The Descent: A Creative Writing Retreat
❋
November 6-8 | €300
The grapes are picked, the olives are next, and it's dark by six. Time to descend into winter.
We invite you to three days of writing in the Priorat hills, at the point in the year where the light gives up early, and we go inwards.
What to Expect
❋ Intentional structure
We blend guided meditations, writing prompts and practices, and plenty of space to reflect and wander around mindfully.
❋ A supportive space
Six participants, two facilitators. We listen and hold the space for each other.
❋ Mornings held in silence
From waking until after breakfast, we are silent. Move, write, eat intentionally.
❋ Connection with nature
Half-fallen walls, olive terraces, a field with a view down the valley. When the weather allows it, we take the sessions outside.
What’s included
accommodation for two nights in a shared bedroom (or bring your own tent!)
all the meals (we’ll use regional/seasonal products and provide vegetarian or vegan food) — dinner upon arrival, 3 meals on Saturday, 2 on Sunday
drinking water and tea
guided morning meditations & writing sessions
transport from FGC La Floresta (Ioana driving — 4 spots)
Where?
A finca in the Priorat, up a gravel track outside Falset. Roughly two hours from Barcelona.
We'll send you the exact address after you’ve signed up.
Who’s holding the space
Sophia Palm. M.Sc. Psychologist & Humanistic Therapist, Licensed Meditation Instructor (Samatha-Vipassana), trauma-informed Yoga Teacher (Hatha & Vinyasa), poet and spoken word artist.
Ioana Lungu. Poet, spoken word artist, certified trainer, journal and creative writing facilitator, Yoga Teacher (Hatha).
Friends, co-hosts, poetry duo.
We'll be writing towards what the season is already doing: what got gathered this year, what's being put down, what wants to stay quiet a while longer.
Friday
Arrive & Meet
As everyone arrives, we take time to settle in, get comfortable, and begin connecting with those around us. The journey starts here.
17:00–19:00 Arrive in this window if you can
19:30 Welcome and what this weekend is
20:00 Dinner
21:00–22:00 Writing session #1
*Everything is an invitation. You can step out of any of it at any point.
Saturday
Nature & writing
The morning is held in silence, from waking until after breakfast.
09:30 Morning meditation
10:00 Morning pages
10:30 Breakfast
11:00–12:30 Writing session #2
13:00 Lunch
14:00–16:00 Free time (read, walk, sleep, or write some more)
16:00–17:30 Writing session #3
19:30 Dinner
20:00 Cozy sharing time
Sunday
look forward & wrap up
We explore the possibilities beyond this retreat, making space for an ongoing practice and humility while moving into winter.
09:30 Morning meditation
10:00 Morning pages
10:30 Breakfast
11:00–12:30 Writing session #4
13:00 Lunch & closing circle
IMPORTANT INFO FOR STAYING AT FINCA endavant
Sustainable usage of resources. We aim to live with great mindfulness regarding our resources, so we ask you to use gas, water,
electricity, firewood, etc. with extra care. All of our water comes from our own well, which can run dry at any time. So, please be extra mindful about your water usage.
Concretely: we cannot offer daily showers, and we encourage peeing outside if it’s comfortable for you.
Shared responsibility. The idea of Karma holds that good deeds lead to positive future outcomes, so we value everyone taking on shared responsibility here at Finca Endavant. Hence, we would like to ask you to collectively take care of the space by keeping it clean for yourself and everyone else staying here.
Our dog. Toni lives with us in the space and will also take part in some of the activities. If you are allergic to dogs, this retreat is not suitable for you! Please know that Toni is quite small (Australian shepherd & Chihuahua mix), highly anxious, has poor vision, and gets easily scared. Thus, he will likely bark at you.
Tip: Best to ignore him, avoid hectic movements around him or directly towards him. Please try not to take his barking personally. Use his bark as a moment of practice to be gentle with other beings around you.
P.S.: Check out Finca Endavant on Instagram.
Your contribution
€300 for the three days.
If the cost is what’s stopping you from coming, write to us!
And if you're in a comfortable spot and want to put in a bit more, it goes straight to someone else's place.
Next Steps
Step 1: Sign up via THIS FORM.
Step 2: 15-minute catch-up with us to make sure no questions remain unasked.
Step 3: Pay the deposit (€150) to secure your spot.
Step 4: By October 26th, pay the remaining half.
Step 5: Pack your bags and see you at the retreat!