How I Found My People at 34 And Why Community Is the Most Radical Act of Healing

Alexis Chacin
May 18
4 min read

Written by Vanessa Morales, Founder of Ecstatic Living Florida

I used to think healing was a solo journey.

Meditate alone. Journal alone. Do the inner work in the dark, quietly, where no one could see how broken you still felt. I had the crystals, the altar, the breathwork app. I had done every online course. I was deeply, profoundly, spiritually isolated.

Then I stumbled into a community — really stumbled, through a shared ride and a friend who said just come, you will love it — and everything I thought I knew about healing cracked open.

Why is community important for healing?

Every wisdom tradition in the world has known this. Indigenous cultures built healing into ceremony and community, not into individual effort. The Hindu tradition speaks of sangha — the sacred community of practitioners. Even the word healing shares its root with whole. You cannot be whole in isolation.

And yet modern wellness culture has sold us the fantasy of the solo journey: your mat, your practice, your transformation. Beautiful in theory. Profoundly incomplete in practice.

The missing piece is not a better morning routine. It is belonging.

What does a real spiritual community feel like?

Real spiritual community is not about agreeing on everything. It is not about being at the same stage of awakening or following the same teacher or having the same beliefs.

It is about shared intention. The intention to be honest. To hold space. To show up for each other on the days when the practice feels hard and the days when something beautiful breaks through and needs to be witnessed.

At Ecstatic Living Florida, we have built something I do not take lightly: a community of people who genuinely like each other. Who check in. Who celebrate together and grieve together. Who bring food to potlucks and sit in circles and sometimes just hang out — because connection does not need to be sacred every moment. Sometimes it just needs to be real.

Is there a holistic spiritual community in Lake Worth, Florida?

I did not expect Lake Worth to be the place. I had lived in South Florida my whole life and never felt like I fit inside it — too weird for the beach crowd, too spiritual for the nightlife scene, too something for every room I walked into.

Then I found a small gathering in a warm, slightly imperfect space with mismatched cushions and hand-drawn signage and people who had clearly been crying recently and did not feel the need to explain why.

I felt at home in ten minutes. Not because everything was perfect — but because nothing was performed. People were just there. Present. Honest. Willing to be seen.

How do I know if I have found my spiritual community?

You know you have found your community when you feel more yourself after being with them, not less. When silence is not uncomfortable. When you can show up imperfect and still feel welcome. When their growth excites you instead of threatening you. When you leave with energy instead of leaving drained.

If you have been in spaces that leave you performing, shrinking, or translating yourself — those are not your people. Keep looking.

How do I find conscious community events in South Florida?

Start local. Look for ecstatic dance, sound baths, cacao ceremonies, breathwork circles, and potlucks. These are the gathering points of conscious community in South Florida. Ecstatic Living Florida hosts regular events in Lake Worth both in-person and online.

One thing we say at ELFL: you belong here before you have earned it. Not after you have done enough work. Right now, as you are, with everything you are still figuring out. That is the most radical thing a community can offer: belonging as a starting point, not a destination.

If you are in South Florida and you have been searching for a place like this — come to one of our events. Bring yourself. All of yourself. We have been waiting for you.

Frequently Asked Questions About Spiritual Community

What is a conscious community?

A conscious community is a group of people intentionally gathered around shared values like healing, growth, presence, and authentic connection. Unlike social clubs or networking groups, conscious communities prioritize emotional honesty, spiritual exploration, and mutual support over performance or productivity.

Do I need to have a spiritual practice to join a holistic community?

No. Most genuine holistic communities welcome people at every stage of their path — from those with decades of practice to those who are just starting to ask questions. Curiosity and openness are far more important than any specific practice or belief system.

What kinds of events does Ecstatic Living Florida host?

Ecstatic Living Florida hosts ecstatic dance nights, sound baths, breathwork sessions, cacao ceremonies, community potlucks, sacred circles, and educational workshops — both in-person in Lake Worth, FL and online for the wider community.

Is Ecstatic Living Florida welcoming to beginners?

Absolutely. The community was built specifically to be a soft landing for people who are new to holistic and spiritual practices. There is no expectation of prior knowledge, and every event is designed to meet you where you are.

How do I get involved with Ecstatic Living Florida?

The easiest first step is attending an event — even online. From there you will naturally find your way into the community. You can also subscribe to the newsletter to stay connected between events.

Vanessa Morales is the founder of Ecstatic Living Florida and has spent the last decade building spaces where people can heal in community. She lives in Lake Worth with too many plants and just enough candles.