Creative Expression and Embodiment Retreat in California with Intuitive Art and Ecstatic Dance
Move, Create, Release: A California Retreat for Expressive Souls
If you’ve been craving a space to move without rules, paint without judgment, and reconnect to your body’s own wisdom, Symposium: The First Gathering invites you to step into an immersive playground of creative expression and embodiment.
Taking place November 4–9, 2025, this six-day embodiment retreat in California is made for feelers, visionaries, and seekers who want to unlock the art and movement held within their bodies. No training required—just curiosity and a willingness to let go.
With a focus on intuitive painting, journaling, ecstatic dance, and creative ritual, the retreat offers a safe and spacious container for personal expression. Think paint-streaked fingers, wild barefoot twirling, and quiet moments of reflection as you write, draw, and breathe your story into form.
Set in the redwood sanctuary of Spirit Camp Retreat Center, the environment mirrors the energy of the experience: alive, grounded, inclusive, and full of creative potential.
The Healing Legacy of Ecstatic Dance and Art as Ritual
Long before dance studios and galleries existed, humans painted stories on cave walls and danced around firelight. Movement and art have always been medicine—ritual acts of self-connection, expression, and community bonding.
Ecstatic dance traces its roots through tribal celebration, shamanic journeying, and contemporary modalities like 5Rhythms and Open Floor Movement. In these spaces, the body becomes the oracle—each sway, stomp, and stillness a message from within.
Likewise, intuitive art breaks free from structure. You don’t need to “know how” to draw or paint—you just need a surface, a tool, and a feeling. It’s not about making art that impresses. It’s about making art that reveals.
Combined, these practices invite emotional release, nervous system regulation, and creative awakening—as studied by organizations like the Art Therapy Alliance, which emphasizes the therapeutic potential of expressive arts.
This retreat taps into these ancient and emerging practices to offer something rare: a creative healing journey that doesn’t ask you to perform—just to show up.
Photo of Deer Haven, one of the our many unique cabin spaces. This cabin has three beds. Cabins have between 1 to 8 beds each and provide several different sleeping arrangements for Creative Expression and Embodiment Retreat California. All cabin spaces are included in Art and movement healing.
Photo of Group Glamping Tents Setup in Sunset Meadow. We have 10 Glamping Structures that can be added with 1to 3 beds each. This can increase bed capacity of campus to 50 guests across 20 unique accommodation spaces.
Facilitators of Creative Freedom
Dayana Carmona (@herwhollywisdom) leads participants into movement as prayer. With her background in energetic and shamanic healing, she brings ritual rhythm and liberatory dance to life—inviting you to find your own sacred motion.
Lindsay Dorio (@zenithmassagebylindsay) complements this with somatic movement, guiding guests into a felt sense of embodiment through gentle practices that awaken awareness and joy. Her hands-on healing and Anointed Body Journey add a layer of grounded care.
Julia Farrell (@thegingerjules) bridges myth and meaning through visual storytelling and symbolic play. From painting stations on the garden deck to curated creative prompts, she weaves magic into every brushstroke and moment.
Together, they hold a field of freedom—where expression is permission and your body is the canvas.
Embodied Rituals, Painted Stories: Life at Spirit Camp
At Spirit Camp, every space is a potential altar. Morning movement takes place in the warm embrace of the Redwood Lodge, where skylights catch the fog and woodstoves crackle. Painting unfolds on the north-side deck, surrounded by garden blooms and birdsong.
Afternoons may include journaling beside the fire or quiet integration in The Sanctuary, where light pours through copper roofing and pillows invite cozy reflection.
In between sessions, you might find yourself dancing barefoot in Magic Meadow, laughing in the communal kitchen, or lying in the grass watching redwoods sway. The retreat’s rhythm blends structure and spaciousness, allowing each guest to flow in their own way.
Accommodations range from luxe cabins to nostalgic bunkhouses—all clean, cozy, and lovingly prepared. Meals are plant-based, seasonal, and shared in community—nourishing both body and creative spirit.
This is a place where expression meets rest, and where your inner artist is not only welcomed—but celebrated.
A Place to Move Freely and Breathe Deeply
Located on the Northern California coast, just three hours from San Francisco, Spirit Camp is a hidden gem among redwood trees and coastal mists. Whether you're driving from Berkeley, Oakland, Santa Rosa, or farther afield, you’ll find the journey to be a symbolic descent—leaving behind the buzz of everyday life for a deeper pulse of presence.
The location is ideal for those seeking a creative somatic ritual in the Redwoods without international travel. No plane ticket needed—just a willingness to show up, unplug, and drop into your body’s wisdom.
Surrounded by nature, yet just minutes from the vibrant town of Mendocino, Spirit Camp offers the best of both worlds: wild seclusion and practical access.
FAQs for Expressive Spirits
Do I need prior dance or art experience?
Not at all. All activities are designed to be beginner-friendly. You don’t need to be a dancer or artist—just open to expression.Will supplies be provided for painting/writing?
Yes. Art materials, journals, and prompts will be available. You’re welcome to bring your own tools, but everything you need will be provided.What’s the energy—quiet and meditative or wild and expressive?
Both. Some sessions are vibrant and kinetic (like ecstatic dance), others are contemplative and spacious (like reflective writing or breathwork). You’ll find a full spectrum of experiences.
Local Exploration for Creative Integration
Mendocino Art Center is just minutes away and offers an inspiring array of galleries, outdoor sculpture gardens, and even classes for those who want to deepen their art practice. Wandering its grounds post-retreat can help integrate your creative flow into daily life.
Just down the road, Headlands Trail winds along dramatic coastal cliffs. Here, you’ll find sweeping ocean views, crashing waves, and wind that whispers poetry. It’s a perfect spot to journal, reflect, or simply breathe.
These nearby gems offer natural and artistic mirrors—helping you carry your creative momentum forward.
Unleash Your Inner Artist in the Redwoods
You were never meant to stay confined. Your body knows how to move. Your heart knows how to paint. Your spirit remembers how to play.
Join us for six days of embodied expression and artistic release at Symposium: The First Gathering.
To browse more opportunities for creative and spiritual awakening, visit spirit.camp/retreats.
TOPICS:
Creative Expression and Embodiment Retreat California, Ecstatic dance retreat California, Intuitive art and movement retreat, Expressive arts healing in Northern California, California embodiment retreat, Creative somatic ritual in the Redwoods, Art and movement healing, Redwoods creative spiritual retreat, Somatic self-discovery retreat, Northern California intuitive dance workshop
