Women’s Creativity Retreat
Moab, Utah October 8-12th 2026 | Early Bird Rate $1,950
A 5-day immersion in Body, Land, Imagination, and your Creative Muse.
This retreat is a place to step away from the endless distraction of everyday life and into a slower, more intuitive, more instinctual, more embodied, more nature-centered space.
Over 5 days in the immense beauty of Moab, we will gather in intimate circle of women to reconnect with the creative currents that want to move through us.
“When women gather,
the world changes.”
—Jean Shinoda Bolen
“A woman’s creative ability is her most valuable asset, for it gives outwardly and it feeds inwardly at every level: psychic, spiritual, mental, emotive, and economic. The wild nature pours out in endless possibilities, acts as birth channel, invigorates, slakes thirst, satiates our hunger for the deep and wild life.“
— Clarissa Pinkola Estés
The Retreat
Come back to your body.
Come back to your imagination.
Come back to your muse.
Come back to the part of you that knows how to create without trying.
In the redrock desert, this retreat is a place to sink into a slower rhythm, one where your body, the land, and your imagination begin to speak.
There are no artistic techniques to learn.
Instead, this space is to stir the creative lifeforce that already lives within you.
For those feeling creatively stagnant, longing for time to devote to your artistic life, or simply craving something more vital, alive, and meaningful, this space is for you.
A Deeper Gathering
This experience is intentionally small and intimate, so each woman has space to be seen, supported, and to deepen into her own creative essence.
Our days are shaped by the land, and the magic that happens when there is no role to play, and nowhere else to be.
Evenings we gather to share a local organic, farm-to-table meal prepared with care and intention. This is part of the retreat too— learning how to receive, to slow down, to take in beauty, and share real nourishment together.
After dinner, we gather around the fire for the sharing of stories and poetry.
Moab is known for its vast, unpolluted night skies, where the stars are especially bright and vivid.
There is ample time for stargazing— the desert at night is a profound time to be with the vast mysteries of existence.
We Will Explore
Somatic practices
Slow, intuitive movement. Listening to your body as a source of guidance, wisdom, and deep inner knowing.
Creative exploration
Writing, photography, movement, dance, painting, or anything that calls to you. No experience needed.
Solo wandering
Unstructured time in nature for insight, solitude, and experience with the living world— following your own curiosity.
Vision questing
Intentional time in a sacred place on the landscape to receive clarity, revelation, inspiration, and vision.
Dream work
Engaging the dreamtime as something meaningful, alive, creative, and profound. We will be engaging in communal dream tending and sharing.
“When we tend to our dreams, we are tending to the soul itself.”
— Toko Pa Turner
The Land
Moab is a place of breathtaking beauty. Vast sky. Red rock. Incredible expansiveness. This environment naturally invites a different pace. A wider presence of attention. A different relationship to place, space, and time.
It is why the ancients always came to the desert for mystical experiences.
I have been roaming these lands for 20 years, first as an archaeologist, then as a naturalist, artist, and lifelong wanderer, and know the most wondrous spots here. I will be guiding you into my favorite secret places during your retreat.
We have all been given Vast Gifts
by this great earth— this is a time to explore
yours
Come as you are
There is no pressure to be “good” at anything. No need to perform in this space. And there is no expectation to turn your experience into something productive.
Instead, this is a space to:
Slow down enough to actually feel yourself again
Create from instinct rather than expectation
Be immersed in the realm of the Sensuous
Feed your endless appetite for wonder
Let your body, not your mind, lead the way
Start to remember your dreams again
Speak to the natural world and listen for what answers back
You don’t have to be an artist
You can be a creative novice and arrive empty-handed and simply follow whatever begins to stir. Or bring a medium you already love and want time with, or devote the retreat to a project you’ve already started.
I’ll have simple materials here— paint, brushes, paper, pencils, pastels, a few easels, and dancing scarves for you to explore. You might feel the pull to try something completely new.
You could dance on the land
and film it on your phone, write poems, sketch a tree, photograph the textures of stones, begin a song,
or create the first pages of a novel.
It is a time to play
This is a space for curiosity, play, and experimentation. A place where you can let go of any pressure to make something good, and instead listen for what feels most alive, inspiring, and wishing to be expressed through you.
What Makes This Retreat Different
We won’t just be talking about creativity, we will be creating a whole different relationship to the earth, your muse, and your creative spirit.
