YOUR GUIDE

Eve Gaines is dedicated to guiding individuals through life’s transitions, creating spaces and experiences that connect them to their highest selves and soul paths. With compassion and a wealth of knowledge, Eve’s approach is rooted in a profound understanding of the human condition and the interplay between inner experiences and outer realities.

As a ceremonialist, Eve draws on her honors degree in medical and psychological anthropology, focusing on rites and rituals. She is passionate about curating meaningful ceremonies and life cycle rituals, particularly addressing the challenges women face in Western culture due to the absence of these practices—a subject she explored in her thesis.

Eve’s expertise is further enriched by her studies in eco-psychology, embodied leadership, yoga therapy, and somatic integration. She has taught and guided programs in holistic wellness and apprenticed with expert teachers and elders in a range of healing and ceremonial traditions, bringing depth and authenticity to her work.

With a deep understanding of the human psyche, Eve helps individuals navigate their traumas and potentials, fostering clarity, growth, and transformation.

Eve is the steward of 20 sacred acres in the Santa Monica Mountains, the birthplace of RITUEL, where she continues to create a sanctuary for healing and renewal.

  • “Eve is love embodied. The way she is able to see others as they truly are no matter what they are going through is a true gift. She holds space for the most tender and difficult moments and energetically holds your hand while she walks you across the bridge of change and stays with you on the other side until you feel safe to walk alone. She is a true visionary that carves a beautiful path for all. Her intuition is a loving guide that's supported by her years of studied knowledge and wisdom. The care she provides for her land is the same care infused into her profoundly personalized Rites de Passage. I truly feel so grateful for Eve & couldn't imagine this time without her love & wisdom.” - Juliette

  • “I’ve attended several gatherings at RITUEL over the past few years, and each one has left an indelible mark on my heart. There is truly nothing else like it. Whether I’m stepping into a seasonal ceremony, a guided immersion, or a one-on-one experience, I always leave feeling more aligned, more grounded, and more fully myself.

    What Eve has created at RITUEL is rare. It's not just the beauty of the land, the thoughtful rituals, or the seamless way each experience is woven—it's the deep integrity and care that infuses every detail. You feel it immediately. You exhale in a way you didn’t know you needed to.

    One particular day stands out: a private ceremony Eve crafted with such precision and heart, it felt like time slowed down. I had been navigating a tender transition, and the way Eve held space allowed me to process, release, and emerge renewed. It was subtle and powerful at once—the kind of experience that doesn’t just stay with you, but changes you.

    RITUEL is now a vital part of my year. It’s where I come to remember what matters. I’m endlessly grateful for this work and can’t recommend it enough for anyone feeling called to reconnect with their inner compass.”
    – Marisol

  • “I enjoyed the most incredible solo day retreat at Rituel. Every experience and treatment I received was sublime, and the setting is awe-inspiring and beautiful—peaceful in a way that feels both grounding and otherworldly. From the moment I arrived, I felt held by the land and the thoughtful rhythm of the day that was designed just for me.

    The massages, the healing bath, the quiet time for reflection—it all felt like a homecoming to myself. I didn’t realize how much I needed it until I was in the middle of it. There was this exquisite sense of slowing down, of being reminded of my own worthiness to receive.

    The day ended with a ceremony that Eve designed in honor of my 50th birthday. It was so personal, so deeply felt, that it brought me to tears. I felt seen in a way that I’ll never forget—like my life, my journey, and this threshold I’m stepping into all mattered.

