Spring Retreat in Taos: Greening your Creative Spirit

With Sharon Zeugin and Carolyn Scarborough

The Mabel Dodge Luhan House
Taos, New Mexico
April 7 to 12, 2019

Have you ever sat down to create… and found nothing there but exhaustion? Or critical mind chatter? Or even indifference? Perhaps others have encouraged you to write, paint, or create in some way. But you tell yourself there isn’t enough time or energy. Or that creating is what you’ll get to when everything else is done. And it never is.

What we don’t always get is that taking time and space to slow down, let go, nourish and deeply inspire ourselves is the thing that fuels everything else. When we take time to do that, we are a more responsive partner, a more creative artist, a more deeply awake and abundantly alive human being. It is the very foundation of a life that matters.

If this resonates with you, then join us at the Spring Retreat in Taos. Watch spring buds stretch and unfurl all around you… and deep inside you. It’s finally your time to bloom…

Who is this for?

Writers who want to write, artists who want to express, or women who just want to be creatively inspired.

This is for all of us ready to escape the distraction and mindless habits of everyday life and instead step into new perspectives, deep refreshment and creative freedom. All levels of experience are embraced and welcome here. Yes, that means YOU!

… She holds the space so beautifully and with such a sense of safety and nurturing that your creative self can’t help but find its way to the surface and blossom. Reluctance falls away and even latent ability awakens. I began with an open writer’s mind and through the exercises, my writer’s heart burst open too. Carolyn helped me re-establish a vital connection within myself as a creative writer, and for that I’m super grateful!” — Angela Loeb, Writer, Speaker & Consultant

What you’ll experience during this retreat…

Learning to tap deep wisdom inside, noticing what needs attention so you can create from a place of self-nourishment rather than self-pushing.
Daily writing prompts, guided visualizations and inspiration sparkers to support you in releasing the inner critic and awakening creativity.
In-the-moment coaching to help break free and keep creative vitality flowing.
A focus on process, not product. This means that your stress disappears and instead curiosity, wonder and more carefree expression emerge.
Connection with new friends who “get” you and the joys and challenges of the creative life.
An art studio, accessible and open all day for those who want to dabble there.
One-on-one coaching sessions customized to work with your unique challenges and goals.
Creating your own “Journal of Discovery” – a beautiful book for writing, drawing or capturing ahas along the way.

Location, location, location

The Mabel Dodge Luhan House is a rambling hacienda nestled between an Indian pueblo and the artsy village of Taos. This historic home has inspired creatives since the early 20th century. Imagine sketching in the room where Georgia O’Keeffe stayed, or writing in the room where Willa Cather pondered and penned her books.

While the interior of this quaint adobe is lovely, it pales in comparison to the beauty just outdoors. Walk the labyrinth in the shadow of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains. Settle onto a bench under the cottonwoods to capture ideas.

This is a place to commune with beauty, listening for inspiration, be it rock, sky, bird or mountain. If ever there was a place to simply BE, this is it. You’ll come across the vibrant green of a spring leaf, the cawing of far off crows, the scent of pinon. We will learn not just to create, but first to SEE as we focus on what is before us, not simply what is in our heads. The chatter quiets as a spaciousness opens inside us as vast as the New Mexico sky.

Tentative Schedule of Typical Day

Breakfast at Mabel Dodge
Guided meditation/stretching/free dance
Workshops on writing, art, creativity
Creative Free Time
Lunch at Mabel Dodge
Afternoon free time OR guided walks for sketching, writing, being
Dinner on your own (except for Sunday and Thursday evenings)

(Note: Studio open and available 24 hours a day)

A Culinary Repast

Mabel Dodge is known for its healthy, delicious food created by top chefs. When possible, garden-raised or local produce is used. A typical lunch might be pissaldiere (a yeasted crust topped with caramelized onions, cheeses, herbs and olives from Provence), tomato bisque served with croutons, mixed baby greens with dijon vinaigrette and carrot cake. To keep you energized throughout the day, coffee, tea, water and fresh baked cookies are available.

It’s the Journal, not the Destination

You will create a beautiful journal to accompany you on this journey in Taos. As Sharon says, “It’s the journal, not the destination!” We have a secret way to make this journal intimidation-proof and lots of fun. Use it for writing down insights, capturing lovely words or drawing what you see. It will be both witness and inspiration for your journey through the retreat. When you return home, it is a portal to return to that inspired place of beauty and possibilities over and over again. When you feel dry, it will remind you of who you really are and reconnect you to your creative soul.

