April 8-10, 2022
(Fri 4:30 pm – Sun 5:30 pm)
This retreat is open to new and past Bodywriters.
Have you always wanted to come to Bodywriting but couldn’t take off 6 days from your busy life to do the full retreat?
Then I have created this 2.5 day retreat JUST FOR YOU!
COME HOME to your BODY and FEED YOUR SOUL.
Back in 1994 we did both an acrylic body print AND a pastel body print during Bodywriting Retreats for Women. IT WAS TOO MUCH!
So, then I realized that it would be better to focus on one at a time so that participants could feel more complete at the end. The pastel prints were hard to let go of because they are so beautiful and magical!
But now PASTEL PRINTS are back!
PICTURE THIS
Imagine gathering in the wooded Texas Hill Country on 5 acres with women who have left their egos behind and are dedicated to each other’s creative process.
You are sipping sipping a watermelon spritzer in the spa as the setting sun casts a crimson hue on the giant oak, you relax more deeply into the soothing waters… it’s the end of an incredible day in the studio.
You are deliciously spent after exploring how your body prints. All the women here are different ages with different body types and sizes. Everyone has shared her own intimate story.
And, today, with the help of these women, you created your own unique body print. Your head is spinning!
Bonded now, you laugh with your Bodywriting women, remembering the events of the day; the inspiring embellishment presentation, the savory lunch on the deck, and then preparing for the body printing together.
IN the beginning you were self conscious, you wondered how it would feel to be naked in front of these women. But, it was late enough, and you were ready to get on with it!
With a guided movement meditation you explored how your body moved and different possibilities for printing your body. With Pamela’s help you decided on a position.
To prepare, you placed colorful sticks of pastels into a mortar and pestle. To the primal beat of drums, you ground a mixture of colors until you got the just right shades of red, ochre and orange.
You are in a rhythm now, creating several piles of rich luscious powders that are reminiscent of the ancient Indian “Holi Festival of Colour “. The colors are pure joy and they are of your own making!
Then it was time. Every woman covered her body in white paint which initiated the Bodywriting ritual.
Together, in the most safe, loving and beautiful space, you helped one another. One by one all bodies “shape-shifted” into glistening feminine visceral beings, transcending any preconception of your body; each seen through a new lens. With this initiation, you became part of the Bodywriting Tribe of Women.
With the help of your Bodywriters, you begin. Once your print is made there is no time to lose!
You must quickly seize your beautiful colors and sprinkle them into the wet paint creating fields of color, some reds, some cream, some orange.
It’s all about this moment!
Once the color is all dispersed you carefully lift the paper and WOOOOSHHH! it off to reveal the arrival of your welcomed guest.
And there you have it. The image has arrived. After a hot shower out doors, you pick up your journal and ask,
“Who are you? What do you need from me next?” And she, he, it says “I am the one who…”
It was so exciting that you forgot to be nervous! At last, you’d finally done it!
So tell me, is this you?
- Would you like to explore your current relationship with your body through expressive arts in a safe loving way?
- Would you revel in some experiences that are awe-inspiring, soul stirring, heart-opening, and above all LIFE-changing?
- Can you imagine having the time and freedom you need to recharge and nurture your creativity?
- Are you ready to embrace and celebrate your one wild and precious body?
- Wouldn’t it feel awesome to be visible again and to consciously reclaim your own divine feminine?
- Can you imagine playing in the studio — painting, dancing, drumming and letting primal sounds reverberate from deep inside your bones?
- Wouldn’t it feel great to finally come to a place of acceptance and gratitude for the journey your body has taken?
- Are you ready to experience the tenderness and power of being in a sacred circle of women who accept you just as you are?
If you answered YES to one of these or more, then this retreat was made especially with YOU in mind…
That’s exactly why you’re going to LOVE Weekend Bodywriting for Women. It’s 2 nights and 3 days of adventure, delicious food, creativity, connection with like-minded women, communing with nature, rejuvenation, soul fullness, giving back – and FUN – something we ALL desperately need NOW!
This carefully designed experience was made for YOU combining the expressive arts with a heart-opening retreat that you’ll remember for a lifetime.
There’s something about the magical energy of this hill country venue that will inspire you and your imagination – its the perfect place to gather, accelerate our growth and change, and empower each other to find our best life!
Not only will you be taking your creativity to the next level ― even more important, you’ll be taking every aspect of your life, communication with those you love, your connection to nature, your connection to your sensing body to the next level.
