Wild Moon Retreat:
Story Magic
Wild Moon Retreat: Story Magic
offers a full-getaway in the Texas Hill Country, where you’ll explore the characters in your story in new and exciting ways — with Tarot, magic, and nature!
Saturday, May 14 / 9:30am - 7:30pm
Ruby Retreats / Wimberley, Texas
Co-hosted by Claire Campbell of Blue Stone Writers
& Cecily Sailer of Typewriter Tarot
Story Magic is a full-day retreat for storytellers of all kinds.
Whether you’re a novelist or short-story writer… whether you’re just beginning your journey, you’re somewhere in the middle, or you’re ready to revise a completed draft, this retreat will bring powerful revelations and clarity around the people who make your story hum with life and intrigue.
What do your characters deeply desire? What motivates them? What stands in their way? What heartaches and triumphs do they carry with them? How must they change?
We’ll use Tarot, meditation, nature time, and story-craft to unlock new insights that bring greater definition and excitement to the next phase of your writing process.
Your guides, Cecily and Claire, weave Tarot into the writing workshop in fun, mysterious, and expansive ways. All participants receive a complimentary one-on-one coaching session with Cecily or Claire within two weeks of the retreat to help process new discoveries and devise a plan of action.
Saturday, May 14
9am — Welcome, Introductions & Opening Ceremony
10am — Getting to Know Your Character Like You Never Have Before
11:30am — Movement & Writing Time
12:30pm — BYO Goddess Lunch
1:30pm — Exploring Ensemble Characters, Relationships & Interactions
3pm — Small Group Study, Writing & Revision
5pm — Dinner in the Outdoor Dining Room
6pm — Closing Ceremony & Reading
This retreat is for you if…
+ If you feel stuck on a particular character — their desires, motivations, and how they evolve over the course of your story.
+ If you love your work-in-progress, but need help unlocking your main character’s purpose.
+ If you’re getting feedback from writing groups or mentors that your character(s) need deepening or developing, but you don’t know where to begin.
+ If you just got started with a new project, and you have characters in mind, but really need to get to know them.
+ If you know your story can sing, but you need your characters to talk to you and help you tell it.
Writers of varying levels at various stages of the storytelling process will feel at home in this retreat — whether you’re a “beginning writer” or you’ve published four novels.
The work we do together will generate rich material, ideas, and new directions, whether you’re in the early stages of a draft, stuck in the middle, or making revisions.
Because our characters drive our stories forward — and because we’re working deeply with character at this retreat — writers will come away with new information about characters that will ripple across the entire story, clarifying storylines, scenes, plot points, and endings.
You do not need any prior experience with Tarot to benefit from Story Magic, just an open mind and a Tarot deck (you can literally unwrap it at the retreat for the very first time!).
Our students tell us…
“Using Tarot as a muse or inspiration is GENIUS! Such a great way to generate ideas! It gave me confidence in the creative process.”
“This is such a super cool and unique way to explore storytelling and writing! If you don’t know where to start or if you feel blocked, using Tarot is so fun and just automatically helps you to generate new ideas. It allows you to look at your characters from different perspectives, and really lets you build up layers and complexity to your storyline.”
“It's given me many new ideas and insights into my project that I wouldn't have otherwise had.”
Things to know:
Proof of full COVID-19 vaccination + a booster shot is required.
Participants must test negative for COVID the day before the retreat, and submit results.
Drinks, snacks, and dinner will be provided; you bring your own Goddess Lunch!
Yoga mats, bolsters, and blankets are available on site.
Bring a Tarot deck, a journal and /or laptop, sunscreen, a water bottle, and walking shoes.
Your Creative Guides
Claire Campbell and Cecily Sailer, co-founders of Wild Moon Retreat.
Claire Campbell & Cecily Sailer hosted their first Wild Moon Retreat in 2019, after collaborating for years in Austin’s writing circles. Claire is a novelist and performer, and founder of Blue Stone Writers, a vibrant community of storytellers supported by Claire’s mentoring and workshops. Cecily is a writer, storyteller, coach, and founder of Typewriter Tarot, which offers guidance and inspiration for Creative Spirits through workshops, one-on-ones support, and artistic community. Together, Claire and Cecily combine their love of teaching, writing, magic, and nature to provide rich, immersive experiences for those seeking new approaches to the love and labor of creativity. Each retreat Claire and Cecily create is unique, designed to bring you the rest, renewal, and inspiration you need for the seasons ahead.
“I felt grounded, empowered, and blissful after the retreat. I took away new ideas, loved the time in nature, and the encouragement to do what felt best for me.”
“Claire and Cecily make this experience truly magical. Their passion and sweetness are contagious.”
“I felt like myself again.”
“Wild Moon Retreat was the perfect balance of Tarot study, creative writing, community, and introspection. This retreat is a beautiful opportunity for one to explore Tarot as a means to communicate deeply with her soul.”
We have three pricing options available for those who’d like to participate.
Please choose the option your budget honestly allows.
Consider which price inspires you to commit 100% to the experience of the retreat.
Full Price — $375
Budget Price — $325
Accessibility Price — $275
NOURISHMENT: Dinner will be vegetarian- and vegan-friendly, with options for carnivores as well. We will not provide alcohol, and we prefer that participants refrain from drinking until the retreat concludes. We’re thinking about safety for everyone driving home.
REFUND POLICY: Cancel on or before May 1, and we will refund 70 percent of your payment. Cancel between May 2 and May 5, and we will refund 50 percent of your payment. Cancellations made between May 6 and May 14 will not be refunded. If you test positive for COVID-19 the day before the retreat, and you submit your positive test result, with date of test results included, we will refund 100 percent of your registration minus processing fees.
COMING FROM OUT OF TOWN? There are beautiful (but limited) accommodations on site at Ruby Retreats, a short walk from the yoga barn. Contact Jenny Fairbank to see what’s available — she’s ready to help our retreaters. Other options nearby include: Lucky Arrow Retreats in nearby Dripping Springs, Cactus Moon Lodge for a family setting, or explore Air BnB options in and around Wimberley, Blanco, and Dripping Springs. Getting to Ruby Retreats from South Austin takes about 45 minutes, without traffic.
OTHER QUESTIONS: Email us at typewritertarot@gmail.com.