The Writer’s Way on a Pilgrim Path

June 1 - 12,  2024

The Writer’s Way on a Pilgrim Path with Rosalind Brackenbury

Join us on-site for a soulful 10-day writing retreat  
June 1-12, 2024

with the possibility to add …

Part II:  Extend your Retreat with an optional pilgrimage

A 12 day select itinerary walking to Santiago de Compostela   
June 12 - 24, 2024

The Essence of our Retreat 

With uninterrupted time away from the demands of daily life, discover and explore the stories deep within. Within an intimate circle of fellow companions, experience two powerful and natural meditation practices: free flowing words and and optional opportunity to try your hand at preparing and painting with natural earth pigments. Inspire the creative imagination and tap more deeply into where we are, and who we are, on this powerful and ancient pilgrimage road.

As writers, we won’t know what we’ll write until we do it – as you don’t know what is around the next bend, or over the next hill when you walk. So, we’ll be putting our feet on the ground, literally and metaphorically, moving forward each day into something unexpected, eventually writing whatever it is we have come here to write. The writer as pilgrim lays herself open to the moving landscapes within, and the gifts that await.

Welcome to The Writer’s Way on a Pilgrim Path.

The Spirit of Place

You will be supported and skillfully guided by Rosalind Brackenbury and Kim Narenkivicius in a discovery of personal story and exploration of place, while relating to the inspiring Camino landscape. Writing themes include : Spirit of Place, its details and atmosphere, how we find ourselves in the immediate world around us, and the ways we map the experience of place and time.  

Special Visits 

You will be inspired by visits to special sites in breathtaking surroundings: 4,000 year old petroglyphs and a dolmen with mid-season alignments; as well as an ancient Visigothic chapel. 

Sacred Designs and Connecting with the Earth

Basia Goodwin and Bertrand Gamrowski will prepare you for these visits to deepen your experience. Engaging in ancient craft practices, you will create simple yet profound geometrical patterns, such as labyrinths and Celtic-like weaving knots, mirroring those you'll encounter to gain a deeper appreciation.  Furthermore, you'll delve into the traditional art of making earthen pigments sourced directly from the Camino, using these natural colors to bring your designs to life. This unique process of creating paint from the very earth of the Camino will inspire you to connect to place and the pilgrimage journey – experiencing the process as just as valuable as the end destination.  

You can continue to play with the pigments throughout the week if you so wish.

Being Present

This retreat offers spacious time for personal exploration, enriched by moments of shared experience. You will be held in a daily rhythm starting with “morning pages”, a handwritten flow of consciousness, grounding us for the day's creative ventures. We will close our day by gathering around the fire. You will be invited  to share the stories woven through your writing journey—a collective odyssey within the sanctuary of our retreat.

Is this retreat for me?

No prior writing experience or artistic abilities are required, only a curious and open mind. 

If the following describes you, then you are a perfect fit for this retreat:

• I appreciate moments of quietness & times of reflection.
• I give space to others and can listen.
• I value community experiences as well as my own  individual journey.
  
  

The Village 

You  will  be  staying  in  one  of  the  most  beautiful  villages  in  all  of  Spain  as  voted  by  National  Geographic.   A  heritage  site,  the  village  dates  back  from  Celtic  times  to  the  16th  century.  Enjoy  stunning  views  at  every  turn.  The  village  is  in  complete  harmony  with  its  surroundings.  The  warm  coloured  stones  will  embrace  you.  They  glow  at  sunset  and  the  old  arched  wooden  doors  dazzle  red,  blue  and  green.  

A unique experience

Embraced  within  a  peaceful  environment  on  the Camino,  you will  be  held  and  guided  in  expert  care.  As well  as  soul-nourishing  sessions,  enjoy  delicious  meals  homemade  with  fresh  ingredients  and  our  selection  of  local  wines.  

The Retreat Centre

Your  home  will  be  Flores  del  Camino  -  a charming  traditional  Maragato house  with  heart  and  soul  that  has  been  lovingly  renovated  to  host  you.  Enjoy  gorgeous  creative workspaces  nested  around  a  courtyard.  You  will  be  staying   in one  of  our  charming ensuite  rooms  at  Flores,  or  at  the  nearby  hotel  we work  in  partnership  with.   Enjoy  stunning  views  overlooking  the  village,  church  and  rural  landscape.

About your facilitators

Rosalind Brackenbury is a novelist, poet, as well as an experienced teacher.  She has taught many writing workshops – in the UK as writer in schools in SW Scotland, in the US as writer-in-residence at the College of William and Mary and at the Studios of Key West.  She teaches regular classes based on “The Artist’s Way.”  She wrote for “Resurgence” magazine in the UK for many years and has a particular interest in writing about the natural world and ourselves as part of it.  She has walked parts of the Camino twice, in 2010 and again in 2018, and loves walking, wild swimming and dance.

Kim Narenkivicius lives in the mountains of northern Spain along the transformative Camino de Santiago pilgrim trail. As an artist, pilgrim mentor, and anam cara (soul friend), Kim guides individuals and small groups along the trail, with a focus on pilgrimage as a rite of passage. Owner of The Stone Boat, a guesthouse for pilgrims in Rabanal del Camino, she facilitates self-guided writing retreats there during the off-season. Formerly aspiring to fame in fine art photography, Kim now finds recognition for her mystical banana bread. Currently, she invites writers, poets, and artists to contribute to an upcoming anthology series set to publish in the fall.