What you are going to walk away with…
So what can you expect if you spend 3 incredible days and 2 nights making art in the studio immersed in creativity, exploring yourself?
Well, what if you walked away with tools to live your life through the lens of ‘a creator’; a daily journaling practice, the ability to commune with nature through the arts, alternative ways to respond (instead of react) to the people in your life, a new language for sharing your feelings and the art you and others make (instead of the re-wounding “critique” model) and an altar to set up at home so that your process continues even after you leave?
What if you finally figured out how to have more acceptance and less judgement and yes, maybe even self love, towards the one sensing body you were given in this wild and precious life.
And what if you had access to a circle of amazing women willing to generously share how they navigate a life embracing creativity and acceptance of themselves and others?
And what if you could get inspiration, encouragement and answers, just when you most need them, from a tribe of women who actually care about helping you live your best, creative life?
Would that be worth coming to Bodywriting for?
Yes, without a doubt!
Here’s the thing; BEFORE you even step foot in the studio you’ll start to make connections with your art based, body centered tribe, in our online Welcome Circle.
And to make sure you get the absolute most from this amazing experience, you and I will have a one on one video call to meet, go over your personal needs/concerns, your relationship with art and your body, BEFORE the retreat, to prepare you for the journey.
At this time you’ll start looking for an object to bring for our altar that represents your relationship with your body now; and your Bodywriting Process begins!
Bodywriting is an extended Expressive Arts Circle, a safe container to support women in taking personal risks through the arts, restoring our truth, and midwifing one another into being.
Thank you for the powerfully transforming experience that is Bodywriting!
I am still amazed that something this powerful came out of that process. Bodywriting is so much more than the art that came from it. It’s so much about the supportive group process and the support and safe environment you provide with it. Thank you for making this all possible for us.
We are all Middle Sisters; we are the students, we are the teachers, we are the midwives.
Are You ready to BRING the Truth of who you are?
By the end of our retreat, our Circle will be overflowing with the synergy that only comes from making art in community; the tenderness, the cross pollination of ideas, the ‘gentle holding’ of our images, the courage gained through association with others willing to take personal risks.
This immersion will help you take your new relationship with your body and creative self forward to live your best life.
Take advantage of this rare opportunity to realign with your sensing body, let go of judgement, open alternative doorways to your creativity, feel empowered while helping others midwife their dreams, find support in the growth that comes from being vulnerable- all while being held in the safe container of the expressive arts circle.
This is a celebration of the divine feminine – lumps bumps, scars and all!
Why Join Us?
- We will create a safe container and maintain a sense of community.
- We will drum and rattle in circle together.
- We will journal every day and share in circle
- We will create a fluid, free floating Intuitive Collage™ to connect with our current imagery and gain direction.
- New Bodywriters will grind pastels to create mystical body print
- You will be expertly guided by Pamela to work with the image that arrives- one on one
- Past Bodywriters may bring an ongoing body print to work on and/or create a pastel print.
- We will experience a cross pollination of ideas and gain courage by association.
- We will gain inspiration from nature.
- We will create Sand Trays to help guide our process.
- We will connect with our body prints with movement, poetry and sound.
- We will explore color, texture and learn to dialog with our image
- We will renew our relationship with our bodies as our first creative partner!
The Venue
A Texas Hill Country is home base for Pamela Underwood Expressive Arts Studios.
This fully appointed expressive arts studio is on 5 quiet acres with breathtaking views, starry skies, fireflies, deer, redbirds, fox and other wildlife. Both studio and bathrooms are wheelchair accessible.
Residential retreat accommodations include a cottage, main house, deck with jacuzzi and studio. Sleeping arrangements are double occupancy (with separate beds) unless previously arranged with Pamela. There are a limited number of single occupancy spaces and there will be an additional charge for single occupancy depending on the participant’s needs. Glamping tents are added where needed.
The Studio has a full handicap accessible bath and is equipped with expressive arts supplies; colorful scarves, art supplies, variety of instruments, including 10 Djembe drums and an amazing sand tray collection.
The Main House has 5 beds and 2.5 baths. The Cottage has 2 beds, a full bath and a mini refrigerator.
Join us for creativity, connection and FUN!
The Cuisine
We LOVE our Bodywriting Cook! Our cook prepares delicious meals according to the participants needs.
The menu will include Gluten Free fare.
Fresh organic seasonal vegetables will be harvested from the garden.
We’ll enjoy a variety of hearty soups, fish, chicken, caprese salad, pasta primavera, spinach and artichoke casserole, kale and avacado salad, air fried sweet potato fries and fresh steamed broccoli.
