BY BETH WEITZMAN

Tucked away in the arid beauty of the desert near Arizona’s sacred Superstition Mountains, Oasis of Chi transports you to a serene Balinese-inspired sanctuary. Outside, thoughtfully curated lounge spaces invite guests to immerse themselves in nature, basking in the peaceful ambiance. The pool area offers a refreshing escape, where visitors can unwind and soak in the tranquility, lounging amidst lush surroundings. Inside, a sense of calm permeates every space: the living room, with its natural decor; the boutique, featuring hand-selected crystals; the tranquil Himalayan salt room; and the wellness studio, where sound healing sessions take place. This Mesa sanctuary provides an immediate sense of serenity, a peaceful haven in the desert.

CULTIVATING CONSCIOUSNESS 

Founder Ulli-Autumn explains that she works to provide a space that fosters awareness, gratitude, and love, ultimately aimed at “raising the collective consciousness.” She believes that self-awareness, acknowledging one’s shadow self, and practicing forgiveness within a community healing environment creates a ripple effect, impacting not only the local community but the entire world, as individuals releasing their inner light empowers others to do the same. Her personal journey played a central role in the creation of Oasis of Chi. “I myself have endured personal loss and tragedy and spent many years searching for ways to process or make sense of what I was going through. After spending so much time in Bali, India, China, Thailand, and throughout the Yucatan, where I experienced firsthand a number of healing modalities and healing spaces that were not necessarily mainstream in the U.S., I realized that I needed to offer a space somewhere in my home country that would emulate these practices,” she says. “It was paramount to offer a space where there were gardens and extensive plant life and where all of the elements of earth, fire, water, and air were represented.” 

AN INTENTIONAL SANCTUARY 

Ulli-Autumn’s vision transformed a barren plot of land into a healing oasis, blending environmental stewardship with holistic wellness. “With over 20 years as a visionary developer and sacred space alchemist, I enjoy acquiring bare bones properties that I then transform into healing and wellness sanctuaries using sustainable and environmentally conscious living practices,” she explains. “What drew me to Mesa was a feeling of how sacred this space was…near the Superstition Mountains and also its proximity to Sedona, which I find to be a profoundly strong vortex of healing.”

This transformation of the land into a thriving biodiverse green space was a key objective, according to Ulli-Autumn. This involved carefully selecting a mix of native and tropical plants to create a mutually beneficial ecosystem that offers shelter and attracts pollinators through organically nurtured, pesticidefree flowers, ultimately aiming to heal and support the local environment. “The gardens and landscape of Oasis of Chi were lovingly designed with intention to provide spaces that feel safe and inspiring. This encourages gratitude, self-awareness, and openness to deep change or healing,” says Ulli-Autumn. “Plants naturally emit high vibrations associated with love, peace, and positivity. The abundant plant-life at Oasis Of Chi adds to the calm, nurturing atmosphere here by purifying the spaces energetically and literally.” 

“The gardens and landscape of Oasis of Chi were lovingly designed with intention to provide spaces that feel safe and inspiring. This encourages gratitude, self-awareness, and openness to deep change or healing,” says Ulli-Autumn. “Plants naturally emit high vibrations associated with love, peace, and positivity. The abundant plant-life at Oasis Of Chi adds to the calm, nurturing atmosphere here by purifying the spaces energetically and literally.” 

Her commitment to sustainability encompasses food systems, too. The edible landscape flourishes with tomatoes, passionfruit, grapefruit, rhubarb, pomegranate, numerous citrus trees, pineapple, bananas, and greens. “Here at Oasis, we harvest rainwater for our plants and grow some of our own food that we enjoy ourselves or allow to be reabsorbed into the gardens or by animal life,” she notes. 

A BLEND OF GLOBAL HEALING TRADITIONS

Oasis of Chi emerged from Ulli-Autumn’s experiences across more than 50 countries. “My love of travel and experiencing different cultures with their unique religious practices and traditions has propelled me across the world,” she shares. “During my decades of exploration, I have immersed myself in the rich diversity that exists throughout the world and therefore developed a deep respect for the human experience and different practices. I honor all who come to heal, be healed, and reunite with Source.” As an ordained shamanic minister, Reiki master, and holistic wellness coach, Ulli-Autumn integrates multiple healing modalities at Oasis of Chi, such as breathwork and sound bath meditation. She notes that with the latter, guests often achieve euphoria and deep relaxation as the harmonious sounds of instruments and music shift their conscious state from from beta to calmer alpha, theta, and delta states. 

This process typically leads to physiological benefits such as decreased heart rates and cortisol levels, alongside heightened feelings of safety and calm. Among the sanctuary’s most unique features is the Himalayan salt room. “The Himalayan salt room that we built here at Oasis combines the benefits of infrared technology, halo therapy, heat, and sound,” Ulli-Autumn explains. “By releasing the same natural ions found in ocean waves, thunderstorms, and waterfalls, Himalayan salt helps to rid the air of pollen, dust, smoke, and more, offering relief from respiratory issues such as asthma and allergies. It also contains 84 minerals that can be absorbed through touch and inhalation.”

EXTENDED STAYS AND RETREATS 

In addition to classes offered three days a week, Oasis of Chi hosts four-day, three-night retreats which integrate diverse healing practices. “The retreats at Oasis of Chi are truly unique because they encompass many different healing modalities to suit individual needs,” says Ulli-Autumn. “The entire property and offerings at Oasis are designed to encourage creative thinking and freedom to try new ways of transforming the current human collective experience.

This is accomplished through meditation, ecstatic dance, sound baths, breathwork, yoga, Reiki, cacao circles, and community, all under one roof.” Looking ahead, Ulli-Autumn is planning international expansion. She currently leads retreats in inspiring global destinations including Bali, Thailand, and Italy, and she has plans to create a sister property in Bali. “The plan is to offer a bridge between the two for optimal healing, raising of frequency, and connecting communities,” she says.
Learn more at oasisofchi.com.