What a Day!!! (Inner Gardening MIni-Retreat)

i could feel in my bones that it was going to be a wonderful day.  i never doubted that for a moment. could not have asked for more picture-perfect weather…  i was prepared (ok, maybe over-prepared!) but somehow the unfolding of the reality ALWAYS exceeds my expectations.  because it’s the connecting and sharing that happens throughout the day that create the MAGIC of the retreat.

(laura - thanks for taking this!)

 this was the first time i have done a one day mini-retreat.  the others have all been an entire long weekend so things can unfold gradually.  it’s a challenge to fit everything that i wanted to share into one day and, as it turned out, i had to cut a lot of it out.  but that’s totally ok!  because it’s not nearly so much about the material that’s presented as it is about the new ideas that are sparked and the interactions that take place.

 

 

it was also the first time i have co-hosted a retreat with a partner.  laura and i only met recently but quickly realized that we had similar dreams and ideas as far as bringing women together around a creative theme.  it was wonderful having someone to bounce ideas off from and to share in the responsibilities.  laura is an art teacher.  she led the group in an easy and fun mixed media project that produced some pretty amazing results. oh – and she makes a mean coffee cake too!

 robin did a brief yoga session with us that was just the right ingredient to set us up for our afternoon of art-making.

 here are a few more shots from the day…..

lunch on the terrace

playing in the children's music garden

hiking

yoga

art-making

kait matthews, vaf featured artist this month

reveling in the flowers!

in the end, it's the PEOPLE that make or break an event.... could not have asked for a better, warmer, wiser, wittier, or more wonderful group!!!

so now that we’ve got our “feet wet”, we are excited about doing it all again….. 

more details to follow!!

Inner Gardening Mini-Retreat!!

oh my goodness, i’m literally bursting with ideas over here. 

this event is going to be packed to the gills

with so much yumminess!!

The garden house will be our home base

 please join us on june 4^th in the gardens, where we’ll do art and so much more!!  we’ll dig deep into our creative soil.  we’ll do a little pruning and trimming, plant some new seeds, cultivate and nourish them and end up with some new insights and a lovely project to take back home with us!  

So many varieties of flowers!!

 our day together will begin with some openers and breathing exercises from a yoga instructor to put us right into our creative zones (oh, and coffee!)  we’ll explore our own creative journeys through illustrated presentations, questions and prompts, journaling and sharing. then, after some photo tips and prompts, we’ll wander the beautiful park trails with our cameras.

One of the hidden bench hide-aways

 after lunch, we’ll channel our thoughts for the day into in an expressive mixed media art project, share what we’ve learned (optional of course!) and leave refreshed and ready to ease back into our daily routines.  there will be many other surprises imbedded in the day.  i do hope you will join us!!  we are hoping that this is the first of many such days and we are offering a special price to get things rolling!

In the children's Music Garden

 there will be some discounts available: for bringing a friend, for helping with set-up 

and for my former retreaters.  please e-mail me with any questions.

Online registration now available!

Sinking In

it’s all over so quickly, but as i told my retreaters, little bits of goodness keep popping into my brain and letting me know that they are there to stay.  wanted to share a few of the special retreat moments:

• lying down on our backs on the deck gazing at the constellations
• discovering a lingering patch of snow and making snowballs 

• finding juicy tidbits in the books we brought to share
• navigating and holding out a hand to help each other across the many rain-swollen creeks

• sharing ideas of what true nourishment means to each of us
• coloring mandalas

• moments alone on top of the rocks with the sunrise - twice
• stumbling upon things i had never seen even though it was my third time there

• watching each person’s altered photos come out in such unique ways

 

• collaborating on a mosaic project and seeing the results
• seeing women who just met connect and engage in deep conversations

 

sigh.........

Recipe

preheat oven to a perfect temperature – not too hot, not too cold

 

main ingredient: a group of courageous, diverse women; open-minded, accepting, ready to share, and virtually brimming with creative talents (some obvious, some requiring a bit of digging to uncover)

other ingredients:

a variety of art projects

massage

poetry

beautiful hiking trails

photography

self-discovery

delicious meals

snacks of all sorts

juicy conversations

laughter

good wine

good coffee

stacks of stimulating books

journals

hot tub under a star-studded sky

gather all ingredients and mix gently in a majestic mountain lodge surrounded by acres of open land and fabulous views.  toss in a few random surprises, a couple of amazing sunrises, constantly changing swirling mists and bake for an entire weekend.  remove from oven, top with a shared energy circle and sprinkle with love.

yield: an experience like no other (once you go, you get it)  

warning: results may be long-lasting, possibly lifelong.

(i’m a lucky girl….)

 

 

 (all photos taken april 1-3, 2011, Space Between 3 Creativity Retreat, Palomar Mountain)

(last minute) Re-schedule!! April 1-3

"change is inevitable - except from a vending machine"  robert c. gallagher


it's been a busy week.  the living room is piled with stacks of stuff ready to load into my car for the upcoming retreat. food preparation is underway.  itineraries and "assignments" printed and ready to go.   last minute shopping supposed to happen today.  i've been keeping my eye on the weather, but wasn't too worried.  then i got a call this morning about the fact that up on mt. palomar there is already 9 inches of snow on the ground with more expected tonight and then again tomorrow night.  the little (dirt) road that leads to our lodge is not plowed.  it may be impassible.  there could be snow/rain/slush and freezing - icy conditions.  wow.  didn't expect this!!  


they wanted to know did we want to take our chances??  or consider re-scheduling?  my heart sank.  none of us have 4-wheel drive.  what are the chances that you can give a group of women an alternate weekend and have them be available?  i had very little confidence in this (oh me of little faith!) but i went ahead and polled the group and.... miracle of miracles.... everyone can make it next weekend!  in fact, several actually preferred that.  this also opens up the possibility that those who had other commitments this weekend may be able to join us after all.  if you are one of those people, perhaps april fool's is your lucky day!!  

you can scroll down here to see more details.  in a nutshell, we will be spending time in nature and connecting with kindred souls around the topic of  "nourishment - body, mind and spirit".  we will be exploring mosaics, altered photos, collage and massage/reiki through brief targeted workshops.  throw in some photography, journaling, poetry, great food and drink, a luxurious cozy mountain lodge and many other surprises and you will have an idea of what our weekend will look like.  we arrive mid-day on friday and stay until mid-day on sunday, with a couple of trips to the state park for hiking thrown in.  if this sounds like it might be up your alley, please let me know asap, ok?  would love to have you join us and soak in all the goodness that awaits!!

Just Around the Corner!!

time is skipping right along toward spring and also to the next retreat!  (march 25-27)  i have been busy with planning.  since we have some retreat “repeaters” i am opting for brand new material for our discussions, our workshops, our folders resources, etc.  it’s stretching me a bit, but that’s good.  even new hiking trails!  yup – it’s going to be good!

 

 here is a bit more exciting news.  one of our participants is a massage therapist as well as a reiki practitioner.  she has very generously offered to share some of her expertise with us!  she will be doing a presentation on foot massage and reiki and may also practice a little of her massage technique on us!!  what a great way to tie into our “nourishment” theme.

 i am so looking forward to sharing our perspectives on this theme!  i know we will learn so much from each other.  and that, my friends, is the best part!!  so excited (as you can see...)

(we have a great group, but there is still room at the lodge for last-minute-ers! 

might that be YOU??)

(all photos taken in Palomar Mountain State Park, 2/11)