We will be:
Listening to the land Sing
Creating without needing a result
Letting images, dreams, and body sensations guide you
Spending real, unstructured time in ecstatic communion with nature
Courting creativity, tracking awe, and gathering inspiration
Finding land-based portals to retrieve your lost magic
Letting wonder and curiosity be your guide and compass
Women need spaces to remember what they already know in the center of their heart, in the story of their soul, in the marrow of their bones. From that place, entire universes are created.
This Retreat is for Women Who:
Feel drawn to imagination, intuition, and depth
Crave something real and soulful, not performative
Want to explore new ways of being, relating, sensing, and attuning to the natural world and their innermost self
Desire to connect with kindred-hearted women and make meaningful bonds
Yearn to open dormant gifts, forgotten dreams, and long lost magic
If you’re craving
slowness, space, depth, intimacy, and Belonging
this is that.
What You May Walk Away With
New friends. Creative flow. Vitality. Star light. The rapture of birdsong. A deeper trust in your body and intuition. A river of inspiration. A replenishment of wildness. Songs and sonnets. Eyes full of wonder. A sensuous relationship to twilight. A romance with the moon. A thousand photographs. Love of cottonwood trees. A feeling of being more grounded and more spirited. A fuller love of life. A notebook full of ideas, poetry, and sentences for your novel. A feeling of belonging to something wild, magnificent, and deeply true.
The Shape of a Day
Dream sharing and gentle morning movement on the red rock
Morning and afternoon circle for shared reflections, and guidance offered through the day
Creative practice in wide open space
Lunch and tea, followed by solo time in the living landscape
Afternoon wandering, group exploration, and spacious rest
A nourishing farm-to-table meal shared outdoors
Gathering around the campfire
Starbathing and storytelling beneath the immense night sky
There is rhythm, but also spaciousness. You won’t be rushed or overfilled.
You will have plenty of time to breathe, wander, daydream, and simply
be
be with your dreams, your body, your instincts. your inner knowing. your vast imagination,
and feed your deep, and holy wild life
DETAILS
Dates: October 8-12th
Location: Moab, Utah
Arrival: 2-4pm Departure: 12-2pm —-with flexibility on either end
Group size: Small and intimate, 10 max
Rate: Early bird $1,950, regular $2,200
*Early Bird rate ends August 15th
Deposit: $600
Airfare and lodging are not included. Tea and snacks are provided throughout the retreat. Lunch is a curated deli-style buffet with organic, seasonal, and locally sourced ingredients when possible. We will have a private cook making dinner on site each night of the retreat.
There is free camping available on the land where the retreat will take place. Nearby lodging options include hotels and Airbnb’s.
Additional details on camping, lodging, flights, weather, and logistics can be found in the FAQ section below.
Location
This retreat will be held on the breathtaking property I live on just outside of Moab. It is on a quiet piece of land surrounded by open desert and wide natural space. It is a beautiful and private— allowing the experience to feel more intimate and connected to the land itself.
The property opens directly into nearby wild spaces, including a short walk into a landscape with trees, water, and room to wander, rest, and explore.
There are many places to settle throughout the day, hammocks, outdoor tables for shared meals, and many quiet corners for journaling, creating, or simply being.
We’ll gather each morning at the retreat space, but venture out to nearby wilderness areas for creative exploration each day of the retreat.
The Retreat Space comes with a friendly female cat named Jinx
YOUR GUIDE
Sarah West
I am an artist, somatic healing arts practitioner, dream worker, wilderness guide, and naturalist, and I have been leading groups for 13 years. I create spaces that invite slowness, intimacy, and deep listening. My work draws together the body, earth-centered wisdom, creativity, and the imagination, offering a way of engaging with yourself and the land that is intuitive, embodied, and profoundly transformative. Where you can finally return to something deeply true.
Read more about me here.
A Few Last Things to Know
I am committed to creating a welcoming space for LGBTQIA+ and BIPOC participants.
This is an intimate gathering with limited spots available.
Bring a friend, and receive $200 off registration.
You don’t need to have anything figured out before coming.
Just bring your beautiful Wild self and a desire to be fully enchanted.
Book Your Place
All photographs on this page were made in Reverent Wonder by Sarah West
Frequently Asked Questions
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Canyonlands Field Airport (CNY) is located about 18 miles north of Moab.
