The Art of Being: A Multidisciplinary Exploration of Zen Practice, Embodiment, and Creative Aliveness

May 13 - 16, 2027

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Arrival: Thursday, May 13th, 2:00 PM – 5:00 PM

Departure: Sunday, May 16th, 12:30 PM

Tiered Tuition:
Scholarship Tuition: $270
Standard Tuition: $390
Supporter Tuition: $510

+ 2 nights lodging
Combined at checkout

Meals & drinks included
Inc. V, VG, GF

Add extra nights at 50% off

Tiered Tuition:
Scholarship Tuition: $270
Standard Tuition: $390
Supporter Tuition: $510

+ 2 nights lodging
Combined at checkout

Meals & drinks included
Inc. V, VG, GF

Add extra nights at 50% off

About the Retreat

In this potent chapter of global unpredictability and transformation, The Art of Being invites us to gather with curiosity, courage, and tenderness to meet the complexity of our changing world. Through the intersection of Zen meditation, somatic exploration, and creative practice, we cultivate the capacity to be present with things as they are, to listen beneath the noise of habitual thought, and to discover the creative aliveness that pulses within and around us. Together, we explore how the practice of attention can open us to possibility, deepen our relationship with uncertainty, and support a more intimate and responsive engagement with life.

Through meditation, facilitated dialogue, teachings, movement, guided visualization, writing, visual art play, imaginative prompts, and generous creative work time, we practice returning to the immediacy of our experience: the breath, the body, our sensations, our imaginations, and the ever-changing space between ourselves and others. We learn to stay curious at the edges of what we know, welcoming stillness and spontaneity, reflection and play, as we attune to the ideas and inspirations emerging through real-time experience. Rather than striving toward a predetermined outcome, we cultivate the awareness and openness to meet what arises, allowing the unfamiliar, unfinished, and unexpected to inform what takes shape.

Designed for all levels of experience, this retreat welcomes anyone drawn to a deeper exploration of presence, embodiment, and creative possibility. Together, we enliven our capacities for inquiry, feeling, listening, and sense-making in relationship to ourselves, one another, and our wider communities. Grounded in the simplicity of real practice and the richness of shared discovery, we nurture our unique creative aliveness and gifts, foster connection and belonging, and explore what becomes possible when we meet ourselves and the world with greater attention, imagination, and care.

What to Expect

  • Zen meditation and contemplative inquiry to cultivate presence, spaciousness, and openness to the unknown.
  • Safely guided somatic exploration and improvisational movement to deepen embodied awareness and creative possibility.
  • Facilitated dialogue and interpersonal practice to nurture connection, curiosity, and shared discovery.
  • Guided writing, visual art, and imaginative prompts to invite inspiration and give form to emerging ideas.
  • Generous creative exploration time to follow your curiosity, experiment, and receive individual support.

Why Attend?

The Art of Being offers an opportunity to pause, step outside of our familiar ways of being, and reconnect with the aliveness of the present moment. Through Zen practice, embodied exploration, and creative inquiry, you will cultivate a deeper relationship with yourself, your imagination, and the world around you. In a time of great change, challenge, and opportunity, we practice meeting the unknown with curiosity rather than fear, discovering new ways to listen, respond, and participate in the unfolding of our lives. We create space for unexpected insights, fresh perspectives, and possibilities that emerge when we loosen our attachment to what we already know.

Through shared practice, conversation, and creative experimentation, you will nurture your unique creative vitality while building meaningful connections with others. Whether you are new to these practices or returning to familiar ground, you are invited to explore without needing to arrive at a particular destination, discovering what becomes possible through presence, play, and collective imagination.

Program Schedule

Day 1: Thursday, May 13th

2:00 – 5:00 p.m.: Arrival
5:30 p.m.: Orientation
6:00 p.m.: Dinner
7:15 p.m.: Welcome, Introduction, and Intention Setting

Day 2: Friday, May 14th

7:30 a.m.: Breakfast
9:00 a.m.: Movement and Meditation
10:00 a.m.: Courting Creative Aliveness: Inquiry & Creative Practice
12:30 p.m.: Lunch
2:00 p.m.: Nature Exploration & Open Creative Time
4:00 p.m.: Playing with Imagination & Impulses: Movement, Meditation, & Creative Practice
6:00 p.m.: Dinner
7:30 p.m.: Restorative Movement & Visualization

Day 3: Saturday, May 15th

7:30 a.m.: Breakfast
9:00 a.m.: Movement & Meditation
9:00 a.m.: Working with Contraction & Expansion: Inquiry & Creative Practice
12:30 p.m.: Lunch
2:00 p.m.: Nature Exploration & Open Creative Time
4:00 p. m.: Folding in Shadows & Light: Movement, Meditation, & Creative Practice
6:00 p.m.: Dinner
7:30 p.m.: Community Circle: Optional Open Mic, Storytelling, & Creative Sharing

Day 4

7:30 a.m.: Breakfast

9:00 a.m.: Re-vision/Tending the Garden: Movement, Meditation & Creative Practice
11:00 a.m.: Integration & Closing: Guiding Creative Practice into Everyday Life
12:30 p.m.: Lunch
1:30 p.m.: Departure

Why Did Past Participants Love this 
Retreat?

“I’ve SO enjoyed CULTIVATE creative practice sessions! Brooke and Lauren hold such a beautiful space. The questions to explore and the way to explore them are deeply satisfying! I’ve walked away each time feeling energized and tapped into my big creative self. And the pages of ideas and thoughts to continue to sort through seem to carry on for weeks! Thank you – CULTIVATE is refreshing and resonates. This work is so big and so bright.” – Julia B., Entrepreneur and cafe manager

“Wow, that was an amazing experience! Thank you for your skilled facilitation and incredibly thoughtful workshop design. I can feel how you have created this container with so much love and intention. I feel safe to let myself go to places I haven’t gone in groups before, allowing for deep releases and awakening interesting creative ideas and questions.” – Jewel A., Photographer

FAQs

Do I need prior experience with Zen meditation or somatic movement? No prior experience is necessary. Whether you are new to meditation and movement or have an established practice, you are welcome. Instruction and guidance will be offered throughout, with opportunities to explore each practice at your own pace.

