A Retreat for Women, for the Soul, for the Creative

Imagine sitting on the upper back deck of a gorgeous beach house, glass of wine in hand, sunset over the ocean, listening to the waves crash in. Now imagine doing this for five straight evenings. It's rare, in our busy lives, to have time to just sit quietly and think. No agendas, no helping with homework, no dinner to cook, no calendar to check. Just relax and listen to mama ocean sooth your soul.

photo: my friend, Kolleen, with LOVEwild.org

The days are filled with small groups of women who circle together to learn something new, stretch their comfort zones and meet new sisters. It's not uncommon to see photography on the beach, art journals and paper scraps covering a long wooden table, sage and incense burning while creating altars, and much more. There is something magical about this whole experience. Are you ready for a taste?

I attended my third Serendipity retreat in Oct, 2014. It really takes me this long to come off the high and be able to write about it. It sounds cliche to say it is "life changing", but it holds a place that big in my heart. I originally went there in 2012 to take a painting workshop with Flora Bowley (which I loved). I had no idea that I'd be experiencing a magic-making event and meet people that are now some of my favorite people EVER!

It really is one of those things that you have to experience to fully appreciate and understand. I can't tell you about it in a way that would come close to bringing it to life. The photos will speak for themselves, but I must tell you that the people are unlike any other people I've ever met. I've attended several creative workshops, art classes and weekend events over the years and I usually leave content with the thought of "yup, I learned something new". I never left feeling like I had met the most amazing people ever, that my whole perspective on life had just shifted, and that I had "found my village" (I actually told my husband that after the first year; he looked worried, but now he gets it).

Jen and Michelle, the creators of Animyst, produce and market several workshops, offerings, and ecourses with artists that are wonderful. I have taken two of their online workshops: Bloom True with Flora Bowley and Visual Quest with Pixie Lighthorse and have loved them both! Registration just opened for The Conscious Booksmith with Christine Mason Miller. I just have to give a shout out to them because they create magical things that are unlike any other workshops I've taken.