Welcome to the

Ordinary Mysticism
Writing Retreat

with Mirabai Starr

We are excited to see you October 16–20 in Taos, New Mexico

Thank you for saying yes to this adventure!

Welcome to the Ordinary Mysticism Writing Retreat!

We are ecstatic that you have chosen to join us for this very special gathering in the mountains of New Mexico.

We look forward to spending a transformative, restorative and fun 5 days with you.

Below you will find details about travel, accommodation and your time in New Mexico.

As you prepare, here are a few things to consider:

· Northern New Mexico has extreme temperatures, especially this time of year. Pack layers, including sturdy walking shoes, and shoes you can easily slip off and on at the door of our gathering space. Bring something festive for our Friday night Shabbat ceremony, and comfy clothes for morning movement practice.

· This is not a traditional writing workshop. We are not teaching you how to craft clever prose or get your book published. It is about writing as a potent spiritual practice. Prepare to dive deep into your own soul, with a circle of like-minded companions, in the safe hands of a loving team of guides.

· Please consider this to be a refuge from the tyranny of tasks. Plan to keep electronic communications to a minimum. Bring a hard copy of a book you’d love to slow down and read. Maybe some art supplies and/or a musical instrument. Seize the opportunity to make this as much an inner journey as a physical one.

We will be gathering at Hyperslow Retreat Center (San Geronimo Lodge) in Taos, NM. Check in will begin at 3pm on Thursday October 16th and check out will be 11am on October 20th. We will be in touch closer to our retreat with more logistical details about a packing list and our retreat agreements.

If you have any curiosities or qualms, feel free to reach out. Our wish for you is that this be a beautiful experience in every way.

With love,

Mirabai

Frequently Asked Questions:

The elevation in Taos is 7,000 ft if you're traveling from a low altitude area you might consider arriving a day or two early to adjust to the altitude and spend some time in the beautiful state of New Mexico.

When do we arrive Thursday Oct 16? Is it possible to check in early?

You may arrive as early as 3pm. Check-in is between 3pm-5pm on Thursday and we begin with an orientation gathering at 5pm. We will not be accommodating earlier arrivals. Our Thursday evening schedule is as follows.

Thursday, Oct 16

Schedule:

3:00-5:00 Check-in

5:00-6:00 Orientation Gathering

6:00-7:00 Dinner

7:30-9:00 Opening Circle

What time is checkout on Monday, Oct 20?

Our Monday morning schedule is as follows. You can leave when you need to since there will be no morning session except for Body Temple Dance (which we highly recommend never missing!)

Monday, Oct 20th

Schedule:

8:00-8:45 Body Temple

9:00-9:30 Breakfast & Goodbye

10am Check-out

How do we travel to the retreat venue?

We will be gathering at The Historic San Geronimo Lodge in Taos, New Mexico now named Hyperslow Retreat Center. You can learn more about the venue at https://www.hyperslowretreatcenter.com/ The address is 1101 Witt Rd, Taos, NM 87571.

The easiest way to get there is to fly into the Albuquerque or Santa Fe airport and rent a car to drive up to Taos. The drive is gorgeous and having your own wheels gives you the freedom to explore the area during your time here.

Our Wild Heart team will reach out closer to our retreat to offer the option of corresponding with other participants about a ride share.

Public transportation is limited in New Mexico but you do have a couple of options.

If you'd like to book a shuttle from the Albuquerque airport to Taos, you can do so at https://taosrides.com/ or call 575 613 3256.

The Rain Runner train runs from Albuquerque to Santa Fe https://www.riometro.org/395/New-Mexico-Rail-Runner-Express

What is the best way to get from the airport in ABQ to Hyperslow?

Directions to our venue from Albuquerque International Sunport

2200 Sunport Blvd, Albuquerque, NM 87106

Get on I-25 N from Sunport Blvd

5 min (2.3 mi)

Continue on I-25 N to Pojoaque

1 hr 12 min (80.7 mi)

1 hr 8 min (53.8 mi)

Find complete directions for ABQ to 1101 Witt Rd, Taos, NM. on Google Maps.

What is the best way to get from Santa Fe Airport to Hyperslow?

Santa Fe Regional Airport (SAF)

121 Aviation Dr, Santa Fe, NM 87507

Take Aviation Dr to NM-599 N

3 min (1.3 mi)

Take US-84 W and NM-68 N to Paseo Del Cañon E in Taos

1 hr 27 min (75.9 mi)

Continue on Paseo Del Cañon E. Take Fernandez Rd to Witt Rd

Find complete directions for SAF to 1101 Witt Rd, Taos, NM. on Google Maps.

What will the days be like?

Sample schedule (subject to change)

8:00-8:45 Body Temple

9:00-9:30 Breakfast

9:45-1:00 Morning Session

1pm Lunch

2:00-4:00 Free Time

4:00-5:30 Afternoon Session

6pm Dinner

Evening Program

What do we need to bring?

PACKING LIST

-Writing materials of choice

-Attire for Shabbat ceremony (we like to dress up for God) and an outfit for our final salon evening

-An altar item that is sacred to you that you can bring back with you

-Water bottle

-Container for hot drinks

-Sun hat

-Swimsuit for sauna/ pool

-UV sunscreen

-Bug repellent

-Electrolytes

-Flashlight or headlamp

-Good shoes

-Toiletries

-Variety of clothing for Autumn weather including light clothing as well as thicker layers and sock for colder temperatures

-Bring anything that helps you adjust to elevation (altitude is approx. 7,000 ft.)

What is the seating situation like in our meeting area?