Do I need to identify as an artist or consider myself creative? Not at all. This retreat is for anyone curious about creative expression, imagination, and the possibilities that emerge when we pay attention. No artistic background or experience is needed. Our emphasis is on exploration and discovery rather than skill, technique, or finished products.

Am I encouraged to participate in the full program? Yes! The retreat is designed as an integrated exploration in which meditation, movement, dialogue, and creative practice inform and enrich one another. You are encouraged to participate fully while honoring your individual needs, boundaries, and energy.

What if a movement or meditation practice doesn’t feel right for me? You are always welcome to adapt a practice to meet your needs. Modifications and alternatives will be offered throughout, and you are encouraged to listen to your body, take breaks, or rest whenever needed. There is no single right way to participate.

What should I wear? Wear comfortable clothing that allows you to move freely and feel at ease during movement, meditation, and periods of rest. If you have a favorite meditation cushion or other personal practice support, you are welcome to bring it. Drala Mountain Center offers yoga mats, blocks, straps, and blankets.

Will there be time for myself? Yes. Alongside our shared practices, there will be generous time for independent creative work, rest, reflection, and integration. This balance of collective exploration and personal space allows you to follow your own curiosity and spend time with whatever is emerging.

What are embodiment and somatic practices? Embodiment is the practice of inhabiting and experiencing the body from the inside out. Somatic practices invite us to pay attention to sensation, breath, movement, and the subtle ways we experience ourselves and the world. Through this attention, we can deepen our relationship with our bodies, become more aware of habitual patterns, and discover new possibilities for responding to our experience.

What role does Zen practice play in the retreat? Zen practice offers a foundation for our exploration of attention, presence, and the immediacy of experience. Through meditation, teachings, and facilitated inquiry, we practice meeting things as they are, noticing habitual patterns of thought, and cultivating openness to uncertainty. These qualities of attention extend into our movement, creative work, and relationships with one another.

What if I feel uncomfortable, self-conscious, or uncertain during movement or creative exercises? Uncertainty is a natural part of exploration and can be an invitation to listen more closely. You are encouraged to approach each practice with curiosity rather than judgment, allowing yourself to experiment without needing to get it right. You can always modify an activity, observe, or take a break. The emphasis is on presence and discovery, not performance.

Will I be expected to share my creative work or personal experiences with the group? Sharing and dialogue are important parts of our collective exploration, but personal sharing is always invitational. You will have opportunities to engage with others and, if you wish, share your creative process or discoveries. You are welcome to participate in ways that feel authentic and comfortable for you.

Will I need to complete a creative project or produce finished artwork? No. The creative practices are invitations to experiment, follow your curiosity, and respond to what emerges in the moment. There is no expectation of a finished product or predetermined outcome. The process itself, including what surprises you, challenges you, or remains unfinished, is part of the exploration.

What can I expect to take away from the retreat? You may leave with a deeper sense of presence, a more intimate relationship with your body and creative impulses, and fresh perspectives on how you meet uncertainty and change. You may also discover new ways of listening, creating, and relating to yourself and others. The experience will be different for each person, shaped by what you bring and what unfolds along the way.

Is this retreat more about relaxation or transformation? There is room for both, as well as for everything in between. Through meditation, movement, creative practice, and shared inquiry, we create space to settle, replenish, question familiar patterns, and encounter new possibilities. Rather than striving toward a particular outcome, we practice meeting the present moment with greater attention, imagination, and care.

Retreat Faculty

Brooke McNamara, MFA

Brooke McNamara, MFA is an award-winning poet, meditation guide, and Zen teacher. Trained in the tradition of Diane Musho Hamilton Roshi, she is president and a founding Sensei of Dragon Lake Zen. The author of two poetry collections, Bury the Seed and Feed Your Vow, she received the Charles B. Palmer Prize from the Academy [...]

Lauren Beale

Lauren is a performing and visual artist, choreographer, improviser, contemplative teacher and yoga instructor. She holds an MFA in Dance from The University of Colorado Boulder with an emphasis in collaborative, interdisciplinary performance and creative practice. Lauren has performed nationally and internationally with Colorado based companies Michelle Ellsworth Artland, Gesel Mason Performance Projects, 3rd Law [...]

Lodging

We have several accommodations to choose from during checkout.
All options include our healthy meals and drinks. Inc V, VG, GF.

Dormitories
Rooms with beds for up to 7-8 people. Gender-segregated with men in their own dorm and women in another. The dorms use a shared bathroom down the hall, which is also equipped with shower stalls.

Monk Rooms
A cost-effective option for participants looking for indoor, solitary lodging, but who don’t mind using a shared bathroom or are looking for a more affordable retreat solution. These rooms are in the same hall as the Ridgen Dormitories, but offer more privacy than the dorms. In addition to a bed, bedding, a private room and closet, the monk rooms also have a large window and a desk and desk chair for added comfort.

Single and Double Rooms
The perfect choice for a retreat where you want both your own space and your own bathroom. Each room offers a little more space, a dresser and closet, and a 3/4s bathroom (toilet, sink, and shower, no bathtub) attached to each room.

Junior Suite
Our Lodge Junior Suites include a queen-size bed topped by a cozy comforter, a desk, dresser, closet and private bath with bathtub, plus a sitting area.

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