We will use two powerful and natural meditation practices:  free flowing words  and  directed sacred art to inspire the  creative imagination and tap more deeply into where we are, and who we are, on this powerful and ancient pilgrimage road.

Beebe  Bahrami is an award winning writer, anthropologist and life long pilgrim. Beebe's writing practices are designed to skilfully guide and support you in a spontaneous discovery of personal story and exploration of place, while relating to the nourishing energies of the Camino landscape. These writing journeys will be a mix of spontaneous soul writing (let's-find-out-what's-inside-you free association writing); writing in and about place (set in places of power such as petroglyphs dating from 2,500 BC); and your personal story (finding your unique stories buried deep within).

Bertrand and Basia will prepare you for, and take you on field trips to special places, including ancient petroglyphs, a Mozarabic monastery, and more, all aligned with classes in sacred geometry. Classes are not only informative but invite you into a meditative contemplative process aimed to deepen your experience of these places and to stir the soul and the creative imagination. We also offer to teach you how to make and paint your geometrical patterns with self made earthen pigments from the Camino and other natural pigments. 

Beebe, Basia and Bertrand will also provide presentations on the Camino - on themes of :

  *   the labyrinth as a pilgrimage in its own right, the liminal journey both on the Camino and defined by key rites of passage in our lives,

  *    the  game  of  the Goose and  its  symbolism,

  *   geometry  and  nature  in  the  Camino  architecture,

  *   stories  of  fantastic and  magical  creatures  on  the  Camino,

  *   and  pilgrims' stories  past  and  present  about  the  transformative  power  of  the  Camino  and  its  magic.

This will be your own, unique  journey with personal  time  to  explore  as  well  as  group  time  together. We will start each day with "morning pages" :  hand-written  flow  of  consciousness.  This  aims to ground and set our inner compass for the day's journeys and each evening you will be invited to share your writing and the stories they reveal, on a voluntary basis. 

A Colorado native who annually divides her time between the USA, southwestern France, and northern Spain, Beebe Bahrami (PhD) is an award winning writer, book author and  anthropologist. She embraces all true spiritual traditions as sacred as a lifelong pilgrim, explorer, and devotee of the Earth’s immense beauty. Beebe’s mission is to find and write the deep stories of people and place, especially those on the trails of the Camino de Santiago in Spain, France, and Portugal. She experiences walking and writing as perfect partners toward uncovering and discovering compelling stories, both without and within.  Beebe's writing appears in numerous magazines and collections and she has written several nonfiction books, including the new Camino guidebook, Moon Camino de Santiago, as well as The Spiritual Traveler Spain—A Guide to Sacred Sites and Pilgrim Routes, Historic Walking Guides Madrid, and two travelogues, Café Oc—A Nomad’s Tales of Magic, Mystery, and Finding Home in the Dordogne of Southwestern France, and Café Neandertal—Excavating the Past in One of Europe’s Most Ancient Places. Find out more about Beebe on her website.

Basia  Goodwin (MA) studied  at  the  Prince's  Foundation  School  of  Traditional  Arts.  Bertrand  Gamrowski  (PhD)  has  an  educational  background  in  mathematics.  We  specialise  in  the  use  of  geometry  in  traditional  art  and  philosophy,  especially  the  art  and  architecture  of  the  Camino  and  Northwestern  Spain. Flores  del  Camino  is  our  home  and  it  is  a  work  of  love. Throughout  the  year  we  receive  pilgrims  on  their  way  to  Santiago,  run  retreats and  when  time  permits  make  our  art.  It  is  our  great  honour to live,  work  and  serve  on  this  beautiful  road. Find out more about your hosts and the retreat centre at www.floresdelcamino.com.

Preliminary  timetable   

5th June. Arrival between 3pm and 7pm- evening meal and welcome.

6th June. Introduction to the retreat and direction on "morning pages" and writing exercises. Presentation on the camino, the liminal, the threshold, and the labyrinth. Optional afternoon walk on the Camino  and then writing exercise upon returning from walking. After dinner sharing our writing.  Intention fire.

7th June. Morning pages. Presentation / geometry on the petroglyphs, presentation /geometry of San Miguel. Afternoon optional walk  around Castrillo. Preparation for visits continued.

8th June. Morning pages. Visit to the petroglyphs and San Miguel de Escalada, with time and space to write on site. Afternoon presentation/Stories on the Game of the Goose and other "fantastic creatures" on the Camino. Writing continued. Storytelling in the evening, from writing or spontaneous tales that arise.

9th June. Morning pages. Writing exercise "at the threshold." Afternoon geometry and or self directed writing. Storytelling in the evening.

10th June.  Morning pages. Writing exercise "at the threshold". Afternoon walk and writing on the trail (if weather allows) and or painting geometry designs with natural pigments Storytelling in the evening.

11th June. Morning pages. Morning writing "at the threshold". Afternoon walk and writing on the trail(if weather allows) and or painting geometry designs with natural pigments.  Evening fire ceremony. Final retelling  of  our stories, the story we want to carry home and continue.

12th June. Closing circle after breakfast and departure.

All accommodation consists of individual or double ensuite bedrooms.

Accommodation will be at Flores del Camino or in our nearby partner hotel of a similar standard (about 150m away).

Castrillo  de  los Polvazares   is   considered  one  of  the  most  beautiful  villages  in  all  of Spain.  We  are  situated  200km  east  of  Santiago  de  Compostella,  in  the  heart  of  the Maragateria  region, at the foot of the mountains of Leon.

The  village  is  a  heritage  site,  dating  back  to  the  16th  century.  It  is  in  complete  harmony  with  its  natural  surroundings  made  up  entirely  of  local  red  and  orange   coloured  stones.  They  contrast  to  the beautiful  old  arched  wooden  doors  painted  green,  blue  and  red.  The  village  sparkles  in  the  Spanish  sunlight  and  the  stones   seem  to  catch  fire  and  glow  at  dusk.

The  people  of  the  village, known as  "Maragatos",  are  proud  of  their  traditions  and  customs. You  can  see  their  beautiful  traditional  dresses  and  dances  every  year at  the  "La  Magdalena"  festivities.  The  patron  Saint  of the village -   Mary  Magdalene  is  celebrated   at  the  end  of  July.  

The  surrounding  landscape  is  breathtakingly  beautiful - open  and  vast  with  lots  of  wonderful  paths  to  explore.  Experience  an  explosion  of  wild  flowers in  the  Spring  and  a  landscape  of  golden  platinum  hues  in  the  summer.

The  retreat  centre, Flores del Camino,  is  a lovingly  renovated  old  stone  Maragato  house.  It  is  made  up  of  ensuite  rooms  nested  around  a  charming  courtyard  with  a  vine  and fruit  trees,  with   beautiful  spaces  for  meetings  and  creativity.  

You will find detailed explanations to get to and from Flores del Camino on our website.

Should you still want tailored assistance for your airport transfers, please select the add on option.