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I'm very pleased to offer you my 3rd Annual Art Retreat for Women in San Miguel de Allende from March 29 - April 5, 2020. This popular offering is a lot of fun and, at the same time, it runs deep. Each year I bring a new awareness to bear on my facilitation of this popular offering. Due to my deep immersion in a very ambitious creative project, my intuitive channels are opening wide and I anticipate this retreat may be particularly inspired. As always, San Miguel is the best, most colorful, bird-lively and light-filled backdrop for doing good work!

The theme for this year's retreat is "Slow Looking, Deep Listening." I hope you'll make some quiet time to read about the retreat and to ask yourself if this retreat is right for you. After you've looked over the material, please let me know if you have any questions. Then, if your soul says Yes, I hope you'll consider signing up. In my experience, the intention to participate will immediately activate your creative juices, so you will get maximum benefit if you commit sooner rather than later.

Here's a sampling of the feedback I received about the 2018 and 2019 retreats. I always wait a few weeks before I ask participants to send me their impressions, so they have some time to reflect on what it meant to them. Not everyone responds, of course, and I don't know what they experienced; but then some of those I haven't heard from sign up a second time! With that in mind, read ahead to get a taste of what the retreat might offer you:

I loved everything about the retreat – San Miguel, the hotel, the breakfasts, the other meals (esp. El Pegaso!!!), the wonderful women I spent time with, the hot air balloon ride, having a room of my own in the back of the hotel, the beautiful weather, flowers, birds, Fabrica La Aurora, the concert and watching Ellie paint (learned so much from that), seeing others’ paintings develop, the good Sav Blanc in the hotel, the wonderful Mexican dinner we enjoyed on Tues. night, and exploring a new medium and way of painting. I loved all of it. I needed it – the self-examination, rumination, the experience of meeting new people and making new friends, the conversations we had about so many things. It was very life-affirming for me. While we were there, I was also writing a poem every day, and some of the poems from that time have been very well received by my writing partners and create for me such a great way of remembering how happy and creative I was feeling in that place and time. I was so relaxed that even though I was delayed not ONE, but TWO, nights in Detroit on my way home, without any luggage (read no socks and underwear, nothing), I was as happy as could be. Since I’ve been back, I’ve been busy adulting, with home renovations, spring clean-up, etc. I did finish one painting I started before I left, but have not been in the studio other than that. I put two pieces in the member show at our local art center and went to the opening last night. I hope to get back at it soon. —GB 2019

I have been telling friends and family about the retreat since I returned, and they are all envious.  It truly was a very rich experience and one that I gained so much from. I loved everything about it:  beautiful San Miguel de Allende, Casa de la Noche, Barbara and all of her staff, the supportive group of women, our group talks, the food, the restaurants, margaritas and sangria, making some new friends I hope to see again, and painting intuitively (something I haven't done for a long time, despite my art therapy training and experience ).  The only thing I didn't like were the paint sticks!  But I will admit that it was good for me to get out of my comfort zone, and that helped me to paint more expressively. I am happy to say that I am way ahead of schedule, and my new art studio in my home is almost ready!  It was way easier than I thought it would be, and I love it!!  I have a few more things to remove and change, but it is operative now.  I will send some pics soon. I am also thinking a lot about how to use my art therapy training, not as a therapist,  but perhaps doing some creative workshops with adults. I'm trusting that if I set the intention, the opportunities and answers will follow (one of the many things I learned from Ellie). —DR 2019

I learned the importance of words in San Miguel—as a newcomer to this type of experience I don’t think I’d considered the difference between “workshop” and “retreat” I knew there would be a degree of sharing and introspection from Ellie’s description, but I don’t think I was prepared for how much. A format with more focus on creating, critique, and instruction might have been a better fit for me. That said, I would do it again in a heartbeat! I loved meeting [everyone], and spending time at Casa de la Noche and in San Miguel—the sunshine and colors of the city were exactly what I needed at the downside of a dreary winter. The hot air balloon, trip to Atotonilco, concert with David Mendoza, and trying some delicious new-to-me Mexican cuisine were also highlights. To be honest, the sharing and introspection WAS helpful and inspiring. I think we all learned about ourselves and each other in a way that we wouldn’t have without the “check-ins”. The format of this gathering made it easy for me to feel comfortable as a solo traveler—everyone was very welcoming. The range of our experiences underscored the idea that everyone has ability—you need to commit to living an artistic life in your own way—and most importantly, there is no one RIGHT way. —CB 2019

