A Book of Hours for the Creative Life: Honoring Sacred Time, Imagination, and Inner Rhythm for the New Year
January 7-10, 2027
with Lisa Mer
What if we measured time not by the ticking of the clock,
but by the opening of petals, the drift of clouds, the hush of twilight?”
–Unknown
The invitation of a New Year offers a beautiful threshold – a moment to pause, breathe, reflect on what has been, and listen for what is quietly calling you forward.
There is a rhythm beneath the noise of daily life – a quiet pulse that calls us back to presence, to beauty, to the wellspring of our creative soul.
In this retreat, we’ll step into that more spacious rhythm of reflection and creativity as we bring to life A Book of Hours for the Creative Life – a handmade, heartfelt devotional to your own creative life that honors the sacredness of time and the mystery of inner unfolding.
Drawing inspiration from the illuminated prayer books of old, our modern-day Book of Hours becomes a vessel of devotion to the holy practice of paying attention. We’ll explore the distinct qualities of these times of day – the hush of morning, the spaciousness of midday, the gathering stillness of evening, and the fertile darkness of night – and discover how each can invite reflection, creativity, and renewal.
Through SoulCollage®, collage clusters, soulful mark-making, image, word, and sacred pause, we’ll give shape to these moments and the meanings they hold.
Morning – Awakening & Illumination
What is stirring?
Afternoon – Radiance & Flow
Where are you invited to open and create?
Evening – Reflection & Gratitude
What wants to be remembered and honored?
Night – Mystery & Renewal
What is waiting to emerge?
This is not a retreat of rushing to complete a project. It is a sanctuary time of rhythm and reverence – a time to go slowly, create intuitively, and return to what matters most in your creative and spiritual life. You will also have opportunities to walk the labyrinth and listen for the voice of your creative muse to guide you.
Infused with color, texture, poetry, and personal meaning, your finished book will be both artifact and altar. Whether you are new to creative expression or a seasoned artist, this retreat offers a gentle structure and a nurturing space to kindle inspiration, deepen spiritual practice, and return home with a luminous, handcrafted book to companion the coming year and your ongoing journey.
Your Guide for the Journey
Lisa Mer (she/her)
Retreat Facilitator
Lisa Mer (she/her) is a certified spiritual guide, trained facilitator for SoulCollage® and Poetic Medicine’s Poetry as a Tool for Wellness. Lisa is also a certified Veriditas labyrinth facilitator as well as offering Sand & Symbol, a spiritual sand tray practice. She is steeped in Parker Palmer’s Courage and Renewal work and served in public education for over 30 years. She believes that symbols, images, and metaphors are powerful ways to give voice to our inner wisdom.