The mindful brush
Oct 30 – Nov 1, 2026
Where yogic restoration meets sacred geometry and contemplation
AT A GLANCE
Location: Earthville Institute
Date: October 30 – November 1, 2026 (Friday evening to Sunday evening)
Program type: Residential retreat (camping in nature)
Focus: Restorative yoga and contemplative arts
Language: English
Prerequisites: This workshop is open to all. No yoga, meditation or drawing experience is needed.
Prerequisites are a curious hand and a longing heart.
Instructor: Daphne Charles
The Mindful Brush Series #001:
In this retreat, we will learn about and explore the symbolism and design of an ancient architectural marvel — Borobudur stupa in Indonesia — with our own hands, through a contemplative lens.
OVERVIEW
Crafted with weekend rejuvenation in mind, this retreat provides a balanced blend of yogic restoration and soulful activities to deeply restore your nervous system while learning the foundational geometry of the ancients. Enjoy nourishing plant-based meals, restful silence and soulful discussions with like-minded seekers.
At the center of each weekend retreat is the introduction to, and creation of a sacred geometric symbol and art piece. Using the simple yet profound and time-tested tools of compass, straightedge and pencil, we dive into a meditative process allowing these timeless patterns to reveal themselves while allowing the drawing process itself to, regulate, align and inspire our system.
Attend multiple retreats in The Mindful Brush series to progressively discover and engagement with the world of sacred geometry and dharma art at your own pace.
This retreat is held in partial silence to allow for sufficient rest and quiet amongst our group activities. It is also possible to attend this retreat in complete silence (or speak only during group discussions) . Should this be your preference, please request for this in the course registration form.
What is Contemplative Geometry?
Contemplative geometry is the holistic study of the relationships between numbers, shapes, and patterns as they occur in nature and as applied and revered in sacred art and architecture across cultures around the world.
It emphasizes the underlying universal language and fundamental principles of nature within and around us. The art of drawing with a compass is an age-old practice that was very alive for humanity’s ancient ancestors. It can be a transformative practice as it touches a primordial place in us.
Sessions are held in a restful and contemplative environment and are an opportunity to slow down and enjoy the process of connecting to primordial shapes and patterns.
“Study nature, love nature, stay close to nature. It will never fail you.”
Who is this retreat for?
What kind of experience to expect?
This retreat is suitable for you if:
You are looking for a restful weekend program in nature
you are interested in contemplative arts and crafts
You are looking for a mini-retreat to reset and nourish your system through restorative yoga and meditation
You would like to be in a contemplative atmosphere with kindred spirits
You would like to learn about the patterns of nature and how they express themselves in number, geometry and ancient structures
You are looking to learn and gain experience using a compass and straightedge
You are an artist, designer or architect interested in contemplative/sacred traditions
Supportive routine: A daily rhythm of contemplative practice, time in nature, creativity, discussions, and silent time for meditation and reflection.
Natural simplicity: Rustic living, camping in a beautiful forest setting, with undeveloped campsites and very basic facilities (including composting toilets and possibly porta-potties, depending on group size).
Healthy food: Natural and organic, purely vegetarian meals (100% plant-based, vegan), lovingly prepared by all of us (together or in shifts).
Yogic lifestyle: Clean and simple ashram-style lifestyle in which everyone contributes to the running of the place, including cooking, cleaning, washing dishes, etc.
Digital detox: To help you fully immerse yourself in this experience, we invite you to take part in a digital detox during the retreat. By stepping away from screens, notifications, and the noise of the digital world, you allow your nervous system to downregulate and your mind to find stillness. Let this be a sacred time to let your body rest, your thoughts settle, and your presence return to the physical world around you.
Practice support: If you need technical guidance, clarification, or emotional grounding, our experienced facilitators are here for you.
Camping at Earthville: Healthy community living in the heart of nature
At this start-up stage in the development of our campus, we have no beds to offer, but we have a beautiful rustic campground, which is an ideal place for nature-loving people who are comfortable living very simply in the wild. Note that you’ll need to bring your own tent or, alternatively, you’re welcome to bring a camper or RV if you have one (our eco-campground has plenty of space, but no RV hookups). At this stage, we have outdoor showers with (limited) hot water, basic camp toilets and porta-potties. You do not need to bring any cooking gear, as we will provide all meals (and, due to forest fire risk, we cannot have open flames here).
The lifestyle here is focused on holistic well-being: organic plant-based food, nature walks, contemplative practices (meditation, yoga, etc.), and a healthy body and mind (free of intoxicants of all kinds).
DETAILS
The retreat starts on Friday at 6pm and ends on Sunday at 5pm. All participants should plan to arrive at 5pm to give you time to find us, park, and settle in.
