Journey into the Winter Season
Through image and symbol, story and myth
Oct 25 - Nov 4, 2024
Would you like to enter the winter season more purposefully?
Find nourishment in fellowship as we gather around the hearth together…
We warmly invite you into a space for reflection, creative exploration and communal connection, inspired by the rich symbolism of this meaningful time of year.
Embrace and prepare for the seasonal transition into winter
Join us on the Camino during the liminal days of the late October festival of Samhain. In Celtic mythology, this time was considered a threshold period, marking the symbolic end of summer and the beginning of preparations for the winter period. Gift yourself this special time and space to slow down and be present. Journey into the heart of winter’s mysteries through daily rhythm, ritual and craft.
Our daily rhythm will be grounded in morning reflection circles and themes that will be explored creatively throughout the day. Connect with the themes of thresholds, ancestral heritage and the stories deep within. We’ll journey through image and symbol, story and myth.
Re-discover and connect with the natural environment and gifts of the land at this special time of year. Enjoy quiet walks foraging for pigments and other natural materials to use in our craft making. Create a personal visual journal inspired by all that you experience. Explore mark-making, leaf printing, paper embroidery and other creative techniques. Discover, draw and decorate ancient geometric symbols, like spirals, labyrinths and knots that we will encounter in our visits to sacred sites. Engage with timeless beauty, deep roots and meaning.
Special Visits
Visit sacred sites in breathtaking surroundings: prehistoric petroglyphs and a dolmen with mid-season alignments; as well as an ancient Visigothic chapel where we will hold one of our morning circles.
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.
Is this retreat for me?
No prior skills 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.
Your facilitators
Basia Goodwin (MA) 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 works with a variety of mediums , including ceramics & glass. She makes & paints with natural pigments, using local Camino ochre earths. She is currently co-authoring a book on the sacred art of the Camino de Santiago.
Clarissa Grandi (MEd) is a geometric artist, author, and experienced teacher. First and foremost an educator, her passion is introducing beginner artists to the truly accessible art of geometry. She delights in sharing her ideas, materials, and techniques with others, and her background in mathematics teaching enables her to demonstrate and explain difficult concepts simply and clearly. In her own artmaking she enjoys exploring the interplay between the precision of human-made geometry and the more organic and chaotic geometries and symmetries found in nature.
Bertrand Gamrowski (PhD) is co-founder of Flores del Camino, a craft practitioner, skilled 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 philosophy and a mindful, hands-on practice that has relevance to modern times and to every day living. He is currently co-authoring a book as a result 10 years of in-depth research on the use of geometry in rose windows on the Camino.
Preliminary Schedule
Day 1 ~ Arrival - Fri, 25 Oct
Arrival between 4 - 5pm
7pm: evening dinner and welcome
Day 2 - Sat, 26 Oct - Entering Liminal Space
Morning
Introduction to the schedule and themes. Guided entry into liminal space, a time of slowing down and leaving everyday life behind.
Afternoon
Building shared “temenos” through a group activity: a walkable labyrinth built together.
Evening
We will close our day with the poem “Dusk as beginning”.
Day 3 - Sun, 27 Oct - Celtic New Year - Preparing for Winter
Morning
Morning reflection circle: exploration of the themes of Celtic New Year, entering winter and introspection.
Morning activity: expedition into the local landscape to forage for pigments and natural materials.
Afternoon
Introduction to painting with natural pigments. Creating our personal journals.
Evening
Dusk poem and end of day ritual.
Day 4 - Mon, 28 Oct - Connecting with the Land
Morning
Morning reflection circle: connecting to our foraged natural materials through symbolic visualization and imaginative storytelling.
Afternoon
Creating tools from our foraged finds; introduction to expressive mark making and botanical printing.
Evening
Dusk poem and end of day ritual.
Day 5 - Tue, 29 Oct - Ancestors
Morning
Morning reflection circle: exploring the themes of ancestors and roots.
Morning activity: we will explore how our ancestors experienced the land and its rhythms across time.
Afternoon
Introduction to the solstitial calendar wheel in preparation for our visits to the petroglyphs and mid-season dolmens. Drawing 5000-year-old symbols including labyrinths, triskeles and other carved petroglyph motifs.
Evening
Dusk poem and end of day ritual
Day 6 - Wed, 30 Oct - Preparing for the Liminal Days: Thresholds
Morning
Morning reflection circle: we will connect to themes of thresholds, thin spaces, the limen, exploring these through story and myth.
Afternoon
Working with our hands, paper stitching our labyrinths and other motifs.
Evening
Dusk poem and end of day ritual.
Day 7 - Thu, 31 Oct - Crossing the Threshold
Sunrise visit to the Samhain dolmen, weather permitting.
Morning
Morning reflection circle: continuing the theme of thresholds.
Afternoon
Introduction to the sacred geometry of woven Celtic knotwork.
Evening
Dusk poem and end of day ritual.
Day 8 - Fri, 1 Nov - Ancestors’ Fire
Visit to the Visigothic monastery of San Miguel de Escalada.
Morning
Morning reflection circle: continuing the theme of thresholds.
Afternoon
Introduction to gold leaf technique. Use of gold leaf to illuminate our art works.
Evening
Ancestors’ fire ritual.
Day 9 - Sat, 2 Nov - All Souls
Morning
Morning reflection circle: introduction to the theme and symbolism of the tree of life.
Morning activity: art making or journaling and an opportunity to create a communal nature mandala.
Afternoon
Drawing the tree of life.
Evening
Dusk poem and end of day ritual.
Day 10 - Sun, 3 Nov - Re-entry: Endings and Beginnings
Morning
Morning reflection circle: re-entry - endings and beginnings.
Morning activity: finishing our artworks and binding our journals.
Afternoon
Continuation of morning activities.
Closing circle.
Evening
Dusk poem and end of day ritual.
Departure Mon, 4 Nov
Departure after breakfast
What’s included
Accommodation
During your stay at Flores del Camino, all accommodation consists of ensuite bedrooms.
Food
During your stay at Flores del Camino, enjoy nourishing and healthy meals prepared onsite and served with love in either the dining area or in the courtyard under the pergola. Wine is offered at dinner.
Dietary requirements
When on-site at Flores, we cater for the following dietary requirements: vegetarian, gluten-free, carb-free, dairy-free.
Please get in touch with us if you have concerns.
Sessions
All equipment & material provided.
Outings
Site entries & transport fares for cultural activities.
Private transport between Madrid & the retreat centre
If you prefer to arrive independently to the retreat centre, see how to get here.
What’s not included
Flights
Insurances (travel, health, etc.)
Possibly one meal taken outside during visits (budget ~25€ per meal)
Book this Retreat
Journey into the Winter Season
10 day retreat
Oct 25 - Nov 4, 2024
Don’t miss out on Early bird extended until April 30th, 2024: 2,950€
Full price: 3,150€
To book please note that a new window will open in your browser as you are redirected to our booking platform WeTravel