Magical Freedom Weekend

Magical Freedom Weekend is a three-day creative workshop at the Omega Institute in Rhinebeck, New York, led by author Elizabeth Gilbert. It draws on the tools and lessons from her book Big Magic and is meant for anyone who wants to live with more creative, emotional and spiritual courage. No talent, training or artistic experience is needed.

Gilbert describes the weekend as part creativity workshop, part spiritual cocoon, part healing journey. Expect a mix of art, laughter and honest reflection rather than a lecture.

What to Expect

Elizabeth Gilbert leads the group through a series of explorations she uses herself as tools of liberation and expansion. The aim is to help you shed the cultural, familial and emotional burdens that keep you from being as free or inventive as you would like. Conversations and exercises move through boundaries, mysticism, trust, courage, self-kindness, mercy and purpose. Small-group exercises and personal journaling are part of the work.

The weekend has a particular rhythm. Check-in runs Friday from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m., with rooms available after 5:00 p.m., and the first session meets from 7:00 to 8:30 p.m. On Saturday the group gathers from 9:00 a.m. to noon and again from 2:00 to 4:30 p.m. Sunday's session runs from 9:00 to 11:00 a.m., and check-out is at 1:00 p.m. The schedule can change at the faculty's discretion, and the final version is posted on campus bulletin boards.

This is one of Omega's most popular workshops and is likely to gather more than 300 participants, so early registration helps secure both a seat and housing.

About Elizabeth Gilbert

Elizabeth Gilbert is the author of ten books, including Eat Pray Love and Big Magic: Creative Living Beyond Fear, which together have sold over 25 million copies worldwide. Born in Waterbury, Connecticut, she grew up on a small family Christmas tree farm and studied political science at New York University, writing short stories at night. After college she spent several years traveling the country, working in bars, diners and ranches, gathering experiences to turn into fiction. Those years led to her first book, the story collection Pilgrims, a finalist for the PEN/Hemingway award. She also worked as a journalist for publications including Spin, GQ and The New York Times Magazine, and was a three-time finalist for the National Magazine Award. Many readers think of her as a "walking permission slip," someone whose own example invites others to live more courageously.

The Setting

The workshop takes place on the Omega Institute campus in Rhinebeck, with walking trails and grounds to explore between sessions. Optional classes and recreation are open to participants.

On-campus lodging is booked separately and includes all meals and use of campus facilities. Options range from private cabin rooms with a queen bed and ensuite bath, to a cabin room with a shared bath, a dorm single with a hall bath, simple tent cabins with a nearby bathhouse and no heat or air-conditioning, and pre-assigned campsites with limited availability. Double rooms are available for those registering with a companion. Local participants can register as commuters, which includes meals and facility access.

Before You Go

The weekend is open to all levels and offered in English. Bring a notebook, a pen and an open mind. Gilbert asks that you leave all electronics behind. Tuition covers the workshop sessions and instruction, while transportation to Rhinebeck is not included. Those in dorms, tent cabins or camping should check the bedding they need to bring, and anyone needing an accessible room can ask Omega's registration team.