The Writer’s Way on a Pilgrim Path
June 1 - 12, 2024
The Writer’s Way on a Pilgrim Path with Rosalind Brackenbury
Join us on-site for a soulful 10-day writing retreat
June 1-12, 2024
with the possibility to add …
Part II: Extend your Retreat with an optional pilgrimage
A 12 day select itinerary walking to Santiago de Compostela
June 12 - 24, 2024
The Essence of our Retreat
With uninterrupted time away from the demands of daily life, discover and explore the stories deep within. Within an intimate circle of fellow companions, experience two powerful and natural meditation practices: free flowing words and and optional opportunity to try your hand at preparing and painting with natural earth pigments. Inspire the creative imagination and tap more deeply into where we are, and who we are, on this powerful and ancient pilgrimage road.
As writers, we won’t know what we’ll write until we do it – as you don’t know what is around the next bend, or over the next hill when you walk. So, we’ll be putting our feet on the ground, literally and metaphorically, moving forward each day into something unexpected, eventually writing whatever it is we have come here to write. The writer as pilgrim lays herself open to the moving landscapes within, and the gifts that await.
Welcome to The Writer’s Way on a Pilgrim Path.
The Spirit of Place
You will be supported and skillfully guided by Rosalind Brackenbury and
Kim Narenkivicius in a discovery of personal story and exploration of place, while relating to the inspiring Camino landscape. Writing themes include: Spirit of Place, its details and atmosphere, how we find ourselves in the immediate world around us, and the ways we map the experience of place and time.
Special Visits
You will be inspired by visits to special sites in breathtaking surroundings: 4,000 year old petroglyphs and a dolmen with mid-season alignments; as well as an ancient Visigothic chapel.
Sacred Designs and Connecting with the Earth
Basia Goodwin and Bertrand Gamrowski will prepare you for these visits to deepen your experience. Engaging in ancient craft practices, you will create simple yet profound geometrical patterns, such as labyrinths and Celtic-like weaving knots, mirroring those you'll encounter to gain a deeper appreciation. Furthermore, you'll delve into the traditional art of making earthen pigments sourced directly from the Camino, using these natural colors to bring your designs to life. This unique process of creating paint from the very earth of the Camino will inspire you to connect to place and the pilgrimage journey – experiencing the process as just as valuable as the end destination.
You can continue to play with the pigments throughout the week if you so wish.
Being Present
This retreat offers spacious time for personal exploration, enriched by moments of shared experience. You will be held in a daily rhythm starting with “morning pages”, a handwritten flow of consciousness, grounding us for the day's creative ventures. We will close our day by gathering around the fire. You will be invited to share the stories woven through your writing journey—a collective odyssey within the sanctuary of our retreat.
Is this retreat for me?
No prior writing experience or artistic abilities are required, only a curious and open mind.
If the following describes you, then you are a perfect fit for this retreat:
I appreciate moments of quietness & times of reflection.
I give space to others and can listen.
I value community experiences as well as my own individual journey.
The Village
You will be staying in one of the most beautiful villages in all of Spain as voted by National Geographic. A heritage site, the village dates back from Celtic times to the 16th century. Enjoy stunning views at every turn. The village is in complete harmony with its surroundings. The warm coloured stones will embrace you. They glow at sunset and the old arched wooden doors dazzle red, blue and green.
A unique experience
Embraced within a peaceful environment on the Camino, you will be held and guided in expert care. As well as soul-nourishing sessions, enjoy delicious meals homemade with fresh ingredients and our selection of local wines.
The Retreat Centre
Your home will be Flores del Camino - a charming traditional Maragato house with heart and soul that has been lovingly renovated to host you. Enjoy gorgeous creative workspaces nested around a courtyard. You will be staying in one of our charming ensuite rooms at Flores, or at the nearby hotel we work in partnership with. Enjoy stunning views overlooking the village, church and rural landscape.
Your Facilitators
Rosalind Brackenbury is a novelist, poet, as well as an experienced teacher. She has taught many writing workshops – in the UK as writer in schools in SW Scotland, in the US as writer-in-residence at the College of William and Mary and at the Studios of Key West. She teaches regular classes based on “The Artist’s Way.” She wrote for “Resurgence” magazine in the UK for many years and has a particular interest in writing about the natural world and ourselves as part of it. She has walked parts of the Camino twice, in 2010 and again in 2018, and loves walking, wild swimming and dance.
Kim Narenkivicius lives in the mountains of northern Spain along the transformative Camino de Santiago pilgrim trail. As an artist, pilgrim mentor, and anam cara (soul friend), Kim guides individuals and small groups along the trail, with a focus on pilgrimage as a rite of passage. Owner of The Stone Boat, a guesthouse for pilgrims in Rabanal del Camino, she facilitates self-guided writing retreats there during the off-season. Formerly aspiring to fame in fine art photography, Kim now finds recognition for her mystical banana bread. Currently, she invites writers, poets, and artists to contribute to an upcoming anthology series set to publish in the fall.
Basia Goodwin is co-founder of Flores del Camino, an artist, educator, and passionate retreat facilitator. She is dedicated to crafting purposeful space for creative and contemplative journeys and leading groups on the Camino as a rite of passage experience. An alumnus of the Prince's School of Traditional Arts, she specialises in the use of geometry in traditional arts, craft & philosophy. In her creative practice she makes & paints with natural pigments, using local Camino ochre earths and loves to share this joy with others.
Bertrand Gamrowski is co-founder of Flores del Camino, a craft practitioner, passionate educator and leading expert in the use of geometry in sacred architecture. He specialises in the art and architecture of the Camino de Santiago. He finds joy in teaching geometry as a contemplative and a mindful, hands-on practice. He is currently co-authoring a book with Basia on the use of geometry in sacred art along the Camino.
