Exclusive Women’s Retreat

paris, france

OCT 4 —10, 2025

Bonjour ma belle,

I see you over there, with your artist’s heart and your fondest dream to finally finish that memoir, start that screenplay, get back to painting, or do something crazy like moving to France and joining a jazz band! But there always seems to be something in the way–an obstacle, a doubt, a demanding schedule. 

If you’re a woman longing to prioritize living more joyfully and artistically, come join me this autumn in Paris as a real creative insider. I’ll be taking a very small group through an unforgettable adventure in the City of Lights that will delight your senses, boost your artistic self-love, and activate your incredibly powerful inner muse so that you can finally make those dreams come true.

Bisous,

Five Days in France That Will Change Your Life

Five Days in France That Will Change Your Life

dream

Imagine yourself in Paris on a sunlit autumn afternoon

You’re sitting in a pretty café among new friends who already feel like sisters, relaxing after a day of joy-filled, meaningful workshops and visits with inspiring women who’ve intimately shared their own journeys, their practices, their wisdom garnered while building remarkable creative lives in the most beautiful city in the world.

Sipping a glass of good Chablis, you look around. Paris is magnificent, isn’t she? You let your senses travel–the glorious buildings, the stylish people passing by, the smell of fresh bread and melting butter. You chat and laugh with the group, reflecting on everything you’ve shared together just today–the emotions, the artist’s self-doubt, the big dreams–and the renewed sense of excitement and possibility that is bubbling up in you after what you’ve learned! You’ve already started sketching out some fresh ideas in your journal. 

You inhale deeply. Your heart is floating happily in your chest and you’ve got goosebumps. You’ll never be just a tourist here again. You’ve become a member of the real Parisian creative community, no matter where you call home, and you’re learning how to make your life the masterpiece you envision.

BENEFITS

You Deserve This Creative Time in Paris

I’ve designed every aspect of this bespoke retreat to help you honor and prioritize your creativity. The unmistakable beauty and energy of Paris, a city that has inspired artists for centuries, will be both our backdrop and our muse.

  • Finally take the time you need to truly nurture, restore and grow your creative spirit…as a Paris insider, with me as your guide! You deserve this.

  • Find connection with a new tribe of creative sisters (and fellow francophiles!) who will uplift and support your journey.

  • Through group and one-on-one exercises, learn how to gently manage your fears, your obstacles, and those deep-seated questions about whether or not you’re really “good enough.”

  • Use playfulness to spark creativity, celebration and joy.

  • Take confidence from from inspirational women who’ve made the leap to honor their creative dreams in Paris and take home strategies for building your own daily practices that really work

And let’s not forget, it’s Paris! So in true La Flâneuse style, we’ll be exploring des petites ruelles, eating fresh and delicious French cuisine, and soaking up all the magical beauty of the City of Lights.

Our time together will be a journey, with themes, workshops, visits and conversations designed to nurture connection with yourself and the greater artistic community, unblock obstacles, and celebrate your creative power through play and discovery.  We’ll laugh, we’ll go deep, we’ll explore, and  you’ll come away with real insight and inspiration you’ll take home to your own practices.

THE FLOW

CONNECT

OPEN

REIGNITE

PLAY

Reignite Your Creativity Retreat in Paris
October 4 —10, 2025

What’s Included

✔️ Pre-trip Zoom Call to meet your fellow creatives

✔️ Welcome Apéro and Nibbles on Saturday evening

✔️ 3 creative “Jam Session” Breakfasts

✔️ 4 Scrumptious Lunches

✔️ 1 Wine Bar Dinner Party with snacks, charcuterie and cheese

✔️ 1 Parisian Artist’s Haunt Dinner 

✔️ Inspiring Workshops and Conversations with creative Parisiennes who will share their journeys with you (plus deep conversations all week with the group)

✔️ 1 Surprise Creative Walk with a special guest historian

✔️ Professional Paris Photo Shoot Party in an unforgettable location

✔️ Gala Gastronomique Soirée in a fine restaurant specializing in creative cuisine

✔️ Half-hour One-on-One Creative Session with me—let’s talk about YOUR goals and challenges. Ask me anything!

