Spend five soul-nourishing days in this desert oasis, where golden light and quiet breezes invite you to slow down and create. Here, surrounded by like-hearted women, you’ll explore your own artistic voice in a space of warmth and encouragement.
Cathy Malchiodi and Kat Kirby will gently inspire and guide you as you craft some one-of-a-kind art journals—layering colors, textures, and stories onto your pages, each one becoming a reflection of your inner landscape.
Let your days unfold softly: wander the serene paths of the Casa, trace the sacred curves of the labyrinth, or simply rest in the stillness. This is your retreat—yours to shape, yours to savor.
Scottsdale, AZ | The Casa | For Women
Need a winter escape that warms you from the inside out?
This season, give yourself the exquisite gift of time, space, and soulful renewal. Step away from the noise of everyday life and into a sanctuary of color, connection, and creativity.
You’re invited to a transformational art retreat designed just for you —a luscious, life-affirming experience where your spirit can breathe, your hands can play, and your voice can rise gently through the language of art.
Led by two dynamic Expressive Arts Therapists and seasoned Creative Workshop Facilitators, this intimate retreat at the serene Franciscan Renewal Center (The Casa) in beautiful Scottsdale, AZ is your invitation to remember who you are beneath the lists, the responsibilities, and the roles.
Here, art is not about perfection—it's about presence.
Through mixed media explorations, soulful journaling, intuitive doodling, and the creation of your own Spirit Stick and Wellness Wheel, you’ll be gently guided to reconnect with your creative essence. Each activity is an open door to self-expression, healing, and joy—no experience required, only a willing heart.
Surrounded by a circle of like-hearted women, you’ll find yourself embraced by a community that celebrates your story, your wisdom, your evolution.
Walk the labyrinth. Sit quietly in the healing garden. Let the desert sun kiss your skin.
Take a nap. Take a walk. Take a breath.
You don’t have to make a single decision, write a single list, or cook a single meal. This time is yours, entirely.
Is your spirit calling for rest, reflection, and radiant reconnection?
Come home to yourself. Join us at The Casa.
Tucked away beneath the wide open skies of Scottsdale, Arizona, the Franciscan Renewal Center—affectionately known as The Casa—beckons as a spiritual oasis where your soul is invited to exhale. Here, renewal, rest, and prayer are not mere practices but sacred rhythms that flow through every sun-dappled path and shaded courtyard. Open to all, regardless of faith, The Casa welcomes you like a long-lost friend returning home.
Bask in the golden serenity of winter in the low desert, where crisp air and starlit nights awaken the senses. Wander at your leisure through our open-air galleries and hidden alcoves, where art becomes more than beauty—it becomes revelation, inviting you into a deeper, more intimate dialogue with your inner life.
Whether you're seeking quiet solitude, creative awakening, or a gentle rediscovery of grace, The Casa offers you not just a retreat—but a poetic homecoming. Let the journey begin.
Beyond creating your beautiful handmade art journals, your retreat experience will open into a variety of creative adventures. You’ll be gently guided to explore your inner world using rich, tactile art materials in a playful, supportive atmosphere.
Choose from projects like crafting a Wellness Wheel to map your personal rhythms and intentions, or creating a Spirit Wand—a meaningful object that holds your private message, prayer, or affirmation.
Throughout your time here, you’ll also enjoy smaller, nourishing creative activities—each one offering a simple, joyful way to express yourself more deeply.
A labyrinth, with its sinuous, enchanting twists, is a sacred geometry—an exquisite puzzle that beckons the soul toward its center, a place of quiet revelation and profound stillness.
Unlike the chaotic maze, which tempts with a web of confounding paths and hidden traps, the labyrinth offers a singular, deliberate journey, a sacred thread woven with intention. Throughout history, these winding pathways have manifested in countless cultures, each carrying its own whispers of meaning and purpose—ranging from ancient rites to symbolic rites of passage.
The labyrinth’s very design whispers of simplicity, its elegance a mirror of clarity, inviting the seeker to embark on a solitary pilgrimage of self-discovery or spiritual awakening. In contrast, the maze—a tangle of disorienting choices—embodies the chaotic dance of life, where decisions pull us this way and that, leaving us lost and yearning for direction. But within the labyrinth, there is no confusion, only the promise of stillness and insight.
So, slow your pace, breathe deeply, and surrender to the rhythm of this sacred path, for it is in the quiet steps forward that wisdom and transformation quietly unfold.
Arrive at the Casa, where the air itself seems to invite you to slow down and soften. You may feel travel-worn, your edges frayed—this is your moment to unwind. Settle into your cozy, welcoming room, where crisp linens and quiet serenity await. Perhaps a soothing shower, a restful nap, or simply the luxury of stillness will help you shed the challenges of your journey, and step into retreat mode.
As the golden hour arrives, we’ll gather—a circle of creative souls—for gentle introductions and easy conversation, letting connections form as naturally as breath. At 6pm, a lovingly prepared dinner will nourish both body and spirit.
Then, as twilight deepens, we’ll step together into the heart of your retreat: a spacious, light-filled studio, transformed into an artist’s sanctuary. Tables shimmer with art supplies, brushes, colors, textures—a world of possibility laid out before you, ready to awaken your creativity and welcome you home to yourself. The creative journey begins here.
