Tuesday, May 06, 2008

Writing Life: Inverness Intensive

Reservation are being accepted for the Inverness Intensive Writing Life Workshop. This teaching is for current students (or those who have attended a workshop or three one on one sessions). It will be a five day intensive with writing teaching, energy work, yoga, meditation, Qi Gong, transformative work and of course, WRITING. This workshop will be interactive and community based but will also place emphasis on each of your unique projects, as well as help you unleash your creative energy and match your work to your process of self healing/knowing. We will also have lots space for silence that will leave you refreshed and replenished.

The dates are Sept. 15 to 19! Plan to travel and arrive on Sunday, begin teaching on Monday and head home on Saturday the 20th. .

To reserve a spot, contact me via this site. I will accept nine students (there are now seven spot left) and the cost will be on a sliding scale between $900.00 and $1200.00. These costs will cover all food, accommodations and teachings from three teachers. The location is on ten acres in Marin Co. This photo is of the coastline nearby. We will be in a bay inlet, at an extraordinary and peaceful location that will wrap you in inspiration, comfort, elegance and joy.

If you are interested, do not wait!

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Monday, May 05, 2008

Pearl

Spiritual teachers have told me, "tame the mind, then train the mind."

But I realize these are step three and four. What has been missing are steps one and two. Step one: find the mind. Step two is: catch the mind.

I've only just discovered the mind "is" and "it" is not who I am. I've been quite confused about taming and training what I didn't even know "was." But I sat with all the other students, nodding like I got it, since they all seemed to get it and what kind of idiot would I be if I asked, "hey, what mind??" See that thought right there is...THE MIND. So I've been doing this solo, meditating for years now and finally, get that I've been missing the two important instructions (listed above). Okay. I get it now. I can now find the mind. The hard work of this moment...catch it.

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Saturday, April 26, 2008

Pearl




Just like that,
you can change
your mind











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Thursday, April 24, 2008

Pearl

When you are writing, no approach, style choice, page count, revision, throwing-it-all-away-and-start-over, stalling, changing your mind, learning and/or workshop, is a waste of your time. Everything you do is part of the creative process, EVERYTHING, without exception and it’s all important. If you intend to get somewhere (even if you don’t know where that somewhere is), and you are writing, you will get there. It’s already happening—even if you don’t see it as you are doing this writing work!




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Sunday, April 13, 2008

Remarkable Memoir

If you have found your way to this site because you are penning a life story, look to the efficiency of this woman's craft. Her jam packed sentences, each holding melody as well as moving the story along, make up the most inspiring writing I have read in years (if ever, frankly). I pray I grow up to be such a writer!

As a side note, I did have to stop near the end due to the repetitive abuse that just didn't improve, despite the passing of years. There was a bleakness reminiscent of Angela's Ashes. I cared so much about the characters Ashworth developed, reading became agony. I flashed forward to see what the heck happened, just to be done.

There is a quality of writing about abuse that sometimes ends up being abusive, even when the sentances are perfection.

Over all, I did not waste my time on her book and keep it close for reference as I write. I learned far more than this posting can say. I cannot wait for this woman's novel.

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Saturday, April 12, 2008

Clam


Each one is a small life, but sometimes long,
if its place in the universe is not found out.
Like us, they have a heart and a stomach;
they know hunger, and probably a little satisfaction, too.
Do not mock them for their gentleness,
they have a muscle that loves being alive.
They pull away from the light.
They pull down.
They hold themselves together.
They refuse to be open
But sometimes they lose their place
and are tumbled shoreward in a storm.
Then they pant, they fill with sand,
they have no choice but must open the smallest crack.
Then the fire of the world touches them.
Perhaps, on such days,
they too begin the terrible effort of thinking,
of wondering who, and what, and why.
If they can bury themselves
again in the sand they will.
If not, they are sure to perish,
though not quickly.
They also have resources beyond the flesh;
they also try very hard not to die.

~ Mary Oliver

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Thursday, February 14, 2008

Pearl



A teacher's answer to the question of a pupil ought to be clear and definite like that expected from an oracle; thereupon it ought to be accepted as a key for resolution of doubts and a basis for decision. If mistrustful or unintelligent questioning is kept up, it serves only to annoy the teacher.

~ The Book of Changes, Wilhelm/Baynes Translation 4. Youthful Folly

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