At the end of January my husband and I returned home after spending 30 days in a self–directed (mostly) silent meditation retreat. It was nourishing to spend time together, while also dedicating focused time on our independent practice. Our relationship improved as we incorporated principles of kindness, compassion and patience with each other; bringing Buddhist principles into our present moments.
Each time I enter a long retreat, I begin to feel my physiology changing, and this time was especially powerful. I felt such relief at disengaging from all the news of chaos, violence and aggression, while developing my capacity to stay grounded despite “all the things”. Perhaps I even felt greater compassion because of “all the things”. It’s funny how that happens.
Upon my return, I’ve resumed teaching and supporting those writers who have said yes to connecting with me. I am delighted with the spaciousness resulting from my new program schedule. In case you missed my updates from last month’s newsletter, here’s what’s on offer between this month and June:
Offerings
FREE CREATIVE FOCUS SESSIONS: These one-hour drop-in sessions will continue to be hosted by Yvonne Basten and myself, at least once a week.
They typically occur on Monday mornings at 9AM Pacific Time Zone, and I am planning to offer at least one new time slot each month. If you want to receive our monthly schedule, please add your name to the list now:
PRIMORDIA WRITING CIRCLES: We meet ONLINE every three weeks, on Sunday afternoons (3:30 pm – 6:00 pm Pacific Time Zone). Each online session offers 2.5 hours of writing and sharing time. We begin with at least 30 minutes of solo writing, followed by a short break. We then come together and take turns reading aloud what we just wrote, or a piece of another project we would like feedback on (this is always optional).
Before sharing, you may be asked to define what level of feedback you’re looking for. Your audience is receptive, attuned, and supportive, and I ensure that participants follow guidelines for providing appropriate feedback.
MENTORSHIPS: My 4-month writing mentorship program is designed to support the evolution of your current draft. Work with me 1-on-1 to receive personalized support, based on the nature of your project and what your intentions and aims are as a writer.
I tailor feedback to your specific project and offer my technical expertise to support you in deepening and growing your craft. I always aim to provide clear feedback, suggest helpful next steps, and offer deeper insights into the nature of your body of work.
WRITING FROM THE HEART: Our writing retreats offer community, trust, inspiration, and all the juicy ingredients you need to generate fresh writing, bring your words to a receptive and present audience, and have them received and reflected in their strength. You don’t have to go it alone!
Each retreat is an opportunity for you to gain confidence in your craft, grow your own writing community, and continue to write, refine, and share stories for years to come. I will be offering one in-person Writing from the Heart retreat in June, and an online retreat in November. More details can be found here:
Author Highlight
This month, I’m highlighting Marsha Donner, who recently published Mending Abortion Trauma with Presence: a journal and guidebook into the canyon of silence. This book is beautifully laid out, integrating Marsha’s watercolors into every chapter. One sentence from the back cover stands out for me: “The poignant stories within this book are intended to embrace you and remind you that you are not alone.” Every step of her writing and publishing journey has been deeply aligned, and I’m honored that we have worked together.
Copies of Marsha’s book may be ordered from her website: artfulsolutions.org or from your local bookstore.
