A RETREAT for meditative creatives
Five days of contemplative creativity in the heart of nature
October 12-17, 2026
A meditative exploration of our creative nature, drawing on wisdom and practices of the Tibetan Buddhist tradition, presented in a modern way to make them accessible to all..
Deepen your connection to nature and to the unshakable stillness, silence, and spaciousness within, where we find an infinite wellspring of creativity.
This retreat is open to all, and you are most welcome!
AT A GLANCE
Location: Earthville Institute/Suvarnabhumi Sanctuary
Dates: October 12-17, 2026
Program type: Residential retreat (camping in nature)
Focus: Meditation, nature, and creativity
Facilitators: Mark Moore, Daphne Charles, et al. (see below)
Prerequisites: None. This retreat is open to everyone, regardless of prior experience, background, or belief.
NATURE-BASED MEDITATION & BUDDHIST CREATIVE PRACTICES FOR ALL
By popular demand, Earthville Institute and Suvarnabhumi Sanctuary are delighted to offer this unique residential retreat, which is inspired by a series of retreats we first offered in the Indian Himalayas.
This five-day program is a hybrid of a meditation retreat and a creativity workshop, where the whole is far more than the sum of its parts. The alchemy between the contemplative and expressive elements supports us to go much deeper into both aspects, and to integrate them into our practice in ways that can be profoundly supportive and empowering in our lives and work. This can also bring health, balance, and greater ease into our relationship with creativity — and with “making things happen” in general.
The retreat explores wisdom and practices from the Buddhist tradition related to our connection with nature and our relationship with creativity, presented in a way that renders them accessible and usable for everyone, regardless of background or belief.
Supported by the natural world around us, we’ll explore how resting in awareness of nature (outer and inner) helps us settle into a state that is much more conducive to creative inspiration and manifestation. As we practice “doing from that natural state of being,” we find that creative flow comes effortlessly and that both the product and the process become ever-sweeter.
Read on below for details and registration.
THEMES & ACTIVITIES WE’LL EXPLORE
Foundational explorations:
The first part of the retreat will focus on cultivating a deep, still, restful connection with nature (inner and outer) and then gently exploring elements of creativity within that meditative space.
Examples of this foundational content:
Meditation practices from the Buddhist tradition (instruction and daily practice), including using nature, sound, form, and movement as supports for mindfulness and nuanced awareness
Creative practices from the Buddhist tradition, designed to clear blockages by identifying and transforming what gets in the way of natural creative flow
Exploration of ancient wisdom recognizing all phenomena as vibration, and exploring this particularly through our experience of various aspects of sound, e.g.:
The practice of deep listening, including listening to nature, to humans, and to music
Our perception of elements of music (tone, melody, harmony, rhythm, etc.) and how they affect us
Explorations of words (lyrics, poetry) as sound, as vibration, as meditation, and as music
Music creation (or sound-making, more broadly) as a profound meditation practice
Expanding the explorations above to include not just sound but also light, form, and movement
Traditional wisdom on how to work with whatever might come up in these deeper states, including any emotion or challenges we might encounter.
Group sharing about our experiences of all of the above. (Note that all group sharing during this retreat will be completely voluntary, with no pressure to share.)
Expressive explorations:
Building on these foundations, we’ll begin to shift emphasis toward creative expression, through both individual and group explorations of creativity. (Again, all sharing of our creativity and creations is completely voluntary; no pressure.)
Explorations of creative expression with sound, light, form, and/or movement in very direct, elemental, primordial ways, freeing ourselves from the narrow confines our conditioning and tapping into a deeper source of creativity
Time for individual and/or collaborative creating, applying the practices explored in the retreat, with opportunities for everyone to use familiar and/or unfamiliar modes of expression (whatever inspires you), e.g.:
Music: composition/songwriting, performance
Visual arts: sketching, painting, photography, filmmaking, sacred geometry, architectural design, etc.
