Embodied Artist Desert Retreat for Creative women and nonbinary folks
Dates: November 10th – 13th, 2022
We are looking for women identifying and nonbinary folks who are Artists; actors, writers, visual artists, directors and musicians to take part in a transformational experience in the high desert in California.
We will nourish and explore our bodies and open our voices, so we can ignite the fire of creative inspiration within.
This will be a clearing, meditative and journaling experience, as well as a robust, expansive celebration of Self while in community.
There will be 6 – 8 hours of programming on Fri/Sat and 3 – 4 hours of programming on Thursday/Sunday, for a total of 18 – 24 hours.
“This was an incredibly eye-opening and transformative experience. I learned so much about myself and my peers. Being silent for the first 24 hours was important to allow ourselves to unplug from the pressures and noise of the outside world.”
“The workshops encouraged me to engage my imagination, turn inward, and let go and be.”
“I learned a lot of tools to calm my nervous system that I have taken away with me and continued in my everyday life. It was important to me that this retreat focused on the artist in all of us. I learned to slow down, and that that is okay. The enjoyment of existing actually encourages creativity. I felt like I rediscovered my love of my art there.”
“Beautiful location, delicious food, wonderful company, challenging and exciting programming and an exceptional opportunity.”
“This retreat brought up so many powerful realizations for me. It has given me so many things to continue to excavate and work on. It helped me realize how I am speaking in relation to both myself and other people and applying what I learned at this retreat is really helping me embody who I want to be. I really liked that different healers were incorporated so you got to experience lots of different styles and approaches.”
“My experience at the retreat was really gentle and expansive. So much space was held for processing individually and together. The first 24 hours in silence really set a president for internal discovery and reflection. All the programming was extremely supportive and helpful. Thank you so much!”
Lauren Lovett
I’m Lauren and I’ll be your host for this retreat experience. I am an Artist, an actor, writer, lover and part time desert witch. I’ve been teaching and coaching Artists for over twenty-five years, working with folks on everything from acting, dialects and vocal release, intimacy coordination to reconnecting with the body and weathering the storms of creative life.
I’ve enlisted three wonderful colleagues of mine to treat you to the magic of their own expertise.
This will be a soulful refresh for all Artists that attend.
The EMBODIED ARTIST RETREAT will include…
Meditation
Voice Opening
Ritual and inner-life time
Lessons on Subtle Body Energy Movement, Vocal Release, Nourishing the body and Speaking Your Truth
EARLY BIRD DISCOUNT IF YOU APPLY BEFORE AUG 31, 2022.
MENTOR TEACHERS
Jenny Walters
Deciding to pursue a career in the healing arts is a result of exploring my own healing. I earned my MA in Counseling Psychology from Pacifica Graduate Institute, with an emphasis in depth psychology, and went on to complete depth psychological training in psychodynamic and psychoanalytic approaches. This depth approach allowed me to study the psyche by way of the imaginal, myth and symbol. This felt right in line with all the best parts of art making.
I also hold a Master of Fine Arts degree. Now I specialize in working with other sensitive and creative folks as well as the adult children of narcissists and borderline parents and those recovering from narcissistic abuse.
When I work with my clients, I help them make their internal experience external so they can access their own insights, voice and power. That’s what I’m here to help you do; to use your full sensate experience and sensitivity to connect to your inner knowing and voice.
Jackie Ivy
Over her career, Ms. Ivy has worked for major commercial brands such as Nike, iHeart Media, Urban Outfitters, Anthropologie, World Cafe Live, Soho House, and rag & bone, focused on the design aesthetic and built out of physical spaces as well as operational and financial management. She loves growing new talent and coaching individuals and departments into new understandings of themselves. Previous to her commercial work, Ms. Ivy focused on museum and curatorial studies, primarily at the Josef and Anni Albers Foundation as well as the Peggy Guggenheim Museum in Venice, Italy. Most recently she has focused her career on integrating mindfulness, creative and embodied social justice practices into her work and life. Jackie identifies as a white-bodied cis-gender woman, and welcomes any pronouns. She currently lives in Ojai, CA.
Natalie Griffith Robichaux
Natalie Griffith Robichaux’s areas of exploration include acting, movement, development of the imagination through body work, intimacy choreography, painting, art therapy, teaching and the creation of original theatre work. She holds a BFA in Theatre Performance from the University of Evansville and an M.F.A in Acting from the University of California, San Diego. She is certified in the Michael Chekhov technique as well as a level II Reiki practitioner.
She has performed in theaters across the country including Lincoln Center Theatre, Baltimore Center Stage, Indiana Repertory, Shakespeare Santa Cruz, and the La Jolla Playhouse. Her study at the Drama Therapy Institute of Los Angeles under Pam Dunne and with MICHA (Michael Chekhov Association) in the psycho-physical approach to acting has deeply influenced her work as an artist, instructor and healer. A recent example of original performance work is her solo piece Bicycle Face performed at the International Michael Chekhov Festival which explores the social construct of the feminine as a pathological condition. She has enjoyed academic appointments at Penn State University and UCSD in their undergraduate and graduate theatre programs as well as led workshops in many studios across the country. Natalie’s experiences as an actor, director, artist, educator, and mother fill her passion for championing the imagination and creative spirit in others.
SHIVANI AMIN, MD
Dr. Shivani Amin obtained her medical degree from American University Of The Caribbean, and was trained in family medicine at Hoboken University Medical Center.
Growing up in the United States in a traditional Indian family, Dr. Shivani was deeply inspired by the wisdom of her ancestors ancient healing methods and successfully integrates these practices with modern western medicine.
Focused on helping patients get to the root cause of their medical condition, Dr. Shivani strives to help patients achieve a unified mind-body-spirit connection as the pathway to optimal health and wellbeing.
The Possibilities
The Desert Oak Room (main house)
Beautiful, large room with King size bed and the only en-suite bathroom, shower and claw foot tub, double sink, direct access to outside.
Price if solo: $2467 if shared: $1874
The Fig or Olive Room (main house)
Lovely large room and shared hallway bathroom. Spoil yourself or share with a friend.
If solo: $2187 If shared (one queen bed, one rollway): $ 1774
Pomegranate Room (pool house)
Single room with cozy full sized bed and shared bathroom, lovely expansive view and access to desert land
$1977 solo
Ocotillo or Agave Room (pool house)
Shared room with two single beds and shared bathroom, lovely expansive view and access to desert land
$1824 each
Transformational Programming only
Rent an AirBnB off-site and join us for programming and lunches and dinners
$1482
Travel // Arrival // Departure
Getting to the Retreat – when, where, how etc.
Once you’ve registered, you’ll be sent the exact address of the retreat venue which is in Yucca Valley, CA — less than 15 minutes west of Joshua Tree, about 40 mins from the Palm Springs Airport, and about 2 hours and 20 mins from Los Angeles (depending on traffic and jumping off point).
Arrival time on Thursday November 10th will be between 1p and 3p.
Departure time will be 12p Sunday November 13th.
