The Inner Artist Retreat
South of France
2nd - 6th September, 2024
WITH MELISSA ABDINE & GYAN GURUNG
Join us in the South of France where a playground awaits your inner artist. Together with kindred spirits on this journey, we will gather to nurture the artist inside and make space to play and be. Are you ready to take a leap of heart and open up to the life your inner artist wants to express and live?
OUR PLAYGROUND
The Happy Hamlet
Fauroux, France
WHAT IS THE RETREAT ABOUT?
The Journey
If you are looking for a transformation, you might not find it here. The Inner Artist Retreat is not about creating a transformation in you- its about allowing an ease of being-ness. Thats where the magic is… an acceptance of who you are. Is it a transformation when a snail pokes its head out of the shell? This revealing of that which is soft…that which was always already there… You see, there is nothing really to change, but only to reveal. Only to make space for the inside to come out.
The Artist inside taking a peek from the window
You see the party going on in the street
Maybe you feel brave to put a foot out the door
Your heart beats with the rhythm of the music
Your feet know the moves
Oh yes the singing and dancing of life
That is what you come out of the shell for
Don’t you see?
You all want to do this
It is an innate part of your essence
Yet so many convince themselves
The protection of the shell
Is what they need
And should be satisfied with
And so they build a life
That works with the shell
They build a life around the shell
And end up NEEDING the shell
So they stay inside…
Your invitation
To emerge
Our time at the retreat is not about breaking that shell. We all have them... maybe its a job, a relationship, family or societal expectations, health condition, what we believe about ourselves. It is not to make you choose one or the other, but more about trying out the potential of the other… the being-ness of the soft when you have been too accustomed to the hard. A curious lens, a playground of sorts. What would it be like, to have this part of you nurtured... even celebrated? The retreat is a pocket of space where the slime won’t be judged. Where you feel safe enough to reveal and gently bring the soft part outside- that is your inner artist.
OUR HOME FOR THE RETREAT
The Happy Hamlet
"I don't remember the last time I felt so light, whole and happy as I did while in the Hamlet, and now even after that". When a previous guest of the Hamlet says this, and looking through the pictures yourself, you can see why we couldn't imagine a more fitting place to welcome your inner artist. With its restoration journey from neglected ruins to the utterly charming countryside farmhouse hideaway it is today... the Hamlet itself carries the essence of joy and renewal in its life force. We can't wait for you to be supported by this energy and experience the delightful hospitality of our hosts Suska & Nico who we know you will just adore.
LOVE NOTES FOR THE HAPPY HAMLET
"Once you arrive you never ever want to leave! The most beautiful place, the most warm hearted & kind hostess, the most caring service, the most delicious food.. I still miss those tomatoes from the close by farm! French farmhouse living at its best. Bisous to Suska, I will be back!"
"We loved the timeless place. We loved its soul and the soul of its owners. We loved to discover this type of spirit of France we thought had already disappeared. We loved the space. We loved the decoration. We loved the attention to detail. We loved to cook here. We loved the softness of the water of the pool. We loved the shooting stars at night. Simplicity raised to a luxury level. Thank you Suska & Nicolas for this magnificent week. Stay as you are."
"Lost for words! Cozy, absolutely beautiful, quiet, fantastic bed, spacious- I seriously loved it! Its hard to remember a nicer room on my travels, and I travel a lot! Everything is also clean and fresh, and the common areas indoors and outdoors are full of lovely details. Food again- speechless... As a passionate cook, I got more inspiration from your meals than any cookbook! The service was excellent, everything functioned perfectly. Expectations were quickly exceeded on any and all levels. Thank you very much for everything!"
Who is the inner artist retreat best suited for?
Anyone who feels the desire to open up to a life of more play and creativity... maybe you feel stuck in your circumstances... lost your sense of self... maybe you haven't been able to explore or express your creative side for a while... maybe you've had some big shifts in your life, or you are burnt out and in need of some deep rest... maybe you are approaching a threshold and life is asking you to embrace a new way of being... maybe you take yourself too seriously and want to lighten up... perhaps there is simply a longing to belong... to enjoy the company of kindred spirits who understand and just get you! We welcome you, friends! This retreat is for you!
