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with
Brigid Lowry & Michael Done
26 June - 2 July 2025
7 days/6 nights
Accommodation is included
Day 1 - 26 June - program starts 4pm
Day 7 - 2 July - no program
AIRPORT : Denpasar Bali
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LOVING YOUR LIFE Creative Writing Retreat BALI 2025
If you love the idea of an entire indulgent week of exploring writing, interspersed with music and song - yes - even some kirtan -. delicious healthy cuisine, safe sea swimming and restorative Balinese massages in a tropical island paradise, then 'Loving Your Life' might be just for you.
This workshop will offer a variety of techniques to expand your creative horizons, whoever you are, whether a poet, a lyricist or an everyday person keen to explore your world in wild and juicy ways. Come prepared to play, listen, share, experiment, laugh, cry, dream, and most of all to write.
Brigid is an award-winning author who loves to encourage people to write and to live more fully. This workshop provides a creative inky oasis in the world of busy. There will be time each day to write, to share, to learn, and to be inspired by the writings of others.
All you need do is bring your intention and a curious mind - Anna and her team at Villa Nilaya do the rest so that you can give your full attention to your writing journey with Brigid and Michael, who have co-presented writing retreats in the past 'with memorable success".
Your retreat presenters are exceptionally talented and truly soulful, gifted teachers:
a much-awarded author based in Perth, Western Australia, is a widely-experienced creative writing teacher, whose book "A Year of Loving Kindness to Myself, and Other Essays" was chosen by Apple books as 'Best Book of the Month' in April 2024.
Brigid’s current work combines Buddhism, the psychology of healing, self-help, memoir and humour, and aims to inspire anyone who is struggling in difficult times, or who wants to live with more ease and equanimity.
is a versatile musician, songwriter, poet and reflective writer. Over his lifetime, his expansive musical journey has been intertwined with a heart-felt explorations of self and spirituality. You may well know his music through a composition which gained 7.5 million hits on YouTube, when Deva Premal and Miten performed his composition Lokaha Samasta
The retreat hub is Villa Nilaya, and you choose your very own room in our lovely beachfront accommodations all a short walk from Niaya. We are all are tucked away in a quiet cul-de-sac, surrounded by coconut palms, on the edge of sparkling sea.
We have sea turtles swimming just at the front of the villa, and we'd love to take you snorkeling to discover the beauty of the reefs at the bottom of our garden if you like ... 'getting weightless' can be a wonderful inspiration for your imagination to float and find what you thought you had forgotten
Our program includes daily meditation and a beautiful sound-healing event with Eva Kroes, plus other delicious surprises ...
See you there!
Brigid's students have said ...
“We playfully leapt into the sunlight of our creativity.”
“It was a symphony of lovers, washing, children and ballpoint pens and we all felt like poets and dancers at the same time.”
“We were amazed at who we were and where we had been and perhaps where we were going.”
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This really special 7-day/6-night retreat offers you the opportunity gift yourself gentle days by the sea to focus on you.
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Tutoring with Brigid Lowry - 4 hours with Brigid each day, usually in 2 parts
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Michael Done brings his exceptional musicianship to this retreat as a special bonus for us.
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Cooking'n'Cocktails with our executive chef - cook your own 7-dish megibung with tips and recipes to be able to make it at home - plus our Signature Nilaya cocktails and snacks as you stir the sauce!
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A stylish night out on the town with fine dining and cocktails
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Morning practice with sound and meditation
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A 60-minute deliciously restorative Balinese massage or reflexology treat with our expert masseuses using Sensatia's pure sweet almond oil infused with restorative essential oils where you choose your favourite scent - Meditation or Relaxation.
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A gentle 'de-planing' yoga session followed by a heavenly, live sound-bathing experience (some call it 'sound therapy' or 'healing' - we just call it divine) that will have your senses and imagination floating ...
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plus your choice of accommodation and breakfast for 6 nights + airport collection
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6 lunches and 4 dinners
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A wide variety of good restaurants within easy walking distance of your hotel for other meals, a coffee or time out
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and time to yourself for filing your
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retreat bag with writing gifts
A luxurious week where all you need do is turn up each day at 10 am, after breakfast (and perhaps an early-morning dip? ... the snorkeling is fabulous), having taken the short walk in our pretty village to Villa Nilaya.
Lets' begin with some calm and focusing breathwork - pranayama? - and then to word-work with Brigid.
We'll begin with an hour together as a group to begin each day, then an hour writing individually.
In the afternoon another hour together, or two hours, with your evenings free to read and write and socialise - we have some lovely evening events to share with you, but you are always free to partake of that which suits you - and spend as much time with yourself as you need. It's your retreat.
On other days when we don't have an evening event planned we'll have one hour in the afternoon and one in the evening - when Brigid will respond to some of the writing, and share the works of other writers, or we'll play some creative writing games and of course Michael is there with his music!