For more flight options, Walker Field Airport in Grand Junction, Colorado is about a 1 hour 45 minute drive and is often the most convenient choice for major airlines.
The nearest major international airport is in Salt Lake City, about 236 miles away (roughly a 4 hour drive).
Car rentals are available in Moab through Enterprise Rent-A-Car.
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The retreat begins on October 8th at 3pm, with arrival window from 3pm-4pm. We will start circling up together around 4pm. If you need to arrive later that day, that is absolutely fine. We will ease into the space together upon arrival. The retreat ends on October 12th at 1pm, with a gentle closing and departure window that allows for unhurried goodbyes.
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October is one of the best times of year to camp in Moab, with cool nights and soft morning light. Camping on site is a beautiful way to experience the land. Surrounded by vast night skies and open desert, it offers an all immersive experience for the retreat. A limited number of tents, sleeping pads, and sleeping bags are available, along with a cot and hammocks for sleeping on the porch. These will be arranged in advance during registration on a first-come, first-served basis. You’re also welcome to bring your own camping gear and/or camper van or trailer. There’s plenty of room to find private spots on the land. Often, if there’s no rain in the forecast a tent may not be needed. Sleeping under the stars and waking with the sunrise can deepen your connection to the earth, your dreams, and your creative process.
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While simple on-site camping is available, you may wish to arrange your own lodging if you’d like more comfort or privacy.
There are many beautiful places to stay in and around Moab. A few options I recommend are Redmoon Lodge, Moab Springs Ranch which is right in town, a lovely local Airbnb called The Stargazer, and Red Cliffs Lodge—about 30 minutes outside of town, with a stunning riverside setting. October is high season in the area and lodging will reflect this. There are several economical options to choose from among the many hotels in town. I don’t personally have any recommendations for hotels.
You’re welcome to choose whatever feels most supportive for your experience. Just be sure to plan for a short drive to and from the retreat space each day.
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Coming on retreat with friend is a beautiful thing. If you refer a friend and they register, you’ll receive $200 off your rate of registration. Sharing the experience can deepen your friendship while also enriching the energy of the group as a whole.
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Your deposit is refundable up to 7 days. After 7 days it is transferable to a future retreat.
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Bring whatever supports your creative process and comfort in nature.
Alongside your personal essentials, you’re welcome to bring books and notebooks, and any creative materials you’d like to work with such as paints, brushes, cameras, laptops, or musical instruments. If it feels alive for you, even dancing costumes are welcome.
You’ll also want a backpack and a reusable water bottle for time outdoors, plus extra layers of clothing since the weather can shift quickly. Sturdy walking shoes that can handle uneven terrain and get wet are important, as we may cross a creek.
For comfort and ease in the outdoors, please bring sun protection such as sunscreen and a hat, along with bug spray and any snacks you enjoy having between meals. You’ll also want to prepare a packed lunch the night before that can easily travel with you in your backpack.
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Refunds are not available within 30 days of the retreat start date. This helps honor the commitments made for the space, food, and planning required to hold the retreat container. If something unexpected arises, I will do my best to fill your spot and credit you if possible.
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Each day holds a rhythm of guided offerings and spacious, unstructured time. There is a balance between structure and freedom so you can engage deeply while also resting, wandering, and following your own inner pace.
We may begin the mornings with optional yoga, dreamwork, or gentle movement practices on the red rocks. Throughout the day there are invitations into creative process, somatic exploration, and time in nature. Participation is always optional. You are never required to join any activity, and there is full permission to sit out, rest, or spend time alone as needed. I have outdoor hammocks, couches, and a starbed for participant use.
Afternoons often include time outdoors, including trekking into a stunning nearby public land area just a half a mile from the retreat site. Most hikes are between 1–3 miles a day, sometimes less depending on the group and conditions. The land offers trees, water, and open spaces for wandering, resting, and daydreaming as the autumn colors begin to shift.
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The retreat carries on in all weather. Moab’s landscape includes the occasional passing rain, especially with late-season summer monsoons that can drift through in October.
Rain gear and warm layers is highly recommended so you can stay comfortable and continue to be outside when it feels right. There is also a covered porch on site where we can gather for meals, conversation, and group time if needed.
And as a side note, rain in the desert is something special. The scent of the earth, the shifting light, the vibrancy of the landscape, it often becomes an unexpected and beautiful part of the experience.