The Delights
Ah…the delight of laying eyes on your body print for the first time! Let me tell you more….
I know it makes sense that, when you make art in a group, you gain courage by association with those around you – right? There is the amazing cross pollination of ideas that feels both yummy, generous and exciting.
So imagine the effect of five extraordinary days and nights in the company of like minded women who value community, are motivated to make art that is meaningful but not always pretty and aren’t afraid to move toward the hard questions that arise. Imagine what it means to be with women who are willing to take personal risks through movement, poetry, visual art and sound to forge new doorways to access inner wisdom. This approach to making art in a sacred circle organically accelerates each individuals transformation, insight and healing.
During these changing times, it is up to each of us to learn to embrace and, yes, celebrate our one wild precious body in order to show up fully for our work in the world. What better way than to have a tribe of like minded women to join you?
You are not alone!
Step into a visceral experience of your sensing body and allow play to lead the way.
No art experience necessary.
What’s Included
- One on One Zoom visit with Pamela prior to arrival
- Pre Retreat Circle – Online Welcome Circle to meet each other
- One on One Deep-Dive Studio Sessions with Pamela on Day two+three
- Double occupancy sleeping arrangements (with separate beds)
- Two delicious breakfasts
- Two mouth-watering lunches
- Two Beautiful Dinners
- All art materials, but participants are welcome to bring any materials they would like
- Gift of a Bodywriting Journal
- All drums, sand tray images and scarves for movement
- A donation on your behalf to “Hays-Caldwell Women’s Center”, whose goal is empowering survivors of abuse
What’s Not Included
- Your travel to and from the venue
- Extra night stay at the venue
- Personal, medical or trip cancellation insurance
- To maintain a sense of safety No Alcohol is included in this retreat. Because of the mind altering nature of the art making process
we request that participants not bring alcohol or mind altering drugs to the venue - Thursday Dinner Dutch Treat – We will have one gourmet dinner outing together to experience the artsy village of Wimberley!
Flights, Airport and Shuttle
You will fly into Austin Bergstrom International Airport. Wimberley is an hour away.
There is a Super Shuttle that will bring you to the studio door.
Once we have everyone registered I will share your info if you would like to coordinate a shuttle “to or from” the retreat.
About Wimberley Village
What can I say? I LOVE Wimberley. It is a quaint town in the beautiful Texas Hill Country and is a Designated Dark Sky Community.
It is full of history, the arts, great restaurants, shopping, and it also has two rivers running through it, adding to its charm.
If you want to enjoy the artsy town of Wimberley before or after the retreat, book one of the many quaint cottages or an Air B&B on the Blanco River or on the cool spring waters of Cypress Creek.
Our agenda is designed to allow time to arrive at the Retreat Venue late afternoon and depart after breakfast on the last day. Unfortunately, there is not the opportunity to come the night before or stay an extra night.
Are you ready to join the Bodywriting Tribe?
The Bodywriting Process
Welcome – Listen for the drum, calling you to circle!
After we tour the property and settle in, we will share a light dinner. In circle we dive into the creation of our group altar, circle guidelines and build the safe container that will support our process for the next 2.5 days together.
In the studio, your Intuitive Collage® process begins to build trust in your sensing body as your creative partner and call in new and trusted images that are at work in your life. With the Expressive Arts Feedback Methods you’ll learn safe and helpful ways to communicate, share with others and respond to the art that is made.
This day brings the arrival of our honored guests; colorful life-sized body prints! You will be guided, step by step, until the moment your print arrives.
Each night you will receive a journal prompt and ask your dreams to help inform your writing. In the morning, before breakfast, grab your coffee and begin to write while you are in the sweet spot between sleep and waking. We will share in circle to prepare for our big day.
A slide presentation will offer ideas and inspiration from past Bodywriters’ experience. You will explore how your body prints through guided movement meditation and then create body print sketches and explore how our unique body prints.
After grinding a blend of pastel colors that makes your heart sing, you will slather paint on your body to create a life sized body print with the encouragement and support of your tribe.
After an invigorating outdoor shower with Lemon Salt Scrub we will savor a delicious dinner, journal in front of our print and soak in the jacuzzi under the stars. HEAVEN!
By now, your pastel painting will have a life of its own, with its own voice and guidance for you. This process will be ongoing, it will continue to impart wisdom and direction because you have developed a relationship with this image that involves a give and take / a reciprocity.
