'The seed cannot know what is going to happen, the seed has never known the flower. And the seed cannot even believe that it has the potential to become a beautiful flower. Long is the journey, and it is always safer not to go on that journey because unknown is the path, nothing is guaranteed.
~ and the seed is secure, hidden inside a hard core. But the seed tries, it makes an effort; it drops the hard shell which is its security, it starts moving. Immediately the journey starts: the struggle with the soil, with the stones, with the rocks. And the seed was very hard and the sprout will be very, very soft.
There was no danger for the seed, the seed could have survived for millennia, but for the sprout many are the challenges. But the sprout starts towards the unknown, towards the sun, towards the source of light, not knowing where, not knowing why. Great is the cross to be carried, but a dream possesses the seed and the seed moves.' Osho
My focus is very much about the transformative power that creativity and making art produces. I often work alongside other artists to create my art retreats in Spain. The healing effects of working from the imagination, group work, with people creating alongside one another and interacting in the studio cannot be underestimated. We combine arts such as movement, storytelling, and music with painting and drawing. In short, art heals and transforms.
I will be working with artist, dancer and healer Terre Cerridwyn Busse from California and Steffi Goddard, artist, Reiki healer, yogini and also co-owner of the cortijo.
Retreat dates: April 7th-14th 2017 This retreat will again be in beautiful Cortijo Las Salinas, Jaen, Spain. To register an interest or to be on my mailing list, please fill out the contact form above. Please see the link above for photos my previous retreats.
Cost: £1050 (GBP, British Pounds.) This is payable via Paypal and they will do the currency conversion if necessary. Or payment can be made via bank transfer, (I will give you details.)
£200 (non-refundable) deposit to secure your place. Final payment due by March 1, 2017.
Inclusive of luxury accommodation, delicious and nutritious food, (we will be dining together,) art materials, tuition, guidance, hiking in Las Alpujarras mountains with best-selling author Chris Stewart, writer of Driving Over Lemons, Reiki, yoga, dance and movement (optional,) creativity, creative writing, visiting historic sites, including Granada and Cordoba, and all the other treats and delights the cortijo has to offer. We will be painting every day in a huge and beautiful art studio, mostly using intuitive art processes and meditative art, with guided meditations. Also, as part of the retreat, we will be making site-specific mandalas and interventions in the landscape, inspired by the beautiful ephemeral art of Andy Goldsworthy.
Retreat itinerary:
"All truly great thoughts are conceived by walking." - Friedrich Nietzsche
The retreat will enable us to explore that which we wish to manifest for the coming year or long-term future....
~We will start each day with yoga and movement.
~We will play and paint in the cortijo’s beautiful art studio, using a variety of creative approaches such as process painting, intuitive art, mixed-media and collage work. We will learn how painting and creating can be a form of meditation.
~We will have opportunities for writing and sharing our stories.
~Chris Stewart - best-selling author of Driving Over Lemons, will lead us on a day hike through the Alpujarras, sharing his stories and the history of the region.
~On our last evening we will celebrate and have an “art show” with one another, complete with wine, tapas and laughter.
~You will have some art to take back home, to guide you and remind you of the seeds you are planting for 2017 and beyond.
There will also be ample time to explore the surrounding areas – Granada and Cordoba are both day trips from the Cortijo, (see itinerary below.)
Cortijo Las Salinas.
Cortijo Las Salinas, situated to the south of Jaen in Southern Spain, is the perfect place to support and nurture us through the creative process and allow us to dream into ourselves. It is located in glorious unspoiled olive country.
The cortijo offers massage and reiki (additional cost). There is a huge swimming pool and jacuzzi available, lots of relaxing and gorgeous places to be alone or sketch in nature. There will be ample time to take self-led walks, or wander down to the river (Rio San Juan) or local historical sites to see: Alcala La Real, with its restored Moorish castle is just a few minutes away and Granada and Cordoba are approx an hour's drive away. The cortijo has an honesty bar, a courtyard with fountain, a mountain behind with panoramic views, a Moroccan chill-out area, a cabana with unbelievable views, and beautiful sitting room with antiques, a large and well-stocked kitchen, and so much more.
Check out the cortijo's website at www.cortijolassalinas.com
Facilitators
Artists Alice Mason and Terre Cerridwyn will team up to bring this retreat to life. Each bringing their own artistic style, experience and sense of adventure. Steffi Goddard, Artist, yogic and co-owner of the cortijo will support our bodies through morning yoga and create with us in the studio. Steve Robinson, chef and co-owner of the cortijo will delight our senses further with gourmet healthy local food. He can cater to dietary restrictions, such as gluten-free or vegetarian, vegan etc.
Cost Includes:
Private room or shared suites; all gourmet meals; art tuition and supplies; 24 hour access to the art studio; full kitchen and large common room; morning yoga, movement or dance; use of the pool and jacuzzi; and guided hike and picnic with author Chris Stewart.
Non-workshop partners welcome. They pay the cortijo's fees minus the workshop fees. Please contact us for further information.
