Brighter Spirit Retreat | Come Hang Out on the Porch

I know, I know—summer just got rolling, and here I am already plotting September. But trust me on this: September is magic around here. The ocean finally catches up with the summer heat, thanks to the three-week thermal lag between air and sea temperatures, and everyone else heads home. What's left is quiet beaches, warm water, and mellow porches. And that's exactly when we're hosting the Brighter Spirit Wellness Retreat at Scarborough Inn.

First a Quick Introduction:

I'm Sne Avichal, innkeeper at Scarborough Inn. A native of these South Jersey barrier islands after two decades as an architect in Manhattan, I found my way back home. I took over Scarborough Inn in 2020 during the height of the pandemic, becoming the latest in a 130-year line of innkeepers. Maybe it's my architecture background or the loss of my childhood home to speculative developers, but I’ve become a bit obsessed with place—what makes somewhere truly feel like home, how we connect to each other, and how community shapes our stories.

In architecture, there’s this stuffy—albeit useful—term: genius loci. It basically means the spirit of a place. It’s what Yoda was getting at when he said, “All his life has he looked away…to the future, to the horizon. Never his mind on where he was. Hmm? What he was doing.”

The spirit of a place is inseparable from the life it holds.

Scarborough Inn...

Is my living laboratory for this obsession. I've spent the last few years renovating the Inn, hosting events, and creating spaces where connections just happen. Porches, for me, are where it's at. They're open, semi-safe spaces—places that protect you from the elements but not from each other. Porches are invitations. You sit there for a bit, and suddenly you’re in a conversation with someone new—a guest, a neighbor who stopped by, maybe even someone you didn’t know you needed to meet.

If more people spent time on front porches instead of hiding out on back decks, the world would absolutely be a better place.

Which Bring Me to Brighter Spirit:

Founded by Dawn Nichols (a trauma-informed psychotherapist from New Jersey) and Melina Fuhrmann (an energy healer from Sedona, Arizona), Brighter Spirit is all about reconnecting to yourself in a way that's real and grounded. Their retreats create space for real rest, practical mindfulness, and genuine self-care. They won't promise miracles or perfection, but they'll absolutely help you breathe deeper and remember you're already enough.

What’s included:

• Gentle yoga and breathwork

• Energy balancing and meditation

• Mindfulness practices for grounding and clarity

• Time to exhale after the rush

Led by a powerhouse team:

• Melina Fuhrmann – Energy healer from Sedona, Arizona

• Dawn Nichols – Trauma-informed psychotherapist

• Kirsten Askins – Yoga instructor & astrologer

  
  

Event Details:

• When: September 19–21, 2025

• Where: Scarborough Inn, 720 Ocean Ave, Ocean City, NJ

• Reserve: Call or Text: 928-821-9061 | Email: info@brighterspirit.org

• Early Bird: $1,800 Single Occupancy

If this resonates with you, come join us. Grab a rocker or a hammock and settle in. The porch is where we remember we’re part of something bigger—where conversations spark, connections happen, and we share the kind of moments that matter. Scarborough Inn has been welcoming guests since 1895. Maybe it’s your turn next.

I’ll keep the porch light on for you.

Sincerely,

Sne Avichal | Innkeeper of Scarborough Inn