UK, GLOUCESTERSHIRE - The Wild & The Sacred [online], Priscila Pabon, Painswick Old Road, 10 Sep 2020
A Nature Poetry Writing Workshop
Facilitator: Mary Reynolds Thompson
We read a poem and something stirs inside of us. We walk outdoors and are similarly inspired. A glint of sunlight, the fiery spin of a copper leaf, and life leaps up in us. In this series of three workshops, poetry making and nature converge to lift our spirits, awaken our creativity, and point us toward what is wild and sacred within both us and the world. Writes the poet Jane Hirshfield, “One breath taken completely; one poem, fully written, fully read–in such a moment, anything can happen.” All levels welcome. No prior experience necessary.
The Wild and the Sacred is for those who want to free their poetic voices to write in fresh and surprising ways about the natural world. Focusing on both craft and process—the tools of poetry writing and the ways in which we best position ourselves to express our experiences—this course is designed for all levels of writers, including those new to poem-making.
From the moment we first gather, we will put pen to page as we begin to explore what makes a poem sing—rhythm, form, imagery, line breaks, repetition, and more. We will see how writing “Wild and Sacred” poetry can form the heart of a spiritual practice, so that each poem is also a prayer, an invocation, a call to live in deeper alignment with the spirit of nature.
During these sessions there will be time to write in your journal alone. We will also come together in smaller groups to share our writing and speak to our experiences. This is a powerful way to learn from each other as we witness how poem-making shapes our language and imaginations.
This has been a long, strange few months. As we gather together to read the words of some of the great nature poets, we will follow the breadcrumbs they put down for us deeper and deeper into the forest of our own creativity––a place where we can finally feel free and breathe.
Mary Reynolds Thompson is an international teacher, facilitator of poetry and journal therapy, and core faculty for the Therapeutic Writing Institute in Colorado. She is author several books, including the award-winning Reclaiming the Wild Soul: How Earth’s Landscapes Restore Us to Wholeness. She has run many online courses before and is experienced in holding the space.
Practical Information
Please bring your journal and pens.
The course will be held in real time with the tutors via the Zoom platform. Sign up to this platform is free. You will need a laptop, computer, tablet or a smartphone – with an in-built camera and microphone – and a reliable internet connection. We will provide more information and joining instructions in advance of the first session. Attendance at all three sessions is required.
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