The journey inward begins the moment we make space to listen

reopening you symbolic space

A Women's Art Retreat

for Self-Discovery, Reflection & Creative Renewal

Symbolic space is the inner world where emotions, intuition, memories, dreams, imagination, and personal meaning can be explored through images, symbols, creativity, and reflection rather than through logic or words alone.

Across cultures and throughout history, human beings have used symbols to make sense of life, to navigate change, to heal, and to find answers to the deepest questions of the human experience.

Circles, patterns, sacred geometry, colours, and recurring forms appear in ancient cultures around the world—not only as decoration, but as ways of expressing emotions, transitions, inner experiences, and the connection between the visible and invisible aspects of life.

Today, many people feel disconnected from themselves beneath the speed, noise, and constant demands of modern life. We spend so much time functioning, producing, caring for others, and moving outward that we rarely create space to listen inward.

Swiss psychologist Carl Jung spent years studying symbols, dreams, and mandalas across different cultures. He observed that certain symbols appear naturally during times of personal transformation, helping people understand feelings and experiences that are often difficult to express with words alone.

Jung believed that symbols can help us reconnect with parts of ourselves that are waiting to be acknowledged, understood, or integrated. In this way, creativity becomes more than self-expression—it becomes a pathway toward deeper self-awareness.

Reopening our symbolic space through art allows us to reconnect with imagination, intuition, emotional depth, and personal meaning. It helps us move beyond simply "getting through life" and reconnect with ourselves in a more conscious, authentic, and creative way.

This workshop is inspired by that understanding.

There comes a moment in many women's lives when something begins to shift.

The roles we've carried, the routines, the constant movement outward... slowly make space for deeper questions:

Who am I now?
What part of me is asking for attention?
What wants to emerge in this next chapter of my life?

Sometimes, words are not enough to answer those questions.

This is where reflection, creativity, and symbolism can gently guide us inward.

Reopening Our Symbolic Space is a two-day immersive retreat designed to help women reconnect with their inner world through guided reflection, visualization, inner exploration and creative self-expression.

This is not about artistic skill or creating "perfect" artwork.

It is about slowing down enough to notice what is happening within you—to explore what you may be feeling, longing for, questioning, rediscovering, and expressing.

Throughout the weekend, we will work with themes such as grounding, visualization, intuition, expression and connection. Through a series of guided exercises, you will enter your symbolic space, uncovering shapes, colours and symbols that feel personally meaningful, and gradually developing your own symbolic image.

Many women describe this kind of creative process as calming, emotional and unexpectedly clarifying in the best possible way. It creates space to reconnect with parts of ourselves that are often quiet beneath the responsibilities of everyday life.

You will leave with:

• A series of personal artistic explorations

• One final symbolic artwork

• Creative reflection tools you can continue using on your own

• And, most importantly, a deeper sense of connection with yourself

No previous art experience is needed.

Only curiosity, openness, and a desire to explore.

✨ Saturday & Sunday
✨ 10:00 AM – 4:30 PM
✨ Small, intimate group
✨ Surrounded by nature, 15 minutes from downtown Ottawa
✨ All materials included