This creative residency is a sanctuary for those seeking deeper connection — with the self, the earth, and a circle of like-hearted women. It’s for those who feel the call to rekindle their inner fire, to be moved by beauty, and to remember the sacredness of slowness. We encourage all participants to take a ‘beginner’s mind’ approach to this experience.
Whether you’re an artist, a seeker, or someone longing to return to your own rhythm, TOUCH EARTH offers the space to unwind, express, and evolve. Through elemental rituals, ancestral craft, and meaningful communion, inspiration flows naturally. Here, creation becomes prayer, and rest becomes a portal to rediscovery.
Return home with new skills, handmade creations, endless inspirations, and a renewed sense of purpose—having experienced the transformative power and inner harmony brought about by wild nature, deep community, and the healing arts.
Each day begins in sacred silence, with time carved out for morning pages as the chorus of dawn birds stirs the stillness and new ideas and revelations start to emerge. A slow communal breakfast awaits you on the terrace—plump dates, sun-warmed fruit, handmade bread, local cheeses, and fresh mint tea.
Later, a gentle yoga and movement session follows, inviting the body into ease and presence beneath the olive branches and open sky. As the sun climbs, hands meet clay and earth-based pigments in a creative workshop, shaping ancestral stories and remembering through touch. Lost in the magic and only stopping for lunch, a vibrant spread of seasonal dishes are laid out on a long table to nourish.
A moment of spaciousness comes next: free time to nap beneath linen canopies, a wander through olive groves, or float weightlessly in the villa pool. As golden light softens the hills, we gather again for a candlelit dinner and soulful conversation—sharing stories, laughter, and reflection. The day closes slowly, with stargazing, firelight, card-pulling, and deep connection as the spirit returns home to itself: soft, alive, and deeply restored.
WHAT’S INCLUDED:
Five luxurious nights in a spacious, thoughtfully designed suite—each one adorned with traditional Moroccan decor, natural textures, and curated details that invite rest, beauty, and quiet inspiration. Available as a private sanctuary or a shared space with another guest.
All meals prepared with care by our in-house chef using traditional Moroccan recipes passed down through generations. Expect vibrant tagines, fresh herbs, warm spices, handmade breads, and healing tonics—each dish crafted with local ingredients and seasonal abundance.
2 traditional Moroccan Amazigh pottery workshops using local clay and natural pigments, guided by a master artisan in his studio. All pieces will be fired and glazed for you to take home and treasure forever.
A hands-on argan oil making workshop where you will craft your own bottle of ‘liquid gold’ to take home for beauty and self-care rituals led by an Amazigh women’s collective. A rare invitation into daily life, craft, and heritage—shared with warmth, reverence, and open hands.
Ancestral bread baking experience where we will knead, shape, and bake traditional bread in a clay oven, guided by Amazigh women in their countryside home. Share tea, gather firewood, and savor your warm loaf with local honey, Argan oil, and Amlou.
Rejuvenating hammam bathing ritual at a local spa—an ancient tradition of cleansing, exfoliation, and surrender.
Live Gnawa music performance, inviting trance, rhythm, and ancestral sound as a sacred offering.
Daily somatic movement and gentle yoga to return to the body and release stored tension.
Creative teachings with Rachel, weaving personal reflection with artistic exploration.
Bespoke TOUCH EARTH keepsakes – gifts to make your experience even more memorable
So much more than a getaway, this is a reverent exchange. A chance to witness, to participate, and to be shaped by beauty, history, and genuine human connection. These moments are intimate, real, and rooted in the heart and hands.
Rachel Saunders is a ceramicist and designer from Salt Spring Island, Canada, whose work explores the sacred intersection of art and healing—where form becomes feeling, and creativity becomes a pathway to deeper self-connection. Rooted in the elemental, her practice weaves together ceramics, design, and ritual into offerings that are both tangible and transformative. Through her acclaimed body of work and her creative platform The Sanctuary, Rachel shares tools, spaces, and experiences that nourish the soul and honor the beauty of intentional living.
Her retreats have become renowned for their unique blend of artistry, alternative learning, and deep emotional presence—gatherings where connection, beauty, and healing are not only felt but lived.
