A Moment My Heart Broke
“Heartbreak is unpreventable; it is the natural outcome of caring for people and things over which we have no control.” —David Whyte Tell me about a moment your heart broke.
A Moment My Heart Broke Read More »
Loss
“When someone is struck by loss, there’s an openness to that which is beyond this world. When you really feel loss, when the ground is shaken, the veil thins and there is more access to the timeless, the eternal.” —Tara Brach Tell me about a time loss led to an opening or awareness you didn’t
The Life Waiting For Me
“You must give up the life you planned in order to have the life that is waiting for you.” —Joseph Campbell Tell me about a time this was true in your life.
The Life Waiting For Me Read More »
Writing as a Pathway: Re-entry Into Real Life
In the little rap I give my students about re-entry into “real life” after retreat, one of the things I recommend is not to talk too much about the experience, but rather to practice their newly-honed listening skills on their loved ones back home. I caution them not to make any hasty decisions—like quitting their
Writing as a Pathway: Re-entry Into Real Life Read More »
Writing as a Pathway: Farewell
After last night’s celebration and Claire’s wonderful chocolate cake, it’s finally the last morning of the Writing as a Pathway Through Grief, Loss, Transformation and Change retreat. And what I see around me is laughter, hugging, connecting and yes, some tears. The tough part of a retreat is always when it’s over. So we always
Writing as a Pathway: Farewell Read More »
Writing as a Pathway: Meditation Hut
Before I left Commonweal, I had to take one last trip out to the Meditation Hut, aka the Chapel, aka the Shrine and probably a dozen other pet names. I like to lay on the straw mats out there, flat on the floor and talk to my mother. It’s one of the places I hear
Writing as a Pathway: Meditation Hut Read More »
Giving Up the Story
“The past has no power to stop you from being present now. Only your grievance about the past can do that.” —Eckhart Tolle Identify a story you have told repeatedly that keeps you locked into an identity you no longer want to define you.
Giving Up the Story Read More »
Writing as a Pathway: Sacred Time
We’ve entered the most sacred time of the retreat, what I like to call “the heart of the retreat.” It’s the time when people are open and connected to whatever it is they need to write about, and those stories are being written. There is a tenderness and vulnerability in the air and the whole
Writing as a Pathway: Sacred Time Read More »
Writing as a Pathway: Transformation
This morning, I told everyone in the workshop how proud I was of where they started on Day 1 and where they are today. Faces that arrived guarded and tight have grown relaxed and open. The power of mourning—sharing our losses, pain and uncertainty—in the midst of a loving, accepting community has worked magic. As
Writing as a Pathway: Transformation Read More »
Writing as a Pathway: Sitting In Uncertainty
We are at the heart of this retreat—the time when the writing gets real and down to the bone, when true words are spoken, when risks are taken, bonds formed, when we become a living, breathing creative community. We are tracking each other hour by hour. Laughing and crying and hiking and eating and writing
Writing as a Pathway: Sitting In Uncertainty Read More »
Writing as a Pathway: Words on the Page
I’m writing this from my annual Writing as a Pathway Through Grief retreat at Commonweal. Commonweal is a large, comfortable retreat center in Bolinas California, butted right up against the cliffs and the Pacific Ocean. It’s a center that focuses on healing gatherings for cancer patients, and the sacredness and energy of those gatherings can
Writing as a Pathway: Words on the Page Read More »
Writing as a Pathway: Diving Into The River Of Grief
Much of today was spent writing stories of grief and bearing witness to each other. In the morning, Evelyn talked about the difference between grieving and mourning, a distinction I hadn’t really understood myself. I’ve always considered them synonyms. Grieving is our own private experience of loss, the way we experience it in our own
Writing as a Pathway: Diving Into The River Of Grief Read More »
Writing as a Pathway: Arriving at Commonweal
It takes 3 hours to drive to Commonweal from my front door. It’s a beautiful drive really and Evelyn and I alternated between talk and silence on the road heading up here. But every time I turn onto Mesa Road, where a huge row of eucalyptus line the road, I go silent. That last mile
Writing as a Pathway: Arriving at Commonweal Read More »
Writing as a Pathway: Off to Commonweal
ALL MY BAGS ARE PACKED AND I’M READY TO GO This is what my car looks like all packed up to drive to Commonweal. I’m carrying a case of Writer’s Journey sweatshirts, a Jambox speaker to play music and poetry, a shoe box full of evocative postcard images spanning 40 years to use as writing
Writing as a Pathway: Off to Commonweal Read More »
Writing as a Pathway: The Calm Before the Retreat
Today is a day to do last minute errands, to put a vacation message on my email and to do the same on my phone. This afternoon, Evelyn and I will have to figure out how to fit our suitcases and all the materials we need to bring to this retreat in my car. I’ll
Writing as a Pathway: The Calm Before the Retreat Read More »