'Finding Your Tribe' - June '26
When you lead with curiosity and self expression, connection becomes something you attract. The theory of finding your tribe is about resonance ie: the more honestly you live the clearer your signal becomes. A space shaped by instinct rather than trend tells a story, and stories are how humans bond.This creates safety and safety is the foundation of meaningful relationships.
This year Lexis is focusing on 6 days of creative immersion, beginning with your Home. Decorating your own space becomes an act of self trust: choosing colours that calm you. Objects that hold stories, pieces that inspire conversation. Through the beauty and natural authenticity of Gascony, together with our eclectic and talented team; through Image, Colour, Art & Nature we intend to inspire in you a magnetic freedom to stand comfortably in your own skin.
Wandering, Gathering, Savouring.
Gascony is well known for its production of Armagnac, and equally famous for being the birthplace of Charles de Batz de Castelmore, more familiarly known as D’Artagnan.
Having originally had a career in espionage, in 1658 he became captain of the prestigious company of Musketeers under the reign of King Louis XIV. Immortalised and posing with his two
companions; their statue brings an effortless Errol Flynn vision to the small rural town of Condom.
With its undulating landscape and medieval villages, artisans, wine tours, ancient chateaux,
local markets and antique treasures….. A hunting we will go!
Building Connections
Sharing your stories and ideas invites dialogue instead of judgement. This openness fosters trust and sparks collaboration. Others recognise that they are able to contribute, experiment and express alongside of you. Your personal environment plays a powerful role here. A home shaped by instinct becomes a creative hub, it evokes stories and intimacy, memory and emotion. It feels human and accessible. Never intimidating.
Creative connections thrive on mutual curiosity. When you stay open to listening as much as you express- you create room for ideas to collide, merge and transform. These relationships aren’t about what trends; they’re about expanding each other’s perspective.
Leave With Clarity, Return Home With Purpose
You will leave with a deeper understanding of your own creative voice, and how to trust your own curiosity instead of external trends. You will also walk away with meaningful creative connections: relationships built on shared values, mutual encouragement that often extends beyond the retreat. You will leave feeling seen, emotionally energised and reconnected to what really matters.
"Most of all, you’ll return home awakened: seeing with fresh eyes, guided by curiosity, and ready to continue your own thoughtful, soulful curation."
“…This could have easily been simply a really nice creative retreat in wonderful surroundings, with amazing food, but for me it was much much more than that…"
Next Retreat June 11-18th
2026:
Creativity in Action: Design, Photography, and Painting with Miv, Hugh, and Cathy
Host
Miv Watts
Miv, author of The Maverick Soul, celebrates individuality, authenticity, and the art of living by instinct. Her career as an art director and stylist in film and music took her around the world, before she settled in Sydney in the 1980s to raise her children, Naomi and Ben. Today, she champions mentors, authentic living, and creating spaces that tell our truest stories. From designing boutique hotels out of Rajasthan, to tin shacks in the rainforest of Byron Bay, her passion for creating authentic, colourful spaces with personal stories to tell remains strong.
Host
Hugh Stewart
Hugh, a New Zealand-born photographer and director, is known for intimate portraits of global icons and film collaborations with Baz Luhrmann. Co-creator of The Maverick Soul, his work spans fashion, film, and campaigns for brands like Chanel No.5, HBO, and Netflix.
Host
Cathy Layzell
Working in a gestural and abstract style, Artist Cathy Layzell investigates humankind’s evolving relationship to nature, where an impulse to shape, tame and control the natural world lives alongside a desire to yield to its wildness and danger.
At close range, her paintings are constructed from the textures of nature – rock, foliage, air, and water, appear nearly abstract – a dancing network of innumerable brushstrokes.
Hosts Continued:
Culinary, Wellness, and Property Experts: Nicole, Chef Matthew, and William
Host
Nicole Langone
(MS RD CDN)
Nicole, founder of Langone Wellness Consulting, unites nutrition science with the joy of delicious food, helping clients build sustainable, satisfying relationships with eating. A graduate of Le Cordon Bleu with degrees in hospitality management and nutritional science, she has led menu strategy for NYC schools and taught at Brooklyn College and Columbia University.
Chef
Matthew Horton
Educated in England but raised on an Italian estate, Matthew grew up immersed in a rich culinary tradition that values quality ingredients and the art of food. He loves exploring local markets and crafting healthy, seasonal meals—organic where possible—celebrating the natural essence of each ingredient. His cooking draws inspiration from Italy, France, Spain, and Greece, and takes pride in creating beautiful, delicious dishes paired with wholesome wines.
Host
William Desvé
William, Managing Director of Bliss Immobilier, brings decades of international experience and a deep understanding of property, valuing the unique character of every home. Bilingual and widely travelled, he combines entrepreneurial insight with a broad perspective shaped by both private enterprise and public service.
Hosts Continued:
Alignment & Healing and Photgraphy.
Host
Amaryllis Fraser
Amaryllis has spent over 30 years helping clients worldwide connect with their subconscious, higher self, and the spiritual realm. Her path began at nineteen after a life-changing accident and the discovery of her family’s role in founding The College of Psychic Research in 1886. Since then, she has dedicated her life to guiding others toward clarity, confidence, and purpose.
Amaryllis empowers clients to make aligned choices, unlock healing, and reconnect with their true potential.
Host
Philip Volkers
Philip approaches photography with a modern honesty—powerful yet understated, capturing iconic moments without excess. His ability to connect instantly with subjects allows him to create raw, authentic images filled with emotional depth.
Spanning five continents, his career bridges fashion, film, extreme sports, and reportage, including the Kumbh Mela in India. His chronicle of Burning Man and other works have been exhibited worldwide, establishing him as a distinctive visual storyteller. Clients include: Apple, BBC, Condé Nast Traveller, De Beers, Esquire, Harper’s Bazaar, Nike, Vogue UK, YouTube, and more.
Finding Your Tribe - Gascony France
June 11-18th 2026
Please click on 'Contact' below or visit the 'Contact' form on this sites home page to lodge interest.
‘Slow Decoration Is Soul Decoration’: Interiors Queen Miv Watts On Avoiding Trends
By Juliet Herd
*NEXT RETREAT (2nd Oct - 8th Oct)*
- Finding your TribeThu 11 JunCazaubon
