More than the Sum of the Parts

bringing women together is a good thing in and of itself.  but when you take a group of women who are actively seeking to nurture their creative instincts…. then throw in a fabulous mountain lodge and a rare fall snowstorm….. well, some amazing things can happen!

creative sparks start to fly

seeds are planted

ideas unfold

new relationships are formed

secrets are shared in a safe place

there is an opportunity to breathe deeply and soak in the surroundings

i feel incredibly blessed to have been able to witness all of these things and many more this past weekend at the space between 4 retreat: creative practice. each of the women had something unique and beautiful to contribute.  and when that happens, something magical occurs and you end up with a result that is far more than the sum of the parts. 

 (see pics from the snowstorm here.)

The Space Between

where did that title come from you ask?  well, on january 9, 2010, as the very first retreat seeds were starting to germinate in my head and i was thinking it would be a good idea to have some kind of title….. i was reading the daily page from my awe-manac and it happened to make note of dave matthews birthday and suggested using the title of his well-loved song, “the space between”, as fodder for creative inspiration.  it was at that moment that it hit me – the perfect name for my retreats!

and now that i am planning the 4^th retreat, i’m more convinced than ever that it was the right choice!  because when we retreat we do step away for a time from our lives.  we enter a space that is not only a get-away and a rejuvenation, but a space in which we can look at our lives through a different lens.  we can try on new ideas, bounce them off each other and learn SO MUCH!!

so when we leave that space return to the space that is our daily lives, it will not be the same.  we will bring something back with us.  i think this is what i love the most!

i’m heavy into detail planning, lists, emails, powerpoints, gathering materials, etc. etc. at the moment.  i love every little part of it.  for the first time, it will be a whole new group of retreaters – exciting and a little bit scary at the same time.  i have enough confidence in the process, though, to know that it is all going to be wonderful!!

still have space if you would like to join in the fun!!

(details below in previous post)

Space Between 4 - Creative Practice!!

It's just around the corner!!

crisp mountain air.  golden leaves.  rip-roaring fires.  hot tubs.  i know, i know, it’s still the middle of the summer….. but  i’m starting to dream about these things and about all the fun that’s going to happen at the next space between retreat!! 

this year of “imagine” has prompted a plethora of new powerful PRACTICES to permeate my life (wow- that’s a lot of p’s!!).  there is sooooo much inspiration out there if you look for it, but it can become a little distracting and overwhelming in terms of translating it to actual creative output.  it’s easy to start something, try it a few times, get distracted by something else, try that, etc. etc.

i’m convinced that practices can have a profound effect on the creative life.  the way i am defining practices is like this:

something you do regularly to enhance creative and/or spiritual well-being and growth

examples of practices:

• engaging in  your creative pursuit
• (apart from an actual project)
• journaling
• meditation/prayer
• inspirational reading
• visualization
• soul collage
• shiva nata
• art journaling
• contemplative photography
• brain-storming
• yoga
• working with affirmations
• gratitude journaling
• accountability relationships
• blogging
• reading/writing poetry

we'll explore the ones we are interested in and learn from each other.  there will also be plenty of time for connecting, hiking, journaling, art-making and just hanging out together or alone.

i plan to teach contemplative photography and art journaling.  i know some of the participants will have things to share as well, so the retreat details will evolve as we get closer and i will post when i have new information.

i'm super excited (it's not getting old!).  the price is staying the same.  you can register HERE or with me directly.  just $100 will hold your spot.  if you register online, you need to pay the full amount.  there has been a lot of interest so don't wait too long!!

Who Should Attend??

i have been wanting to deal with this topic for a while.  because if you have never been to an art retreat, it can be a little intimidating and you may think you would not fit in.  or benefit from what is offered.  or have anything to contribute…. 

believe me, i have been there!  i have been there myself and i have also watched others who were pretty overwhelmed with the idea of coming together with a group of “strangers” and being expected to share.  and to actually produce something.  but we showed up anyway.  and let me tell you, i have watched some amazing transformations take place.  and that’s what drives me onward!

 

so maybe the retreats are not for everyone.  or maybe another retreat is a better fit for you.  after all, there are a lot of choices nowadays!  so i came up with this list to try to clarify who it is that could best benefit from the retreats that i am doing:

• 1.      women who feel they are hopelessly “not creative” (we will prove you wrong!), yet are drawn to the idea.

• 2.      women who feel that they may have some creative tendencies, but don’t know what they are.  (that was me a few years ago.)

• 3.      women who are already following a creative path, but are lacking direction or have some frustration with their journey or want to share their experiences with others in a safe environment.

 at the space between retreats, all activities are optional.  so if there is anything that makes you uncomfortable, well, go ahead and skip it!  or just watch.  the groups are small (10 or less).  the atmosphere is open, friendly, accepting and supportive.  you are encouraged to contribute something to the group (wide range of choices), but not required.

 skills are taught, but are not the entire focus of the retreat.  in the past, we have learned soul collage, yoga, mosaics, altered photos, mixed media, fabric baskets, shiva nata and foot massage. ideas for the future include art journaling, contemplative photography and meditation, as well as revisiting some of the above.   we have shared poetry, inspirational books, recipes and ideas.  nature is prominent in this setting and (optional) hikes in the state park,  national forest and lodge grounds are included.

 so…. there you have it.  the next retreat is tentatively scheduled for November 4-6.  in addition to the other activities, we will be taking a look at our creative journeys and share some of the practices that best help to move us forward.  please let me know if you have questions or would like to reserve a spot!!

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!!