Preliminary Schedule
The Writer’s Way on a Pilgrim Path (in-house retreat)
1st June
Arrival between 3pm and 7pm - evening meal and welcome.
2nd June
Introduction to the schedule and themes of the retreat. Guided entry into liminal space, a time of slowing down and leaving everyday life behind. Afternoon walk around the village and surroundings and then writing exercise upon returning. After dinner sharing our writing. Intention fire.
3rd June
Morning pages. Writing sessions continued in the morning (Rosalind will offer individual one on one sessions throughout the week). Afternoon presentation on the Camino and symbols of pilgrimage.
4th June
Morning pages. Writing sessions continued in the morning with individual one on one sessions with Rosalind throughout the week. Afternoon presentation on the Camino, symbols of pilgrimage continued, drawing a labyrinth.
5th June
Visit to petroglyphs (depicting labyrinth designs), and labyrinth walk. Afternoon writing.
6th June
Morning pages. Morning session : preparing natural pigments and painting with the earth. Afternoon walk and writing on the trail and or painting with natural pigments. Storytelling in the evenings.
7 th June
Free day
8th June
Visit to Visigothic monastery san miguel de Escalada. Afternoon walk / writing on the trail / and or painting with natural pigments. Storytelling in the evenings.
9th June
Morning pages. Writing sessions. Afternoon walk / writing on the trail / and or painting with natural pigments. Storytelling in the evenings
10th June
Morning pages. Writing sessions. Afternoon walk / writing on the trail / and or painting with natural pigments. Storytelling in the evenings.
11 th June
Morning pages. Writing sessions and closing our time together.
Evening fire ceremony. Final retelling of our stories, the story we want to carry home and continue.
12th June
Breakfast and departure, or…
Part II
Extend Your Retreat with an Optional Pilgrimage
June 12 - 24, 2024
A self-guided 12 day walking pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostela (supported by Kim Narenkivicius)
Your Camino
This is your opportunity to experience walking this ancient pilgrims’ path. A gentle time to extend and integrate your writing retreat, this 12 day pilgrimage from the retreat centre to Santiago is a self-guided journey. Enjoy a carefully selected itinerary of some of the most beautiful places to stay along the Way. You will be supported before, during and after your pilgrimage by Kim, long time pilgrim and experienced guide who mentors pilgrims in the transformative pilgrimage experience.
Preliminary Schedule for optional Part II walking pilgrimage
The Camino
Includes overnight stays in guesthouses along the way, ensuite individual rooms, breakfasts and luggage transfer. This Camino is individually tailored for each pilgrim to suit pace and body, itineraries may vary. Taxis are available all along the Camino if you feel you need your walking day to be shorter.
Kim will hold individual sessions during the writing retreat. Your Camino journey begins upon signing up!
Pilgrimage Day 1 June 12 Flores del Camino ~ Rabanal del Camino (14km)
Evening Vespers in the evening in the 12th century atmospheric chapel ruins
Pilgrimage Day 2 June 13 Rabanal del Camino ~ El Acebo - (17km)
Placing your stone at the Cruz de Ferro
Pilgrimage Day 3 June 14 El Acebo ~ Molinaseca - (15km)
Stunning stone village with river and the foot of the mountain
Pilgrimage Day 4 June 15 Molinaseca ~ Ponferrada ~ Villafranca - (5 + 24 km)
Templar castle and crossing beautiful vineyards
Pilgrimage Day 5 June 16 Villafranca ~ Las Herrerias - (21km)
Gentle streams along the Valley
Pilgrimage Day 6 June 17 Las Herrerias ~ Fonfria - (23km)
Labyrinth walk and picnic at The Quiet Garden, O Cebreiro
Pilgrimage Day 7 June 18 Fonfria ~ Sarria - (28km)
Passing the threshold - entering into magical Galicia
Pilgrimage Day 8 June 19 Sarria ~ Portomarin - (22km)
Ancient churches, roman bridge and a beautiful rose window
Pilgrimage Day 9 June 20 Portomarin ~ Palas de Rei - (25km)
Visigothic treasures and Eucalyptus trees
Pilgrimage Day 10 June 21 Palas de Rei ~ Melide - (27km)
Pulpo
Pilgrimage Day 11 June 22 Melide ~ O Pedrouzo - (33.3km)
Monte de Gozo - hill of joy
Pilgrimage Day 12 June 23 O Pedrouzo ~ Santiago de Compostela - (20km)
Arrival
June 24 Santiago de Compostela full day in Santiago
Departures on the 25th
This schedule may be subject to changes.
What’s included
Accommodation
During your stay at Flores del Camino, all accommodation consists of ensuite bedrooms.
Food
During your stay at Flores del Camino, enjoy nourishing and healthy meals prepared onsite and served with love in either the dining area or in the courtyard under the pergola. Wine is offered at dinner.
Dietary requirements
When on-site at Flores, we cater for the following dietary requirements: vegetarian, gluten-free, carb-free, dairy-free.
Please get in touch with us if you have concerns.
Sessions
All equipment & material provided.
Outings
Site entries & transport fares for cultural activities.
Private transport between Madrid & the retreat centre
If you prefer to arrive independently to the retreat centre, see how to get here.
What’s not included
Flights
Insurances (travel, health, etc.)
Possibly one meal taken outside during visits (budget ~25€ per meal)
Book this Retreat
The Writer’s Way on a Pilgrim Path
10 day retreat
June 1-12, 2024
Don’t miss out on Early bird before Mar 1, 2024: 3,250€
Full price: 3,500€
with the possibility to add an optional onward walking pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostela.
Self-guided with support. June 12-24, 2024. 2,400€
To book please note that a new window will open in your browser as you are redirected to our booking platform WeTravel