Sparkle Week:
A Journey into Creative Wellbeing
You are a true creative soul.
You can’t stop obsessing about the book you will write, the painting in your heart, or the business idea that is blossoming inside of you.
And yet - sometimes you get stuck, blocked, your ideas and inspiration move tantalizingly out of your reach.
This is a perfectly normal part of the creative journey, but it is agonizing when it happens, adding layers of self-doubt.
You worry how you can get back into the zone – into that place where time doesn’t exist, where words, colors, and notes fly. Where sparks fly.
Where did my sparkle go? How do I get it back? Why is it easy at some times, and so difficult at others?
The Path:
To unblock creative flow, we must release energetic and creative blocks inside ourselves.
This path is not easy to access or understand.
Even highly experienced creatives can find it difficult to find their way back to a state of flow once they get derailed.
We invite you to join us in a rare opportunity to work with two gifted creative practitioners who will teach you the secret tools to the path of Creative Flow and Wellbeing.
Learn how to keep that Sacred Sparkle going.
When you leave, you will take these tools with you and use them whenever blocks strike – as they will.
These tools will serve you for the rest of your creative life.
Sparkle Week:
Inspired by the magnificent setting of Chateau de Borie in France, this magical week of Creative Wellbeing will
Ignite your sacred sparkle through immersive practices in writing, art, movement, breathwork, meditation, manifestation, and energy work and
Nurture your senses through a serene countryside haven in south-west France, with delicious local food, and supplemented by optional expeditions to the historical French countryside and massage therapy for further healing (highly recommended).
Our practitioners have decades of teaching experience, testimonials, and awards in the creative world.
This is a rare opportunity to work with both of them together and learn from their wisdom, compassion, and playfulness.
To unblock your creative potential, in yourself and in your project:
Bring an empty journal and your favorite writing instruments
Bring your current creative project notes
Prepare to have explosive ideas
And be ready to capture them.
Sparkle Week will be healing and enriching, opening pathways inside yourself in a space of safety, curiosity, and heart-centered community.
This week will be the most valuable gift you can give your creative soul.
About your guides
Lavanya and Abby, Florence, April 2018
About Abby
The owner of Chateau de Borie, Abigail Carter is a published author, artist, and website designer. Her memoir, The Alchemy of Loss: A Young Widow’s Transformation was published in 2008, a cathartic, creative expression after the death of her husband, Arron in the World Trade Center on 9/11. The Alchemy of Loss was long-listed for the 2008 B.C. Award for Canadian Non-Fiction, Canada's largest Non-Fiction prize, and chosen by The Globe and Mail as one of the 100 Most Notable Books of 2008. Her second book, Remember the Moon, a novel, was published in 2014 and is also based on themes of grief and loss, described by Indie Reader as “a touching and intimate look at the bonds that last beyond death, and the generosity of spirit needed to truly love another person.”
After a period of renewed grief, Abby returned to painting after a thirty-year hiatus, re-discovering another creative outlet for her renewed grief and self-discovery.
During the pandemic, Abby became obsessed with owning a chateau in southwest France that could be used as a retreat center for others interested in tapping into their latent creative expression as a conduit to healing. Her dream came to fruition in 2022 with the purchase of Chateau de Borie where she now hosts week-long creative retreats for people from all walks of life.
About Lavanya
Lavanya is both student and teacher of the creative artistic path, conducting master classes in writing, storytelling, and creative wellbeing.
Nine US publishers competed in a three-day auction for the rights to her first two books of critically acclaimed and best-selling fiction.
She has studied the Meisner acting technique in New York City and continues to experiment with storytelling through film, screenplays, theater, and memoir.
Lavanya serves on the boards of Nrityagram Dance, the world-famous Odissi dance company, and Hedgebrook, the Seattle Writing Residency. Additionally, she sponsors literary fellowships at the Sangam Writers Residency, amongst other philanthropies.
