“Imagination has some way of lighting on the truth that reason has not.”
A visual journal is a space where you can listen to your Soul. It is a container for whispers from your unconscious. It is a playground for the imagination, a space to experiment with color, shape, pattern and image. It is a breathing space where you explore the mysterious territory of your inner world. As we play on the pages of our journal the longings of our soul become visible. A visual journal can be a space where we re-wire, re-wild, re-enchant and activate our imagination.
“Creativity is the ability to take what exists and change it into something new through unique responsive acts. It puts imagination into action.”
In this retreat, our visual journals will lead us on a journey of self-discovery as we re-imagine our days by exploring the question “What If?” Unexpected revelations can arise when we allow our creative self a time of spaciousness to play with the things it loves with no expectations and with an openness to seeing things in a different way.
We’ll also create our very own “Figment of the Imagination” as our creative journal guide.
And of course I’ll share with you the basics of visual journaling: creating word libraries as sources of intuitive wisdom and creating a library of painted pages without a paintbrush. If you have taken one of my Visual Journal classes before please know that some of the same ideas and techniques will be used in this class. However, the book of images and the ideas for your pages will be new.
C.G. Jung believed in the importance of creating your very own book as a space to connect with your Soul. You might have heard of The Red Book which was the book he created as he explored his connection to his Soul. These words from Jung give a sense of how meaningful he saw this kind of book:
“I should advise you to put it all down as beautifully as you can, in some beautifully bound book … Then you can go to the book and turn over the pages and for you it will be your church – your cathedral – the silent places of your spirit where you will find renewal … for in that book is your soul.”
Why can creating a book like this be so meaningful, especially in confusing times like these? I believe that mindful creativity is not only a way to calm our overwrought nervous system, but it is a way to connect to our inner world, to both process unresolved thoughts and to imagine how we might want to live in the world.
“Creativity is imagination having fun.”
VENUE
This retreat will be held at the St. Francis Springs Prayer Center, 477 Grogan Road, Stoneville, NC, which is about 30 miles north of Greensboro, NC and the closest airport is Piedmont Triad International Airport (GSO). The Center is situate on 140 acres of peaceful wooded land and has a labyrinth based on the Chartres pattern.
You can arrive any time after 3pm on July 21st to check in to your room, and we will officially start after dinner which is served at 6pm. We will end on Thursday at 12 noon followed by lunch which is included in the cost. The pace of the retreat will be slow so you can dive deep and all activities will be optional.
YOU WILL RECEIVE
Each participant will receive their own creative visual journal kit with:
A 8 1/2 x 11 inch hard covered journal
Glue stick and scissors
A 170 page book full of images created especially for this retreat and sized for your journal for you to play with and make your own.
A collection of imagination quotes to use in your journal.
Daily surprises to expand your visual journal practice
Additional art supplies like paints, collage materials, punches, paper for painted pages, circular paint surfaces, and more will also be provided so you can just arrive and play. There is no need to bring any creative supplies with you, unless you would like to! Please make sure you leave space to take your creative kit home in your luggage!
“Imagination is the true spark of the divine within us.”
COST
The cost of this five day, four night retreat which includes accommodation in a single room with private bathroom, all meals, snacks and an abundance of art supplies including your own personal visual journal kit is $1,295.00 per person. If you would prefer to share a room with a friend, the cost is $1,055.00 per person. Please let Catherine know the name of your roommate.
A non-refundable deposit of $95 is required to secure your space. The balance is due on or before June 1st, 2024.
This retreat is now full. Contact Catherine if you would like to add your name to the waitlists. Spaces often open up closer to the date of the retreat due to cancellations.
Cancellation Policy: Should it be necessary for you to cancel your participation in this retreat you will be refunded the retreat costs less the non-refundable deposit and any accommodation fees already paid to the retreat center, provided your cancellation is made more than three weeks prior to the start of the retreat. You are also welcome to find someone to take your place in the retreat.
Should I need to cancel this retreat for any reason, you will be refunded all payments you have made.
“We are embodied imaginations.”