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"My time at the French countryside retreat was truly transformative. From the moment I arrived at the Manoir, I felt the weight of daily stress begin to melt away. The gentle rhythm of each day - from morning meditation to afternoon spa treatments and evening talk salons - helped me rediscover what true relaxation feels like."
“This was such a profoundly beautiful experience. I would recommend any woman give themselves the gift of a retreat with Autumn and Stephanie. I have been forever changed, and I cannot wait to bring this experience home with me.”
"I was an artist who stopped painting for twenty years while raising a family and working for someone else. After Autumn's weekend workshop in Culver City on The Creative Life, I remembered who I was beneath all those responsibilities. Six months later, I'm painting daily and just had my first show in two decades. Autumn helped me reclaim my identity as an artist."

(Re)treat Yourself

Life gets loud. Retreats are where we turn down the noise and remember who we are.


Whether it’s a wild writing safari or a quiet countryside escape, these spaces are crafted for truth, rest, and creative restoration.


Plot twists don’t come from burnout. They come from stillness.

retreat with AW

Upcoming Retreats & Workshops

 For women, writers, and creatives seeking their own retreats: transformative gatherings in the French countryside, Paris, and the wilds of South Africa.

 

Limited spaces, gentle structure, maximum permission to simply be. 

MY RETREATS & WORKSHOPS

From writing rooms to international retreats, I've mastered the art of creating spaces and experiences where stories crack open, creativity bubbles up, and people remember who they are beneath all the professional armor. That moment when someone says exactly what they mean instead of what sounds good? That's the sweet spot I aim for.

Whether you join a writers retreat in South Africa, a weekend workshop in New York, a relaxation conclave in the French countryside, or an online group journey, expect truth, laughter, and tangible shifts.

 

Pack light. Just bring your curiosity, willingness, and prepare to be surprised by what you find.

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Image by Léonard Cotte
Image by Erwan Hesry
Image by JOHN TOWNER
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Image by Fabio Tura

Do it for the Plot

Travel is the best way to get your creative juices flowing. Join a curated retreat!

retreats with Autum Withers

(RE)TREAT YOURSELF TO FRENCH RELAXATION
SEPT 10-14, 2025 

Let relaxation write your next chapter. Join us for a 4-day retreat centered around the three Rs of: Relaxation, Ritual, and Relationship. Reimagine what true rest feels like. Replant rituals that nourish your spirit. And deepen the most important relationship of all — the one you have with with yourself.  Tucked in a charming French countryside village beside a peaceful river, this retreat gives you what most of us crave but rarely allow: guilt-free rest. You’ll stay in an 18th-century manor where time slows to a gentler rhythm. And something inside you does too. Leave behind the push for productivity. Walk toward peace. You’ll return rested and quietly transformed, with the grounded confidence of a woman who knows her worth isn’t in what she does, but in who she is. This retreat includes: First-Class Roundtrip Train from Paris: Travel in comfort through the scenic French countryside to our peaceful village escape. Private Accommodation: Stay in your own serene double room with a private bath at an 18th-century hidden manor. Gourmet Meals: Enjoy fresh, seasonal meals daily. Daily Wellness Offerings: Reset your nervous system with a meditative sound bath, yin-shiatsu sessions (suitable for all levels), and guided meditations throughout the weekend. Spa Treatment & Hammam: Indulge in a luxurious spa treatment, complete with access to a traditional hammam. Private Château Experience: Explore a medieval château on an exclusive guided tour, followed by a private candlelit dinner. Creative Salons: Begin each day with guided writing prompts and close the evenings with reflective salons centered on Relaxation, Ritual, and Relationship. True Rest & Renewal: Let your body exhale. Sleep deeply. Breathe freely. Reconnect with your most essential self in a setting designed to restore your spirit.

