A Retreat for Designed for You
Relax and explore the French countryside from a converted 17th century convent in a charming farming village in the Southwest of France. Get away from your routine and take a sabbatical in an environment of relaxation, rejuvenation, and exploration. Pause and create space to explore, play, and be present for yourself. Enjoy family style, fresh, local, healthy, and delicious vegetarian meals and leave rested and inspired. You are invited to explore various creative experiences as a vehicle for curiosity, joy, and reflection. What might you create without attachment to the outcome? No artsy experience is needed, or even thinking you're a 'creative' person.
Location
Join us at Le Vieux Couvent, a retreat center located in the Lot Region of Southwestern France. This 17th century former convent is nestled in the rural town of Frayssinet. It offers comfortable lodging, an art studio, lush gardens, courtyard, secluded patios, and two pools. There is plenty of room to get away or to connect in small or large groups. During your stay you will be pampered by the retreat staff who provide gourmet vegetarian meals and day trips to local venues for exploration and inspiration.
Explore
You are sure to be able to disconnect from the routine and relax, explore, and create in this majestic region of France. The area is celebrated for its beautiful countryside, vineyards, prehistoric cave paintings, and historic villages. Group excursions provide the opportunity to engage in and explore the local culture. There is also ample time to shop and dine.
Activities
Here are some of our planned activities:
Rocamadour - Breathtaking city on a cliff. The history of the village dates back to prehistoric times, but it is most famous as a pilgrimage destination in the middle ages. You can still take a meditative journey through the stations of the cross.
Les Grottes de Cougana. This location boasts the oldest know cave paintings still open to the public where you can get almost close enough to touch them. The cave paintings will show that creativity is part of the human spirit and will be the inspiration for some of our creative activities.
Cahors & Pont Valentre Bridge: The medieval portion of Cahors was build in the 13th century and is the location of the famous bridge that was never fully completed. You will learn the history and the story of the bridge as an introduction to various creative writing, speaking, and vocalizing activities.
Les Jardins d'eau de Carsac-Aillac: Breathtaking water gardens where we will not only take in the natural beauty, but mindfully meditate and truly experience the gardens as we follow the many pathways.
Cooking Lesson: We will learn to bake traditional French bread or another traditional French dish as an introduction to being more mindful of our food and eating.
The actual activities may very depending on weather and availability and none of these activities can be guaranteed due to reasons outside our control.
Reflect & Integrate
While at Le Vieux Couvent you will have time to relax and integrate all that your senses have taken in through independent creative expression and solitary reflection in the garden. Join in community time during the workshops designed to get you out of your routine and explore and express yourself or choose to spend time alone reflecting in the garden.
Relax & Refresh
Take a needed break in an environment of relaxation, rejuvenation, and exploration. Pause and create space to explore, create, play, and be present for yourself so you can leave rested and inspired. This is your retreat, and you are encouraged to engage in as much or as little as meets your personal needs. All excursions, workshops and meditation sessions are optional.
Join Us
Cost: $4,000 per person
$600 due with application
This retreat is limited to 14 participants.
Refund Policy: See FAQ
Travel Insurance: See FAQ
Questions? Email retreats@mindfullycreative.org or click on the button at the bottom of the page to set up a call.
Your Facilitators
BOB KENNEDY
RACHEL SIMPSON
RACHEL SIMPSON
Bob Kennedy is a teacher, mentor, coach and guide in mindfulness, spirituality, life skills, self-care, business, and other interrelated topics. He is a certified mindfulness meditation teacher and leads classes, workshops, and retreats on a variety of topics including mindfulness, self-care, self-compassion, and numerous other spiritual and self-care focused topics.
Bob has been helping people on life’s journey for over 30 years. He was ordained as a Non-Denominal Minister and received a Doctor of Divinity in 2006 and as an Interfaith Minister in 2012. He identifies as a Christian Mystic and wanderer.
RACHEL SIMPSON
RACHEL SIMPSON
RACHEL SIMPSON
Rachel Simpson is a minister, teacher, coach, and creative. She facilitates classes, events, and retreats with themes of self-discovery, compassion, and spiritual practice. She serves several ministries as leader, chaplain, spiritual director, database wizard, and more. Rachel has seen too many great people struggle from doing too much for too long and is thrilled to hold the space at this retreat for rest, renewal, clarity, and joy.
Rachel received her Master of Divinity and was ordained as a Unity Minister in 2013, and her undergraduate degree is in theatre and music. She a Special Olympics Snowshoe and Swim coach, and dog mom to 2 Husky/German Shepherds.