ART & NATURE & CREATIVITY= WELL-BEING
Connect. Create. Rejuvenate on Art and Nature Retreats in the Cyclades, Greece.
Combine a relaxing beach vacation with art and nature. Our art and nature retreat is located in the Cyclades, the magical ring of islands, that birthed Apollo, the god of the sun, self-knowledge, and the arts. The raw elemental beauty of the stone, the sea, the air, and the sun provide the white space, the clean canvas from which you will create.
Guided nature and photography walks, herbal and culinary demonstrations, soap making, multimodal art activities, culture, and history lessons–plenty of opportunities to deepen yourself while you rejuvenate among idyllic nature.
All this is in a private minimal stone traditional house with overlooking the Aegean Sea.
Organic locally farmed meals; a private atelier/art studio with all materials included and the services of a professional educator/artist/writer working under the ethical and professional practices of the International Expressive Arts Therapy Association.
Do I need to be an artist to join the retreat?
No! It is not necessary to have ANY previous knowledge of art. Expressive Arts has the slogan “trust the process.” We work with you to free up any blocks allowing you to create in a safe, supportive community. We believe that working with each individual’s authentic core will release images and words that speak truth to power for that individual.
What kind of meals am I to expect?
Vegetarian, Vegan, Organic, Raw, Diabetic-friendly, Paleo-friendly, Keto-friendly, Sugar conscious, Low fat, basically the Mediterranean diet which has been found to improve longevity, cardiovascular and cognitive functioning. (Is it no wonder that Greece is considered a “blue zone” where 1 in every 3 people live beyond 100 without need of institutionalized care?) We try to expose guests to the staple dishes of Greek cuisine including, fish, salads, stuffed vegetables, greens, feta and other traditional cheeses, Greek yogurt, locally sourced fruits, dried nuts. We stay away from the stereotypical Greek fast food “souvlaki” or gyro. Our meals are prepared on site by a local homemaker and cook so you get a taste of a real Greek yiayia’s cooking. Typical dishes will include stuffed vegetables, cheese and spinach pies, shrimp Santorini, orzo in tomato sauce sprinkled with feta, roasted fish and lemon potatoes, mousaka (Greek eggplant dish), stewed vegetables, stuffed grape leaves, of course, lots and lots of Greek salad and homemade wine. Our retreat provides breakfast and lunch, the biggest meal of the day in the Mediterranean. Whenever possible we source from local goat herders and apiaries. There is a small family-owned cheese factory with award-winning local cheeses that we will visit. Those with dietary restrictions should make known their preferences.
Description
If you have ever dreamed of taking a journey to Greece, the bucket list destination, this is the year to do it. But instead of taking just a trip on the outside, consider taking a journey on the inside too.
If you have dreamed of experiencing the Cyclades—those with white and blue houses, cerulean skies, and pristine beaches with awe-inspiring sunsets–allow me to be your guide in this journey where you will explore not only the ancient landscape of surpassing natural beauty but also the landscape of your inner self.
I am a veteran educator and facilitator that follows the ethical and professional standards of IEATA, the international expressive arts therapy association. But most importantly, my family comes from this island. I have roots that go back centuries and am intimately connected to this land.
My retreats are located on the island of Ios between Paros, Naxos, and Santorini. It is one of the “party islands” of the Aegean. But I live in the back of the island in a small serene village called Aghia Theodoti.
This is the place where my father was born and my grandparents lived as farmers. This is my ancestral home. Serene, secluded facing east with a semiprivate beach-this is the place to come to recharge, rejuvenate and find balance, harmony, and creativity. I call it my soul sanctuary.
Here’s what a typical day at the retreat might look like:
– Wake up at sunrise to salute the sun. Engage in movement and gentle stretch to awaken the body and mind.
-Go on a nature walk through the footpaths noticing the rhythm of the sea and paying attention to what the landscape is telling us. In a kind of walking meditation increasing mindfulness, we bring our minds to stillness even as our feet walk we forage for natural materials that have something to say to us.
– We take this experience into our journals and spend time listening to our inner voices. We read an intentional poem or respond to a prompt both visually and verbally. We create an intention for the rest of our day.
