon codes or contact me to set up a customized payment plan. I will invoice you for the additional payment(s). Balance must be paid in full by October 14, 2026.

  • BEFORE 9/18: Use code PAYMENTPLAN1 to pay $293 now, $291 by 9/18, and $291 by 10/14.

  • AFTER 9/18: Use code PAYMENTPLAN2 to pay $438 now and $437 by 10/14.

• Early Bird Gift: Register by September 18, 2026, to receive a free copy of my new book, You Belong Here.

• If you feel called but it’s out of reach, I hope to offer a scholarship once the retreat nears capacity (15). Let me know if you’d like to be notified!

Neither the content on this website nor the retreat itself is intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of a qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition, including mental health.