The Art of Living // A Creative Retreat at Ebbio, Tuscany Italy

Creativity delights in a slow pace.

She flourishes in the fertile soil of our undivided attention; her deepest mysteries bloom when we turn inward and listen. Stillness is the great revealer.

The Art of Living Retreat invited us to tend the creative life-force within. Twelve remarkable women gathered at Ebbio — an ancient farmhouse nestled in the rolling hills of Tuscany — for five days and five nights of devotion to the inner spark.

Our days were supported by breathwork ceremony, meditation, creative practices, free-flow play, and farm-to-table nourishment ~ each made possible by the land and by the generous hearts who cared for us.

There is a soft murmur at the bottom of a steel-blue lake. Do we have the courage to hear her voice? As we sit silently with nature, let emotion move through our hands into art, and speak honestly with one another… our inner voice grows unmistakably clear.

As the days unfolded, the inner work intertwined with the outer world ~ the textures of Ebbio, the rhythm of the land, the way creativity revealed herself in the smallest details. These images hold the essence of that experience.

My deepest gratitude to Natasha, whose creative channel birthed this retreat with such clarity and devotion. Her ability to bring her visions into form is extraordinary. It was an honor to support the co-creation of this experience.

Please enjoy this visual diary of our collective journey.

Each day we journeyed in ceremony with the powerful and transformative modality of Breathwork. Here is a deeper look into the practice, in Natasha’s own words:

“Conscious-Connected Breathwork is a powerful healing modality, that uses an active rhythmic breath to settle the nervous system, ground into the body and free stagnant energy and emotions from your inner landscape. When we free stress and tension from our bodies, we are able to hear our innate wisdom that’s always right here - gifting us the opportunity to remember our wholeness and hear our next direction.

Breathwork helps to unearth old beliefs that can keep us stuck and disconnected. When we bring awareness to unconscious material, we can start to rewire these deeply rooted beliefs and give intentional direction to our life. Giving you the power to get unstuck, and move beyond obstacles while deepening your relationship to your body.

This practice facilitates an expanded connection to who you really are; gifting you clarity on your life's situation with greater self-awareness, love and compassion for yourself and others.”

I had the deep privilege of facilitating three Sacred Self Love Sessions as part of the retreat experience. Sacred Self Love Sessions are healing, meditative explorations of the Self through imagery. These intentional photography sessions guide the participant on a journey through their internal and external landscapes — using the intimate experience of being seen as a pathway into deeper self-discovery, expression, acceptance, and love. The resulting images become personal symbols of support and inspiration along their life’s path —tangible emblems of deeper remembrance. Each session in Italy was a unique coming together of spirit, land, artistry, and soul.

Here is a glimpse into Katie's experience: “This might sound strange considering my Sacred Self Love session was, after all, a *photography* session—but honestly, even if there had been no photographs at all, the experience itself would have been incredibly precious to me.

And when I did see the images… I cried. Not just because of how beautiful they were, but because I felt so seen in them. Some made me feel like a grown woman. Some made me feel like an artist. And some made me tear up for an even more tender reason: I could see the little girl in me, still there, shining through.

Truthfully, this was something I might never have signed up for on my own. It felt like the kind of thing other people do—people with more reason, or a more defined identity as an artist, or healer, or someone whose vocation “justifies” taking photos like these. But when Olivia offered the session to those of us on the Art of Living retreat in Italy, I felt an unmistakable nudge. A magnetic little pull. And I’m so, so glad I said yes. (Turns out, this kind of thing is for *me*, too.)

The shoot experience itself was truly a kind of ceremony. Having been guided by Olivia in meditations on a number of occasions, this felt like a moving meditation. She offered her quiet blessings, played the playlist she’d invited me to put together beforehand, and created a container where I could be vulnerable, expressive, and playful — without judgment, and with her full, gracious support.

I think the best way I can put it is: she used the camera more like a mirror than a lens. I don’t usually feel comfortable being photographed—but with her, it wasn’t about posing or performing. It was about connecting with the deepest parts of myself, and embodying the parts I most wanted to express.

Now, especially in one of the busiest seasons of my life, these images connect me back to parts of myself that I cherish and have vowed to tend to. An artist, a sensitive soul, a woman deeply connected to the earth.

This experience was filled with so many gifts, and the photographs themselves were only one of them. Thank you, Olivia. This was one of the most meaningful experiences of my life, and these images will be precious to me for many years to come.” ~Katie B.

Each afternoon, I led the group in a grounding meditation practice to root us into our center before our Creative Practice period.

Meditation uncovers the innate clarity of our awareness and creates space for our internal wisdom to arise. Through practice, trust is born, insight emerges, and we deepen into ourselves. We cultivate the ability to quiet the mind and widen our capacity to feel—to artfully dance with the full spectrum of our human experience. From anguish to ecstasy, it is all included. Through stillness, we come home to ourselves and into deeper intimacy with all things.

Our Creative Practice period was designed to be a compassionate, expansive playground for expression. We led the group through various practices that invited unbridled creativity and a deeper connection with their inner artist. No rules, no judgment— just pure expression.

It’s important to remember: we weave the fabric of our lives from the thread of imagination, daily. To take a human birth is an inherently creative act.

Finally, I’d love to share some gorgeous words of reflection from our retreat host (and my bestie!) Natasha:

“This retreat was extremely special and transformative, and will hold a place in my heart forever. Ebbio is a dream like farmhouse, enveloped in rich history, tucked into the Tuscan hillside, atop fertile volcanic soil. I still can’t quite find the words for the full spectrum of experience that was cosmically and deeply felt here. The learnings from this retreat keep reverberating in new ways. 

The land there feels ancient and wise, and evokes and amplifies what’s ready to be released and set down, all while steadily supporting and nourishing you like a Great Mother ~ inviting you each day to surrender to her rhythms and learnings. Each of us left with a felt sense of coming home, clarity or a deep remembrance of who we are and what vital nutrients are needed to nourish our lives.

We reflected upon the art of living by slowing down and breathing with the land, letting our unique expression pour through us with paints and charcoals, meditating between the ancient olive trees and bathing in the healing waters of Bagni San Filippo. 

In Tuscany, it’s easy to be romanced.. reading poetry together under the dripping candle-light and experiencing the coziness of an evening thunderstorm during a yin-yoga class. We laughed… we cried a lot. Even those who “don’t cry”… may have shed a tear or two and we were spoiled with the most delicious food each day, including Ricotta the size of a birthday cake… 

We felt deeply held here. 

I am so grateful to the lovely woman who said yes to this experience. It was a joy to co-create this with you and for you. My heart is elated to see the deep friendships and connections that were born at this retreat. I love you!!

Thank you, Olivia for being open to the psychedelic nature of co-creating experiences together and for supporting the retreat with your eye for beauty, and the special way you elevate an experience✨ 

Thank you Nirdosh, Sibilla and the many people who made this dream possible by tending to this ancient land and taking care of us so beautifully. I can’t wait to return.” Natasha

Natasha will be hosting another retreat this May at Ebbio titled “The Art of Becoming.” If you’d like to explore more details, you can find them on her website, here.