Tending the Muses' Temple: Qigong, Writing, Astrology, Voice, Hand Work for Female Identifying Participants is led by four skilled and seasoned teachers: Brea Fisher, Jodi Paloni, Andrea Goodman, Susan Bickford.
The workshop provides two spacious weeks of esoteric practices in an earthly paradise: Monte Castello de Vibio, a mountain town in Umbria, Italy, at the International Center for the Arts. When we take time to practice, listen to inner knowings, and express that through bodies into form, it serves to strengthen our foundations. Just as one might sweep out the leaves and cobwebs from an ancient temple, exercising our creative practices tends the temple of ourselves as vessels for the muse.
Moving with utter presence through Qigong form, we meet the rising sun in simple surroundings, a former convent. Give gratitude, open your heart, settle your mind, and greet your guides, saying yes to the precise course of your path in this lifetime. Qigong is movement as medicine and in this tradition, under the guidance of the Goddess of Compassion Quan Yin, we offer it as a prayer and a blessing on all.
Open yourself to the Gateless Writing Method. Listen to the swallows of Umbria, keep your pens moving, and allow what wants to come to the wide open page. Gaze at the heavenly bodies with a daily astrological reading in a sharing circle, making a connection to the cosmic dimension. Sing in "Cosmic Harmony" an improvisational sound healing modality, liberating our voices together. Make charts and maps in various media of our experience. Cast local bee's wax into the ground to make sacred candles of this special place to light our way. In addition to our daily practices we'll take a few day excursions to sacred sites such as: the Frasassi Caves, and the Gola dell'Infernaccio (Hell's Gorge) and listen for the magic while we are there.
Please note this residency includes physical complexities: moderate walking, cold-water wild swimming and a cave visit. Applicants are responsible for their own physical wellbeing.
Participants will be housed in the remarkably well-preserved Umbrian hill town of Monte Castello di Vibio. Your workshop package is all-inclusive, providing welcome and departure services and airport transfer from the Rome Fiumicino, Leonardo Da Vinci Airport (FCO), aboard our comfortable private bus; single occupancy accommodations with shared bath (a wide range of upgrades with private bath are available); 3 meals* per day, when on campus, Monday-Thursday; Prosecco brunch and dinner on Saturday and Sunday (when on campus) No meals are served on Friday - our excursion day - unless previously arranged. Your workshop includes the excursions below, however, many additional options are available for an additional fee. Of course, 24/7 access to facilities and 24/7 bilingual support are provided. *Meal service is provided while in Monte Castello only, unless otherwise noted. Meals on excursions and admissions are not included in the cost, unless specifically noted in the itinerary.
Refund/Cancellation Policy
Payment in full must be made within 30 days of submission of € 500 (Euro) non-refundable deposit in order to hold the reservation.
Payment in full is required within 60 days of the start of the workshop- no participant will be admitted to our airport transfer with an outstanding balance.
All payments are non-refundable after payment in full has been made - however, under certain circumstances (see below) credit from one course may be utilized for another within a one-year period.
Session Cancellation by ICARTS
ICARTS only “cancels” retreats in the event of low enrollment or in circumstances in which providing the opportunity to re-schedule is not possible.
In circumstances in which travel is interrupted due to travel restrictions or health protocols, Force Majeure (such as a: strike, riot, acts of God) ICARTS WILL NOT CANCEL and will re-schedule programs to the soonest reasonable opportunity.
In case of death or illness. of instructor, a substitution will be made at the discretion of ICARTS
Each ICA Retreat requires a minimum number of participants in attendance - including the Residency Program. While the minimum enrollment number may vary according to the timing and duration of the session, the limit is typically, six (6), to nine (9)
If the minimum number of participants is not reached, we reserve the the right to cancel those programs.
If deemed necessary, notification of cancellation will be made as soon as possible following the close of Registration or typically, 30 days before the start of the session/course/tour/event.
When a condition arises that results in a cancellation, participants will be notified and the class will be rescheduled to a later date.
In event that ICA determines that enrollment for a particular session/Retreat is insufficient, ICA will typically offer you:
(a) an option to join an alternative session/course/tour/event, within a one-year period or
(b) to defer your participation until the rescheduled date of the intended workshop
Cancellation by the Participant
Cancellation by the participant is not possible however, in certain circumstances - such as illness of the participant or illness or death of a close relative or spouse - payment may be applied to another workshop within a one-year period.
Candidates seeking to cancel due to personal hardship, illness, or death should contact the ICA in writing, stating full personal and course details. In this case, fees paid – excluding deposit - MAY BE applied to another workshop within a one-year period. However, this withdrawal and substitution may not cause the enrollment to fall below the minimum number, and this is the case substitutions cannot be made.
Up to 90 days before a session/course/tour/event starts a participant may also request a transfer to another session/tour/course/event, provided the original session/tour/course/event still has the minimum number of participants.
NOTE:
In cases of Force Majeure (such as a: strike, riot, acts of God, unforeseen illness or death, or death of a family member) we highly recommend that your travel insurance policy include coverage for any trip cancellation that may occur prior to or afterdeparture. Policy coverage varies. Often, it is advantageous to purchase your coverage prior to reservation payments with us and your flight provider. Check your specific policy carefully for more information. See the travel insurance section of the ParticipantHandbook for more information.