    I left feeling like a completely different person, a whole new version of myself—clearer, softer, and more alive. I’m carrying that feeling with me as I step into this next chapter. What a gift! I cannot recommend this experience enough. Heartfelt thanks, for everything.”
    – Liz

  • “Eve led me through the most exquisite process of transition and created such a beautiful ceremony when I transitioned into a new career and to launch my new business. She was very thoughtful, intentional, and supportive during and through the entire process. She took the time to make sure she understood each element of what would be represented, left behind & brought energetically into this next chapter & connected with each guest in advance so they could offer a contribution or prayer. She took the time to get clear on my intention & what I wanted to share as I walked this new path. I had time to sit with her and the land in sessions before we began and after the rite of passage journey and that meant so much to me. She curated a visually emotionally & physically beautiful space that felt full of love and support for this special time. It was a space that encouraged vulnerability, connection, community and a portal to usher in a new path. I would highly recommend working with Eve, her strong feminine energy made me feel supported, loved, seen and heard. Eve is pure magic and she brings this magic with her and sprinkles it onto everything she does. She has a very gentle, nurturing way.” - Shannon

  • My Rite de Passage with Eve over these last several months has been absolutely life changing. I started feeling like I was at a crossroads and seeking support and guidance and what I was brought back to was a true sense of confidence and connection to who I am and where I want to take my life from here. It feels like we peeled back so many layers that were holding me back from trusting myself and now I feel free and powerful. Work with Eve if you have the opportunity, she is a true miracle worker and radiates so much love. - Bethany

  • “Modern life can often feel empty, as we suffer through an epidemic of loneliness despite our digital ability to connect like never before. The lost art of human connection, of celebrating our life’s moments with depth and reverence, has drifted through our busied fingers. Eve helps us close our hands around our hearts, around our humanity, and brings us back to a lost art…of finding one’s self in the presence of a ceremony, guided by a wise and wonderful soul. Give yourself the honored gift of sitting with Eve. My life has felt all the richer for it”. - Christina

  • “Eve created a magical experience for our family blessing ceremony that we will remember forever. She weaved in blessings for our baby, our new roles as parents, and our new home, which was incredibly special to us. From the words Eve spoke to the flowers and crystals that were chosen, everything was so meaningfully put together to honor this new chapter and transition. We were moved to tears by her warmth and care and the love she poured into the ceremony. Thank you, Eve, for holding such a beautiful, and sacred blessing for our family.” -Kristina

  • “Honoring my parents' lives in a Celebration of Life ceremony led by Eve Gaines at Rituel Retreats was one of the most profound and meaningful experiences of my life.. My brother and sister and I, along with our spouses and children gathered together at the top of the Santa Monica mountains. The stunning backdrop of the mountains and sky and ocean comforted us and created an atmosphere of peace and tranquility. It was an incredibly spiritual and profoundly beautiful experience. Eve led the ceremony with grace and compassion. Her words resonated deeply, capturing the essence of our parent’s lives. The thoughtful ceremony that she crafted helped us to process the significance of their passing on a profound level. It was a truly unforgettable tribute to our parents, filled with love, reverence, and a sense of unity among all who attended. I am forever grateful for Eve’s guidance and the sacred space she created for us to honor and celebrate our parents. There are no words to express how much it meant and will always mean. It will influence generations to come”. - Dana

  • “I organized a day retreat at RITUEL for a circle of dear friends—women I’ve known for decades, but who rarely get the chance to gather like this anymore. From the moment we arrived, it was clear this was going to be something entirely different from anything we’d done before.

    Every part of the day was curated with such intention—from the welcome tea to the beautiful outdoor setting for our healing baths. Each of us had our own moment to unwind, receive, and just be—which, as busy women and mothers, is such a rare gift. The massages were deeply restorative, and the meal felt like it had been made with so much love —nourishing in every sense of the word.

    What moved me most was watching my friends soften over the course of the day. I saw layers melt off. I saw laughter return. I saw one of us cry in the bath, and another be held in a way she didn’t even know she needed. By the time the sun was setting and we lay together in a sound bath under the open sky, we all felt changed.

    I had hoped to create a meaningful experience—but what unfolded was truly unforgettable. RITUEL gave us a space to reconnect not just with each other, but with ourselves. It was sacred, healing, and deeply real. I can’t thank Eve enough for making it all possible.”
    – Rachel