"Our accommodations at Casa de la Noche were beyond wonderful.  Magical, really. I loved my apartment, the Terrazo suite, with an iron gated terrace. Morning breakfasts in the lavender scented patio were a delicious start to days that were loosely ours to inhabit.  The structure of the week allowed personal and group time to flow. It takes a special leader to gather and weave the individual threads each group member brings to form a substantive framework that is both containing and yet porous.  Your bravery and example of honest and truthful 'showing up' opened the week with permission for all of us to do just that.  The truly touching closing ritual and festive last night meal and laughter at a long dining table was ample evidence of how quickly we had all connected to form a whole. A whole lot of ‘birds’ chattering and laughing away before flying off to distant nests." —MM 2018

"I’m not a gambler at heart, but I  took the risk of doing something completely foreign by signing up for Ellie’s workshop.  I took her at her word that “novice painters” would be welcome.  When she announced she was not teaching techniques however I felt like I had not understood the advertisement and was disappointed.  When instead, she used the word “improvisational” I felt comfortable, with that I thought I could find the personal benefit I was looking for in my art medium. We spent a lot of time bonding with participants, and sharing feelings which typically go unspoken.  I don’t know how beneficial that was to each of our art, or whether we will continue to look inside and express more "heart", but I will keep my paintings as a wonderful visual reminder of the risk I took and what I learned about friends and family. I know when I came home I was energized and motivated to make art, and I’m doing it, and that is good."  —DS 2018

"I had expected to be able to travel on my own (a bigger step than one would think) and just be and do art. My experience was more than I expected as I listened to others and realized the pain that art can solve. I'll remember most the heartfelt feelings of the group of women. I loved our evening dinner in the thunderstorm with the soulful music—it filled my soul! It was a great week and experience that warms my heart." —JM 2018

"I enjoyed the workshop. It was good for me. It was different than I expected. In a good way. Learned about new tools to use in painting and painted on very large canvases for the first time. At times I felt as though I had no ideas for my work. At other times I felt like I did have ideas. When I look back I realize I learned I have a relationship with art. I’m a beginner and felt like rubber hit the road for me, that I was not ready to “break up” my relationship with art after a few months of not painting much. I liked the accommodations.  I loved the gatherings at breakfast and the breakfasts themselves to start the day. The highlight of the experience was being able to paint on a large canvas. Having group talks and support. Eating wonderful food. Feeling welcome as an American and a feeling of sharing the continent with Mexico. I appreciated the other women for their willingness to be open and their brilliance. It was a special group of women. I could relate very well to them with the life experiences of being female, experiencing loss and retirement. I felt accepted and respected."  —CW 2018

 "The accommodations could not have been better.  I loved having a room to myself, not to mention having the whole Casa to ourselves!  Wonderful to be able to leave our work out.  It was the perfect setting.  You paced each day just right, giving us time to paint and time to explore the city.  The area has lots to offer and I always felt safe out by myself or in small groups.  I think what I’ll remember most...outside seeing you again and meeting Roo and that amazing hot air balloon ride...was how hard it was /is to just paint for the sake of painting.  Looking deeper, I have always had a goal in mind and to paint without having it represent anything is hard...should be simple, but I found that I don’t have much of an imagination!   It was wonderful to meet and get to know all of the women and I hope that we will all continue to stay in touch.  Thank you again for offering this escape."  —KS 2018

"The retreat was just what I needed after a long Michigan winter. I signed at the last minute because I just could not take the cold and grey any longer. The altitude and lack of humidity worked to reduce my inflammation and I was pain free while I was in San Miguel. I was looking forward to being in a group as opposed to being on my own and trying to figure everything out myself. I think the sharing circle was good as an daily event. We got to know each other and could travel around the city together. I also liked the presentations that you did at night and the general discussion about art. The accommodations were wonderful. Except for food, we could have stayed there all the time. The staff was so accommodating and friendly. The breakfast was good. I had delicious and healthy meals throughout the City. The colors of the buildings were phenomenal and the Casa de la Noche courtyards and balconies were delightful and cozy. I saw something even more beautiful every time I walked through the site. I will remember its beauty. I appreciate the attention you paid to the details of our stay. Renting the whole site added to the cohesiveness of our group. The sharing circle was safe and gave us room to explore why we had come to Mexico. It was a very personal experience."  —HS 2018

All my best,

Ellie