"Writing itself is one of the great, free human activities. There is scope for individuality, and elation, and discovery, in writing. For the person who follows with trust and forgiveness what occurs to him, the world remains always ready and deep, an inexhaustible environment, with the combined vividness of an actuality and flexibility of a dream. Working back and forth between experience and thought, writers have more than space and time can offer. They have the whole unexplored realm of human vision."
~ William Stafford
Where have you been? Where are you right now? Where are you going?
Who have you been? Who are you right now? Who are you becoming?
The greatest gift of writing is discovering who you truly are. Not the small you who gazes with fear and longing outward into the world, but the expansive You, who talks in dreams and ignites your imagination through a summer breeze, a raging storm, a war torn landscape and the touch of love.
This is the You who guides the pen and gives your fingers their flight across the keyboard.
This is the You who calls you to the most challenging of life's journeys.
This is the You who doesn't judge and condem.
This is the You who knows that everything that has happened to you, regardless off the pain and the joy, happened to further your journey.
This is the you who knows that it is not the suffering that matters in this journey of life, but rather the lessons learned. All of life is learning to fly. If we didn't stumble and fall, get lost and found and lost again, we would have no reason to struggle. We would not know joy. We would not experience giving and accepting compassion.
Happiness is the great gift of life, the biggest payoff of the journey.Not momentary happiness, but rather the deep satisfying, expansive and all pervading happiness that causes the flowers to sprout ever year. Again and again. Happiness is not a commodity. It can't be bought or sold. It can't be earned. It will be found in the most unexpected places and in the most unexpected times. It will be found here, now, in the ever changing ever present moment.
Happiness, says the Dali Lama,
Writing the Journey is a new six week teleworkshop that explores how this You, your Self has skillfully and compassionately guided you to where you are in life right now.
Through journaling, poetry and story, we will illuminate the path that lies behind us, inhabit the I am of right now and envision the you of tomorrow.
There will be writing time in each session to explore our journeys through prompts such as:
- Looking back, what memories foretold and illuminated the person I am today?
- What was the biggest turning point of my life thus far?
- Who were my mentors?
- Write about time when Loki, the trickster god, crossed your path?
- Write about a time when a journey to the underworld transformed your life?
We will visit the tall Mountain of Beginnings and Becomings. To the east, from whence you came, the trail is well marked. In telling our stories, we will find the gifts and embrace the tools...To the West, the Clouds of Illusion hover. Where will your journey take you? What tools do you already carry to see through the Clouds of Illusion and walk the path that is the song of your soul, your purpose for being? What will you do?
This series is limited to six women. There will be 20-30 minutes of writing time during each session.
You may also send a check to:
6 sessions: $280
Emily Hanlon
995 Chapman Rd
Yorktown, NY 10598
2011 Calendar