Arrive Rome/Fiumicino Leonardo da Vinci Airport (FCO)
Bus Departs FCO at 12:00 PM
2:30 PM Arrival at Monte Castello di Vibio
Lunch
4:00 - 6:00 Orientation/ Rest/ Tour of Village
6:00 - 8:00 Opening circle
8:00 - 9:00 Dinner
9:00 Rest
7:00 - 8:00 Qigong: Brea
8:30 - 9:30 Breakfast
10:30 - 12:30 Writing: Jodi
1:00 - 2:00 Lunch
2:00 - 4:00 Free for rest (napping is encouraged in this part of the world)
4:00 - 6:00 Hand Work: Susan: trip to Fabric store for materials
6:00 - 8:00 Astrology/Cosmic Harmony: Andrea
8:00 - 10:00 dinner
10:00 - Rest
7:00 - 8:00 Qigong: Brea
8:30 - 9:30 Breakfast
10:30 - 12:30 Writing: Jodi
1:00 - 2:00 Lunch
2:00 - 4:00 Free
4:00 - 6:00 Hand Work: Susan (map making, stitching or candle making)
6:00 - 8:00 Free
8:00 - 9:30 dinner
9:30 - 10:30 Star Gazing, Mythology: Andrea
7:00 - 8:00 Free
8:30 - 9:30 Breakfast
10:30 - 12:30 Qigong: Brea
1:00 - 2:00 Lunch
2:00 - 4:00 Free
4:00 - 6:00 Astrology/Cosmic Harmony: Andrea
6:00 - 8:00 Hand Work: Susan
8:00 - 10:00 dinner
10:00 - Rest
7:00 - Departure Time: Excursion to Gola Infernaccio
7:30 - 8:30 Breakfast on the road
10:00 Arrive at the Gola Infernaccio (Gorge of Hell)
10:00 - 5:30 (hiking, writing, qigong, astrology, map making all happening in situ today, a clear schedule will emerge)
1:00 - 2:00 Bagged Lunch
5:30 leave for return trip to Monte Castello de Vibio
6:00 - 8:00
8:00 - 10:00 dinner
10:00 Rest
7:00 - 8:00 Qigong: Brea
8:30 - 9:30 Breakfast
10:30 - 12:30 Writing: Jodi
1:00 - 2:00 Lunch
2:00 - 4:00 Free
4:00 - 6:00 Astrology/Cosmic Harmony: Andrea
6:00 - 8:00 Free
8:00 - 10:00 dinner
10:00 - Rest
9:00 - 10:00 Qigong: Susan
11:30 - 1:00 Brunch
4:00 - 6:00 (possible) Bee Keepers Visit
8:00 - 9:00 dinner
10:00 Rest
9:00 - 10:00 Qigong: Susan
11:00 - 1:00 Brunch
8:00 - 10:00 dinner
9:30 - 11:00 star gazing, mythology or free, evening trip to the Witches Mouth to see wild boar in moonlight.
7:00 - 8:00 Qigong: Brea
8:30 - 9:00 Breakfast
9:00 - 11:00 Departure time excursion to the Frasassi Caves
11:00 - 4:00 Cosmic Harmony happening in situ today, a clear schedule will emerge.
1:00 - 2:00 Lunch
4:00 - 6:00 leave for Monte Castello de Vibio
8:00 - 10:00 dinner
10:00 - Rest
7:00 - 8:00 Free
8:30 - 9:30 Breakfast
10:30 - 12:30 Gateless Writing in the Library: Jodi
1:00 - 2:00 Lunch
2:00 - 4:00 Free
4:00 - 6:00 Qigong: Brea
6:00 - 8:00 Hand work: Susan
8:00 - 10:00 dinner
10:00 Rest
7:00 - 8:00 Qigong: Brea
8:30 - 9:30 Breakfast
9:30 - 6:00 Excursion to the Nera River Writing happening in situ today.
1:00 - 2:00 Bag Lunch
6:00 - 8:00 leave for Monte Castello de Vibio
8:00 - 10:00 dinner
10:00 Rest full moon
7:00 - 8:00 Qigong: Brea
8:30 - 9:30 Breakfast
10:00 - 12:30 Writing: Jodi
1:00 - 2:00 Lunch
2:00 - 4:00 Free
4:00 - 6:00 Astrology/Cosmic Harmony: Andrea
6:00 - 8:00 Hand Work: Susan
8:00 - 10:00 dinner
10:00 Rest
7:00 - 8:00 Qigong: Brea
8:30 - 9:30 Breakfast
9:30 - 1:00 Free
11:00 - 1:00 Free
1:00 - 2:00 Lunch
2:00 - 4:00 Free
4:00 - 6:00 Free
6:00 - 8:00 Share with the community: a possibility for: live readings, open studio share and or demonstration
8:00 - 10:00 dinner
10:00 Rest
Day 14: Saturday, June 14th Prepare to depart
8:30 - 9:30 Breakfast
9:30 - 11:00 Free time to pack and integrate
11:00 - 1:00 Free
1:00 - 2:00 Lunch
2:00 - 4:00 Free
4:00 - 8:00 Closing Circle
8:00 - 10:00 dinner
10:00 Rest