Retreats
Caribbean Experience
At Passionflower Transformative Wellness we invite caregivers, seekers, and weary souls to step out of survival mode and into the healing rhythm of the Caribbean Sea. Our retreats are beach inspired- infused with creativity, movement, and self-care. Born from one nurse’s journey through burnout, grief, and renewal, Passionflower serves as a sanctuary where ocean, art, health, spirituality, and community come together.
Heal the Healer Retreat
February 1-8, 2027
Join us for seven nights in a stunning 4-bedroom villa nestled on a private, fully fenced ½-acre hilltop surrounded by lush tropical gardens in the Caribbean. This villa, perfect for our nurse retreats, features multiple air-conditioned bedrooms, open living areas, and a modern kitchen. Outside, enjoy a large 30-ft saltwater pool, a quiet, private rooftop terrace with ocean views, and expansive garden space. Transportation is included to and from the ferry or airport in Vieques, to the beach daily, and to group activities. Indulge in a nourishing food experience with a continental breakfast featuring fresh, locally sourced fruit smoothies, simple lunches, and chef-prepared dinners. We focus on providing mainly plant-based healthy foods, but you also have the option to explore the many restaurants on the island (not included in the price).
Activities include: * a culturally conscious tour of the island * viewing the film “Discover the Gift” followed by a workshop to uncover your authentic self * journaling * visiting herds of wild horses * kayaking in the brightest bioluminescent bay in the world * receiving ancient wisdom from the ceiba tree * snorkeling * hiking Mount Pirata * paddle-boarding * beachside horseback riding * yoga * salsa lessons * a tropical spa day at Playa Negra * tarot card readings * daily beach and ocean therapy.
Why our retreat? Heal the Healer is a transformative retreat designed and led by a nurse, specifically for nurses. We understand that you spend your time caring for your patients and family, often putting your own wellness last. We invite you to step away from the demands of everyday life and immerse yourself in a week of restoration—where you can relax in the tropical enchantment of Vieques, Puerto Rico. Refresh and rejuvenate with intentional self-care, meaningful connections, and plenty of fun! Because healing isn’t just something you give… it’s something you deserve for yourself as well.
Pricing
Queen bed with a private bathroom $3,700 as a single or $5,000 for couple.
Queen bed with a shared bathroom $3,300 as a single or $4,700 for couple.
Shared room with a twin bed and shared bathroom for $2,700.
A $500 deposit is required to hold your space, with the full amount due by January 1, 2027.
Collaborator Bios
Matthew Andrews
Better known by his stage name Jah Witness (Jahwit) is the co-owner of Passionflower Transformative Wellness Healing Arts Center. He is not only a reggae artist and bass aficionado, but also one of the few master craftsmen remaining who is devoted to preserving the history, spirit, and integrity of the Nyabinghi drum.
Jahwit’s musical oeuvre is a talented blend of roots rock reggae, fusing ancient vibrations with modern influence. His sound is rich with thumping bass, deep sub-spaces, and his triumphant spiritual messages that invite the listener not only to hear the groove, but to feel it—an immersive, oceanic sonic experience. His music is one of resistance and remembrance, where suffering is not hidden, but transformed into song, unity, and truth. His voice does not simply sing; it testifies, prays, and calls for both justice and love in the same breath. The Nyabinghi drum is the heartbeat and sacred source of reggae music and holds deep spiritual and cultural significance within Rastafarian tradition. With unequaled artisanship, Jahwit has built literally thousands of drums, helping preserve not only a musical form, but a living cultural legacy.
Jahwit brings the healing power of music to Passionflower. Music is the invisible medicine ,tying a unifying thread through the human experience, as we guide our treasured guests into the soul of the Caribbean.
Shajen Joy Aziz M.Ed., M.A.
Shajen is an award winning #1 internationally best selling author, speaker, publisher, educator, and filmmaker best known as the co-creator and executive producer of the global transformational initiative “Discover the Gift.” The project is a spiritual and personal development journey that blends storytelling, psychology, and consciousness work.
We are thrilled to welcome Shajen to Passionflower Transformative Wellness, where she will share a special screening of the feature film “Discover the Gift,” followed by an immersive workshop and book signing of our newest release, “Discover the Gift of Joy” (2026)—the highly anticipated continuation of the work that sparked a worldwide movement. Through the film and Shajen’s expert guidance, you will experience how mindfulness, presence, and inner inquiry allow you to release conditioned patterns and reconnect with a deeper intelligence within. From this awakened state, your “gift” naturally emerges—not as something that society has demanded from you , but as an authentic expression of who you really are, in service to both your own healing and the collective.
