“The heart of man and the heart of the cosmos are one.”  

During this retreat, you will delve into and practice the relationship between meditation and artistic expression. Meditation deepens art. Art deepens meditation. Together, they nurture a mindful, embodied creativity that reveals, heals, and inspires.

We invite you to an immersive retreat designed to help you explore the intersection between inner stillness and outward creative expression. Through guided Hridaya meditation, a variety of art-making practices, Hatha Yoga, and mindful movement such as Qigong, you’ll be supported in reconnecting with your intuition, slowing down, and unlocking new dimensions of creativity and self-awareness.

Although the instructors will mostly work with visual arts and poetry during the residency, you are free to contribute with your own artistic skills in any discipline (dance, music, etc.).

Art has long been recognized as a form of meditation. Artist and meditator Frederick Franck, for instance, developed an approach to drawing that blends Zen meditation with creative practice. Art can be a path to our inner self, uncovering potentials that often remain hidden. Likewise, deep states of meditation can awaken and enhance our inner artist. When we connect with our true essence, our creative potential naturally begins to blossom.

Art also offers a powerful means of expressing and sharing meditative states—experiences that often transcend the boundaries of everyday language. How can we convey what occurs in the deep stillness of Hridaya meditation? We believe that art—intuitive, direct, and spontaneous—can beautifully communicate the richness of the meditative journey, making it accessible and relatable to others. Through art, we can express the beauty we encounter beyond the mind, in the pure presence of “I am.”

The question “Who am I?”—revealed in the stillness of the heart—may find expression in a drawing, a poem. During the retreat, space will be held for those who wish to share their meditation experiences through both art and words, recognizing the shared essence reflected in each unique creation.

Hridaya meditation is rooted in the non-dual Advaita Vedanta philosophy, the core of Jnana yoga tradition. In Sanskrit, Hridaya means The Cave of the Heart. The term is referring to the essence of our being that is revealed into our heart.  Therefore, Hridaya meditation is a direct path to our inner self. This form of meditation teaches us that when understood as  the Supreme Consciousness, the Heart is limitless. It is infinite Light. It is also the absolute freedom and spontaneity of the Light of Consciousness that appears to us in the various forms of manifestation.

Sahajananda, Hridaya Meditation Master and founder of Hridaya Yoga, wrote:

 “The heart, as the  Supreme Consciousness, is like the ocean that takes on the different forms of its waves. Therefore, awareness of the Spiritual Heart is itself a complete path. It can lead to direct knowledge, integrating all energies, all manifestations, but at the same time it is a path of revelation of Supreme Transcendence”.