“Her ability to help people find their voice, tap into what inspires them, get unblocked and find joy and pleasure in writing is a huge gift. She’s warm, nurturing, encouraging, creates a safe space to help you access your inner wisdom and really honors each and every participant. A small investment with a huge return. I can’t wait for the next retreat.” — Renee Trudeau, Life Balance Coach, author of “Nurturing the Soul of Your Family”

Two for the Price of One

Instead of one teacher for the week, you get two seasoned teachers. Sharon and Carolyn are both are skilled in working with women that include those highly experienced in art or writing to others who may be mildly terrified of either! If you are a writer who has never done art, you have the option of playing with art (making marks, as Sharon says)… or not. If you are an artist who has been curious about writing but never tried it, you’ll get fool-proof ways to get you going if you so desire. So options abound, but directives do not.

What is Included in the Retreat Cost?

MDL sketch Sunshine Rates include:

Lodging in one of Mabel’s historic rooms (unless you choose the commuter price).
5 breakfasts, 4 lunches and 2 gourmet dinners in the Mabel Dodge Dining Hall.
Writing, art, and creativity workshops
All writing and journal making art materials
Gentle expressive movement with Julie Wylie
A beautiful hand-created, take home journal
Guided writing and sketching walks

Registration and Retreat Information

To keep the retreat intimate, we are limiting it to 12 women. Rooms are assigned on a first come basis when you register.

$1,650 – Single Room ($250 deposit now + $1,400 by 3/7/19)
$1,550 – Double Room ($250 deposit now + $1,300 by 3/7/19)
$945 – Commuter Fee ($250 deposit now + $695 by 3/7/19)
(Note: Commuter price includes meals and all other retreat benefits)

* Payment plans available upon request

You may arrive any time after 3 p.m. Sunday, April 7 and we will all gather for dinner at 6 p.m. The retreat ends after breakfast on Friday, April 12. If you want to come a day early or stay a day later, discounted rooms are available at the lodge.

Travel arrangements

To get to Taos, you can fly into Albuquerque and take a shuttle or rent a car (we can work with you to arrange carpooling from Albuquerque to Taos with other participants as well). There is also a bus from Santa Fe, and Austin, Texas and other cities offer flights directly to Taos on Taos Air. For more travel details, visit the Mabel Dodge Luhan House website.

Cancellation Policy

If you cancel more than 60 days before the retreat begins, we will return your payment minus the $250 deposit. If you cancel within 60 days of the retreat, we will not refund any money, but you are welcome to gift the spot to someone else, assuming you let us know.

Questions about the retreat? If so, contact Carolyn here.

EARLY BIRD BONUS!

A private phone coaching session with Carolyn during February, 2019 to get a creative jump-start on the retreat
A private art lesson with Sharon during the retreat

Reserve your spot with a $250 deposit!

About Sharon and Carolyn

Sharon Zeugin makes art and teaches workshops in her Austin, Texas Studio, and throughout the USA, Canada and Italy. In addition to being a faculty member of numerous international calligraphy conferences, Sharon has been Program Coordinator for the Literally Letters Program at Ghost Ranch, New Mexico, and is a faculty member of the Austin Contemporary Art School. Her award winning work appears in publications such as Letter Arts Review, The Calligrapher’s Engagement Calendar, Somerset Studio Magazine, the Lark Book,” The Art and Craft of Hand Lettering,” and most recently, the 24th edition of the classic Speedball Textbook. Teaching people to overcome fear of the blank page is her mission and all levels of art experience are welcome at her retreats. Read more about Sharon.

Carolyn Scarborough founded and hosts the Creative Soul Community, where women in the second half of life gather to create lives of greater purpose, vitality and creative expression. She is an award-winning author, writing and creativity coach. Her style is intuitive and nurturing as she leads popular writing retreats, weekly writing circles, women’s circles, writing teleclasses and private coaching sessions in Austin, Texas and around the country. She is the author of “Backyard Pearls: Cultivating Wisdom and Joy in Everyday Life,” has written more than 500 articles for national and international magazines and has studied various creative/spiritual practices for more than 30 years. Among the places she has presented are Story Circle Women’s Writing Conference, the International Coach Federation, Esalen Institute, Seton Cove, the National Speaker’s Association’s writing group and Unity Church. Carolyn is passionate about removing blocks that keep you from your authentic voice, purpose and creative expression in the world. Read more about Carolyn.

Guest teacher Julie Wylie, a spirited, down to earth facilitator by nature, has over 35 years of movement experience. She has a passion for somatic story telling & fostering communities of ‘women lifting women higher,’ including volunteering with Truth Be Told (a creative program supporting women behind and beyond bars). She has also taught at Isadora Duncan International Symposiums, Gene Keys StarDreaming Retreats in New Mexico, Unity Church and Seton Cove in Austin, Texas. Although she has a Nia black belt, Julie loves gently guiding non-movers to move in simple ways that increase joy and body pleasure.