Upcoming Retreat/s with Parker Pedagogy:

Healing Retreat for Creatives: Azorean Summer

São Miguel Island - July 29 - August 2, 2026

The Azores are shaped by fire and water—volcanic earth, hot springs, ocean air, and deep green quiet. There is a grounded, ancient healing energy here - and the Azores are calling Professional Photographers in, to breathe, to engage in community, and to rejuvenate before a busy editing season.

Experience the absolute magic of the Azores with United States Certified Educator, Poet Laureate Emeritus and Healer, Ryan T. Parker and Professional Wedding Photographer, Educator, avid traveler and backpacker Melanie Ruth Brown. This Healing Retreat is for Creatives with a focus on individuals who are Professional Wedding or Lifestyle Photographers with a desire to create a pause in the middle of their busy season. Join in affinity to take a collective breath, to be in joy and to rest and heal with like-minded creatives.

This intimate, small-group experience includes facilitated community building experiences, easy to moderate hikes, relaxing hot-spring soaks, restful beach time, yoga, and a group art creation experience. Participants are encouraged to bring their photography equipment in order to capture the incredible landscapes of São Miguel - volcanic crater lakes, lush tropical flora, the deepest Black sand beaches, and the most breathtaking ocean sunsets. Additionally, an adventurous photo shoot will be curated in order to provide professional content.

Key Details:

• Dates: Wednesday, July 29, 2026 (morning) to Sunday, August 2, 2026 (late afternoon).

• Group Size: Up to 6 participants for an intimate community building experience.

• Accommodation: This retreat is centered at Vila Pilar, an intimate gated Retreat Space on São Miguel Island in the Azores, Portugal. Participants will enjoy either a shared or private bungalow during their stay.

• Transportation: To and From the airport as well as transportation to all included activities is included.

• Food: Vila Pilar staff will provide a daily breakfast buffet and community dinners will be prepared by a private chef. Please note, lunch is not provided daily, however transportation to a local grocery store will be organized.

Your experience will be curated by the following Creative Guides:

Ryan T. Parker, Connecticut Poet Laureate Emeritus, has over 20 years of experience in cultivating Healing Experiences, Retreats, Workshops and Presentations. Ryan Parker is a certified mama's boy, hip-hop-head, chocolate-chip-cookie-lover, poet, and educator who dreams of a world where everybody can get exactly what it is that they need.

Currently an Educational Consultant, Ryan Parker spends his time working with people creating space and conditions by which those people can change themselves.

You are likely to find Ryan freedom-dreaming, way-making and engaging in the things that bring him and his community joy, like hiking, playing tag with his 7 year old daughter and writing poetry. Ryan is deeply thankful for the path that his ancestors paved so that he may arrive and fully understands that it is his responsibility to continue paving that path for those he will one day be an ancestor to.

Meet Ryan

What is included?

• 5 days, 4 nights to bask in the slow pace of the Portuguese island life.

• Private or shared accommodation in a traditional, gated Portuguese Vila with a King sized bed, en-suite bathroom, fully stocked kitchenette, and comfortable living room space with high speed WiFi access.

• A daily breakfast buffet (except the last morning, when a community breakfast will be shared at a local café in a botanical garden), crafted by the Vila Pilar staff.

• Nightly community meals curated by a private Açorean chef (except one evening, when a family style dinner will be shared in a volcanic crater).

• Transportation to the airport on Day 5 / Sunday, August 2, 2026.

• Transportation to and from all activities scheduled by the Vila Pilar team.

• A private yoga class.

• A shared creative art session.

• Relaxing and healing soaks in volcanic thermal hot springs.

• An easy to Moderate hike in Sete Cidades, one of the 7 Natural Wonders of Portugal.

• A restful afternoon lounging on a Black sand beach.

• A visit to the oldest Tea Garden in Europe

• Multiple community building, intention setting and healing through poetics experiences curated by Ryan T. Parker.

Wednesday, July 29, 2026

• Arrive to Vila Pilar by 9:00 am

• Welcome Breakfast Buffet

• Community building activity

• Nap, rest, unpack, grocery shop

• Beach + Relax (weather dependent)

• Community dinner at Vila Pilar

• Community building activity

  *Participants should prepare their own lunch

Interested in joining this Healing Retreat? Complete the Application Below:

*This Healing Retreat is booked on a ‘First Come First Served Basis’ and will only run with a minimum of 6 participants.