✔️ Follow-up Group Zoom Call to nurture our connection

✔️ A few more Surprises to Delight and Reignite Your Creativity!

$3,600 USD

What’s NOT Included

❌ Round-trip airfare to Paris 

❌ Airport transfers to Paris

❌ Accommodation in Paris (but I will, of course, give you some fantastic recommendations if you’d like)

❌ 1 Dinner and 2 Breakfasts so you’ll have time to explore, like a true flâneuse !

❌ Also not included are extra activities, transport and meals in your free time, along with souvenir shopping, spa services, and the like

❌ Personal, medical and trip cancellation insurance (which we strongly recommend you arrange)

RETREAT APPLICATION

I’d love for you to join me in Paris in the Reignite Your Creativity Retreat, October 4 —10, 2025.

This form is meant to help me get to know you—your creative journey, your needs, and your hopes for this experience. There are no right answers here—just your truth. It will help me to put together the perfect group and to curate our activities together.

BONJOUR !

I’m Karen Bussen, a lifelong creative.

My journey started out as the daughter of a single mom in Dayton, Ohio. We moved around a lot, and I went to 9 different schools by the time I reached 9th grade. It wasn’t easy, and I had trouble making lasting connections. At 17, I set off for a stint as a globe-trotting magician’s assistant on a series of glamorous cruise ships. That’s where my love of travel and learning about other cultures really sparked.

Later, I moved to New York City where I struggled at first, working as a diner waitress and coat check. I was alone, without a formal education and without a direction. I often wondered what I could make of my life.

After many years, I began my journey as an entrepreneur, learning (and making mistakes) on the go, eventually building several businesses, some more successful than others. There were always challenges, but the work was creative, so I loved it. To my surprise, I became an internationally recognized party planner and wrote some books on the topic.

In 2019, after a time when a family health crisis had shaken up my world, I was looking for more meaning in my work. That led me to found a startup in the end-of-life space, a subject I had become passionate about. . What I learned: Being a startup founder is rewarding, but damn, it’s not easy.

Along my journey, I liked to look for personal challenges, something to strive for. I studied for years to win a DALF C1 diploma in the French language and two wine certifications. I trained for months to run the New York City Marathon.

It’s not that things always come easily to me. I simply don’t let the fear of failing stop me from trying things that I want to do. Heck, I failed my French road test for my permis de conduire. Three times!

Through it all, I’ve developed my own way of navigating challenges (wanted or otherwise). I focus on weaving beauty and presence into my every day. I believe that we are all creating all the time, and we’re ever-evolving, no matter our age or stage.

In 2021, at age 54, life presented me with another wonderful (if daunting) opportunity. In the middle of the pandemic, I met the love of my life. Some of you know him from my Substack as Monsieur B.

When we decided to get married (I’d never been married), I left my home in Brooklyn and moved to Paris. Since then, I’ve been navigating a brand new chapter in a new country. I’ve started a Parisian-based business, and even auditioned for a jazz band!

Creative living and maximizing joy are two of my specialties. Sharing what I’ve learned with other women so that they can boldly live their own dreams is the passion of my life.

FAQs

  • If you’d like to apply for this retreat, please fill out this short questionnaire. It will help me to know you better and to make sure our group is in sync for a fabulous few days together. 

    I’ll review your answers and contact you with registration details. I’ll also be completely honest if for any reason I feel the experience may not be right for you.

  • Because you deserve to honor yourself, your artistic drives and practices, especially if there are others who count on you in your “real life.” The fees for this retreat include so much great connection, working through your obstacles, collecting practices and strategies and setting yourself free to really bring your creative dreams alive!

    Also, roundrip flights to Paris this fall are priced really well right now! This is your sign to prioritize yourself for once and to experience a transformational artist’s journey in Paris with me.

  • Each day will be unique and full of inspiration, but designed to also give you a bit of free time to breathe, rest, explore, think, and create on your own. 

    For example, we’ll have breakfast together on three days, so on the other two days you can sleep in a little or take an early morning walk along the Seine. 