Writing: from stream-of-consciousness writing to contemplative wordsmithing, etc.
Movement: dance, conscious movement practices
Or any other form of creative expression you might feel inspired to explore, either on your own or with the support of others in the retreat.
Note: In the event that anyone doesn’t feel inspired to create during these sessions, they could opt to enjoy restful, nature-based meditation for the duration of the session instead (rather than trying to “force” creativity).
Group circles to create opportunities for sharing (and listening) about our experiences with applying these practices in our own creativity
A final sharing with the group of one or more creations manifested during the retreat (again, purely voluntary, with no pressure to share)
The retreat is designed to support you to:
Connect more deeply with your original, unconditioned nature and tap into your unlimited creative potential.
Use time-tested meditative practices to overcome creative blockages, including familiar obstacles like “writer’s block” or the sometimes-dreaded “blank canvas” but also subtler aspects of our conditioning that can constrain our creativity.
Channel your creativity fruitfully and manifest your positive potential in your relationships and in your work.
Work with blockages and heal lingering pain so you can manifest more of your vast potential.
Create, live, and serve in a sustainable, balanced way.
“The purpose of meditation is to connect us with the sacred ground of being, and there are many ways to make that connection. For a musician, playing an instrument can be a meditation. For someone who loves to cook, preparing a meal can be a sacred practice. Any activity can be a meditation if you are connected to the spaciousness of being — the source — when you give it a voice or form.”
— Tenzin Wangyal Rinpoche, from his book, Spontaneous Creativity
WHAT TO BRING
An open mind, open heart, and open ears and eyes
A journal/diary (you’ll do a fair bit of writing)
Any creative tools/instruments you might be inspired to work with during the retreat, e.g. musical instruments, sketchpad, watercolors, camera, etc.
One favorite song or poem to share with the group (either live or via recording), which should be one that you love for the power of the sound itself (not necessarily the meaning behind the words).
If you wish, you are welcome to bring recording devices, but none of these are necessary (and we ask everyone to uphold the digital detox vibe throughout the retreat).
“There is an internal map or guidance system to help us move from pain to freedom, from feeling blocked to feeling open and expressive—a map that helps us discover the hidden treasure of our aspirations and visions, and bring forth our gifts in this lifetime.”
— Tenzin Wangyal Rinpoche, from his book, Spontaneous Creativity
REQUIREMENTS FOR PARTICIPATION
The program is cumulative (each session will build upon the previous session), so attendance at all sessions is required (it isn’t possible to skip sessions) and full participation in all the activities is necessary to keep up.
All participants are very much encouraged (but not strictly required) to buy (or borrow) the book Spontaneous Creativity by Tenzin Wangyal Rinpoche (available both in print and digitally for Kindle, as well as an Audible audiobook) and to read at least the first two chapters of the book before the beginning of the retreat.
We really wish to emphasize that this retreat is open to everyone, whether or not you consider yourself an artist or creative of any kind. If you happen to have any tools of a creative practice (e.g. watercolors, a musical instrument, a camera, etc.) we encourage you to bring them, but experience with any specific form of creativity is not required for this retreat.
WHAT KIND OF EXPERIENCE TO EXPECT
Supportive routine: A daily rhythm of contemplative practice, time in nature, creativity, discussions, and silent time for meditation and reflection.
Full-time retreat focus: For this retreat, the point is to be fully present and focused on the retreat experience. There will not be time for other pursuits during this retreat.
Mind and body awareness: To support the body during the retreat, there will be times for mindful movement such as stretching and simple yoga sequences as well as walking meditation through the beautiful Earthville campus.
Emotional work: In a contemplative retreat such as this where we’re exploring deeper spaces and some of life’s big questions, it is normal for a range of emotions to come up, and for many this is a necessary part of the process — a good sign. We encourage all participants to prepare yourselves to welcome whatever you and others might experience and hold a supportive space to move through it without judgment and learn all one can from it.
