CREATIVE MINDFULNESS RETREAT

We will be guided by the Mujeres del Barro Rojo on a hand-crafting workshop that explores indigenous materials and traditions.

Red clay in Oaxaca is special due to its unique properties and long history of use in pottery making, particularly by the Zapotec and Mixteca communities. The clay is known for its heat resistance, allowing it to be used for cooking directly on a fire or in an oven. It's also prized for its natural color and the ability to create durable, traditional cookware

We will explore natural dyeing in relation to the geographic context we inhabit with TEXERE’s co-founder Ana Cris Medina.

Color has historically been an expression of territory, as local materials have been used not only as a source of color, but also as mordants and modifiers. In Oaxaca, it has been traditionally used in Indigenous communities, and today, its practice has expanded among contemporary textile artists.

Join us for a hands-on cacao workshop led by Chima Cacao, where you'll be introduced to the world of Oaxacan cacao — exploring its cultural roots, tasting its diverse varieties, and learning to distinguish between raw cacao, commercial chocolate, and artisanal, conscious chocolate.

We’ll roast the beans on a clay comal from San Marcos Tlapazola, peel them by hand, and share the stories tied to this ancestral ritual. You'll craft your own chocolate blend, choosing your preferred sweetness and local ingredients, and use a traditional molinillo to prepare your drink. We’ll finish with a cacao-based snack — and you’ll leave with your handmade chocolate in hand.

The ceremony will be guided by Aguamiel, in the countryside of Oaxaca. It consists of four puertas, or sections, each dedicated to a sacred element (earth, water, fire, air). It is a ceremony of purification and rebirth in which we are asked to confront ourselves and push through discomfort to find the healing power within each of us. It is both a personal and collective healing, where we sing, pray, and practice silence.

The word temazcal comes from Nahuatl temazcalli and means “house of hot stones” or “house of steam.” In northern lands it is known as a sweat lodge. It’s a sacred structure of healing and purification through the use of hot stones and steam, an ancient medicine that has healing properties physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually.

At Casa Isaura, treated like what it truly is: a form of craftsmanship. With Sandra Avila, a traditional Oaxacan cook, you’ll begin the day at the local market, selecting fresh masa, native herbs, and seasonal ingredients. Then, you’ll return to her smoke kitchen to prepare mole and tlayudas, slowly and intentionally, using methods passed down through generations.

Each ingredient is layered with meaning. Every step, from toasting seeds to grinding chiles by hand, is part of a ritual that requires time, patience, and skill. Like weaving or pottery, it’s a form of culinary artisanry — where intuition meets tradition, and every batch is slightly different, shaped by the cook’s hand.

We will be guided by Meagan Mahaffy, founder of artgurl, on morning art-making rituals to enable participants to deepen their connection to creative mindfulness throughout the retreat.

This will also allow participants to allow for self-exploration among a group of like-minded women, where sisterhood and empathy will be encouraged.

Meagan's intuitive art-making sessions prioritize process over perfection—inviting you to reflect, express, and play with color, texture, and memory without the pressure of the final product. Her own artwork explores these themes as well, blurring the lines between art and ritual.