Basia Goodwin is co-founder of Flores del Camino, an artist, educator, and passionate retreat facilitator. She is dedicated to crafting purposeful space for creative and contemplative journeys and leading groups on the Camino as a rite of passage experience. An alumnus of the Prince's School of Traditional Arts, she specialises in the use of geometry in traditional arts, craft & philosophy. In her creative practice she makes & paints with natural pigments, using local Camino ochre earths and loves to share this joy with others.

Bertrand Gamrowski  is co-founder of Flores del Camino, a craft practitioner, passionate educator and leading expert in the use of geometry in sacred architecture. He specialises in the art and architecture of the Camino de Santiago. He finds joy in teaching geometry as a contemplative and a mindful, hands-on practice.  He is currently co-authoring a book with  Basia  on  the  use of  geometry  in  sacred  art  along  the Camino.

Preliminary  Schedule 

The Writer’s Way on a Pilgrim Path (in-house retreat)

1st  June
Arrival between 3pm and 7pm - evening meal and welcome.

2nd  June
Introduction to the schedule and themes of the retreat. Guided entry into liminal space, a time of slowing down and leaving everyday life behind.  Afternoon walk around the village and  surroundings and then writing exercise upon returning. After dinner sharing our writing.  Intention fire.

3rd June
Morning pages. Writing sessions continued in the morning (Rosalind will offer individual one on one sessions throughout the week).  Afternoon presentation on the Camino and symbols of pilgrimage. 

4th   June
Morning pages. Writing sessions continued in the morning with individual one on one sessions with Rosalind throughout the week.  Afternoon presentation on the Camino, symbols of pilgrimage continued, drawing a labyrinth. 

5th   June
Visit to petroglyphs (depicting labyrinth designs), and labyrinth walk.  Afternoon writing. 

6th   June
Morning pages. Morning session : preparing natural pigments and painting with the earth. Afternoon walk and writing on the trail and or painting with natural pigments. Storytelling in the evenings.

7 th June
Free day

8th June
Visit to Visigothic monastery san miguel de Escalada. Afternoon walk  /  writing on the trail  /  and or painting with natural pigments. Storytelling in the evenings.

9th June
Morning pages. Writing sessions. Afternoon walk  /  writing on the trail  / and or painting with natural pigments. Storytelling in the evenings

10th June
Morning pages. Writing sessions. Afternoon walk  /  writing on the trail  /  and or painting with natural pigments. Storytelling in the evenings.

11 th June
Morning pages. Writing sessions and closing our time together.

Evening fire ceremony. Final retelling of our stories, the story we want to carry home and continue.

12th June
Breakfast and departure, or…

Part II

Extend Your Retreat with  an Optional Pilgrimage

June 12 - 24,  2024

A self-guided 12 day walking pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostela (supported by Kim Narenkivicius)

Your Camino

This is your opportunity to experience walking this ancient pilgrims’ path. A gentle time to extend and integrate your writing retreat, this 12 day pilgrimage from the retreat centre to Santiago is a self-guided journey.  Enjoy a carefully selected itinerary of some of the most beautiful places to stay along the Way.  You will be supported before, during and after your pilgrimage  by Kim, long time pilgrim and experienced guide who mentors pilgrims in the transformative pilgrimage experience. 

Preliminary Schedule for optional Part II walking pilgrimage

The Camino

Includes overnight stays in guesthouses along the way, ensuite individual rooms, breakfasts and luggage transfer.  This Camino is individually tailored for each pilgrim to suit pace and body, itineraries may vary.  Taxis are available all along the Camino if you feel you need your walking day to be shorter.

Kim will hold individual sessions during the writing retreat. Your Camino journey begins upon signing up! 

Pilgrimage Day 1  June 12  Flores del Camino ~ Rabanal del Camino (14km) 

Evening Vespers in the evening in the 12th century atmospheric chapel ruins 

Pilgrimage Day 2  June 13  Rabanal del Camino  ~  El Acebo - (17km) 

Placing your stone at the Cruz de Ferro

Pilgrimage Day 3   June 14   El Acebo   ~  Molinaseca - (15km)

Stunning stone village with river and the foot of the mountain

Pilgrimage Day 4   June 15   Molinaseca ~ Ponferrada ~ Villafranca - (5 + 24 km) 

Templar castle and crossing beautiful vineyards 

Pilgrimage Day 5  June 16  Villafranca   ~  Las Herrerias - (21km)

Gentle streams along the Valley

Pilgrimage Day 6  June 17  Las Herrerias  ~ Fonfria - (23km)
Labyrinth walk and picnic at The Quiet Garden, O Cebreiro 

Pilgrimage Day 7  June 18  Fonfria ~ Sarria  - (28km) 

Passing the threshold - entering into magical Galicia

Pilgrimage Day 8  June 19  Sarria ~ Portomarin - (22km) 

Ancient churches, roman bridge and a beautiful rose window 

Pilgrimage Day 9  June 20  Portomarin ~ Palas de Rei - (25km) 

Visigothic treasures and Eucalyptus trees 

Pilgrimage Day 10  June 21  Palas de Rei ~ Melide - (27km) 

Pulpo 

Pilgrimage Day 11 June 22  Melide ~ O Pedrouzo - (33.3km) 

Monte de Gozo - hill of  joy

Pilgrimage Day 12  June 23  O Pedrouzo ~ Santiago de Compostela - (20km) 

Arrival 

June 24   Santiago de Compostela   full day in Santiago 

Departures on the 25th

This schedule may be subject to changes.

More information...

... about the retreat centre & our retreats, transport, location, how to get there on our website.

Important: terms & conditions

Before booking, please make sure that you have read carefully and understood the Terms & Conditions, so that you know what to expect from the retreat in all circumstances and cases. We are at your disposal if you have any questions.

Note that we have already reached the minimum number of participants necessary for this retreat to happen.