Welcome to the vibrant beginning of our creative journey together—a soulful invitation to play, explore, and awaken your inner artist. Cathy and Kat will gently guide you into fresh realms of artistic expression, introducing imaginative approaches to art journaling that are as unique as you are. With inspiring demonstrations and thoughtfully curated materials, you'll be fully equipped to begin crafting your own visual narrative.
From layered textures to expressive marks, a variety of journaling techniques will unfold before you like pages in a well-loved book. Then, the studio becomes your sanctuary—a space where time slows, inspiration flows, and your hands bring your inner world to life. The rest of the day is yours to dive deep, experiment freely, and shape your journal into a living, breathing reflection of your personal creative voice.
Day 3 invites you deeper into the heart of creative exploration—a day of playful discovery and pure artistic indulgence. We’ll work with unexpected, tactile treasures: smooth wooden circles, weathered sticks, soft strands of yarn, and carefully curated supplies. These simple materials become your tools for magic, as you layer, wrap, paint, and weave your way into new realms of expression.
This is not about perfection—it’s about surrendering to the mystery of the process, letting go of the “shoulds,” and trusting your hands to lead where your spirit wants to go. Let your imagination roam freely.
Today, creativity becomes both your playground and your sanctuary. Prepare for a day of hands-on wonder where art-making becomes not just a craft, but a gentle, liberating ritual.
Immerse yourself in the gentle rhythm of studio time with Cathy and Kat, where artful play and soulful creation intertwine. Let your hands dance across journal pages, layer by expressive layer. Shape your personal Wellness Wheel, a radiant map of your inner landscape. Adorn your Spirit Wand with beads, paints, charms, and whispers of your own story.
Perhaps you’ll feel drawn to a quiet, reflective labyrinth walk—alone with your thoughts or side by side in quiet companionship. This is your time, your retreat. Every moment is yours to shape, whether you crave peaceful solitude or the warm pulse of creative community. We are simply here to hold the space as you explore, express, and exhale.
We’ll share one last breakfast, our hearts full of quiet gratitude, before.
Then, with a lingering warmth in the air, we’ll part ways, our goodbyes whispered with the promise of “until next time,” knowing that the bonds we’ve forged will endure long after the day fades.
I grew up in New Jersey, surrounded by a family that believed in the power of art and music. From an early age, I learned that creativity and self-expression aren’t just hobbies—they're essential ingredients for a joyful, meaningful life.
After years of wandering, learning, and sharing my love for the creative and therapeutic arts in many different places, I found my home in the magical high desert of Prescott, Arizona.
Today, I work from a bright, welcoming studio that looks out over sweeping desert views. It’s here that I host workshops in collage, art journaling, altered books, mixed media, and more—playful, soulful gatherings where creativity flows freely. I also lead inspiring creativity retreats in some of the most beautiful corners of the world—Portugal, France, the Caribbean, and Taos, just to name a few.
Need a Creativity Coach? Whether you’re a visual artist, writer, craftsperson, musician, or someone with a creative spark that’s just waiting to be lit—I’d love to help you get unstuck and move forward. I bring decades of experience in expressive arts to guide and support people as they discover (or rediscover) their creative voice.
As a retired Board Certified, Registered Art Therapist (ATR-BC), I’ve spent over 40 years helping others find healing and meaning through the arts. I’ve taught and mentored in Prescott College’s MA in Counseling Psychology program, and I continue to offer creative workshops through Yavapai College’s Community Education program. I'm also a SoulCollage® Facilitator, and I love sharing this intuitive collage process that taps into deep personal insight and transformation.
Creativity is a path, a practice, and a portal—and I’m here to walk it with you.
Cathy Malchiodi, PhD, is a warm and compassionate leader in the field of expressive arts therapy, with a gentle focus on healing through creativity. For more than 30 years, she has supported children, teens, adults, and families navigating the impact of trauma—offering non-verbal, sensory-based ways to find expression and relief beyond words.
As the founder and director of the Trauma-Informed Practices and Expressive Arts Therapy Institute, Cathy has shared her knowledge with over 35,000 practitioners worldwide through engaging, accessible trainings—both online and in person. Her work is grounded in the belief that creativity is a powerful and natural path toward healing, and she brings that wisdom into every class she leads.
Please click on the link and complete your profile for this retreat. Thank you!
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSflEF0S4jmRQUhWDfqN0WoLzFfAazYDPTDBrl1ACTiyenAlmw/viewform?usp=header
Cancellations and Refunds:
If you have to cancel your spot on this retreat, please notify Kat immediately.
If you can fill your spot, we will refund your payment, minus the $350 nonrefundable deposit. If you are unable to fill your space, we will not be able to issue you a refund.
If the retreat has to be cancelled for reasons outside of our control, you will receive a refund, minus your deposit.
If we have to cancel, which we have never done, you will receive a full refund.
We highly recommend getting trip insurance. Kat uses Allianz:
https://www.allianztravelinsurance.com/
Scottsdale, AZ, USA
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