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Lunch is a curated deli-style buffet with organic, seasonal, and locally sourced ingredients. Organic farm-to-table dinners are included each evening and shared outdoors, prepared on site. A range of dietary preferences can be accommodated, including vegan, vegetarian, dairy-free, gluten-free, and other needs. After you register for the retreat, we will connect to discuss your food preferences in more detail so everything feels supportive and nourishing for you.
Breakfast is not provided, so please eat before arriving each morning or on your own schedule.
Organic coffee, tea, and light snacks will also be available throughout the retreat for participants to enjoy between meals.
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You’re welcome to bring a yoga mat if you have one, and want to do yoga (no pressure though) and comfortable clothes to move in. No need for anything fancy, wear what feels good for your body. Yoga and movement practices can also be practiced directly on the land without a mat.
Morning movement and yoga will be offered, but this is not about perfect poses or doing things “right.” The only yoga I care about is the kind that feels real.
We’ll use movement as a way to turn toward the body, to listen, to feel, and to notice what’s there. It’s a space to be curious and to care for yourself, not feel pressure to perform. All movement practices are optional.
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Cell phone use is generally discouraged to support immersion in the experience. However, you are encouraged to bring your phone with you in your pack for navigation, photos, or emergencies. If your cell phone is around during activities please keep it out of sight and on silent mode to not disturb other participants.
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The retreat includes gentle to moderate hiking on uneven desert terrain, typically 1–3 miles per day. The wilderness area where we will be spending our time in is accessible via a short one-mile walk from the retreat site. Activities are adaptable, and you are always welcome to move at your own pace or opt out of any physical portion.
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We will be in a desert landscape near Moab, with shifting fall weather, warm days and cooler mornings and evenings. Conditions can change quickly, so layered clothing, sun protection, and preparedness for sun, wind, and occasional water crossings are important. Autumn leaves will be beginning to appear during this time, bringing a subtle seasonal change to the land.
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October in Moab is typically mild and very beautiful, with crisp autumn air and shifting light as the seasons change. Daytime temperatures often range from the mid 60s to low 80s Fahrenheit, while evenings and early mornings can drop into the 40s and sometimes cooler.
The weather is generally dry and sunny, though fall can bring occasional wind or brief rain showers. Because of the desert environment, temperature shifts between day and night can feel quite pronounced. Layering is important so you can stay comfortable through warm afternoons, cool mornings, and chilly evenings under the stars.
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No. Every offering is invitational. Whether it is yoga, movement, dreamwork, trekking and wandering, or creative practice, you are always free to participate or step away. Rest and solitude are considered part of the retreat experience.
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This retreat is for those who feel drawn to time in nature, creative process, and inward exploration in a spacious, embodied way. It may feel right if you are longing for a slower rhythm, time away from daily demands, and a space where both solitude and shared experience are welcomed.
We will move between structured offerings and open time in the land, with invitations into movement, dreamwork, creative expression, and wandering on the land. Nothing is required. You are always free to participate, pause, or simply be.
This retreat may not be a fit if you are looking for a tightly scheduled program, a purely academic or intellectual experience, or a highly intensive physical excursion. The land, the pace, and the practices are intentionally slow and spacious.
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Moab is surrounded by some of the most stunning desert landscapes in the world, and many women choose to arrive early or stay a few days after our retreat to take it all in.
Nearby you’ll find Arches National Park and Canyonlands National Park, along with Dead Horse Point State Park. Plus several other incredible wilderness areas. Each offers its own unique beauty, from towering red rock arches to vast canyon views.
October is an especially magical time to be here, with cooler temperatures and subtle fall colors weaving through the desert landscape. It’s a beautiful season for hiking, exploring, and simply being in awe of the land.
If you feel the call, we highly recommend giving yourself extra time to wander, integrate your experience, and fully receive all that this place has to offer.
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Yes. Many people choose to arrive early or stay a little longer in Moab to book a Mythic Portrait Session with me.
These sessions are one-on-one creative portraits made in the land around Moab. They are not traditional photo shoots. They are slower, intuitive, shaped by place, and the mythical and archetypal currents that are moving through you. Read more on my Mythical Portraits page to learn more.
If you’re attending the retreat, you can book a session either before it begins or after it ends, depending on availability.
If you’re interested, reach out early so we can coordinate timing while you’re here.
If you feel curious about this retreat and would like to explore it further, I’d love to meet you for a free 20-minute consultation call.

