Bali Writing Retreat 2026

Devote yourself to four days of writing with heart – in paradise. 24–27 June.

If you’ve found your way here, it means you’ve heard about the magic of The HeartWriting® Method – Rose Mascaro’s registered trademark curriculum that’s seen hundreds of writers face their fears, learn the intricacies of language, and write glorious words from the heart. Many are now writing their very own books under the editing guidance of Rose, a writer and editor with masters qualifications herself.

But Rose is so much more than just a writer. She’s a gifted teacher of language and writing of 20 years, plus a spiritual guide and sound healer, ready to awaken your creative heart and help you get those words on the page.

This retreat is a hosted writing experience facilitated by Rose. Accommodation, meals, and on-ground services are provided by our trusted venue partner in Bali: The Ark, Ubud.

Join us in Ubud in June 2026 for creative writing bliss.

Throughout The HeartWriting Retreat we will weave together the magic of Bali, with the skills of literature, merged with ancient spiritual creative wisdom, to experience your deepest writing experience yet.

A deeply integrative, academic and holistic program that provides you results and personal healing over four days.

Nurture your words and your creative awakening.

24– 27 June 2026

Daily shamanic writing ceremonies
Heart theory & modern literature
Creative meditation & gentle yoga
Language & literature workshops
Healthy vegetarian banquet meals
Heart-led creative community
Balinese culture, nature & creativity.

Accommodation + Tickets

Venue: The Ark, Ubud
Lush beds with mosquito nets
View of the jungle or shala
Airconditioning
Daily housekeeping service
Oil diffuser & gemstones in room
Tropical style bathroom

Writers need more nurturing than ever...

For some reason people think that writing is a magical, innate, solo journey. That you either ‘have it’ or you don’t. But what if you just need some time, technique, community and healing to reawaken your creative heart?

I'm Rose Mascaro

founder of heartwriting, author of the heart writing handbook

Equipped with a Master of Arts in creative writing, a former career as magazine editor, a decade of spirituality and awakening, and working as a ghostwriter for Lisa Messenger… plus taking hundreds of students through my holistic and academic writing courses – I know that this retreat is going to be a gift of awakening.

Stunning Location

Tropical Balinese gardens framed by mountains and rice paddy fields, a stunning undercover shala to sit in circle, outstanding restaurant, and gorgeous nooks and private cabanas for writing.

Semi-Silent Retreat

Silence and space encourages that glorious state of heart connection and theta flow state. This sacred writing retreat is inspired by Vipassana Retreats, and Ava Irani’s Functional Spirituality Retreats, which are labelled ‘semi-silent’. Rose practises this every day to encourage more ideas to flow, and less anxious space-filling in her life and interactions.

Heart Nourishment

Our days will be filled with nourishing and inspiring activities for the heart, including writing workshops, movement and meditation, sound healing, sensory walks, and healthy meals all prepared by the chefs at The Ark.

Writing Technique

We’ll be exploring an intuitive writing theme supported through the learning of technique to help you uncover your deepest writing potential. The themes and techniques for our group will be uncovered in the weeks leading up to our retreat.

Creative Community

It’s so important to connect deeply with other creatives who share in your values and heart. Bringing heart-centred writers together in healing, learning and harmony is a big part of HeartWriting’s mission.

Movement & Meditation

Gentle movement and deep meditation is the antidote to stuck energy and creative blocks. This retreat is designed to clear the clutter from the top layer of your consciousness, and from there, creative magic can happen – revealing words and ideas you’ve never dreamed of.

Preparation (and after)

You don’t have to prepare at all – you can just show up and enjoy the magic of writing and learning! You’ll receive a comprehensive and inspiring workbook on arrival, as well as a beautiful bag of creative + self-care goodies.

After our retreat, you will hand in your piece writing to the group via our online portal, so you don’t have to finish all your writing on the retreat. Rose and Raeleen will act as your editors, giving you light editing and feedback – plus, you’ll get to read and give feedback on everyone else’s work.

However, for a little context, HeartWriting is more than just a journalling course for your heart. The full curriculum is a rigorous academic program designed to level up your writing skills exponentially – no matter what your dreams and aspirations are. You’ll receive the 10 day intro course with your ticket, which is a ‘face your fears and open your heart’ journey. It’s not compulsory to complete this mini course before the retreat – it’s just a bonus.