OUR TIME TOGETHER
Each day we will have sessions that invite you to play in a new way. We will remain embodied in our bodies- we will move, sing, dance, create with our hands. We will stay tender and share from our hearts, witness and celebrate each other's inner artists in circles, walks, over meals together. We'll lay in the sun, nap in hammocks, admire the beauty of flowers, sit around a fire, gaze at the stars... gather ingredients that feed our souls. We will relax our nervous systems to the frequency of our inner artist so we can start bringing that more into our outer realities. This playground is deep and light. While we share this experience together in the company of kindred spirits, there will also be space for silence and contemplation alone. And throughout, we will receive deep nourishment and enjoy the warm hospitality of The Happy Hamlet and savour being in this beautiful corner of France with all of our senses.
MEET YOUR FACILITATORS
Gyan
Agent of Joy, Steward of Wonder- Hi I’m Gyan! Through my workshops and retreats, I help people deepen their capacity for joy and see how we can make a little more room for wonder and whimsy in our everyday life. My toolkit includes: Flower Arranging, Nature Altars, Inner Voice, Authentic Movement, Ceremonies- I'm so eager to share some of these at the retreat! When I share my energy with you, I am simply inviting you to explore:
Is there a lighter, more playful way for me to exist?
Am I deeply delighted by who I am?
Do I feel connected to the aliveness of the world?
WHO IS GYAN'S INNER ARTIST?
My inner Artist is the little boy who wore his sister’s dress and ran around the neighbourhood only to later be told that what he did was wrong. That boy started believing that who he is, is wrong. He is the 15 year old who just moved to the UK and didn’t speak for a year, because he was afraid of making mistakes. He is the one who picked up a camera at 16, bringing home props from the charity shop and getting friends to dress up for photo shoots. He made a blog called ‘A song for your heart’ and started sharing his pictures and words on the internet!
At university, he is the one who said, "Let’s have fun! A fresh start, we can be whoever we want to be!" When I was deeply miserable as a secondary school Maths Teacher and losing hope, he is the one who was bold and decided to quit. When the recruiter said I didn’t qualify for the jobs I wanted and told me to search for internships instead- my inner artist was the one who said “I will never let somebody tell me that I cannot do something”. I decided to pursue Photography and this ensued the past 8 years of running my own business full time.
He is the one who brings me flowers and he loves waking up to cosmos and dahlias on the bedside table, and says hello to them first thing in the morning :) He talks to trees, brings home leaves and twigs to make altars. He travels the world, touching hearts wherever he goes. Leaping around like a mischievous leprechaun, taking flight like a colourful bird, he sings and he loves to dance. This soft human shell of a soft soul- I have become my Inner Artist.
My Inner Artist is Me.
MEET YOUR FACILITATORS
Melissa
Hi I'm Mel~ Field guide for souls. Meet me under the moonlight, out on a trail, under the oak tree in my Austin cottage... Let's walk you home to your heart one step and one breath at a time. I support you to feel big feelings, connect to your own inner wisdom, gain clarity on your next right step and uncover your own soul spark + magic. In my backpack, you'll find Breathwork, Yoga, Sound and Energy Healing, Inner Voice, Soul Walks, and Circle Rituals. I am giddy with excitement to connect with you at our retreat and share my love of France, creative expression, nature, intuition and the healing power of communing with other like minded souls. Together in community, I am curious for each of us to explore~ Who am I? AND… Am I having any fun yet???
WHO IS MELLISA'S INNER ARTIST?