This afternoon you will each create an altar to honor all elements of your body printing process. Later we will come together for an expressive arts Ceremony including sound, movement and poetry to honor your collaged journal, sand tray Bodywriting process and the voice of your image. You will have the opportunity to witness, be witnessed and receive feedback from your trusted Bodywriting Tribe.
Closing Circle
During our closing circle we will reflect on our process, set an intention for our return to daily life and say what may have been left unsaid.
Departure
You will pack up your joy, your insights, your well loved journal, your altar object (now transformed) and the things you learned. You will pack up your delicate pastel painting and leave with a new companion, heart filled with gratitude, inspiration, affirmation and a tribe of amazing women.
Ideally you have set time aside, after you return home, to rest, reflect, journal and integrate your Bodywriting experience.
Our circle will be open, yet always unbroken.
Your Guide
The best way for me to explain how I arrived at the Bodywriting process, is to tell you my own story.
My personal transformation from being a studio artist to becoming a artist who guides women to heal and celebrate their body through creativity, began in 1990. After earning my BFA in painting and printmaking, I taught art and sold my art work.
One day in the studio, I became discouraged about the direction of my work as an artist. Suddenly I was deeply dissatisfied with the whole business of creating and selling art.
I thought, “Sure I’m able make pretty pictures but to what end? What meaningful purpose does it serve?” My soul was starved for a heartfelt connection.
That day I made a commitment to discover a personal connection to the art making process or – I vowed to stop making art all together. I began a daily journaling practice and followed its guidance. I began trusting my impulse.
Pamela Underwood, MA, BFA
Masters in Expressive Arts Therapy BFA Painting and Printmaking Certified Labyrinth Facilitator Certified Drum Facilitator
Read More
While in the printmaking lab at San Diego State University, I followed an impulse to print my nude body on a giant limestone slab, which resulted in a series of 7 lithography body prints.
I found that laying in different positions on the stone resurrected muscle memories of wounding relationships and childhood sexual abuse.
When these memories resurfaced I would become irritated, dance wildly, stop and scribble my thoughts and feelings on scraps of paper so they would have a place to BE and I could move forward.
Things continued to unfold. I was awarded an NEA Grant for a public art project by Sushi Visual and Performing Arts Gallery. While erecting the seven 6 foot tall, black and white “Avant Guard Dogs” on top of a three story building I was invited to perform “Dear Grandaddy”, an interactive performance art project which came out of the frantic scribbles I had saved while making my body prints.
During my “Writing Center” one woman show still another door opened. Director Judy Reeves was intrigued with the body printing process and encouraged me to guide other women in printing their bodies’ and working with the image that arrived. With Judy’s inspiration “The Bodywriting Retreat for Women” was born.
Indeed, a more meaningful, personal connection to my art making had revealed itself on many levels!
After midwifing hundreds of women through the Bodywriting process and witnessing the deep work they did, I realized that it was time to gain expertise in helping Bodywriters to make sense of what happens, so that they can return to their lives filled with more insights and new tools to navigate life.
Studying with the founders of expressive arts therapy in Switzerland from 2000- 2003, I earned my masters degree at the European Graduate School.
My thesis culminated in the published book, Bodywriting Retreats for Women: How Does the Practice of Expressive Arts Therapy Help to Establish and Maintain a Safe Container for the Necessary Chaos of the Creative Process?
I am honored to be the steward of the sacred process that is Bodywriting. This retreat is an invitation from me to you – an opportunity to explore your relationship with your body; a safe place to move through both disturbing and nurturing feelings within the container of the arts, and come away with gifts, tools and resources to re- align, re-story, re-new and CELEBRATE your relationship with your sensing body!
And, as always, there is the love and support of Pamela, who guides us gently and without judgment, only encouragement. Teaching and modeling are qualities I know I will always experience at Bodywriting. I trust this.
We drop our masks / our robes, and bring our truth.
Frequently Asked Questions
How did Bodywriting Retreats for Women come to be?
“Summer Burning” Pastel Print by Pamela Underwood; Burned garter belts and hose, pastel, glue, ash, eucalyptus leaves, charred hose fasteners and underwire from burned bra.
This could be long and drawn out, but I’ll try to make it short and I look forward to any clarifying questions you might have 🙂
Childhood Abuse.
I was always an artsy little girl. Drawing and singing were my saving grace.
Though both of my parents provided well, and loved us, my grandfather was a sexual pervert who, among other things, viewed his grand daughters as his property to do with what he wished. I remember trying to lose myself in play at his feet as he watched “As the World Turns”. Still, I have no tolerance for Soap Operas.