Although the day-to-day schedule may vary a bit, the schedule during this retreat will look something like this:
Daily Schedule
FRIDAY, 30th Oct
5pm Arrival & settling in
6pm - 7pm DINNER
(7pm onwards - Silence starts after dinner)
7.30pm - 8.30pm Evening restorative yoga and meditation
SATURDAY, Oct 31st
7:00 - 8:00 Morning yoga & meditation
8:30-9.30am BREAKFAST
(10am - Silence ends after breakfast)
10:00 - 12:00pm Contemplative Geometry session 1
12:00 - 1:00pm Break / food prep
1:00 - 2:00pm LUNCH
2:00 - 3:00pm Break / Clean-up
3:00 - 5:00pm Group circle & discussion
6:00 - 7:00pm DINNER
(7pm onwards - Silence starts after dinner)
7.30pm - 8.30pm Evening restorative yoga and meditation
SUNDAY, Nov 1st
7:00 - 8:00am Morning yoga & meditation
8:30-9.30am BREAKFAST
(10am - Silence ends after breakfast)
10:00 - 12:00pm Dharma Sundays
12:00 - 1:00pm Break / food prep
1:00 - 2:00pm LUNCH
2:00 - 2:30pm Break / Clean-up
2:30 - 4:30pm Contemplative Geometry session 2
4:30 - 5:00pm Closing circle
Essentials & What to bring
A good drawing compass that can
hold its setting
make small adjustments
large enough to draw a 14cm radius circle
(examples: Steadler Mars, Rotring Master Bow, )
A ruler (suitable for working on A3 sized paper)
Range of pencils (4H-4B)
Eraser ( Zero Eraser or equivalent)
Coloring materials, e.g. color pencils/markers
Masking tape
Drawing pens (useful to have, but not essential)
Paints and brushes (optional)
Paper of your choice (optional): You may choose to bring your own selection of cartridge / sketchbook / watercolor paper. Thick paper sufficient for use with your coloring medium of choice is preferred.
About your Instructors
Cost
As a nonprofit educational organization, Earthville Institute is dedicated to making experiential learning and compassionate living accessible to all. Recognizing that our participants come from diverse backgrounds, we provide a sliding scale with three tiers, to make it possible for each participant to give according to their means.
Additionally, we wish to support local participation by providing the flexibility for local participants to have the option either to stay home and commute daily or to camp with us on campus. The rate for those camping with us includes three meals daily and space for camping, while the rate for those staying off site includes only lunch.
Cost for those wishing to camp on-site (recommended)
The total cost (inclusive of workshop/retreat fees, three healthy meals daily, and use of our eco-campground) for the full three-day program at each of the three tiers are as follows:
Subsidized rate
(For low-income participants who can’t afford the standard rate)
$120
For transparency: This subsidized rate is approximately 33% below our break-even rate, which means it is not enough to cover the Institute’s costs, though hopefully that shortfall might be covered by other participants who choose to pay the “supporter rate” to the right.
Standard rate
(For most participants)
$180
For transparency: This standard rate is essentially a break-even rate, just enough to cover the Institute’s total estimated costs.
Supporter rate
(For those with means to help subsidize lower-income participants)
$240
For transparency: This supporter rate is approximately 33% above the break-even rate, and that surplus will be used to support lower-income applicants to participate at the subsidized rate. We thank you sincerely for your generosity in choosing this rate if you can.
Cost for those wishing to stay off-site - contact us for details.
Scholarships and fundraising support available
We do not want cost to be a barrier to anyone’s participation, and we’re happy to support potential participants to crowdfund their own participation via tax-deductible donations to Earthville. If interested in this option, you can contact us to let us know your situation and your needs and we’ll be happy to discuss it with you.
Members of the Ute and Diné (Navajo) nations qualify for full scholarships (subject to limited availability).
Application and payment
Note: Space in this workshop is limited. Participation is by application and is subject to acceptance.
APPLY: Submit the application form below. If you would like to schedule a short call with is to clarify any questions you may have, this can be arranged. If so, please mention this is your application.
PLACE A DEPOSIT / PAY IN FULL TO CONFIRM YOUR SPOT: Upon receiving your application, our team will reach out to you. You will then have one week to make your nonrefundable deposit to hold your place in the program. The minimum deposit is 50%. It is also possible to prepay in full if you prefer.
GET READY! Once you are registered, we’ll send you information on how to prepare for your time at Earthville Institute. If you have any questions after reading all the material here on our website, feel free to contact us and we’ll be happy to help.
We look forward to connecting with you!