Creative Writing Retreat

Creative Writing & Sacred Art Retreat : Journeys at the Threshold

 We will use two powerful and natural meditation practices:  free flowing words  and  directed sacred art to inspire the  creative imagination and tap more deeply into where we are, and who we are, on this powerful and ancient pilgrimage road.

Beebe  Bahrami is an award winning writer, anthropologist and life long pilgrim. Beebe's writing practices are designed to skilfully guide and support you in a spontaneous discovery of personal story and exploration of place, while relating to the nourishing energies of the Camino landscape. These writing journeys will be a mix of spontaneous soul writing (let's-find-out-what's-inside-you free association writing); writing in and about place (set in places of power such as petroglyphs dating from 2,500 BC); and your personal story (finding your unique stories buried deep within).

Bertrand and Basia will prepare you for, and take you on field trips to special places, including ancient petroglyphs, a Mozarabic monastery, and more, all aligned with classes in sacred geometry. Classes are not only informative but invite you into a meditative contemplative process aimed to deepen your experience of these places and to stir the soul and the creative imagination. We also offer to teach you how to make and paint your geometrical patterns with self made earthen pigments from the Camino and other natural pigments. 

Beebe, Basia and Bertrand will also provide presentations on the Camino - on themes of :

  *   the labyrinth as a pilgrimage in its own right, the liminal journey both on the Camino and defined by key rites of passage in our lives,

  *    the  game  of  the Goose and  its  symbolism,

  *   geometry  and  nature  in  the  Camino  architecture,

  *   stories  of  fantastic and  magical  creatures  on  the  Camino,

  *   and  pilgrims´ stories  past  and  present  about  the  transformative  power  of  the  Camino  and  its  magic.

This will be your own, unique  journey with personal  time  to  explore  as  well  as  group  time  together. We will start each day with "morning pages" :  hand-written  flow  of  consciousness.  This  aims to ground and set our inner compass for the day's journeys and each evening you will be invited to share your writing and the stories they reveal, on a voluntary basis. 

Preliminary  timetable   

June 1. Arrival - evening meal and welcome.

2 June. Introduction to the retreat and direction on "morning pages" and writing exercises. Presentation on the camino, the liminal, the threshold, and the labyrinth. Optional afternoon walk on the Camino  and then writing exercise upon returning from walking. After dinner sharing our writing.  Intention fire.

3 June. Morning pages. Presentation / geometry on the petroglyphs, presentation /geometry of San Miguel. Afternoon optional walk  around Castrillo. Preparation for visits continued.

4 June. Morning pages. Visit to the petroglyphs and San Miguel de Escalada, with time and space to write on site. Afternoon presentation/Stories on the Game of the Goose and other "fantastic creatures" on the Camino. Writing continued. Storytelling in the evening, from writing or spontaneous tales that arise.

5 June. Morning pages. Writing exercise "at the threshold." Afternoon geometry and or self directed writing. Storytelling in the evening.

6 June.  Morning pages. Writing exrcise "at the threshold". Afternoon walk and writing on the trail (if weather allows) and or painting geometry designs with natural pigments Storytelling in the evening.

7 June. Morning pages. Morning writing "at the threshold". Afternoon walk and writing on the trail(if weather allows) and or painting geometry designs with natural pigments.  Evening fire ceremony. Final retelling  of  our stories, the story we want to carry home and continue.

8 June. Closing circle after breakfast and departure.

This 7 day retreat at Flores del Camino  is all-inclusive with lovely rooms, a beautiful courtyard and seminar rooms for gathering, and  delicious  and  healthy food.

This will be your opportunity to spend meaningful time on the sacred ground of the camino in the beautiful region of the Margateria just at the foot of the  mountains  of  León. We are located in the historic village of Castrillo, a heritage site considered one of the most beautiful  villages  in Spain. You  will  be  surrounded by vast nature and immersed in  an inspiring place for creative journeying.  (Some of you may also wish to walk on after the retreat and make the  200 km or so to Santiago from the retreat  centre. We offer pilgrims passports and advice).

 Would you like to extend your time with us?

SPECIAL  LIMITED  OFFER  *Icon  painting  takes  place  just  before this  retreat.  We  offer  a  300 €  discount  if  you  do  both.  Do  not  forget  to  book  before  29  Feb  and  also  receive  your  early  bird  discount (both  retreats  with  early  bird  +  back  to  back  discount  -  2,250 €).

The  price  includes :

Seven  nights  accommodation 

All  meals

Teaching  and  materials

It  does  NOT  include  airline  tickets  or  travel  to  the  retreat  centre.  HOW  TO  GET  HERE?

Once  we  confirm  you  can  join  the  retreat,  you  can  secure  your  place  by  making  a  300€  deposit.  The  remaining  amount  is  to  be  paid  two  months  before  the  retreat.  Refunds  are  only  available  if  you  can  find  a replacement  for  yourself.  You  can  make  the  payment  by  Pay Pal,  bank card,  bank  transfer  or  Transferwise  (contact  us  for  details).  Please  make  sure  you  cover  all  transaction  or  conversion  fees.  Please  read  our  full  Terms  &  Conditions.  In  making  a  reservation,  you confirm  that  you  have  read  and  understood  the  Terms  &  Conditions.