I never blocked out my abuse of 12 years (When I was 12, my cousins and I had a slumber party. We discovered that he was doing this to all of us and we each told him to leave us alone! BTW, he was angry).
As a trusting little girl, I navigated this as best I could, though I was dangerously promiscuous growing up, always looking for love and validation.
Fast Forward.
I earned my BFA in painting and printmaking. After marrying and having two children I audited printmaking classes to have access to the press and the extra large lithography stones. I had privacy because, as a veteran printmaker, I was given a key to the lab on weekends.
I was always drawn to the famous art lithograph where a model kissed the stone with her lipsticked lips, the stone was etched and the print came out beautifully. It made me curious!
One day, door locked, alone in the lab, I had an impulse to strip down to my birthday suit, slather vaseline on my full torso (instead of lipstick!) and lower my body down onto the cold
(Burrr!) magnificent stone.
The Rest is History.
I was so intrigued! With each body position on the stone came new ways of RE-MEMBERING what my body had held for so long in my muscles and cells.
With each one came thoughts, feelings and body sensations. They flooded through me; I journaled, danced wildly and even screamed! I processed the feelings that surfaced in the present moment (by the way, I didn’t know it then but THIS was expressive arts at its finest!).
Sometimes it was as if the abuse was happening right then. In this way held memories were finally processed and able to move through me… and out.
Over the next two years I created a series of 9 lithographic body prints and with them came rage for my little girl and I became clearer on my story. With them my story was able to change, become integrated in a helpful way and parts even diffused.
My muscles were freed.
The last litho I made was a fetal position and with it, the thought, “It’s time to share this with the world”. I gathered all of my courage and journaling together. I wrote, and then performed a one woman show called “Dear Grandaddy”.
In 1994 I shared the process with other women by creating “The Bodywriting Retreat for Women™”.
I like the idea of this retreat but I’m not sure I want to get naked in front of other women. Can you tell me a little more?
Please know that I’ve been doing this over 27 years and the whole structure of this retreat is based on creating safety, love and acceptance. It is so important to me that I wrote a book titled, Creating and Maintaining a Sense of Safety During the Extended Expressive Arts Bodywriting Retreat for Women.
Many women come to Bodywriting feeling hesitant about getting naked in front of other women. This is normal for most to one degree or another.
But, by the time we get to the actual body printing part of the retreat, we have gotten to know one another, sat in circle together, created and shared our collages and learned helpful feedback methods designed to not re-wound our creative spirit.
When I finally demonstrate the body printing process, women report that their guard has dropped and they are ready to get on with it! After all, what did we come for in the first place?!
Can I come a night early or stay a night after Bodywriting?
I would love to have the type of venue that can accommodate extended stays, but, I have a husband and animals who need to come back home after being away for 6 days.
I encourage you to enjoy or quaint village of Wimberley! I am happy to give you a few ideas of where you might stay if you would like some input.
Are there wild animals and snakes on your five acres that we might encounter?
Yes, we have wildlife! But they are more afraid of us than we are of them.
We have lots of fox, and deer. We have bunnies and have heard coyotes.
We have a wild, but sweet little kitty who has adopted us.
We have seen one snake in 3 years and it wasn’t poisonous.
We have delightful lightening bugs and it is marvelous when the monarch butterflies migrate through.
Why is it necessary to get naked with a group of women to make a body print?
Bodywriting is communal. And, body printing can be a laborious process. Depending on what position calls to us- often we are not able to do it on our own. It is the support of other women that is one of the important aspects of the body printing ritual. First, there is applying the paint, that in an of itself is a ritual and noteworthy. It is the point when our body shape – shifts into someone/something new. Then there is navigating HOW to get back into a certain position after we are slippery with paint.
There is the chorus of “Ah Has!” and “WOWS!” and “great butt print!” that celebrate each woman’s process.
We are a tribe, we cheer one another on.
I’m afraid that I will be comparing my body to that of other women at the retreat. Does this happen?
Perhaps… at first. But, Bodywriting is the great equalizer. Once we are down to the truth of who we are, we see the beauty and common ground in our “just being human”.
In Bodywriting women bring stories of being idolized and hated for it, of being abused and traumatized by it, of being raped, beaten or losing a breast to cancer. We listen and share and tenderly hold each other’s stories as they hold ours.
In the telling, the gentle holding and the witnessing, stories are given space and breath to transform.
Contact Pamela
Still have questions? Send a message.