You will have an option of sitting on the floor with a cushion or a chair in our large meeting area.

What will the food be like?

The meals are exquisite, beautiful and deeply nourishing.

The cuisine will be mostly vegetarian with fish and chicken included on a few days during our stay.

Please note that our caterer will NOT be cooking in a Nut Free Kitchen.

All meals will be gluten-free and any dairy will be served on the side.

There is a space on site to store personal food items if you wish to bring them.

Food will be served by the incredible Brigita Lacovara. You can find out more about Brigita's cooking here.

What do you reccommend doing while in Taos, New Mexico?

We highly recommend scheduling a few extra days on either side of our retreat to explore the surrounding area.

Taos recommendations

Places to go:

Visit the Taos Pueblo for a tour (book a tour online at https://taospueblo.com/ and enter with respect and true desire to learn)

Taos Plaza (wander around to the many local shops)

Go art gallery hopping (galleries can be found all over the plaza and kit Carson road)

Ojo Caliente (a worthwhile 45 minute drive out of town to soak in sacred waters, they also have a delicious restaurant)

Arroyo Seco (beautiful nature and the downtown area has galleries and shops to explore)

Taos Center for the Arts (TCA) has local performances, films and events

Visit Aspen Song Kids gallery on Bent street (a family of artists from the Pueblo)

St Francis church in Ranchos plaza (a beautiful classic church)

Rio grande gorge bridge hike (flat and beautiful)

Visit the Lama Foundation (beautiful views and special place with interesting history. Call ahead if you want to visit the community)

Earth ships (cool visitors center for alternative architecture)

Hanuman temple (check their schedule for events and kirtan)

Cids food market has a great bulletin board with current events posted each week!

Hikes & Nature spots around Taos:

Rio grande gorge bridge hike (flat and beautiful)

Devisadero trail (3 hours)

El Nogal trail (around 1 hour)

William's lake (2-3 hours)

Favorite Taos food spots:

Orlando’s (classic New Mexican food and beautiful decor! Get there early to avoid a long wait line.)

Coffee apothecary (some of the best coffee in town)

Manzanita Market (delicious fresh healthy brunch/lunch eatery downtown)

5 star (Best burgers in town)

Gutiz (Classic Taos brunch)

Taos cow (our favorite breakfast burrito and legendary ice cream. Two locations in Arroyo Seco on Kit Carson road)

Sushi Siam (Go to Thai food)

Chokola (delicious chocolate shop downtown. Their milkshakes and sipping chocolate are to die for.)

High end dining:

ACEQ (fancy and delicious, Arroyo Seco is a beautiful place to wander around)

Love Apple (higher end, cash only)

Suchness (awesome newer place in town)

Antonio’s (delicious highly rated Mexican food and great ambiance)

Ají (great Peruvian restaurant)

Medley (healthy and delicious)

Food trucks-

-Lucky’s (delicious tacos)

-La Careta (we like their huevos rancheros)

On your way to/from the Albuquerque or Santa Fe airport you might want to visit:

Ghost Ranch (epically gorgeous and pretty cool to see where Georgia O’keefe lived)

Meow Wolf Santa Fe (a legendary art gallery experience)

We hope you make the most of your time in the sacred land of Enchantment.

"Writing as a spiritual practice honors our stories as holy and mysterious; sometimes beautiful, sometimes terrible. It is in the telling that they open us to a vast new inner landscape."

— Mirabai Starr

We look forward to welcoming you.

Your Guide

Mirabai Starr

Mirabai Starr is an award-winning author, internationally acclaimed speaker, and interspiritual teacher. In 2020, she was honored on Watkins' list of the 100 Most Spiritually Influential Living People.

Drawing from 20 years of teaching Philosophy and World Religions and a lifetime of practice, Mirabai shares her wisdom worldwide on contemplative living, writing as a spiritual practice, and the transformational power of grief and loss.

Her most recent book, Ordinary Mysticism, has been praised by Anne Lamott as "a gorgeous, transformative, welcoming book for anyone who longs to feel more present, more alive, more joyful and aware of the holiness of daily life."

The Wild Heart Team

Adriana Rizzolo

Adriana shares Body Temple Dance practices that support integration and celebration. She holds space for somatic healing, deep rest, and energy activation. Through mantra, breath, movement, and imagination, she helps participants awaken soul love and embody their humanness. Adriana has worked extensively with trauma healing and feminine leadership, and is deeply inspired by Mirabai's teachings.

"No matter what your age, or if you have never danced in your life, Adriana's Body Temple Dance opened my body to a new way of loving. In one dance I began to open to my wisdom, my Crone, and my connection to Mother Earth. I felt FREE. I had come home to the joy of the wild ride to life."

— Karin G.

"Body Temple! Broke me open."

— Pat F.

Willow Brook

Willow weaves chant and sacred song from many traditions into our retreat space, offering a deeply devotional and inclusive experience. Co-founder of Wild Heart, she brings a background in interspiritual education, embodiment, and creative ritual. With grace and grounded presence, she helps participants reconnect with their voice as a vehicle for healing and joy.

"Willow is indeed a tree of strength and grace. She has a way of creating order without hindering flow and spontaneity. She was a leader, and she was also a sister, allowing herself to see and be seen. Most of all, as I watched her beaming face leading us in song, unselfconscious and full of love, my own childlike joy in music-making was given back to me."

— Christa W.

"Willow's longing and devotion is healing and connecting to the power of the songs."

— Karen M.

With support from Monika Denise Burkholder, Manny Fassihi, and Nora Logan