August 9-11, 2013 Writing Yourself Awake Weekend Retreat led by Barry Spacks & Kimberley Snow

La Casa de Maria, 800 El Bosque Road, Montecito, CA - Friday 7:30 pm to Sunday noon

Over the weekend we will focus on two experiential aims: the use of meditation as a way to enhance creativity, and the exploration of writing as a means to deepen spiritual practice and personal growth.

We will engage with poetry; journaling and memoir; writing to prompts; narrative voice and story lines. Engaging the imagination through the use of fictional techniques helps to increase understanding of how to integrate wisdom teachings into our daily lives. The intent is not so much to emphasize the crafting of written work into finished products as to enhance individual creativity by combining meditation with writing in ways that open the heart-mind.

The weekend will include writing, teachings, small group discussions, shared readings, and various meditations designed to cultivate stability, relaxation, and awareness while fostering compassion and loving kindness. The retreat is open to everyone from aspiring to advanced writers, from new to seasoned meditators. Bring a notebook or laptop, plus a favorite poem to read aloud.

Register at La Casa de Maria: registerb@lcdm.org, (805) 969-5031 Retreat: $375 residential; $275 commuter.

Retreat begins 7:30pm on Friday & goes until 1pm on Sunday.

Photo by Barry Spacks.