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).
Yogic lifestyle: Clean and simple ashram-style lifestyle in which everyone contributes to the running of the place, including cooking, cleaning, washing dishes, etc.
Healthy food: Natural and organic, purely vegetarian meals (100% plant-based, vegan), lovingly prepared by all of us (together or in shifts).
Digital detox: In support of the immersive retreat experience, all participants will give up our mobile phones for the duration of the retreat so we can give ourselves (and others) the ginormous gift of being present with nature and with one another. For those of us who are normally glued to our phones, it may take some adjustment at first but soon you might be amazed how much better you feel engaging with nature and fulfilling activities with good people rather than the screen. Also, note that cell service is very spotty here, but in case of serious emergencies you can use our WiFi.
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).
DATE & TIMES
Start and end dates and times
The retreat will begin at 10:00am on the first day. All participants should plan to arrive between 9:15 and 9:30am .
As this is a traditional ‘closed’ retreat, all participants will stay on the Earthville campus for the entire duration of the retreat.
The retreat will conclude at 4:00pm on the last day.
Daily schedule: What will the flow of the days be like?
Although the day-to-day schedule may vary a bit, the schedule for a typical day during this program would more or less as follows:
6:30 Wake
7:00 Morning group practice session: meditation/yoga
8:00 BREAKFAST
9:00 Morning sessions: learning, practice, and/or creative activities
12:30 LUNCH
2:00 Afternoon sessions: learning, practice, and/or creative activities
5:00 Personal time
6:00 DINNER
7:00 Evening session: meditation and often a short talk or discussion
8:00 Quiet time for reading and meditation
10:00 Lights out
ABOUT YOUR FACILITATORS
The instructors facilitators of this retreat are trained and authorized to teach the material covered in the retreat. Mark studies, practices, and trains in Tibetan Buddhist lineages (including Bön Buddhism) and Daphne is an experienced yoga teacher and yoga teacher trainer.
COST
Earthville Institute and Suvarnabhumi Sanctuary are nonprofit organizations dedicated to making contemplative programs available to all. Recognizing that our participants come from diverse backgrounds, we are providing a sliding scale with three tiers, to make it possible for everyone to donate according to their means.
Total cost for the retreat (including three healthy meals daily, tea/coffee, and use of our rustic eco-campground) are as follows:
Standard rate
(For most participants)
$240
For transparency: This standard rate is essentially a break-even rate, just enough to cover the Institute’s total estimated costs.
Subsidized rate
(For low-income participants who can’t afford the standard rate)
$160
This subsidized rate is approximately 33% below our standard rate, and that shortfall might be covered by participants who choose to pay the ‘Supporter rate’ to the right.
Supporter rate
(For those who can afford to help subsidize lower-income participants)
$320
This supporter rate is approximately 33% above the standard rate, to support lower-income applicants to participate at the subsidized rate. We thank you for your generosity in choosing this rate if you can.
As per Buddhist tradition, in addition to the base fee above, there will be an opportunity to offer dana (a genuinely optional, completely voluntary offering of support to the nonprofit hosting the retreat).
Please note that the cost of purchasing the text is not included in the tuition fee above; you would need to do buy the text separately in whichever format you prefer.
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 & PAYMENT
Space in this retreat is limited. Participation is by application and subject to acceptance.
STEP 1 — APPLY: Submit the application form. (We recommend using a desktop/tablet browser, as some people find doing the applications on a phone screen to be tricky.)
STEP 2 — CONNECT: The next step is for us to schedule a short video call to give you a chance to ask whatever questions you may have, and to help us better understand your interests and confirm if the retreat is a match.
STEP 3 — DEPOSIT: After the call, we’ll send you more detailed information about the retreat and how to prepare for your time at Earthville Institute. You will then have one week to make your nonrefundable deposit to hold your place in the retreat. The minimum deposit is 50%, and it is also possible to prepay in full if you prefer.
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!