about the retreat
Escape to the Blue Ridge Mountains this October to experience our fall retreat at the magical Kanuga conference center, a historic sanctuary designed to ignite your creativity. Surrounded by inspiring landscapes and tranquil nature, this retreat is the perfect place to unlock your artistic potential and bust through whatever has been holding you back.
Take part in creative workshops, peaceful meditations, delightful bonfires, and invigorating hikes that open the mind and refresh the spirit. Whether you're a writer, painter, musician, or simply seeking a spark of inspiration, our retreat offers the ideal setting to explore and create for artistic professionals and hobbyists alike.
We believe creativity is a mindset of innovation, play, and problem-solving, not just a set of practical skills. You don’t need to be a pro to enjoy this engaging weekend and reap the benefits of this liberating approach to life! At this retreat, you’ll learn how to build the muscle of resilience in the face of creative obstacles. And you will be empowered to tackle whatever is holding you back from your dreams.
Join us and transform your vision into reality amidst the fall leaves of the Blue Ridge. We’re excited to be in community with you! We can’t wait to breathe in that refreshing mountain air together. Out with the old habits, thoughts, and limiting beliefs holding us back. In with new inspiration, relaxation, focus, and breakthroughs to lift us to new heights.
Spots are limited. Sign up today!
Meet your leaders
Misty C. Marlowe, PhD
Co-Founder
Meet MISTY! She’s a professional therapist, life coach, and educator, bringing a deep understanding of human behavior and a passion for guiding personal transformation to our mountain retreat.
Misty is a licensed Psychological Associate in North Carolina, with certifications in life coaching (ICF-ACC and a Whole Person Certified Life Coach) and effective instruction in higher education. She is a professor of psychology at Wingate University and Queens University of Charlotte. And she designs curricula for other university programs.
Misty uses Jungian Analytical Principles and an understanding of Gestalt Perceptual Integration to uncover unconscious motivations and limitations to unlock hidden potential.
At the retreat, Misty will tap into her extensive research and professional experience in resilience training and wellness to inspire profound personal growth and self-understanding among participants. Her diverse roles in academia and life coaching reflect her commitment to blending psychological insights with empathetic, tailored coaching, ensuring an enriching experience for all.
Misty's leadership style is as engaging as it is effective. Think fun, witty, and folksy, sprinkled with delightful Southern-isms and the occasional colorful 4-letter word.
When she's not leading transformative sessions, you can find Misty enjoying ghost stories (preferably around a campfire) and raising her two young children with her husband.
Jamie Holt Aguilar-Rodriguez
Co-Founder
Meet JAMIE! She is a Film & TV writer-director based in Los Angeles, with a passion for stories about big characters who defy societal expectations. Raised by artist parents in Charlotte, NC, Jamie brings her expertise in the artistic process and lifelong passion for creative wellness to our mountain retreat.
Jamie graduated Summa Cum Laude from UNC-Greensboro with a BA in screenwriting. She earned her MFA in producing and directing from the University of Southern California's School of Cinematic Arts. Her professional journey includes working under film directors, Catherine Hardwicke (Twilight) and Justin Simien (Dear White People). Jamie has directed and produced content for Disney-ABC, and produced music videos for artists like Lady Gaga. As a writer, Jamie has collaborated with Warner Brothers TV and Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa (Riverdale). She has also served as an adjunct professor of film & TV studies at her alma mater, USC. Fight on!
Jamie’s trials and tribulations through the artistic process have fueled her dedication to creative wellness. Drawing on her extensive professional experience, Jamie’s approach blends models from renowned thinkers including Martha Beck, Julia Cameron (The Artist's Way), and Elizabeth Gilbert.
Jamie’s leadership style is bold, unconventional, and supportive, with a touch of the rebellious spirit that defines her work. Her unique approach to creative wellness consulting ensures participants will discover new ways to nurture their creativity and embrace their artistic passions.
At home, you can find Jamie enjoying adventures with her husband and their dog, Humphrey Bogart.
