The Spirit of Creativity: Awakening the Heart through Meditation, Qigong, Story, and Song

The Spirit of Creativity is a five-night residential meditation retreat at Spirit Rock Meditation Center in Woodacre, California, led by Anne Cushman, Kate Johnson, Teja Bell and Chenxing Han. It weaves Buddhist meditation, qigong, mindful writing and communal singing, and it is open to people who want to bring creative expression into their Dharma practice. No special talent is needed. The invitation is that creativity is your birthright and every voice is welcome.

This is a silent meditation retreat with an important difference. Because of its creative nature, it is not fully silent, though the days hold an abundance of silent meditative periods within the container of noble silence. The style may not suit everyone.

What to Expect

Each day follows the same four practices. Meditation gathers and settles the mind and heart. Qigong opens the free flow of creative energy. Mindful writing honors and shares each person's story. Singing together frees authentic voices in community.

The retreat begins on Tuesday with check-in between 2:30 and 4:30 PM, an opening circle and orientation, a first meditation session, and dinner with a community gathering. Wednesday through Saturday are full practice days: morning meditation and qigong, mindful writing workshops, afternoon meditation, evening singing and voice work, group and individual inquiry time, shared meals and quiet community time. On Sunday there is a final meditation, a closing circle with reflections, and breakfast, with departure at 11:00 AM.

About the Teachers

Anne Cushman is the author of the memoir The Mama Sutra, the novel Enlightenment for Idiots, and Moving Into Meditation, a mindful yoga guidebook. A dharma and yoga practitioner since 1982, she is a Spirit Rock residential retreat teacher and director of mentoring for the Mindfulness Meditation Teacher Certification Program.

Kate Johnson is a meditation teacher, facilitator, writer and mother. She offers classes and retreats integrating relational spirituality, social justice, somatics and creativity, and consults with organizations committed to equity, sustainability and wise relationships. She is the author of Radical Friendship.

Teja Bell (Fudō Myōō Rōshi) is a Zen master, founder of QigongDharma, and a 6th-degree Aikido teacher, with a lifelong practice of the Dharma and Dao. His international retreats and trainings integrate Zen, Qigong, Aikido and meditation, emphasizing embodied insight, healing energy and bringing spiritual practice into everyday life.

Chenxing Han is an author, speaker and educator at the intersection of Buddhism and Asian America. She is a founder of Roots and Refuge, May We Gather, and Listening to the Buddhists in Our Backyard, and works to cultivate spaces for creative inquiry, spiritual kinship and intergenerational learning.

The Setting

The retreat is held at Spirit Rock in Woodacre, in the Upper Meditation Hall, a consecrated space set aside for deep retreat practice. Up to 80 participants gather. Breakfast, lunch and dinner are provided. Most of Spirit Rock's rooms are single occupancy, with only 16 of 80 being doubles. A guaranteed single room comes with the higher sliding-scale rates, while other singles are limited and first prioritized for those with serious medical needs. Shared rooms are also available.

Once the retreat is full and has a waitlist, a commuter option opens for those who sleep elsewhere. Commuters attend every session and meal and have a daytime rest area on campus.

Before You Go

The retreat is beginner-friendly for meditation and creative experience alike, and it is taught in English. People with no meditation experience are encouraged to try two or three daylong programs first, and may contact Spirit Rock's Registration Department to talk through their readiness. Commuters must have completed at least one weeklong in-person silent residential retreat in Insight (vipassanā) meditation.

Fees cover meals, lodging, and instruction, and are offered on a sliding scale, with needs-based scholarships and payment plans available. Teacher dana is not included. At the end of the retreat there is an invitation to offer dana to the teachers and to Spirit Rock. Transportation and personal items are your own to arrange.