On these peaceful evenings you can discover the seaside dining venues in our village of Mendira near Candi Dasa
Our recommended accommodation is AMARTA BEACH BUNGALOWS - your accommodation is INCLUDED - so just scroll to the end of this page to see the options. See the Accommodation
Brigid, Michael and I warmly invite you to join our group in 2025 for this exceptional writing and musical experience By The Sea in beautiful East Bali.
WHO WILL THIS RETREAT SUIT?
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Coming to this course with an open mind and a yearning to write will see you flourish.
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or perhaps you yearn to write and don't know where to start?
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maybe you think you can't write ? ... or have nothing to say, but still feel a niggling need to find out
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or perhaps you're working through something? (aren't we all ?)
Brigid truly aims to inspire anyone who is struggling in difficult times, or who wants to live with more ease and equanimity.
The relaxed environment, our caring staff at Nilaya, the sheer beauty of an endless horizon to greet you each day as you awaken - yes, all of your accommodations are by the sea - the soft winter warmth, and the wisdom of your retreat teachers is all here for you ..... with only 12 places please reserve your place soon, and don't hesitate o contact Anna if you have any queries.
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MEET BRIGID LOWRY
Brigid Lowry has an MA in Creative Writing and has published both poetry and short fiction for adults, as well as 8 prize-winning books for teenagers.
Her two essay collections, published by Fremantle Press are Still Life With Teapot: On Zen,Writing and Creativity and A Year of Loving Kindness to Myself, and Other Essays. The later was chosen by Apple books as 'Best Book of the Month' in April 2024.
Fremantle Press will publish her new title in February 2026 – A Time of Living Graciously: Essays on Ageing.
MEET MICHAEL DONE
The musical and spiritual aspects of Michael’s life have always been close companions.
Indian musical influences coupled with Michael’s interest in various Eastern spiritualities drew Michael to ‘Kirtan’, an immersive form of call-response chanting that enables participants to be internally centred, sensorily engaged, aesthetically nourished and joyfully connected to themselves and those around them.
Listen to Michael performing his composition 'Conceptions'
Creative Living Retreats by Anna Kwiecinska
With a background as an art historian and art gallery owner, my collaboration with artists continues to be a fascinating career which evolved into specialist art retreats designed to combine seriously good art tuition with authentic cultural experiences.
The practice of meditation has under-pinned Creative Living Retreats, as a source of focus for creative inspiration.
In 202o Anna was part of a pilot study group led by two reseachers in the bay Area of San Francisco, into the practice of 'microdosing mindfulness' .Dr David Amster a pain management specialist and Jake Eagle, life coach and counsellor, - both meditators - have since published their findings as "The Power of A.W.E', and it is this wisdom that we draw on in recent retreats.
Since their beginning in 2011 and active every year other than during the pandemic, many retreatants have returned for our thoughtfully curated weeks of supported creativity, and I genuinely look forward to welcoming you to experience the depth of wellbeing that Creative Living Retreats have become known for, More info
Loved the whole thing. Food was amazing and plenty of variety. Staff amazing ... I just thought you did the retreat so well. I felt totally satisfied with the way you made it all happen and made us all feel very special. You really were the glue. Very professional.
The exhibition was just so beautifully put together.
Lyn Mowday, Busselton, Australia, 2019
What does your Retreat include? Practically everything except your airfare !
see all the inclusions >
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A/C Airport Taxi collection with name board on arrival at the International Airport
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Accommodation with Breakfast for 6 nights in your choice of beachside hotels and bungalows
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20 Hours of Art Tuition with Brigid Lowry over 5 days.
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Breakfasts 6
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Lunches 5 - buffet, provided at Villa Nilaya during the retreat. We serve really fresh food, with an emphasis on vegetarian, tofu and seafood protein, and not too starchy (quinoa and red rice often replaces white rice).
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Morning and afternoon teas each day
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Bottled Water available throughout the retreat
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Dinners 4 including:
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‘Welcome Dinner BBQ' at Villa Nilaya (dietary restrictions catered for - please advise)
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Farewell Night Dinner and concert performance
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Cooking and Cocktails with our executive chef Pak Dewa Ardika
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A fine dining experience in town
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Balinese Massage or reflexology treatment in house at Villa Nilaya
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a sound-bathing event (some call it 'sound healing or sound therapy ... we just call it divine!)
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and surprises along the way,,,,,
What's not included?
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flights
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taxi transfer from retreat
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all personal expenses incurred at hotel (laundry etc)
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3 dinners
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any trips, tours or transports not included in the descripton of 'inclusions'
Thank you Anna for convening this fabulous experience.
Your style, grace and attention to detail made everyone feel important. Sharing your home for those days of art and food and armchair yoga will be a special memory for me to hold. You have gathered an amazing staff around you ... thank you again.
Gloria C. Queensland, Australia.
Bali Retreat 2022