Meditation, music, breathwork, and movement are integral to her well-being, as are puppy dogs of any description. She lives in New York City and Bangalore, India.
Instagram: @lavanyawriter
The Details
Accommodations
Below is a list of the accommodations. Make your room choice and then click the “Pay Deposit” button below and choose your selected room from the dropdown. If it doesn’t appear, it is no longer available.
Common Areas
You will have access to all amenities: a large, shared living room (Grand Salon), kitchen and dining room, garden, and terraces, with reading nooks and seating, and a wooded trail. There is WiFi throughout the Chateau, and laundry services are available.
NOTE:
The Chateau de Borie is multi-leveled, with no bedrooms on the ground floor. Good physical mobility is required for this Sparkle adventure, as the Chateau has one or two sets of stairwells depending on the room you choose, and we will be on foot on the cobbled streets around France. The physical ability to walk unassisted and stand for extended periods is necessary for this retreat.
Because of the proximity of the cliffs and the 7 springs on the property, mosquitos are an issue. Bug spray is highly recommended.
Chloe, Abby’s Boston Terrier will be in attendance. If you have any issues with small dogs, you might want to consider this before booking.
Payment
A deposit of €1000 is required to hold your spot. The balance must be paid in full by February 1, 2025.
Included in the price:
Pick up/drop off at Agen train station
Welcome champagne
All meals and wine except for lunches during excursions
Transportation to/from all excursions
Entry fees for all excursions
Market visit and cooking class
Dinner at a restaurant near the Chateau de Borie
Not included:
Airfare, train fare
Meals outside the villa except for the restaurant dinner.
Refund Policy
The €1000 deposit is non-refundable after February 1, 2025.
All rooms are to be paid for in full by February 1, 2025.
If you need to cancel between February 1st and April 1st, 2025, we will offer your spot to people on the waiting list and refund 100% of your payment if we can fill your spot. If we cannot fill your spot, we will refund 50% of your balance payment (the deposit is non-refundable) or you can transfer your paid fees to another retreat offered within 12 months.
Cancellations after April 1st, 2025 are non-refundable.
Participant expenses incurred in preparation for your trip (e.g., non-refundable purchased airline tickets and late cancelations) are not the responsibility of the retreat organizers. It is recommended that you obtain medical/trip cancellation insurance for this reason.
Travel
Arrivals: Sunday May 18th, 2025 before 4 pm
Retreat/workshops: Monday, May 19th to Saturday May 24th
Departures: Sunday May 25th before 12 pm.
Participants are responsible for their own flights and travel to Agen. The closest international airports are Toulouse and Bordeaux, France. It is an hour's train ride to Agen from both cities. You can also fly to Paris and take a 3-hour TGV train from Montparnasse station in Paris to Agen (via Bordeaux), but this option can be more difficult and expensive due to limited train schedules. If you choose this route, be sure to book your train well ahead of time and buy tickets that you can change in case of delayed flights. Also, it is advised that you not attempt to take the train to Paris on the same day that you plan to fly out of Paris. Train delays are common.
It is recommended that you purchase your train tickets ahead of time, as trains do fill up. We recommend using www.thetrainline.com or https://www.sncf-connect.com/ to book your connections.
You are welcome to rent a car at the airport, though we will be providing transportation for the various excursions, so unless you want to get out on your own, it is unnecessary.
We offer pick-ups and drop-offs from the Agen train station to/from Chateau de Borie.
NOTE: To arrive at the Chateau on Sunday, May 18th requires a flight departure from North America on Saturday, May 17th. It is recommended to arrive in France a few days early if possible to acclimate to the time change.
To secure your spot for this retreat, a €1000 deposit is required. A link to the balance payment will be emailed after the deposit has been paid. Please select your chosen room when purchasing the deposit.
More information about excursions and further details about the week will be added as they are planned. We look forward to having you join us for this very special week at Chateau de Borie!