About the Your Story Retreat


photo by Ali Edwards (Your Story 2010)

Update 2/20/12: The Your Story Retreat is full and the waiting list is now full. 

 

Come along to the Oregon Coast with Ali Edwards, Kelly Barton, and Liz Lamoreux as your guides and explore ways to tell your story using writing, photography, and mixed-media art. 

Throughout the retreat and workshops, Ali, Kelly, and Liz will share stories and creative tools while creating a safe, encouraging environment for everyone. We will play with paint and words, let our cameras guide us, walk on the beach, and let the sun shine upon our heads as we listen to one another and share pieces of who we are. During each workshop, we will explore the theme "The Map of Home" as we dive into poetry and writing, self-portraits, photography excursions, paint and paper, and so much more.

All Be Present Retreats include:

  • A safe environment that holds space for truth, laughter, moments of quiet, and the opportunity to share your story.
  • A heart-opening five-day experience that begins with a welcome dinner and opening ceremony on Wednesday evening and ends with a closing ceremony Saturday evening and farewell breakfast Sunday morning.
  • Daily group gatherings that explore meditation, ritual, and everyday sacredness as ways to be more present in your daily life.
  • The opportunity to connect with kindred spirits who might just become life-long friends.
  • A time away from your day-to-day roles where you can just show up as you.
  • Workshops that will provide you with the opportunity to sink into writing and poetry, photography, mixed-media art, and “being present practices,” so that you can add tools to your creative toolbox and give yourself the gift of uncovering more of your story.
  • The opportunity to connect with teachers who deeply understand the power of healing through creativity and will share stories that will remind you that you are not alone.
  • An invitation to come home to yourself.


Gearhart (photo by Ali Edwards)

New for the 2012 retreat season:

Each participant will receive a workshop kit that includes the happy, colorful supplies needed for Kelly’s mixed-media workshops.

The kit will include items like: paint, gel medium, any special brushes needed, the surface used in the workshop (such as canvas, watercolor paper, and so on), collage materials, and other good things along with the opportunity to play with some of Kelly’s favorite supplies. You will be asked to bring a small creative toolkit of items you most likely already have such as scissors, favorite pen, pencil, and similar items.

Each participant will also take home a creative self-care kit designed by Liz that will support them in continuing to create space for creativity and self-care when they return home. This kit will become a companion for you during the sometimes challenging re-entry experience after time away from your daily life.

Your retreat experience includes all of the above plus:

Four nights of lodging, shared rooms (twin beds throughout the bedrooms with 2 to 4 people per room)

Three days of workshops and other experiential activities

All meals (except one dinner as the schedule includes free time one evening to explore the surrounding areas at your own pace)
Snacks and hot tea/coffee/water provided daily
Important Note: Please know that allergy/food needs will be taken into consideration when planning meals and snacks so we can all be nourished during our time together.

Evening activities: Opening and closing gatherings, Pajama Soiree (which will provide the opportunity for mentors + participants to share, trade, and sell their artwork), and other activities

Surprises and treats throughout our time together

Visit the Workshops page to learn more about the teachers and workshops, visit the Location page to read more about The Lodge and Gearhart, and visit the Your Story Registration page to learn more details about tuition and registration dates.

Note: There are just 22 participant spots available at this intimate retreat (18 lodging spots at The Lodge and 4 additional "day student" spots). All lodging at this retreat is shared rooms and transportation from the airport is not included. If you would like to attend the retreat but find your own lodging, four of these spots are available. At this time, all Be Present Retreats are full retreat experiences (this means you can't sign up for only one teacher, only one day, and so on). Contact Liz for more information if would like to attend but find your own lodging in town.