But if you want to get the most out of HeartWriting, it is a strong recommendation to sign up to the level 1 online HeartWriting course, which teaches the full HeartWriting program and leads into the level 2 book writing program. You’ll receive a discount code to apply to the course after signing up for the day retreat.

We will weave together the magic of Bali...

with writing skills and ancient traditions...

to experience healing through writing.

We’ll start with an ancient writing ceremony for healing and transformation. But this won’t be our only writing activity!

Merged with the signature magic of the HeartWriting curriculum, by the end of this retreat you will have several scenes polished, forming the bones of a transformative short story.

After the retreat, Rose will also act as your editor, helping you to shape it into publishable perfection.

You are more than welcome to use the retreat to work on your own content/ book, infusing some of the taught techniques into your writing of choice.

‘I attended the 2025 Bali Heartwriting Retreat with Rose Mascaro. I had tried yoga and meditation in the past and it never helped me but on this occasion I found the practice life-changing. I wrote more than I had in the six months prior to the retreat. The practice for teaching writing is unlike most that I have investigated. I came home filled with confidence in my ability to write and with so many new ideas floating in my mind. I cannot recommend working with Rose more!’

Alex Larach

Our retreat centre:
The Ark

A lush and established retreat venue nestled in the jungle town of Ubud, 500 metres from the main street, these grounds were recently renovated to ensure ultimate comfort and quality.

There are six gorgeous rooms available. All rooms are cleaned immaculately, with daily servicing, cute Balinese touches, and exceptional customer feedback. The beds and linen are of the highest quality.

The grounds are diverse, hosting a variety of stunning group circle locations, as well as gorgeous nooks and day beds for private writing. There is a large pool and a yoga shala on site, a fire pit, sauna, and a restaurant with a range of options.

‘We stayed at The Ark for a healing retreat and it was beyond an amazing experience. Everything about this place is absolutely beautiful! The staff are the most kind and loving people you’ll meet, every meal was divine and the massage was top notch! We all can’t wait to come back!!’

Arielle, August 2024

Can't come to Bali?

Maybe you'd like to join the HeartWriting online course. You've missed out on the live workshops for this year, but you can catch up right now.

The Online Retreat: 8 Workshops

Start now: the fast-track way to complete the workshop

8 x 2 hour workshop lessons

Lifetime access to the entire learning portal and lessons

Same homework & exercises as the live group

Free entry into ONE live class of your choice in 2026

Email Rose with questions + support

Share your writing in the HeartWriting Community Group

Learning portal of readings & resources

Free entry to the ‘Ten Days of HeartWriting’ valued at $199

Upgrade to the annual LIVE course later if you like!

Get started now!

$499

Experience the new self–paced course + online portal + resource library. Start at this celebratory price, join one of our live classes for FREE, and decide later to upgrade and join the LIVE course in Feb!

back to retreat details

WHEN + WHERE:

24–27th June 2026, The Ark Retreat Centre, Ubud, Bali

Arrive at 2.30pm on the 24th June. Our program finishes at 11am on Saturday the 27th June. We strongly recommend flying in at least the day before our retreat and heading straight to Ubud to acclimatise – there’s loads of accommodation options. You could also head to the coast or one of the islands after the retreat. Treat yourself to a luxe holiday in paradise!

Accommodation:

5 x twin rooms with bathroom, twin share (2 x single beds per room)
2 x private rooms with bathroom

All rooms have been recently renovated with new furnishings and extremely comfortable beds – it really does feel like a treat to stay at The Ark.

TERMS:

See the bottom of this page. Making your first payment means that you have agreed to our Terms and Cancellations Policy.

While we take great care in curating a seamless experience, certain elements of the retreat (including accommodation, meals, and local services) are managed by our venue partner. By joining the retreat, you acknowledge that these services are provided independently.

The retreat host (HeartWriting / Rose) provides facilitation, teaching, and hosting services only. Accommodation, meals, and on-ground services are provided by third-party partners. The host is not liable for any loss, injury, delay, or disruption arising from services provided by these third parties.

