the journal: where time stood still: a creative retreat in soul sisterhood
Hello there, soul sister,
Out of Office Creative Retreats Vol. 4 recently unfolded in Morocco, between the stillness of the Agafay Desert and the vibrant pulse of the Marrakech Medina. Over six days, fourteen women, mostly strangers, came together to create, laugh, cry, dance, and sing. Through this experience, we truly became sisters - soul sisters.
Hannah Hlavacek was one of the incredible women who joined us at Out of Office Vol. 4. She embraced each moment with warmth and authenticity, and her energy was a true gift to the group. Her reflections on the retreat are as genuine as the connections we built, so I’ll let her share her experience in her own words.
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“Out of Office Creative Retreats was a moment in time where the noise softened, the to-do list faded, and we just got to be - as women, as sisters. That’s exactly what Volume 4 in Morocco offered me: a soulful pause, a return to playful creativity, community, and myself. Here are nine beautiful aspects that made this retreat unforgettable.
not another yoga retreat
What made Out of Office so refreshing was that it wasn’t another yoga or wellness retreat centered around physical activity. No mountain to climb, no beach runs at sunrise - just the gentle invitation to slow down and sink into comfort, connection, and creativity. Most of my time off in the past has involved pushing myself physically, and while that has its place, it was such a relief to experience a retreat built around softness. This one invited me to calm down, feel safe, and just feel good - without needing to perform or push my body to any limits. It was truly nourishing in a whole new way.
Exciting days full of creative immersion closed by cozy movie nights in our yurt-basecamp
2. creativity without pressure
We were offered a series of beautiful creative workshops that encouraged us to explore without pressure. Each session came with a theme and tools, but no expectations, no final product to showcase, no need to prove anything. As someone who identifies as a creative, it was deeply healing to play in a craft that wasn’t necessarily “mine.” And for the non-creatives among us, it was a chance to try, to feel, to express. It wasn’t about perfection - it was about joy, play, and presence. That kind of creative freedom felt rare and incredibly expansive.
Creating a bedazzled vessel from airclay. I enjoyed the process of just following intuition and play for this one so much.
3. a glitch in the space-time continuum
At Out of Office Creative Retreats, there is no schedule by the hour. And I mean that in the best way. We knew when the retreat began and when it ended, and which sessions were planned for each day - but everything in between, we flowed. We played like children, lost in time, doing what felt right in the moment. If a session ran long, it simply meant we were deep in it. If we wanted to linger over tea, we did. In a world that constantly rushes us forward, this retreat offered something rare: the chance to forget about time altogether. It was a delicious glitch in the space-time continuum - where clocks lost their power, and presence took the lead.
The naive painting workshop that ended with portraying each other, and losing a sense of time in embellishing the portraits further and further ✨
4. a joyfully dry space
Another element that made this retreat special was that it was a dry event, no alcohol. And honestly, I loved that. Growing up in Western society, it’s almost a given that any social gathering involves drinking. But here, there was no pressure. We shared stories, danced, cried, laughed - all with completely clear minds and open hearts. It was incredibly refreshing to be in a space where presence and connection didn’t require a drink to deepen.
Dancing, singing, howling – joyful sisterhood and so much fun unfolding in many ways.
5. a beautifully diverse sisterhood
The group was a tapestry of cultures, and that made every conversation richer, and every moment more layered. We were women from Germany, Morocco, Egypt, United Emirates, United Kingdom, France and Saudi Arabia - each carrying our own stories, rhythms, and ways of seeing the world. Coming from a more individualistic cultural background, I was deeply moved by the communal spirit many of the other women brought. We held each other, sang together, grieved together. My sisters shared their poetry, while I usually speak from a more rational space - and yet, it all harmonized so beautifully. I felt expanded, held, and deeply inspired by every single one of them.
6. coming home to home
One of the most moving parts of the retreat was hearing from three incredible Moroccan women who had lived abroad and chosen to return home. In a world where we’re often told that success lies elsewhere, their stories of re-migration touched me deeply. They spoke of reclaiming their roots, of bringing beauty and light to their homeland, and of giving back with intention and love. It was a powerful reminder that sometimes, the most profound journey is the one that brings you back to where you started—with new eyes and a full heart.
7. beyond roles: meeting woman to woman, not status to status
Something truly rare happened at this retreat: we met each other beyond our societal roles. There was no subtle competition, no comparing checklists of age, family status, or career milestones. In fact, until the last day, I didn’t know whether most of the women had partners, kids, or how old they were. And it didn’t matter. We weren’t there to measure each other, we were there to meet each other in our essence. As creatives. As souls. As sisters. It was incredibly freeing to not be defined by our roles, but to be seen for who we truly are.
8. the beauty of nurturing each other as women
In everyday life, women often carry the weight of nurturing everyone else - whether as mothers, peacekeepers, partners, or caretakers. We are constantly in a serving role, making sure others are okay. But at Out Of Office Creative Retreats, we didn’t have to serve anyone except each other as women, and we could direct this energy at ourselves. And in that sacred circle of mutual care, a sense of soul-deep nourishement unfolded. When women pour into women, without expectation or obligation, what emerges is a pure and abundant kindness. Warmth. Safety. Softness. It felt like being wrapped in a collective hug where we could laugh and dance - but also mourn and cry together in community, leaving a sense of “you don’t have to go everything this on your own, we can carry the pain together” - which we are very trained to in today’s individualistic society.
9. before, during, and beyond
Out of Office Creative Retreats wasn’t just a moment in time - it had a before, and it certainly has an after. Even before we arrived, Sally, the founder, brought us together in a WhatsApp group and invited each of us to introduce ourselves via video. That digital circle created such a warm foundation. By the time we arrived in Morocco, it already felt like we knew each other. And that word Sally kept using - soul sisters - set such a meaningful tone. It wasn’t just a phrase; it became our reality. Even after the retreat ended, our WhatsApp group was buzzing with love, memories, reflections, and achievements. These weren’t just women I met on a retreat. They’ve become part of my global circle of sisterhood - an extended network of deep, soulful connection. And that is something I’ll carry with me for a long, long time.
The breathtaking scenery of Out Of Office Creative Retreats in the Agafay desert – a shared experience from with the group will move on connected for a lifetime
I left Morocco changed in subtle but meaningful ways - softer, more grounded, and deeply inspired. Out of the Office wasn’t just a retreat; it was a return. To creativity, to presence, to sisterhood, and to self.”
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This reflection truly encapsulated everything I had hoped to create with Out of Office Creative Retreats and so much more. It brought tears to my eyes reading Hannah’s words, as they beautifully captured the essence of what these retreats are all about: creativity, connection, sisterhood, and the power of shared experiences. I couldn’t have asked for a more perfect reminder of why I do what I do. Thank you, Hannah, my soul sister, for sharing your heart with us.
Blessings, light, and love,
Your friend, Sally