A Journey to Trust, Connection, and Intuitive Awakening

Nissa Retreats at Broughton Sanctuary 2025

When Erica Gerald of Huntington, West Virginia first heard about Nissa Retreats, it was through a family member. She wasn’t looking for a vacation,  she was searching for something deeper. “I wanted to broaden my horizons,” she shared. 

For Erica, that meant stepping beyond her comfort zone, exploring new dimensions of consciousness, and gaining a clearer understanding of what Heidi Jaffe, psychic medium, teacher, and founder of Nissa Retreats, truly offers to the world.

Broadened horizons can mean many things: questioning what you’ve always believed, opening your mind to new experiences, or rediscovering a part of yourself that’s been dormant. For Erica, it was all of these. She came to Broughton Sanctuary not only curious about psychic and mediumship work, but also eager to understand her own intuitive nature, that quiet inner voice that so often gets drowned out by daily life.

Trusting Strangers, Finding Community

During the retreat, Erica found herself surrounded by 17 other guests, complete strangers who would, over the course of six transformative days, become her friends. “I experienced trust and camaraderie with people I had never met before,” she said.

That trust looked like laughter over morning coffee, shared tears during deep emotional work, and late-night conversations about loss, love, and meaning. It was the kind of connection that only happens when people come together with open hearts and a shared intention to grow.

Learning to Trust Her Own Intuition

For Erica, one of the most profound realizations came from learning to trust herself. “I need to trust my intuition and grow with that knowledge so I know I’m on the right path,” she explained.

Trusting your intuition isn’t a single moment,  it’s a series of small affirmations that tell you, yes, you can believe yourself. It’s a shift from doubt to inner certainty. It feels like coming home to your own knowing. And at Broughton Sanctuary, surrounded by nature and supported by Heidi’s grounded guidance, Erica began to feel that homecoming unfold.

Restoring Faith in Humanity

“Meeting strangers, opening up, and becoming friends gave me faith in humanity,” she said. In a time when the world feels more divided than ever, finding connection across differences can be revolutionary. For Erica, it was proof that kindness and understanding are still alive, that we do stand a chance as humans, and that love can transcend where we’re from, what we believe, or who we are.

Her faith was restored. “I realized we can love everyone,” she said.

Integrating the Lessons

Heidi’s gift isn’t just in creating space for awakening, it’s in helping guests process it all. “She helped me understand that what I’ve been experiencing is real,” Erica shared. Through both group sessions and one-on-one conversations, Heidi guided Erica in interpreting the intuitive information that surfaced, those flashes of insight, physical sensations, and emotional truths that often carry profound meaning.

By the end, Erica wasn’t just learning about intuition, she was living it.

The Magic of Broughton Sanctuary

Of course, the setting only amplified the experience. Erica described Broughton Sanctuary as “beautiful and amazing”  with lush gardens, an ethereal glass atrium, and nourishing organic meals that felt like an act of care in themselves. Every detail reflected the retreat’s intention: renewal, connection, and expansion.

“This is a bucket-list experience,” she said. “It’s well worth it.”

Intimate, Transformative, Unforgettable

With only 18 guests, the retreat offered the intimacy Erica needed to truly open up. “I like small groups,” she said. “Heidi didn’t miss a beat.”

In the end, Erica’s words say it best: “I love Heidi. She’s opened up a whole world for me. I’m so happy I went.”

Ready to experience your own awakening?
Explore the upcoming Awaken Your Wisdom Within Retreat in Punta Monterrey, Mexico,  a six-day journey of connection, clarity, and intuitive discovery.
Learn more at www.nissaretreats.com/mexico.