Siracusa, Italy

On this four-night creativity retreat (May 13-17th, 2024) in the Oasi Gelsomineto Wildlife Refuge of Siracusa, Sicily, we will connect with our richest experiences, deepen our own understanding of them, and put them to paper. In this intimate, nourishing space, we will explore the divine feminine deeply rooted in Sicily, tap into our own, and unearth our potent and sacred creativity. Lavinia Spalding (writing/meditation), Michelle Titus (feminine intuition/women’s circles), and Colette Hannahan (art/meditation) invite you to gather the words and images to bring your experiences to life through storytelling, painting/sketching, meditation, and movement in a nurturing, deeply held environment. All levels of writers and painters are welcome! We will craft your lived tales together from prompts, poetic passages, and observation as we conjure story slices and visual vignettes that serve as the seeds for longer illustrated narratives. We will gather for meals, meditation/movement, and women's circles as well to digest our experiences and spark magic. We will be staying at Agriturismo Masseria Sul Mare, (a producing farm and hotel = agriturismo) on the Ionian Sea where you can swim and stroll along the cliffs throughout the day. Together, we will share Sicilian meals, drink wine from the island. You will have the option to start the day with a short meditation and movement practice (light yoga, qi gong, dance) to fuel your creativity. This retreat is for persons who identify as female and those who are gender non-conforming.