Beauty and Insight
Venue - The Guesthouse, Southern Sweden
Artists and meditators are both feeling their way into the hidden truths of the world. Each day of this retreat, we take one artist and draw out the Dharma at work beneath the surface — letting it feed both our inspiration and our practice.
Each day begins with a presentation on a particular artist, looking closely at their work and drawing out its Dharma elements. A second session is more workshop-based: you'll be guided through creative prompts to explore through drawing, writing, painting, or any medium you choose. For this retreat, we'll have dedicated art spaces set up, including a painting space and a makers' workshop.
Silence
After arriving and taking time to get to know one another, we'll spend most of each day in silence, coming together each evening over dinner for a salon — inspired by the traditional gatherings of artists, poets, and philosophers who met to exchange ideas. For us, it's a relaxed, open space to share what's alive in our practice and draw inspiration from one another.
Who is this retreat suitable for?
This retreat suits anyone with an established meditation practice and some basic Dharma knowledge. There will be less meditation than on our other retreats, and more time for art practice — though the meditation space remains available throughout.
“Practicing an art, no matter how well or badly, is a way to make your soul grow, for heaven’s sake. Sing in the shower. Dance to the radio. Tell stories. Write a poem to a friend, even a lousy poem. Do it as well as you possibly can. You will get an enormous reward. You will have created something.”
See a typical day on retreat for a sense of the programme.
Read more about who our retreats are for.