    You’ll also have two free dinners, where we’ll break after our afternoon activities. So you can bring out your inner flâneuse (wanderer) and stroll the city, or pair up with a new friend to try a fun bistro.

    Generally, our fabulous workshops/visits will take place in the mornings after breakfast and in the afternoon after lunch, but if you choose to opt out of a meal or a workshop/visit, that’s OK! 

    The retreat schedule was also designed to allow for a few extra days of Paris (or France) adventure before or after our time together. We’ll say au revoir after breakfast on Thursday, which allows a bit more time if you envision a little jaunt to Reims or Lyon, for example, or if you just want to soak in more of Paris and give yourself time to reflect and process what you’ve learned, and keep your momentum going before heading home, that would be a great option. 

    If you’d like to plan something extra and you need help with ideas, let me know!

  • We’ll have a group Zoom meet-up before the trip, and a private text group so that we can get to know each other a bit before we come together in the City of Lights! 

  • Paris, Charles de Gaulle (CDG) or Orly (ORY). You’ll make your own travel plans and arrange your own airport transfers into Central Paris. Our fun will begin on Saturday late afternoon with an early welcome apéro and light nibbles.

  • $3,600 USD, with $600 USD due to reserve your place once your application has been approved.

    The balance can be paid in full, or in two payments:

    • Payment 1 due on Jul 10, 2025 ($1,500 USD)

    • Payment 2 due on Aug 14, 2025 ($1,500 USD)

    Payment methods accepted are credit card or bank wire transfer

  • Our activities will take place in central Paris, largely in the creative heart of the city, the Left Bank. We’ll meet up at different spots to start our days together. Once you are accepted into the retreat, I’ll send you a list of my favorites.

  • While we will explore Paris creatively, this is not a “Paris Greatest Hits” trip. If it’s your first time in Paris, you may want to add on a few days before or after the retreat. 

    If you need help traveling outside of Paris before or after the trip, let me know and I’ll do my best to help you.

  • Absolutely not! And you don't need to practice a certain type of art or craft. All writers, painters, musicians, crafters, poets, chefs--you name it--are welcome to join, whether pro or just passionate. But you do need to be someone who wants to live creatively, who has a creative dream, a love of all types of beauty and the desire to build practices to support your passion.

  • Most of our activities will be casual, so just smart, comfortable Paris-friendly wear. I’ll send you a Packing List closer to the trip, but you’ll definitely want comfy shoes, an umbrella and a raincoat just in case. For our Gala Photo Shoot and Soirée, I’ll share more in the Packing List, but you should bring something gorgeous and dramatic–something that makes you a little nervous but giddy when you think about wearing it!

  • Super ! We can arrange that before or after the retreat. Send me an email to karen@karenbussen.com and we can discuss options and pricing for a personalized extension and deepening of your experience.

  • There is a $600 USD non-refundable deposit that is required to reserve your place for this exclusive retreat. 

    If you cancel before June 20, 2025, you’ll receive a full refund of what you’ve paid, minus the $600 non-refundable deposit. If you cancel between June 21 and August 1, 2025, you’ll receive a 50% refund. Cancellations after August 20, 2025, will not be refunded. This will result in a total loss of funds paid.

    We do reserve the right to cancel the trip if minimums are not being met. In the event that we should cancel the trip, any payments you've made toward the trip will be fully refunded. We strongly suggest you purchase trip cancellation insurance. If you apply for the retreat and for any reason are not admitted, we’ll refund your deposit in full.

  • We take your privacy very serious, you can read the full Privacy Policy here.

  • Let’s chat! Send me an email at karen@karenbussen.com.

Do you hear that?

It’s the creative spirit of Paris calling YOU to join some of history’s most illustrious women artists and creatives to fulfill your destiny and leave your mark. 

This investment in yourself will help you break through old patterns and learn new strategies for living your most creative and joyful life. Here’s a review of what’s included in this one-of-a-kind retreat to reignite the artist within and help you progress happily toward real fulfillment. 

Spots for this transformational trip are extremely limited so that we can have real connection and progress. Don’t miss the opportunity to share in an unforgettable experience.