Cost does Not Include:
Airfare or transportation to Cortijo Las Salinas, although we can arrange transportation via a private driver from the airport to the cortijo for you. This personal taxi service is 100 Euros from Malaga and we can arrange this for you. You would pay the driver yourself at the time of pick up. (We have now booked the minibus (driver's name is Juan,) to pick everyone up from Malaga airport at 1.30 pm at a cost of 200 Euro between six people.)
Does not include massage or reiki. You can arrange that on site for an additional fee.
Travel Logistics:
The closest airports are Granada airport or Malaga International Airport . From February 2017, EasyJet will be operating three return flights a week between London Gatwick and Granada. Malaga operates several flights every day from Gatwick.
You may even want to arrive a day or two early and explore Granada, Cordoba, Seville, Ronda, Malaga or the Mediterranean. The Alhambra Palace in Granada, the Mezquita in Cordoba, the gothic cathedral in Seville with iconic bell tower, the dramatic gorge and stone bridge of Ronda, the Picasso Museum in the historic part of Malaga...to name just a few points of interest and beauty.
Cortijo Las Salinas is located near the tiny village of Sabariego, in Jaen province. It is about a two hour drive from Malaga or one hour from Granada airport.. Transportation to and from the airport can be arranged. A private driver from the cortijo can pick you up (additional cost of 100 Euros.) Contact us for more information. We will arrange the pick up for you. You would pay the driver yourself.
You can also rent a car from the airport – directions to the cortijo provided, and it is easily locatable with a smart 'phone or sat nav.
If you have any travel questions or concerns please do not hesitate to contact us.
For questions & registration please contact me, Alice: alicejulietmason@gmail.com or Terre Cerridwyn at terre@cerridwynstudio.com
Or fill out the contact form above.
Programme:
Day One: April 7th: Arrival and check-in, 2 to 5pm. Dinner, evening gathering and introductions.
Day Two: April 8th: Morning yoga, breakfast, art studio time ~ opening circle. Painting, creativity. Lunch, free time for relaxation, exploration. Dinner and evening gathering.
Day Three: April 9th: Morning movement, breakfast. Studio time, creativity, lunch, studio time, dinner.
Day Four: April 10th: Breakfast, whole day exploring Granada together.
Day Five: April 11th: Morning yoga, studio time, creativity, lunch, studio, dinner. Evening stories around the fire.
Day Six: April 12th: Breakfast, All-day hike with author and guide Chris Stewart in Las Alpujarras. We will travel by minibus and meet Chris at 10 am in Ferreirola. Lunch in restaurant in Atalbeitar. Everyone pays for their own lunch, on a donation basis.
Day Seven: April 13th: Morning yoga, breakfast, studio time, creativity, lunch, studio time, Artist reception together, wine and tapas and celebration dinner.
Day Eight: April 14th: Morning yoga, breakfast, studio time ~ closing circle. Check out 11:30
Does not include flights or car hire. Travel insurance is recommended. The cortijo is easy to find, either we can give you simple directions, or you can locate it with your sat nav or smart phone. If you would prefer to be collected from the airport, we can arrange that too, via a car service we regularly use, at an extra cost of approximately 100 Euros.
To secure your place, please contact me to discuss, (alicemason64@gmail.com or fill out the contact form above) then a non-refundable deposit of £200 per person will be payable to me via bank transfer or Paypal. The balance of £850 is payable on March 1st.
The apartments can be single or double, all with ensuite bathrooms and all apartments have stunning views onto the landscape, with outdoor seating areas,
There will be ample free time for pampering and relaxation as the cortijo offers yoga and reiki, (included in the cost) and there is a huge swimming pool, a jacuzzi, a cabana with phenomenal views, lots of relaxing and gorgeous places to be alone, or sketch in nature, to take self-led walks, or wander down to the river, (Rio San Juan,) or lovely local historic sites to see, Alcala La Real with its Moorish castle is very close, with a colourful weekly market, and Granada and Cordoba are approximately an hour's drive away. It is in glorious olive country, undiscovered and unspoiled Spain. There is an honesty bar, a courtyard with fountain, a mountain behind the cortijo with amazing panoramic views, a Moroccan chill-out area, and beautiful sitting room with antiques, a large and well stocked kitchen, and so much more.
Terms and Conditions:
Full cost £1050 GBP. This can be payable via Paypal and they can do the currency conversion. The £200 deposit is non-refundable. The balance of £850 is due 1st March 2017. If you need to cancel, the policy is to refund the balance (minus the deposit) but only if it's prior to March 1st 2017. You are advised to take out your own travel insurance. Please ensure you take out the appropriate holiday / travel insurance. The group leaders of the retreat and the owners of Cortijo Las Salinas take no responsibility whatsoever for personal accidents, injury, damage, loss, expense or inconvenience whether to person or property which the guests or any other person may suffer or incur arising out of or in any way connected with the retreat at Cortijo Las Salinas. In addition the retreat organisers and owners accept no liability for loss of or damage to the guests possessions on the owners property or land however caused, or at any other time during the retreat.
Note: Non-workshop partners are welcome. Cost for them is £450 (GBP) for the week. Check the current exchange rate for your country. This includes simply food and accommodation.
Check out the Cortijo Las Salinas website to see how simply beautiful it is. The owners are dear friends of mine and we have worked closely together for several years now.