Modern Elder Academy MEA– Santa Fe

Modern Elder Academy Santa Fe — also known as Rising Circle Ranch — is a private high-desert sanctuary designed for reflection, reinvention, and next-chapter clarity. Set across four square miles of secluded New Mexico landscape, the campus blends Pueblo-inspired architecture with wide skies, mountain vistas, and profound natural silence that immediately calms the nervous system.

This is not a traditional destination resort . MEA Santa Fe is a wisdom campus — a place where structured learning meets embodied experience. Intimate workshop cohorts, guided community circles, and facilitated inquiry unfold alongside restorative time outdoors. Hiking trails, equestrian experiences, and starlit desert evenings become part of the therapeutic architecture.

The land itself feels like medicine. Arroyos, open ridgelines, wildlife, and vast horizon views create a sense of spaciousness that supports deeper personal work. Guests are held in a thoughtfully designed container: upscale accommodations, all-inclusive meals, and a schedule that balances structure with stillness.

The experience at MEA Santa Fe unfolds through a thoughtful balance of movement, inquiry, and embodied practice. Morning yoga, guided meditation, sound baths, and facilitated circles create space for both introspection and meaningful connection.

Transformation is supported by academically grounded research combined with intentional somatic work, structured group dialogue, and carefully held containers for healing and integration. The design is deliberate — blending intellectual insight with emotional processing and lived experience.

A defining element of the campus is its equestrian program. As an active horse ranch, guests engage with horses and donkeys in guided sessions that cultivate energetic awareness, emotional regulation, and embodied presence. These encounters are often described as grounding, clarifying, and unexpectedly profound.

The surrounding high desert landscape acts as an open-air sanctuary. Thirteen hiking trails wind across ridges and arroyos, offering expansive views, golden sunsets, and star-filled night skies. Time in nature supports both solitary reflection and deeper communal dialogue.

Additional body-mind sessions further enhance integration, while a curated resource library developed by founders Chip Conley, Christine Sperber ( read our interview with Christine here ) , and Jeff Hamaoui provides tools for continued self-inquiry. Journaling prompts and catalyzing questions encourage guests to carry insights forward long after departure.

Here, growth emerges through dialogue, embodiment, silence, and the quiet intelligence of the land.

Cuisine at MEA Santa Fe is an essential part of the experience and is fully all-inclusive during workshops. Meals, snacks, beverages, and wine are provided, allowing guests to fully immerse without logistical distraction.

The culinary approach reflects Northern New Mexico’s rich cultural heritage — blending Native American, Spanish, and Mexican influences into nourishing, vibrant dishes. Flavors are bold yet balanced, comforting yet elevated.

Dining becomes part of the communal ritual. Shared tables encourage conversation, laughter, and continued reflection long after workshop sessions conclude.

MEA thoughtfully accommodates a wide range of dietary needs and invites guests to communicate preferences in advance. The focus is on care, inclusivity, and creating a culinary experience that supports both physical vitality and emotional connection.

Location

Modern Elder Academy Santa Fe is located approximately 25 minutes outside downtown Santa Fe, set within the expansive high desert of northern New Mexico. The ranch feels remote and private, yet remains easily accessible.

Guests typically fly into Albuquerque International Sunport (ABQ), about one hour away, or Santa Fe Regional Airport (SAF), approximately 25 minutes from campus.

photo credit Amy D. @arisen1031

MEA Santa Fe
Rising Circle Ranch – Juniper
130 Cottonwood Run

Lamy, NM, 87540 USA