Artwork © Sharon Leighton

Creative Mini Retreat 1: Watering Your Seeds Of Creativity

Over the course of 2026/27, a series of eight Creative Mini Retreats explores creativity as a spiritual path. Each retreat can be booked as a standalone event. Together, the eight sessions build on each other and offer a deep dive into mindful creativity. Come to one, come to some, or come to all Creative Mini Retreats!

These afternoon sessions are opportunities to be in touch with the heart and source of your creativity through meditation, reflection, creative discovery and play.

How can we nurture our creativity in life and in the arts and a range of media? We’ll take time to relax and discover what supports our authentic expression. You’re invited to give the problem solving mind a break, to listen to your creative inspiration, and to allow yourself to be surprised and renewed.

Our world needs creative expression that comes from a deep place of connection with ourselves, each other, the web of life and the ultimate dimension.

Date & Time: Saturday 16 May 2026, 2.30-5.30pm UK time

Fee: £25.00 Standard, £35.00 Supporter (supports a reduced place, thank you for you generosity), £15.00 Reduced (for those on low and no incomes)

Booking: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/1984301738917

Landart © Dietmar Voorwold, https://www.landart-creations.com

This retreat invites you to (re)discover your creative flow through meditation, nature immersion, and playful explorations in community. There’s time to experiment with colours, sounds, words, and materials from the natural world. Time to slow down and listen, to explore, play, and be surprised by what emerges. You’re invited to become curious, receptive, playful, adventurous and tender.

The weekend will include

• Guided mindfulness meditations in the Zen Buddhist tradition of Plum Village and Thich Nhat Hanh
• Gentle movement practices to support our embodied presence
• A Dharma teaching on creativity as a Dharma door
• Creative explorations indoors and outdoors with colours, sounds, words, and materials from the natural world
• Sharing circles

Date: Friday 24 July – Sunday 26 July 2026

Venue: Cornwall

Fee: to be confirmed

Registration: will open soon, please register your interest here.

Landart © Dietmar Voorwold, https://www.landart-creations.com

“In each one of us is an artist. The artist is very important. The artist can bring freshness, joy, and meaning to life.” 
 Thich Nhat Hanh

We all have seeds of creativity inside, and during this retreat we will water them. Together, we’ll explore ‘play’ as one of the four pillars of Plum Village practice. As we come home to the present moment and allow body and mind to relax, the natural world will become our teacher and guide. Through creative explorations indoors and outdoors we’ll nourish qualities of openness, aimlessness, aliveness and connection.

At the height of summer, nature is inviting us to come out and play! What a wonderful time of year to come home to the present moment and connect with the Earth through mindfulness and creativity. This retreat invites you to rediscover your innate creative flow through meditation, nature immersion, and playful exploration.

Slowing down through mindful breathing, sitting and walking opens doors to our natural creativity. You’ll have time  to experiment with colours, sounds, words, and materials from the natural world. Time to explore, to play, and to be surprised by what emerges.

Thich Nhat Hanh encouraged us to embrace the energies of creativity and play as part of our practice. Mindfulness and creative exploration have a lot in common, they reach beyond words and touch the heart. They benefit from curiosity, beginner’s mind and non-judgment. Creativity supports our mindfulness, and mindfulness nurtures our creativity.

In our time together, embodied mindfulness practices, nature immersion and creative exercises help us touch the heart and source of our creative energy. We will listen deeply to the sounds of nature around, the creative stirrings within and the pieces we create together and individually. Along the way, we might meet our inner child with its playfulness, innocence and wisdom, and we might also meet our inner critic. This is a precious chance to befriend them both and to uncover their gifts.

Playfulness and ease are an essential part of our creative journey together. Meditation, gentle movement, deep relaxation, creative exploration, songs, humming, toning, deep listening, sharing circles and plenty of time outdoors will all be part of this retreat.

Date: 7-12 August 2026

Venue: Being Peace Practice Center, Abenhall, Gloucestershire

Details & Booking: https://beingpeace.uk/program/retreats/the-heart-of-creativity/

Landart © Dietmar Voorwold, https://www.landart-creations.com

Details to come soon.

For a free download of Susanne’s chapter, please contact her.

Price: eBook £9.75 (worldwide), paperback £24.75 including p&p (UK only). All proceeds go to the Everyone Project, helping fund mindfulness courses to groups who otherwise wouldn’t have access to them, for financial or other reasons.

Available here: Please email Vin Harris, .