As we approach the Winter Solstice, the shortest day and longest night of the year invite us to pause at the threshold between darkness and light. It is a season that reminds us that even in the deepest darkness, something new may be quietly taking shape.
The solstice arrives amid the rich contrasts of the holiday season: stillness and busyness, sacred reflection and celebration, bare winter branches and brightly decorated trees, the chill of winter air and the warmth of gathering together. Across traditions, including Christmas, Hanukkah, and Kwanzaa, light carries meaning, offering images of hope, mystery, remembrance, and renewal.
What might this season of light and shadow have to teach us about our own lives?
Come be a part of a contemplative morning of writing and reflection as we explore the wisdom of this seasonal threshold. Gretchen Martens will offer guided writing invitations, personal reflection, and time for quiet contemplation, we'll consider what is becoming visible in our lives and what may still be unfolding beyond our awareness.
Throughout the morning, we'll explore questions such as:
What invitations are dancing in the light?
Where might new possibilities be waiting quietly in the shadows?
What is quietly growing or preparing to emerge in your life?
Where are you experiencing balance—or longing for it?
What role does mystery play in this season of your life?
Who or what might best accompany you through the winter months?
These questions aren't meant to be answered quickly or definitively. Instead, they offer starting points for curiosity, discovery, and deeper listening.
Whether you are an experienced writer, someone who journals occasionally, or simply curious about using writing as a contemplative practice, you are welcome. This is not a writing workshop focused on technique or producing polished work. It is an opportunity to use writing as a way of paying attention to your inner life.
Come make space for the wisdom of winter, the mystery of what remains unseen, and the light that may be emerging within you.
Retreat Details
Saturday, December 19, 2026
9:30 a.m.–12:30 p.m. Central
Location: Retreat House Spirituality Center
110 Mimosa Drive, Richardson, TX 75080
Registration: $35 per person
Coffee, tea, and light refreshments will be available beginning at 9:00 a.m. You're welcome to arrive early, settle in, and enjoy a little quiet before we begin.
What to Bring: Please bring a journal and your favorite pens. We strongly encourage participants to leave laptops at home so the morning can offer a meaningful break from screens and distractions.
No previous writing or contemplative retreat experience is necessary.
About Gretchen Martens: Gretchen describes herself as an archaeologist of the Soul, exploring universal patterns of belonging, identity, and becoming shared among people and across cultures. She believes we are shaped not only by our stories, but by the way we understand our place in the interdependent web of life. Exploring what she calls a Cosmology of Belonging, Gretchen loves to invite people to restore kinship with Self, others, the Living Earth, and the Sacred. Gretchen hosts the monthly writer’s gathering at Retreat House and publishes the Retreat House anthologies. You can learn more about her at www.GretchenMartens.com.