Autumn Withers romantic paris

PLEASURE IN PARIS - MAY 2026

Because pleasure is part of your plot too. When you say "hell yes" to living a life of full-bodied pleasure, your whole world changes to technicolor. The mundane turns fascinating. Your brain fires in new ways. Presence rolls through you like an electric current. You begin responding openly to life and all its complexities. You expunge the past and reinvent the future. You feel pleasure's intrinsic nature. You recognize that "more stuff" is not the answer, but rather moments and places that spark your soul with an aliveness so deep you catch yourself asking - how great can I stand it?
 The Pleasure in Paris retreat is a sensorial invitation to say yes to a life of conscious delight, set against the backdrop of the world's most sensual city. You'll meet the Real Paris and a Truer You as you learn to receive beauty through every sense, cultivate meaningful connection, and discover that pleasure isn't indulgence - it's awakening.  This retreat includes: Boutique Accommodations: A stylish stay at a Parisian hotel where classic charm meets cozy comfort. Curated Group Meals: A private Seine dinner cruise, a welcome soirée, culinary experiences with wine pairings by a private chef, and a ritual brunch with tea ceremony. Sensual Self-Celebration: A professional boudoir or self-love portrait session, including one fine art print that captures your radiant, sensual essence. Evening Cabaret Experience: Enjoy an unforgettable night at an authentic Parisian cabaret. Artisan Workshops: Craft your own bespoke perfume at a parfumerie and design a piece in a fine jewelry masterclass. Daily Pleasure Practices: Begin and end each day with custom meditations, somatic releases, and sensory awakening rituals designed to root you in joy. Guided Explorations: Discover Parc Monceau, Paris’ oldest flower shop, and receive a curated list of secret Parisian gems to savor during your solo moments. Expert Facilitation & Connection: Two expert women’s coaches to guide your journey, with evening salons exploring the French Pleasure Principle and deep group connection with like-hearted women from around the world.

Autumn Withers South Africa Writers Retreat

WRITERS SAFARI SOUTH AFRICA 
OCTOBER 2026

A bucket list experience for your creative soul. Breathe new life into your writing against the backdrop of South Africa’s wild beauty. The Writers’ Safari is unlike any retreat you've ever imagined. Set in the heart of Kruger National Park, it weaves daily writing practice with primal immersion — twice-daily game drives, fireside conversations, and space to rediscover your writing rhythm. Whether you’re a devoted journaler or a seasoned professional, this retreat is for anyone who feels the pull to write. There’s something about being in the presence of wild animals that strips away pretense and draws the truth to the surface. Mornings begin with coffee and the slow stirrings of the bush. Evenings close with stories shared around the fire, your notebook filled with insights you wouldn’t have noticed anywhere else. The land invites stillness. The wild reminds you how to listen. And in that space, your writing begins to move differently — freer, deeper, more alive. This retreat includes: Daily Writing Workshops: Led by Autumn, with a focus on voice, deep noticing, craft, and embodied storytelling. Twice-Daily Game Drives: Explore Kruger National Park and witness the Big 5 in their natural habitat. Luxury Lodge Accommodations: Stay in an elegant, eco-conscious lodge where comfort meets wilderness. Locally Sourced Cuisine: All meals included, crafted by on-site chefs using seasonal, regional ingredients. Evening Fireside Circles: Gather for reflection, sharing, creative support, and connection under the stars. Spacious Afternoons: Write, rest, or explore — your time is your own to follow what calls.

“With the first breath of fresh, fall air in the idyllic French countryside town, I had no doubt Autumn and Stephanie would make good on their promise of a relaxation retreat, but it was even more magical than that. They were able to weave a safe space for all of us to sink into our own depths while simultaneously coming together as a group which expanded the overall experience. I look forward to their next offering because these two are a magical combination.” 

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Let's Get Started

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Questions?

Curious about which retreat is calling your name? Fill out the form and we'll chat about where you are right now, what you're seeking, and which destination and experience will give you exactly what you most need. 

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