Wildly Aligned: What Happens When Women Reclaim Their Power—Together

By Paula | Pictou Island, Nova Scotia

One by one, they stepped off the boat onto our windswept island—nervous anticipation mixing with brave hearts. Women who had said yes to something they couldn’t quite name yet, carrying the weight of businesses, families, and dreams that sometimes felt too heavy to hold alone.

That’s when I knew: we had built something the world needed.

The Vision Born in Quiet

Back in the hush of January, the idea began to stir. I was tired of the impossible balancing act we’re sold as women entrepreneurs—the constant pressure to choose between family or business, success or rest, purpose or profit. I longed for something different. The political state of our world was crumbling, and after the heaviness of recovery from a global pandemic, I felt the strong urge to do something. The world was going in a direction I was not willing to pass off as normal.

I envisioned a retreat where business strategy and personal wellness weren't in competition—but in conversation. A space where ambition could breathe. Where women could be powerful and well. Where success wasn’t measured in hustle, but in alignment.

And where better to build it than our magical, off-grid island on the edge of Nova Scotia? Just a short 45 minute boat ride feels like you're far away.

Women business owners often face unique challenges—tight-knit systems, bureaucratic barriers, and the quiet isolation of trailblazing in a traditional landscape. We’re strong, yes. But we shouldn’t have to be strong alone.

So I called in the women I trusted most in this space. 

Sara. Amber. Claire.

Each a powerhouse in her own right—each someone I’ve collaborated with, grown with, and respected deeply over the years. Then came Josee, whose healing rhythm of hot/cold cycling—sauna to sea—would become an embodied reminder of what being gentle to ourselves and listening to our bodies feels like.

Together, we co-created Wildly Aligned—not just a retreat, but a reimagining.

The Chaos Before the Calm

Getting there wasn’t easy.

Three weeks prior to our launch, logistics piled up like waves in a storm. My husband’s health check-ups weighed heavily on my heart. And just as we were preparing to welcome the team, family dynamics cracked open in ways I hadn’t anticipated.

I’ll be honest: that familiar pit in my stomach—the one that shows up when you care too much—it was loud. But so was the call to carry on. Because this mattered. It was necessary.

The Magic of Showing Up

And then... they came.

What unfolded was nothing short of sacred.

We began each morning with intention—gathering in the pavilion with steaming mugs in hand and the salty breeze drifting in. From there, we moved onto the beach with cold dipping, yoga and breath work. Then onto visioning sessions  that dared women to dream bigger, bolder, and more aligned with the life they actually  want—not just the one they’ve been managing.

We mapped out strategies and milestones, reframing success to match who they are now—not who they used to be or who someone else said they should be.  We offered 1:1 time with facilitators, where deep dives into marketing, messaging, and momentum became clear and personalized.  We explored the power of checkpoints, building in structure for the year ahead—not as rigid expectations, but as intentional pauses to re-align, refine, and recommit.

Between sessions, women wandered the beach, went for a run, journaled in hammocks, or simply rested. Yes—rested  without guilt.

And in the evenings, the magic continued.

We gathered in stillness for sound baths with Amber by candlelight, the soft hum of healing vibrations wrapping around each woman like a lullaby.  Outside, the spring peepers  began their nightly chorus, a wild symphony to accompany us to bed. Some women curled up on the deck, wrapped in blankets, talking softly or simply listening to the sea.  Later, they drifted to their yurts and fell asleep to the sound of nature’s lullaby—hearts lighter, minds clearer.

Why This Changes Everything

At Wildly Aligned, we chose both.

Both profit and peace.  Both clarity and softness.  Both big visions and deep rest.

We gave ourselves permission to stop performing  and start aligning. And in doing so, we proved that the either/or choices we’ve been handed are lies. That our work as women entrepreneurs is deeply personal—and pretending otherwise only keeps us exhausted and misaligned.

To the Women Who Said Yes

To our founding circle: you were the brave firsts. You trusted us—and yourselves. You opened your hearts and businesses and let us witness your raw, real brilliance.

You reminded me why Kirribilli EcoRetreat exists at all.  This land was built as a corporate retreat by a visionary woman. Watching you reclaim it—not just for business, but for reconnection—felt like coming full circle.

To the One Who’s Still Reading

Maybe you feel that tug.  Maybe you’ve been holding too much for too long.  Maybe the life you’ve built doesn’t quite match the one your soul keeps whispering about.

If so, maybe there’s a spot for you next time.

Because this isn’t just a few days to escape.  It’s a recalibration.  A remembering.  A return—to yourself, to your vision, and to what’s wildly aligned.

Ready to step off the boat to a magical island?