At the heart of Rachel’s work is the belief that art is a sacred portal — a place where healing and revelation meet. Guided by the elemental forces of creativity and presence, her pieces are not simply objects, but vessels of meaning that invite the soul to soften, remember, and reawaken. Since its inception, TOUCH EARTH has become more than a residency, but a threshold. A space where women return to themselves through clay-stained hands, shared laughter, deep dourishment, slow rituals, and the rhythm of the land. Past guests have called the experience life-changing, grounding, and soul-opening.
This November, TOUCH EARTH arrives in Morocco: a ceremonial gathering nestled among the olive groves of Essaouira. Through ancestral craft, sacred movement, traditional beauty rituals, and generous stretches of stillness, guests are invited to rekindle their creative flame and return home softened, inspired, and deeply restored. Rachel will guide the retreat alongside local Amazigh artisans, whose workshops offer an intimate glimpse into living heritage—an offering of culture, memory, and craft shared with reverence and warmth.
This experience is open to anyone seeking a deeper connection with themselves, community, and creativity.
It is an opportunity to realign with your values, reflect on your highest purpose, and recover from burnout. TOUCH EARTH is a place to regenerate your soul, receive care and nourishment, and reconnect with your inherent gifts and creativity. It is a chance to play, rewild, and reinvent.
A ‘beginner’s mind’ approach is encouraged when entering this sacred space, and all levels of experience are welcomed and encouraged. With a limited capacity, we ensure an intimate and connected atmosphere.
About
A Peaceful Seaside Steeped In Culture & Craft
Tucked between the desert and the sea, Essaouira is a coastal jewel layered in salt air, sun-warmed stone, and centuries of magic & craft. The medina hums with handmade beauty: woven rugs, painted doors, the scent of cedar and spice. Time feels different here, softened by ocean winds and the slow rhythm of daily life. It’s a place where artists come to remember their voice, where beauty lingers in the details, and where the soul remembers where it came from.
More About the Residency
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La Colline des Oliviers is located just 15 minutes from Essaouira (ESU) Airport. Round-trip group transportation between ESU and the retreat venue is included in your package. A designated minibus will pick up and drop off guests at specific times on arrival and departure days.
If you prefer to arrange your own transport, private taxis are readily available and can be hired independently.
For those flying into Marrakech (RAK)—approximately a scenic 2.5-hour drive away—you will need to coordinate your own transfer to Essaouira Airport (ESU) in time to join the group transport.
Please contact us with your travel plans so we can support and confirm logistics in advance.
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Not at all. The residency is open to anyone with a curiosity to deepen their connection to self, spirit, and the earth. While many guests come from creative backgrounds, you don’t need to identify as an artist to attend. This is a space for exploration, presence, and inspiration—whether you’re reigniting a long-lost creative spark or simply seeking rest and renewal in a beautiful setting. What matters most is your openness.
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Room & board from November 16th-21st
3 locally sourced, traditionally prepared meals a day including snacks, tea and coffee.
Curated experiences led by local facilitators such as an authentic Moroccan bread making class, ceremonial argan oil workshops, two-day pottery-making and pigment class, a traditional Hammam spa treatment, and more.
Daily group activities like morning pages jornaling, group yoga, somatic movement practices, sound healing, and other activities that will deepen our connection to nature and to each other.
Full access to La Colline des Oliviers’ expansive property and amenities including a saltwater infinity pool, spacious suites, shaded terraces, an outdoor yoga studio, sunken living room, a rooftop with 360° views, and quiet corners for solitude and connection.
Transportation from ESR airport at designated arrival and departure times.
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Airfare to and from Morocco
Accommodation outside of retreat dates
Traveler's insurance (highly recommended)
Visa / entry fees
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November in Morocco offers beautiful weather: cooler evenings suitable for light layers and bright, sunny days with temps averaging between 53°F to 72°F (11-22°C), making it one of the more pleasant times of year to visit.
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Location: Essaouria, Morocco
Venue: La Colline Des Oliviers
Check-in: Saturday November 16th
Check-out: 11am on Friday November 21st.
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The retreat officially begins on Sunday November 16th. We highly recommend arriving to Morocco a few days early so you can get settled, account for jetlag, and be fully rejuvenated going into day one!
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All food is prepared in-house by a talented local chef and can be tailored to your needs and preferences.
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You are more than welcome to travel solo. In fact, we encourage it! If you are planning to travel with a friend you can request them as a roommate.