– Returning home we enjoy an organic locally sourced traditional Greek breakfast. This includes fresh figs and other fruits in season, rusks, fruit jam, Greek yogurt and cheese, freshly squeezed pomegranate juice, coffee, and tea.
After breakfast, we gather in the atelier or art workshop to transition into the central creative activity of the day.
One day it might be soap making from goat milk, another day it might be creating cyanotypes or solar prints of the foraged material we picked up.
Another day it might be learning to paint in encaustic a medium made from beeswax and fire.
Other days we can engage in enactments centered on god/goddess archetypes and then take pictures.
Or we could just go on more walks to hone our photography skills to capture the best shots in the best light on the island.
Every day is a new exploration of self.
To build community, we share what we have discovered through our creativity to others in the group through “active witnessing,” a technique grounded in the practices of Natalie Rogers, the founder of expressive arts. We next take time to circle around and share our creativity and what came up for us during the explorations. We synthesize our learnings in our journals and end with a ritual closing ceremony.
By this time, it is late afternoon and time for lunch.
This is the most substantial meal of the day and will probably stay heavy on the veggies, salads, cheese, and fish or seafood. We provide home-cooked meals not fast food souvlakis, dishes like pastitzgio, moussaka, fasolakia, stuffed vegetables, fish in lemon, and olive oil with homemade bread that comes out of the wood-fire oven.
After lunch, it’s do your own thing unstructured time. It’s perfect for engaging in hydrotherapy (swimming), heliotherapy (sunbathing), or hypnotherapy (sleeping.)
Evenings are left for you to explore the island at your leisure or take a hop over to Santorini for a visit.
As for accommodations, you will be hosted in a traditional stone cottage by the sea tastefully decorated with access to an adjoining atelier or art studio made of handcrafted stone (with a running brook inside). There is also an old stone threshing floor that we use as a stage for enactments and role-plays.
Free Cancellation Policy
- 100% deposit refund for cancellation 3 days before retreat start date.
Remaining Balance
- The remaining balance is due upon arrival.
- If paid at the time of booking, a full refund of the remaining balance is available up to three days before your retreat start date
Benefits
-rediscover your authentic self and delve into the deep well of your own creativity
-connect with others in a safe natural space
-connect to the beauty of a pristine natural environment that dates back to Neolithic times Become stronger mentally and find inner peace
-increase psycho-immuno-neurological response and lower stress by engaging in nature
-learn and discover new art techniques, the culture and ethos of this ancient civilization
-enjoy the hospitality of an informed native educator/artist/writer whose family dates back hundreds of year to this very spot.
What Makes This Retreat Special
Schedule and Program of Events
Our art and nature expressive arts retreats run from Sunday to Saturday. The first day is to get situated and accommodated. The last day is for getting ready for departure as the ferries usually leave for Athens and the other islands early.
Monday through Friday, 5 days is when we engage in the core activities that aid mindfulness, creativity, and self-knowledge.
During the last week of August, we program a special “Moonlight Muses” festival under the full moon where participants and local artists are invited for private performances. This year the full moon falls on August 30th! We also have the chance to attend a traditional church festival of St. John that hosts free goat with orzo, soup, wine, dancing and traditional folk music. You will really experience a real folk festival during this time. Put your deposit down to secure your seat.
Download the Schedule of Activities/Events here ART & NATURE RETREAT_ IOS, CYCLADES – Google Docs
Food
Teachers
I am a professor of myth, literature, and writing with over 25 years of teaching across three continents and five countries, including the City and the State University of NY and the American College of Greece.
I am an exhibiting photographer and encaustic painter mostly in NYC. I have been writing about Greece, the arts, and culture for decades.
I am trained in expressive arts facilitation by the International Expressive Arts therapy association. But most importantly, I am from here. I bring you an insider’s perspective into the place.
My family’s roots go back hundreds of years. When you register for one of my retreats, your guide will lead you into trauma-informed, ethically-based, person-centered activities that will increase well-being, health, self-awareness, mindfulness, and connection to others.
From $1,200 for 7 days
DEPOSIT
$300.00
$300 is a down payment for securing a seat in the retreat. The rest of the payment is due by the date of the retreat.
- Free cancellation available up to 3 days before retreat
