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FINDING THE MYSTIC WITHIN THROUGH CONTEMPLATIVE CREATIVITY

Creative Workshops & Retreats

Join Catherine Anderson, author, photographer and teacher, for a creative pilgrimage or attend a creative workshop with her online

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FINDING THE MYSTIC WITHIN THROUGH CONTEMPLATIVE CREATIVITY


  • Mercy-by-the-Sea, CT 167 Neck Road Madison, CT, 06443 United States (map)

When the outer world is chaotic, it helps to have a contemplative practice and a creative outlet to keep our inner balance. Jan Phillips knows how to guide us toward our inner mystic. Her new Book of Hours "Stop Seeking, Start Finding" is the culmination of years of exploration on the spiritual path. In this retreat Jan will facilitate ways of harvesting personal wisdom as a map to a mystical and meaningful life.

Using the themes of Stillness, Awakening, Letting Go, Non-Duality, Conscious Creativity, Prophetic Action and Building Community, from Jan's Book of Hours, Catherine Anderson will guide us to create our own personal Book of Hours which can act as a gateway to contemplation and connection to the beauty and mystery of the cosmos.  Our creative practices will include making SoulCollage®cards, writing poetry and simple book making. All supplies needed to create your Book of Hours will be provided. As this will be your own unique Book of Hours, any creative choices you want to include in your Book of Hours is welcomed - such as your own drawings or photographs. The Book of Hours will include visuals, quotations and writing for each of the seven days.

To integrate our creative and spiritual practices we will also have the opportunity to walk the beautiful labyrinth overlooking the ocean at our retreat center on the Connecticut coast.

Preparing for your Book of Hours Retreat

  • We invite you to start preparing for the retreat by becoming aware of writings, quotations, and images that are speaking to you in this moment. It might be a good idea to start adding these inspirations into a box and journal that you can bring with you to the retreat. You might already have a place where you record words and phrases that are meaningful to you. Please bring these journals and resources with you to the retreat. We will have plenty of inspiration and images for you at the retreat, but starting to pay attention to what you might like to add to your own unique Book of Hours will deepen your personal experience.

  • You are also welcome to bring your own photographs or drawings to add to your Book of Hours

Your Creative Kit will contain

  • A 5.5x8 inch 70 page art journal (A5 size) to house your Book of Hours

  • A journal to collect your words for the daily themes

  • 5x8 inch backings to make your SoulCollage® cards

  • A stencil to draw guidelines, pencil and eraser

  • Tabs for your book

  • Glue Stick

We will be bringing the following supplies for you to use

  • Lots of high quality images to make your SoulCollage® cards

  • Scissors (but feel free to bring your own if you have a favorite pair)

  • Watercolors

  • Quotations, poetry, other inspirations for your book

Revelations are occurring around the globe to individuals who open themselves like satellite dishes to Mind-at-Large, which is broadcasting itself every second of the day.
— Jan Phillips

YOUR RETREAT GUIDES

Jan and Catherine together in 2017

Your retreat guides are Jan Phillips and Catherine Anderson. Catherine met Jan Phillips about 25 years ago after reading her books “God is at Eye Level: Photography as a Healing Art” and “Marry Your Muse: Making a Lasting Commitment to Your Creativity” which had a profound influence on Catherine’s creative and spiritual journey. It is a joy for us to collaborate in this retreat!




VENUE

This retreat will be held at the beautiful Mercy-by-the-Sea Retreat Center, 167 Neck Road
Madison, CT 06443. Mercy by the Sea is located on 33 acres along the shore of Long Island Sound. It has a small yet diverse ecology, ranging from wetlands and woodlands to landscaped grounds and gardens. It also has a private beach.

Mercy by the Sea is accessible from several airports.

Arriving the Retreat Center

  • Official check in time is 4pm onwards on Sunday, June 29th.

  • Dinner is served from 5.30pm to 6.15pm

  • Our first session will start after dinner at 6.30pm

  • Checkout is on Wednesday, July 2nd at 10am after our closing session. You can also chose to walk the labyrinth after our closing circle.

  • Guests of the retreat center are invited to remain on the property and enjoy the grounds, common areas, and gift/book store before check-in and after check-out.

Creating peace in our time is a spiritual undertaking because it involves imagination, hope, a vision of the future, a commitment to change.
— Jan Phillips

COST

The cost of this four day, three night retreat which includes accommodation in a single room with en-suite bathroom in the main lodge, all meals, snacks and art supplies including your own personal art supply kit is $1,095.00 per person.

For accommodation in Seascapes Guest House which can house 8 guests, the cost is $1,275.

THIS RETREAT IS NOW FULL. Email Catherine if you would like to add your name to the wait list in the event of a last minute cancellation.

ABOVE: SCENES FROM MERCY-BY-THE-SEA BY PHOTOGRAPHER ELAINE OLIVE

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 due and paid to the retreat center, provided your cancellation is on or before June 8th, 2025. You are also welcome to find someone to take your place in the retreat. If you do not wish to self-insure, it is highly recommended that you take out a travel insurance policy to cover your cancellation due to unexpected events such as flight cancellations and illness.

Should Jan and Catherine need to cancel this retreat for any reason, you will be refunded all amounts paid for this retreat. Catherine will send registrants a full refund of all monies paid within seven days of notification of cancellation, and accepts no additional liability for travel costs or any other additional costs incurred.