All participants are required to hold comprehensive travel insurance to cover travel, health, and personal belongings for the duration of the retreat.

what's included

Balinese fire ceremony
Daily yoga classes
Creativity meditations
Writing workshops
Heart circles + sharing
1 x massage included
1 x retreat gift bag
Delicious vegetarian catering
Silent afternoons of writing
Shamanic writing ceremonies
Instrumental sound healing
Pool, infrared sauna, shala
Housekeeping, coffee, tea, light snacks
Locally crafted bath products
An evening of ancient sound healing at the Pyramids of Chi
Final dinner and cocktail at Zest Ubud

AND:
Ten Days of HeartWriting Course, valued at $199
1 x mentoring session post-retreat
Editing: 1 x 2000 word piece
Discount to join the online 8 week course

draft itinerary

Wednesday

2.30pm check in with cool towel and drink on arrival
3pm welcome with Rose in the yoga shala
4.30pm free time, writing, get ready for evening
6pm dinner banquet
7pm opening fire ceremony with Balinese Priest

Thursday

7am breakfast + walk
8.30am yoga and meditation
9am HeartWriting Workshop #1
11am free time
12pm lunch
1pm – 3.30pm silent writing on grounds
(massages scheduled throughout afternoon)
3.30pm sharing time in shala
4–5pm creativity of the feminine workshop
5–7pm free time
7pm dinner banquet
8pm sound healing in shala

Friday

7am breakfast + walk
8am yoga and meditation
9am HeartWriting Workshop #2
11 – 1pm free time and lunch
1–4pm silent writing afternoon
(massages scheduled throughout afternoon)
4pm get ready + free time
(Ice bath if there are more than 6 people interested)
6pm Dinner at Zest Restaurant (short walk) followed by optional cocktails and music

Saturday

7.30am breakfast + walk
8.30am HeartWriting Session #3 + yoga + meditation
Readings from journals + Heart Words Box
10.30am pack up + load luggage at front.
11am – goodbyes and group photos!

Meet Rose, your host

It’s a pleasure to connect with you! I’m Rose, a published writer, novelist, ghostwriter, magazine editor, book editor, and English teacher. I’m also a yoga and meditation teacher with a decade of spirituality immersion behind me and a one year spirituality mentorship training with Ava Irani (functionalspirituality.com). With a Master of Arts in Creative Writing, and former editor career at Lovatts Media, I’m qualified to teach you a range of advanced writing techniques with a spiritual twist.

With 100+ graduates over the last 5 years, and overflowing with glowing testimonials, many have gone on to write their own books and lead heart-fuelled creative lives.

Testimonials

Raeleen

Rose always instinctively knows what's needed in her guided meditations and the collective energy of the group is pure magic! I have grown so much with Rose. My heart has opened and my writing? ... well, I've almost finished my book. Heartwriting in Ubud here I come!

Grace

I highly recommend HeartWriting for those who love learning with a spiritual lens and want to develop or mature their writing ability in a supportive space. Rose radiates with beautiful wisdom and has an authentic way of teaching that is articulate, inspiring, heartfelt and passionate.

Delys

The talented Rose shared so much of her vast knowledge with us and was very generous with her time and resources. I have wanted to get back to writing for many years but this course was the impetus to get my words moving again. I loved it so much I have enrolled in the advanced course!

Kelly

I cannot shout loud enough to anyone who is thinking about working with Rose that they need to run, not walk. It will be one of the biggest acts of self-care you’ll enact all year. There will not be a more well rounded or supportive course of its kind out there I assure you!

Alex

I attended the 2025 Bali Retreat – I wrote more than I had in the six months prior to the retreat over the three/four days. The practice for teaching writing is unlike most that I have investigated. I came home filled with confidence in my ability to write and with so many new ideas in my mind. I cannot recommend working with Rose more.

important info

Accommodation

You will be sharing a room with another person, unless you book a private room.

There are limited rooms at this venue, so there is only one more private room available.

I will pair you with the perfect person in the perfect room – leave it with me!

The beds and the rooms are so comfortable and stunning.

Cancellation Policy

Your first payment in the payment plan is non-refundable. However, there is a grace period of 14 days after paying your deposit if circumstances change and you need to cancel.

If you cancel for personal or emergency reasons within 90 days of retreat, your payments are not transferable or refundable. If there’s a family or health emergency and you have travel insurance, it’s easy to claim back your retreat ticket and flight costs. This is why it’s important to take out travel insurance as soon as you book this retreat – to cover both of us!

War or Force Majeure

If War, Natural Disaster or an Act of God impacts our ability to attend the retreat (for example war-related oil shortages = flight cancellations and lockdowns) The Ark will allow us to reschedule our retreat to another date, but we won’t get a refund. Your payments will go towards that next retreat date, and I’ll do everything possible to make sure this all works out best for all of us.

Liability