What’s this all about?

Spend some time in nature among big-bellied orange ponderosas, braided creeks, wildflower meadows, spruce trees dripping with lichen, and Hermit thrushes’ golden hour song. Contemplate what it all means, use it for inspiration for your creative practice. Break out the oil paints or have an inspiring conversation. This is time for you.

Who: Open to women (teenagers are welcome if accompanied by an adult) with a creative practice inspired by nature and spirituality. I define “creative” broadly here. Maybe you paint, photograph, make music, cook, write, knit, craft, or simply walk through the woods creatively. To paraphrase Sir Ken Robinson: don’t ask IF you are creative, ask yourself HOW you are creative.

Location: PonderRosa cabin (Selby cabin) in the Jemez Mountains

When: Date TBD

Cost: There will be a reasonable fee to cover food, port-a-potties, and any other facilities expenses necessary for the retreat and possibly a chef.

What will we do at the retreat? That’s up to the participants. Outside of meal times, the 3-day retreat schedule is flexible with mornings for individual practice, afternoons for sharing practice for those who want, and evenings for conversations around the campfire. We’ll provide a beautiful space with endless hiking trails, wildflowers, huge Ponderosa pines, a creek to sit by, and some tables for working at. You bring: art supplies and willingness to self-organize around creative conversations and sharing practice. Want some alone time in nature? That’s available. Want to wake up and walk in prayer? Do it. Want to sit by the creek and listen to your thoughts? Yes. Want to sleep under a sky full of stars and contemplate the universe? Also can be done.

Community: In addition to personal time to contemplate and create, you may want to participate in the community at the retreat. Want to talk about creative life with other creatives? Have a creative idea you want some feedback on? Want to learn a new skill from another artist? Want to teach an artistic skill to others? We’ll have a board for offerings and sign-ups. The days will be self-organized, so you can pack it full of activities, or sleep in the hammock all day to rejuvenate yourself. It’s totally up to you. We just ask you respect other people’s mode and space as well.

Please note: Sorry, we cannot accommodate kids under 13 or pets at this retreat so please make arrangements for them ahead of time if you want to join in.

Accommodations will be tent camping and glamping around the cabin and up on One-Mile Meadow (200-feet behind the cabin on national forest land) with very limited space for campers/trailers, if you want to bring your own. We will have indoor/outdoor bathrooms, showers, and washing stations. Be prepare for rustic living close to nature.

WHILE WE’D LOVE TO ACCOMMODATE EVERYONE WHO IS INTERESTED, NUMBER OF PARTICIPANTS WILL BE LIMITED DUE TO OUR FACILITIES. MORE ON THAT LATER.