The shift happens when you step into it.
Jessica Rojas
Jessica provides us with more traditional self-care pleasantries which includes beauty and skin care. In a fast-paced world, coming together for a pampering session allows women to pause, embrace softness, and honor the divine feminine, providing a supportive environment to move away from competition toward shared joy and celebration. We nurture you in this space where we can share our beauty secrets, helping to foster self-love and compassion. We know you are so much deeper than a pretty face. A skin care / makeup workshop allows women to nurture our bodies and spirits together, providing a non-judgmental space where we can be seen, heard, and supported. When you return home from the retreat you will have your fresh face forward, more polished and feeling radiant inside and out.
Samantha MacDonald
Sam is the vibrant, grounded energy of movement and adventure within our Passionflower community—the true “sporty spice” of our team. As an outdoor and wellness enthusiast, devoted mother, and entrepreneur, she brings fitness and fun to every experience she guides. On the exquisite island of Vieques, Samantha leads you beyond the expected—into the hidden, sacred, and breathtaking spaces she has come to know intimately. She will guide you to secluded, soul-stirring beaches and unforgettable experiences, including sandbathing in the ancient healing black sands of Playa Negra, paddleboarding across crystal waters, snorkeling vibrant reefs, visiting the sacred Ceiba tree, hiking Mount Pirata, and more. With Samantha, movement is medicine, nature is teacher, and adventure sparks joy into your viewpoint on life.
Dena G. Garfield
We’re pleased to highlight and explore collaboration with Dena, founder of Equine Union International, whose Equine-Guided Transformation & Leadership work has recently been featured in Executives Diary Magazine, Influential Women, and PBS. Dena’s approach integrates equine-guided experiences, movement, and nervous system awareness to support meaningful, real-life transformation. Her work is rooted in a deeper mission—every experience contributes to the support of vetted horse rescues and sanctuaries, promoting ethical equine integration around the globe. Read the feature here: https://executivesdiary.com/2026/03/27/dena-g-garfield-2/
Autumn Rose Hunsinger
Autumn Rose brings lively energy, compassion, and cultural connection to the Passionflower community. Fluent in both English and Spanish, she studied Liberal Arts at Elmira College and is a talented vocalist, pianist, and dancer with a deep appreciation for music and self-expression.
In 2025, Autumn graduated from Fire Academy and now serves the City of Philadelphia as an Emergency Medical Technician, courageously providing emergency medical care and transport to those in need. Through her experiences working in the inner city, she quickly developed a profound understanding of the importance of resilience and maintaining balance between service and self-care.
Autumn’s spirit comes alive in Puerto Rico, where she feels deeply connected to the beauty, rhythm, and culture of the island. She is well versed in salsa, reggaeton, and bachata, knows where to find the best mofongo and authentic local cuisine, and enjoys entertaining evenings gathered around beach campfires beneath the Caribbean sky. Autumn brings youthful fun to Passionflower—reminding us that stress relief can be found in music, dance, adventure, and fully embracing life.
Zorro
Zorro is much more than a service dog—he was part of the original inspiration behind Passionflower Transformative Wellness and remains an active, beloved member of the team. Bilingual in both Spanish and English, this 24.5-pound bundle of unconditional love offers comfort, companionship, and a grounding presence to all who meet him.
Zorro is well versed in Deep Pressure Therapy (DPT), a supportive modality performed by dogs who recognize signs of emotional distress. When someone is anxious or overwhelmed, Zorro gently responds by lying across the lap or abdomen, offering calming pressure much like a weighted blanket. If the moment calls for extra comfort, he may even wrap his little paws around you in a hug. This grounding tactile stimulation helps bring people back to the present moment, easing the body out of fight-or-flight and into a sense of calm and safety. In addition to his clinical therapeutic gifts, Zorro is also a protector, small but fierce when necessary. He patrols the grounds of Passionflower and deters iguanas, lizards, crabs, spiders or chickens from the yard and from entering the house.
Zorro enjoys paddleboarding, frisbee, soccer, endless games of fetch and long walks on the beach at sunset. He is always ready to play, reminding us to be lighthearted . He embodies Passionflower’s mission to elevate consciousness, presence, and joy in life .
