One of unexpected highlights of the retreat I lead with Laurie last week was the Magic Hour Photo Club. It was meant to be pretty low-key – I knew I’d want to be taking photographs at that hour and thought if anyone wanted to join me we could talk shop about geeky camera stuff. But nearly everyone arrived! and without any special lesson prepared I decided to share what I do best – demonstrate a typical portrait session.

This is where the fun began.

I asked someone to model and showed what I do to direct them – the silly things I say and do to get the person to laugh or to get something real + tender to come through.

For the person in the “hot seat” it was intense. Imagine 20 women with their cameras trained on you. So vulnerable. Except now imagine the most kind + generous paparazzi in the Universe. This paparazzi cheers and shouts things like, Look how beautiful she is! Look at the light coming through her hair! Oh my gosh, look at her smile! She’s glowing. And her eyes… Real. Authentic. An exuberant reflecting back of what we were seeing.

The effect this had on the subject was stunning. I watched each woman come alive. Rise up in the swell of support + genuine kindness. We saw each other with the kindest eyes. The eyes of mothers. The eyes of sisters. The eyes of friends.

I couldn’t help but feel like it was pure soul work we were doing together. Healing through art. Healing through love + connection. Healing through allowing others to see you. It was just some of the unexpected medicine of this retreat.

But the best part? The medicine didn’t end there.

The medicine was in the way we sat in a circle listening to each others’ writing and stories. It was everyone being in bathing suits in the pool together, even though many of us hadn’t put on a bikini in years. The medicine was in the way we painted on paper, watching the colors bleed together in a joyous brew. It happened when we danced and sweat during Nia class. It happened when we felt shy and sat down at a table full of new people to eat lunch. The medicine was in the beautiful food and the wine and the stories and the laughter. The medicine was in each of us, for each other.

If you see these photos + some part of your heart is whispering, I wish I could have been there! then please join us for our next retreat in October! We’ll be doing more portraits for sure. More details below.

Opening the Creative Channel: October 10th-12th, 2014 in the Bay Area

Opening the Creative Channel is a gathering of kindred spirits who will share stories, gorgeous food + creative exercises. We’ll write, we’ll pull out cameras and pens, we’ll put words to paper, play with color and even take a field trip, all in the service of opening the creative channel and waking up our intuition so we can hear the sound of our own music. Only 20 lucky peeps!

I’ll be collaborating with my dear friend and writing teacher, Laurie Wagner. Besides being a great teacher, Laurie is also a coach, author of 7 books, a mixed media artist and a mother of two. She is also one of the kindest + wisest people I know. It will be love at first sight, promise.

Here are the details:

When: October 10th- October 12th, 2014 Saturday and Sunday
9:30-4:30pm each day.
Bonus: Friday evening we’ll meet up in for an opening circle + tea + cookies

Where: Laurie Wagner’s gorgeous home in Alameda, CA (close to SF + Oakland) See photo above…Doesn’t it make you want to pull up a chair and a make a friend?

What: A gathering of kindred spirits for sharing stories, gorgeous food, and creative exercises.  We’ll write, we’ll pull out cameras and pens, we’ll put words on paper, play with color and take a field trip to a magical place, all in the service of awakening our intuition and our joy.

Easy Peasy: No previous experience or expertise required. We are not here to create brilliant art. This workshop is about opening ourselves to the creative channel that lives inside each of us, and which, when we tune into it, allows us to hear the sound of our own music, find our authentic words and ultimately be free to live with more creativity, intuition and joy. You just need to bring an open heart + a willingness to share.

Your guides: Andrea Scher + Laurie Wagner

Who: Only 20 lucky peeps! Register now!

Cost: $475 This includes Friday evening + all day Saturday and Sunday. Catered lunch is provided + all the coffee, tea + snacks your heart desires. Plus, 20 of the most lovely humans you just met!

Why: Because we’re so much more alive when we’re turned to the channel of our own intuitive magic. To connect with other women in a fun, cozy and creative environment.

Refund Policy: The bottom line is we want to play with YOU! If it turns out your plans change, please know that your ticket is non-refundable, but you can always transfer it to a friend.

Where to stay? Any hotel in SF, Oakland or Alameda will be great. We’re happy to send over some suggestions.

We promise: Deep connection, creative play + lots of laughter. We hope to have you!

 

To register for the weekend of October 10th – 12th, click the Register button below!