I am thrilled to share some of the most beautiful moments, insights, and 6 Mindful Art lessons from my recent Art Retreat in beautiful Lake Atitlán, Guatemala. This experience was not just a journey; it was a dream come true.
Lake Atitlán, Guatemala
Let's begin with a dream that took shape five years ago. In it, I found myself on the calm waters at the base of three volcanoes, on my way to one of the smaller islands to teach. The dream was so vivid, and the landscape so stunningly beautiful, that I couldn't help but share it with a close friend. To my surprise, they suggested it sounded like Lake Atitlán. A quick Google search confirmed that it looked exactly as it did in my dream! In 2018, I arranged to teach in Lake Atitlán, but the trip was canceled due to an accident. Since then, I've felt a strong calling to explore and teach there. This retreat opportunity was a manifestation of that dream; a testament to the power of intentions and dreams in shaping our paths.
During my time at Lake Atitlán, I had the joy of reconnecting with the simple art of slowing down. The retreat offered us all a space to cultivate a daily practice of meditation, somatic movement, yoga, mindful expressive arts, journaling, poetry, improvisational singing, and more. It was like hitting the reset button on life.
We co-created a nature-based mandala, and explored both individual and group Mindful Expressive Arts practices…
We creatively played with a variety of markers, colored pencils, crayons, oil pastels, watercolor painting, intuitive collages, poetry, and expressive arts writing in everything ranging from small mindful art journals to bigger (sometimes collaborative) pieces…
We even played with gestures, sound, improvisational singing, and dancing with full permission to notice and express what felt true for us at the moment…
When we weren't creating, we were meditating, releasing tension through somatic movement, and going on mindful nature walks...
Sometimes we were relaxing in hammocks, reading, napping, grounding during a sound bath, star-gazing, eating delicious homemade vegan food at the farm, singing and drumming in the community by the fire...
We visited a family-run Cacao Farm near Chicacao (as Guatemala is known for its ceremonial Cacao)...
…and explored some of the nearby markets in San Marcos.
I’d love to share some of my key insights from this transformative journey. I hope they inspire or spark your own curiosities and mindful creative practice.
5 MINDFUL ART LESSONS & REMINDERS:
Unleashing Creativity:
The retreat reaffirmed the incredible potential for insights, reflections, creativity, healing, and connection that can blossom when we intentionally create in a safe and nurturing space.
The Infinite Well of Creativity:
I was reminded that our creativity is like a bottomless well. The more we dip into it, the deeper it gets. It's a journey of self-discovery that has no end. This is largely why I'm such a strong advocate for a daily mindful creativity practice - even if it's only 5 minutes.
Mindful Art as Self-Exploration:
While Mindful Art can be calming and therapeutic, at its core, it's a profound tool for self-awareness, self-compassion, and self-expression. Many participants, new to the practice, were pleasantly surprised by how much mindful expressive arts helped them notice and be with what was present for them at the moment (such as their thoughts and emotions) without judgment. Sharing these experiences within the group created a sense of community that was as essential as the creative process itself.
The Healing Power of Nature AND COMMUNITY:
Daily doses of sunshine and nature were a balm for the mind and body. They reminded me of the importance of grounding ourselves in the beauty of the Earth, as well as connecting in a supportive community.
Minimalism in Mindful Art:
Traveling with a small art journal and minimal supplies was liberating. It highlighted that mindful creative practices can be accessible anywhere, with even the simplest tools.
This retreat was filled with fellow artists, yogis, therapists, coaches, and holistic practitioners and felt overflowing with support and community. As I sat there surrounded by like-minded souls, I couldn't help but feel overwhelmed with gratitude for the path that had brought me to that moment. It was a reminder of the transformative power of mindful art practices and how they can lead us to places we never imagined.
And now, I'm excited to share that I'm considering offering new in-person retreats in the coming year, also in collaboration with kindred spirits I met on this journey. I'd love to hear your thoughts on this and whether you'd be interested in a weekend escape or an extended week-long retreat. Feel free to simply reply and comment on this blog post; I’d love to hear from you. You can also email me directly through my website at https://mindfulcreativemuse.com/contact
To dive deeper into your Mindful Art practice at home, you learn more and join one of our online mindful art classes, or retreats, or teacher training programs here:
❥ Mindful Art and Meditation Teacher Training
❥ 12 monthly Mindful Art Retreats Online from home
❥ Mindful Art and Nature Course
You can see all of our Online Classes, Retreats, and Teacher Training HERE.
These online offerings are a beautiful way for you to dive deeper into your personal or teaching practice from home. Whether you want to explore Mindful Art and Nature activities, and retreats, or learn how to teach and market your offerings and retreats, I'm happy to offer you more support in the training.
Oh, AND - keep an eye out in my next couple of weekly emails (signup below), as I’ll be sharing some sweet videos highlighting the new mindful art activities and media I’ve been playing with lately.
For MORE Mindful Art inspiration:
Download your free Mindful Art Workbook for Self-Care HERE
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Thank you for being part of this beautiful journey. I can't wait to share more mindful art experiences, insights, and creative adventures with you in the future.
With warmth and creativity,
Cynthia
