You are invited to join us on a sacred journey nestled within foothills of the California Sierra Nevada mountains. Close to Pinecrest Lake, Dodge Ridge Ski Resort and Yosemite National Park, this special place naturally inspires and invigorates the soul. Within this gorgeous setting is an all-women’s retreat that provides encouragement, healing and transformation of mind, body, soul and spirit.
 

This unique experience is designed for women who are dreamers and creators of all forms of expression-be it visual, performing, culinary arts, music, writing, fashion design or any of the various ways creativity manifests. We understand the efforts you continually make toward building your career and bettering yourself as well as the world around you. We join with you in that. We see each woman as a beautiful and unique soul, with talent, purpose and an assignment to bring love, life, connection and meaning to a world that is in much need.

We know you sometimes feel unclear, overwhelmed and alone. You may be aware of obstacles hindering the full flow of your life’s expression, but not know what they are or how to effectively deal with them. You may wonder if certain circumstances or patterns in your life will ever change or if your struggles and pain are in vain.  Insecurity may be an occasional intruder or an ever-present squatter residing in your mind. You may feel that life is not the way it should be...things aren’t right...life feels broken. You may feel broken-like part or all of your heart has been crushed and betrayed.  Life can be beautiful, adventurous and amazing. It can also be brutal, painful, lonely-and everything in-between. 

Our emotional responses to painful or difficult life experiences are not problems to be solved.  Rather, they are offerings to be given to the “Great Artisan” of the cosmos, who lovingly mends the broken pieces in us by masterfully placing them back together.  
 
This is where the art of Kintsugi is such a helpful concept. Kintsugi is the Japanese art of mending broken pieces of shattered pottery with lacquer that is mixed with gold, silver, or platinum. The Artisan embraces the flaws and imperfections in the piece and carefully reconnects them. It's brokenness is highlighted and becomes part of the object's story and beauty. This new piece of broken pottery is considered more valuable and beautiful than it was before. 
 
One of God’s names is Jehovah Rapha the God who heals emotionally, physically and spiritually. Psalm 147:3 says that “He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.” The power of forgiveness through Christ is a lot like Kintsugi. Kintsugi is a metaphor of Jesus Christ, the Master Artisan, filling and healing the shattered places in us with something of the highest value-His very presence. Our flaws and imperfections are swallowed up in Christ and used to create a person that becomes more powerful, impactful and beautiful than they ever were before. Psalm 31:12 says “I am forgotten as though I were dead; I have become like broken pottery.” 
 
Kintsugi reminds us that being broken is part of the human condition. It also reveals a type of mending that creates more depth, beauty and value than was possible before the breaking. It shows us ways to carry our experiences of love, pain and loss forward with us that are healthy and life-giving. “We become a living, breathing masterpiece of art where God‘s glory is revealed through our brokenness." Jody Thomae explains beautifully in her book The creator's Healing Power. There is no place of greater power to change the course of our personal and collective history than to surrender to the love of the Master artisan.

This retreat is geared towards those with a passion to express the artistry, beauty and creativity of God through personal and cultural transformation.