"Write Yourself Free"
FOR PAYING SUBSCRIBERS: EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THIS POWERFUL PRACTICE:
“darling,
you feel heavy
because you are
too full of truth.
open your mouth more.
let the truth exist
somewhere other than
inside your body.”―Della Hicks-Wilson
“Write Yourself Free" is all about freeing ourselves so that we can write & live from true, rather than writing and living from a place of trying to be "good."
During our time together, we will let our pens go where they need to go. There will be no editing, no critiquing, no trying to be good—no trying, period.
As Mary Oliver so beautifully writes in her poem "Praying":
This isn’t a contest but a doorway…
—Mary Oliver
Writing practice is about separating the creator and the editor, setting the timer for a designated amount of time (usually 10 minutes) and then letting our pens fly...the faster we write, the more able we are to outrun that nasty critic that likes to hang out in our minds.
Allowing our pens to move faster than our monkey mind, allows us to access that deeper place inside of us that tells it as it is (not how we think it should be).
Writing practice is the truest, most healing and powerful thing I know.
Whether you are an experienced writer, a writer who can't seem to bring yourself to the page, someone who is longing for a safe, nourishing circle of people where you can see and be seen, hear and be heard, or/and you simply want a safe refuge during these turbulent times—this is your doorway.
Consider it a sanctuary for your spirit, quiet away from the noise. A place to dive into your creative center and hear your own voice speak.
A safe circle where you can write, in Natalie Goldberg's words:
“Writing practice is writing what your mind actually sees and feels, not what it thinks it should see and feel.” —Natalie Goldberg
Please Note: You absolutely do not need to consider yourself a writer to find great richness in this class!
This offering is rooted in writing practice as developed by author, Natalie Goldberg, in her classic book, "Writing Down the Bones."
Many years ago, I had the great honor of attending Natalie's writing retreats in Taos, New Mexico. I’m not sure I would have started sharing my writing or published a book/books without Natalie's permission to "feel free to write the worst junk in the world."
Natalie's permission and encouragement, along with my ongoing commitment to writing practice (which is all about separating the creator and the editor), is what gave and gives me the courage to show up and write. And to keep writing.
The aim of writing practice is to burn through to first thoughts, to the place where energy is unobstructed by social politeness or the internal censor, to the place where you are writing what your mind actually sees and feels, not what it thinks it should see and feel.
— Natalie Goldberg
Our time together will include:
Mindful poetry. Short readings about love, presence, trust, courage, brave, wholehearted living, etc...
We will alternate between periods of timed writing, reading our writing aloud to one another, and listening deeply while others share their writing—not from a place of judgment or analysis, or trying to be "good," but rather, from a place of deep presence, attention & wholehearted acceptance. Don’t worry, you do not have to read your writing aloud unless you want to!
Four Agreements of Write Yourself Free
(As adopted/adapted/inspired by Nan Seymour, founder of River Writing.) Thank you, Nan, for granting this permission.)
These agreements do so much to set the tone for our time together.
1). NON-JUDGMENT
We agree to practice for the sake of practice—without criticism, without praise, without apology. We grant ourselves permission to write wildly, poorly, messily, freely.
We write to explore & discover: not to craft, claim, prove or impress. As Mary Oliver wrote:
This isn’t a contest but the doorway into thanks, and a silence in which another voice may speak.
We offer the inner-critic a break from vigilance. We take respite from the joy-stealing realm of comparison. We clear space for another voice to speak.
2). RADICAL SELF-CARE
We agree to take care of our own physical and emotional needs—to practice radical kindness with each other and with ourselves.
We agree to say the truest thing we can say, within our own comfort and chosen level of disclosure. We will do our best to ditch our masks, our scripts, our old, tired, worn-out stories and come, not as we think we should come, but as we are.
3). DEEP LISTENING
We agree that, when someone is reading or speaking, we will give ourselves over to the luxury of listening deeply and whole-heartedly— with openness and genuine curiosity. Without the worry of what to say next. When we give our full presence to listening, it becomes its own form of meditation.
4). CONFIDENTIALITY
We agree that what we share in our circle stays in our circle - tucked safely inside our hearts. We hold our own and each other's words and stories as we would a treasured gift.
I would so love to have you join us!
Julia
Beautiful. Ready for this.
I hope to be there