AROHO at Ghost Ranch
Monday, August 15, 2011 at 10:11PM Just returned from an amazing week of inspiration and encouragement at the A Room of Her Own Foundation's biannual women writers retreat at Ghost Ranch in northern New Mexico. A week of deep introspection, time away from daily distractions, and opportunities to meet some of the most incredible 
women writers you're likely to meet in a lifetime.
I love New Mexico. I've traveled there five times over the past twenty years, and hope to live there part-time some day soon. Santa Fe offers solitude, culture, a literary community and a spiritual dimension I've not felt anyplace else I've ever lived.
Ghost Ranch, near Abiquiu, was where Georgia O'Keefe lived and painted through a good part of the 20th century. Her paintings speak for themselves; the landscapes remain unchanged, even after half a century or more. I took some photos I will share here. The red cliffs, the vast indigo sky, the billowy cottony clouds that make one feel so small in comparison - all are reminders that we are just specs upon the Earth, lucky to be witness to some of nature's most impressive shows.
AROHO is a powerful force for women (www.aroho.org). If you love to write, whether it's fiction, poetry or 
creative nonfiction, AROHO is a source of support and provides an incredible opportunity for women writers to come together, write, share, network and come away inspired and motivated. I am so grateful to have been a part of the 2011 AROHO Retreat! Go to its website, get involved; come to AROHO 2013!
In coming days I'll be posting blogs on some of the wonderful workshops and inspiring talks I heard there, including from the inimitable Kate Gale of Red Hen Press and Marilynne Robinson, author of the luminous novels Housekeeping, Gilead and Home. Stay tuned!
Reader Comments (9)
Wow! That sounds like an amazing place, and like you had a fantastic time. What do you suppose makes it etherically supportive for women?
Stopped by from SheWrites. Dream well!
These pictures are lovely. The burnt ground makes me happy. It's the same color of Carolina mud, but such a different texture.
I'm from blogger ball.
-Cassie
I'm so happy to be stopping by from blogger's ball and will definitely be coming back to hear more about Aroho! Beautiful pic, btw.
Hi - stopping by on the blogger ball! I enjoyed your post on AROHO, but liked the one on writing while imprisoned even more. I wouldn't want to be imprisoned, but exiled to an island ... with time and a library and rocky headlands on which to catch the wind ....perhaps.
I actually applied to AROHO some years back - didn't win the grant, kept writing anyway. Great work though, and am jealous of such a wonderful retreat. People don't realize how stunningly beautiful and spiritual the desert states like New Mexico and Arizona can be, until they've visited. (From SheWrites Blogger's Ball)
It's great to hear from all you wonderful blogger's ball women! Fierce, I think the magical part of being in the remotest parts of New Mexico is the stunningly beautiful landscape, but also the freedom from daily home and work distractions. It is so conducive to writing and deep thought and introspection.
Marcia, you are a stellar addition to the AROHO community. It was lovely to meet you and I'm looking forward to reading your work and seeing you again some day soon!
Robbie, thank you so much!~ I loved meeting you and all the women of AROHO. Now I can't wait for 2013!
Marcia, it was great to meet you at AROHO. A powerful experience indeed--and your gracious presence and active engagement were inspiring!