The inner artist first appeared to me around 5~ with an inner knowing to connect to God by writing a secret code in my pink 'Hello Kitty' diary. Over the years, she has held me, guided me and helped me heal and lighten up in so many ways! She came through the awkward phases of middle school and puberty, lip syncing Paula Abdul’s ‘Straight Up!’ at the end of the year talent show. Again, she visited me at 16 in the depths of an eating disorder to write a moving heart speech to try out for ASB Secretary after seeing the popular kids get voted in year after year. She urged me to bring my stand up James Dean cut out with me on stage while I delivered said speech and to wear my red ‘power’ suit with the gold buttons. Low and behold, I won!
In my 20’s she came with visits to the thrift store to create unique outfits. While I was struggling with infertility, she kept on reminding me of my creativity and beckoned me to ‘birth’ a creative project which led to pregnancy and exiting teaching 1st grade. With her guidance I created a line of baby & children’s t-shirts which blossomed after the birth of my second daughter. Returning over and over again as a young mama with anxiety... calling me to dance in the kitchen with my girls, paint, use glitter as much as possible, dye my hair pink, add play in any way~ anything to move energy and be in the frequency of creativity.
While struggling with chronic pain in my early 40’s, she led me to ‘The Artists Way’ by Julia Cameron. This book took me on a journey of discovery I am still on today. I began writing daily again, and now I am writing a book! My Inner Artist is the softness and the fire that lives and breathes inside of me lovingly nudging me to get outside, lay on the earth and gaze at the moon and stars. She is the one that reminds me to write and walk as much as I can everyday. She is the one that tells me "It is ok, take a breath. Slow down. Take it all in. Allow yourself a moment to be with the magic and beauty of being alive today".
INVESTMENT: €1444
- 4 nights Accommodation (at The Happy Hamlet, ranked in 50 most beautiful hotels by GEO Saison)
- Shared twin rooms with private en-suite bathroom
- Fully catered meals & drinks with nourishing local produce & supplies
- Airport Transfer for the group (to & from Toulouse Airport)
- Facilitator led sessions each day with plenty of space to rest
- Access to swimming pool, sauna & acres of the French countryside to explore in free time
YOUR FLIGHTS & TRAVEL INSURANCE NOT INCLUDED
Questions & Answers
what is the exact itinerary?
You will arrive in the afternoon of Monday 2nd September and depart late morning on Friday 6th September. Each day will be varied and we want to create an experience of adventure, so we won't share the full itinerary in advance. However we will provide guidance on what to bring. While we hope that you will find the schedule spaciously balances the guided group experiences, rest and relax, alone time- please know that the activities are an invitation not an obligation, and you don't have to do every single thing on the itinerary.
What are the arrangements for rooms & food?
You will be staying in a shared twin room with private en-suite bathroom. Each of the rooms are full of character, beautifully decorated, spacious with a sitting area and comfortable beds. The bathrooms are modern with feature tiles- in fact, the rooms are named based on the colour of those tiles and its one of the many things we love about the Happy Hamlet! Nourishing fresh meals with local ingredients will be deliciously prepared on site for us and dietary requirements will be lovingly taken into consideration.
WHAT ARE THE PAYMENT TERMS & CANCELLATION POLICY?
To reserve your spot, a deposit of €555 (euros) is required. The remaining balance of €889 is due one month latest before the retreat (2nd August, 2024). We require all participants to organise their own travel insurance. Please see below our cancellation policy:
- Cancellation before 2nd June: Deposit refunded
- Cancellation before 2nd August: Deposit forfeited
- Cancellation after 2nd August: No refund
HOW DO I REACH THE VENUE?
The Happy Hamlet is located in Fairoux- 1 hour north of Toulouse, 2 hours from Bordeaux, 2.5 hours from the Mediterranean sea, the Atlantic, and the Pyrenees. The nearest airport is Toulouse-Blagnac (97 km) and to make it a hassle free journey, airport transfer will be arranged for the group. The nearest train stations are: Moissac (26 km), Agen (41 km) & Montauban (45 km) away.
CONTACT US
If you have any questions or would like to speak with us before booking, please use the form below to send a message. You can also email directly: rootedwithmelissa@gmail.com
Connect with us on Instagram: @rootedwithmel & @gyangurung_