Iconography Retreat

In the Christian tradition, icons are not painted — they are written. Each brushstroke is a form of prayer, each session a movement toward contemplation. This December, during the sacred waiting of Advent, Bellwether Farm invites you to write your own icon of Our Lady of Tenderness — one of the most beloved images in the history of Christian art, depicting the tender embrace of Mary and the Christ child, cheek to cheek.

No artistic experience is required. Only a willingness to slow down, pay attention, and let the work of your hands become the work of your spirit.

Over five days on our working farm in northern Ohio, you will be guided step by step through the traditional iconographic process by Catherine Harrison, a skilled iconographer, and The Rev. Meghan Carlson of St. James Episcopal Church in Wooster. You will leave carrying home a completed icon — written by your own hands, a permanent expression of this season's quiet and holy longing.

Retreat Leader Bios:

The Rev. Meghan Carlson is the priest-in-charge of St James Episcopal Church in Wooster Ohio. She is a graduate of Seminary of the Southwest in Austin TX. Prior to seminary, Meghan worked as a freelance photographer, retail employee, and nun driver (she is considering writing a book about that experience). She received her Bachelor of Arts degree from Ursuline College in 2019. Before joining the Episcopal Church, she was raised in the Ruthenian Byzantine Catholic tradition and fell in love with iconography during that time. She has become an iconographer in recent years, finding the writing of icons to be a grounding spiritual practice.Meghan discovered the Episcopal Church as an adult looking for a church space that welcomed those who felt outcast from other Christian churches, especially the LGBTQ+ community. She is passionate about inclusion, liturgy, community outreach, and teaching. She has a heart for ministry with the Hispanic/Latino community, and has been learning to speak Spanish. Currently, she is involved with Open Arms/Brazos Abiertos in Wayne County as a volunteer tutor. She is also very interested in the intersection between spirituality and the arts, especially visual arts. She enjoys reading novels, playing video games, and nature walks. Meghan lives with Essie, aka Queen Esther the black cat, who is her emotional support cat and best feline friend.

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Catherine Harrison (Cathy to those that know her!) began her love of iconography in 2012 when she wrote her first icon – Christ Sinai. Since then, she has studied with Teresa Harrison, Christine Sheaffer, Kara Gillette, and Peter Pearson, learning technique and the history of the art form. Having completed several commissions and over 75 icons, she has found that teaching iconography adds a richness to the spirituality of the practice not found in simply writing. Sharing the joy of icon writing, as one of the Traditional Rules of Iconography implores, brings a spiritual depth that only grows with each class or retreat.Cathy, the daughter of a Presbyterian minister, came to the Episcopal Church in her early twenties. The opportunity to participate in The Great Thanksgiving at each service filled her with a profound feeling of not only knowing Christ but being one with Him. She went on to become involved in the Church by singing in the choir and serving as a Lector, an Acolyte, a Eucharistic Minister, and ultimately a Verger, which she has continued for the past 15 years. Outside of Mass, leading icon retreats has enabled her, the introvert that she is, to share her knowledge of Christ and his Saints with others, a kind of evangelism that fits her well.Cathy lives in Matthews, NC, with her husband, Pierre. They have a daughter, Christy, who lives nearby with her husband, Daniel. While they love to travel in their RV and explore all that America has to offer, one of Cathy’s most exciting trips was a recent exploration of icons in Athens, Greece. The Chapels, Churches, Cathedrals and Monasteries have icons that simply take your breath away. To stand before icons that are hundreds and thousands of years old is both humbling and exhilarating. To walk where Paul preached and spread the Gospel is indescribable. All of this just adds to the joy of spreading icons throughout the world through writing and teaching.At the end of the day, sharing her love of iconography with others brings a peace to her soul and a fullness to her heart, and that is not a bad thing.

What to expect:

Daily life at Bellwether during this retreat is shaped by rhythm. Each morning begins with Eucharist, grounding the day's work in liturgy and common prayer. Studio sessions unfold unhurried, with guidance always close at hand. In the afternoons, the farm itself is available to you — a gentle walk, time with the animals, or a breath of December air along the Vermilion River. Evenings are yours to rest or engage in community time.

Throughout your stay, you will be nourished by food grown and prepared here on the farm — scratch cooking from our own fields and kitchen, offered in the spirit of the season.

Accommodations are private single-occupancy rooms, giving you space for rest, reflection, and the kind of inner quiet that Advent asks of us.

Who is this retreat for?

Anyone drawn to the intersection of faith, creativity, and contemplative practice — regardless of background, tradition, or prior experience with art or iconography. This retreat welcomes all.

Retreat Costs:

Early Registration (Ends July 1st, 2026) $1,058.00/per person

After July 1st, 2026 $1,358.00/per person

Retreat Dates: Tuesday, December 8 – Sunday, December 13, 2026

Tentative Schedule:

Tuesday

Arrivals 3:00-4:00 pm

Welcome & Introductions 4:00 pm-6:00 pm

Dinner 6:00 pm-7:00 pm

Community Time with Dessert Charcuterie Board 7:00 pm-8:00 pm

Compline 8:00 pm

Wednesday-Saturday

Breakfast 8:00 am

Holy Eucharist 9:00 am

Icon Writing 9:30 am- 12:00 pm

Lunch 12:00 pm- 1:00 pm

Icon Writing 1:00 pm-5:00 pm

Rest Time 5:00 pm- 6:00 pm

Dinner 6:00 pm- 7:00 pm

Community Time 7:00 pm

Sunday

Breakfast 7:30 am

Holy Eucharist 8:30 am

Blessing of the Icons 12:00 pm

Lunch and Departures 1:00 pm