Reposting a message I received from the folks at the Pacific School of Religion (I might not have looked there for transformative writing experiences, but just look what I would have missed!) If you’ve never had a chance to write with Pat Schneider, and you can make this workshop, I’d encourage you to sign up right this minute — it’ll change your life.
best!
Jen
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PSR’s Summer Session runs July 5 – August 13. http://www.psr.edu/summer
For all Bay Area writers and followers of Pat Schneider:
Creative Writing Workshop with Pat Schneider.
The purpose of this workshop is twofold: (1) to enable the artist in each person to become more free, more able to write, and (2) to model a methodology for using writing to create a healing community. There will be an additional, optional session on Tuesday evening, open to the public, for the showing of the 23-minute international award-winning documentary film Tell Me Something I Can’t Forget, and a discussion on how to use this workshop method to empower low-income persons and others who are under-served. There are no required readings or papers for this workshop, but prompt attendance at all sessions will be considered a serious responsibility. Pat offers an optional private conference to each workshop participant, including, if desired, response to 7 pages of double-spaced unpublished prose or three poems. Manuscripts should be given to her at the first meeting of the workshop.
$960. Monday-Friday, August 2-6, 9am-1pm, Pacific School of Religion, Berkeley.
http://www.psr.edu/summer-2010-schedule | 510.849.8267.
Email summer@psr.edu to request enrollment. Limited enrollment of 12 students.
Also of interest to writers and poets:
Writing as Healing Ministry class with Sharon Bray
Writing is an art form that belongs to every one of us. It is also a powerful tool for healing. In recent years, a growing body of research shows that the simple act of writing down thoughts and feelings helps people with chronic illness improve their health. But the healing power of writing extends well beyond physical illness. Writing also reduces stress, discharges complex emotions and helps us gain perspective. When we suffer pain or loss, writing about our feelings can help to relieve our burdens, establish a perspective, and cope more effectively with life’s hardships. Writing helps us integrate our physical, emotional and spiritual well-being. It can be a kind of prayer—one in which you don’t ask for anything, except to know your own experience and to make meaning of it. “Writing as a Healing Ministry” is designed to provide an overview of the field of therapeutic or healing writing for lay ministers, clergy, healthcare or helping professionals. In this intensive week-long course, we will explore how writing can heal ourselves and others. Class activities will include an overview of the research on therapeutic writing, review of several different writing methodologies used to help individuals heal from pain, suffering and trauma, small group discussion and individual writing exercises.
$345. Monday-Friday, July 19-23, 1:30 pm-5:30pm, Pacific School of Religion, Berkeley.
http://www.psr.edu/summer-2010-schedule | 510.849.8267 | summer@psr.edu.
The Unrealized: Poetry and the Sacred class with Albany poet laureate, Christina Hutchins.
Does the “unrealized” inform contemporary Christianity? For many artists, poets, composers, and inventors, the mystery of the creative process evokes both awe and a faith sufficient for performing the often painstaking labor of bearing something “new” into human experience. For five intense days together, we will explore the sacred and ancient mystery of being “lured” toward/into the “never-before.” In-class poetry writing and reading provide models for our own experiences of “the unrealized.” Both beginning and experienced writers are welcome.
$345. Monday-Friday, August 9-13, 9:00am-1:00pm, Pacific School of Religion, Berkeley.
http://www.psr.edu/summer-2010-schedule | 510.849.8267 | summer@psr.edu.
Poetry as a Spiritual Practice Saturday workshop with Ellen Bass, renowned Santa Cruz poet, author and teacher.
Like prayer, poetry is a path to seeing the divine in the ordinary. All poetry had its roots in religion—as ritual for both celebration and lamentation. And poetry continues to ask the essential questions: who are we? why are we here? where are we going? In this workshop, we’ll talk about poetry as a spiritual practice and read some poems which reflect this. Then we’ll write our own poems by paying close attention and striving to be accurate through the use of detail and description. There will be an opportunity to share our poems for those who wish to do so. Both beginning and experienced writers are welcome.
$155. Followed by a free public poetry reading by Ellen Bass. Saturday, July 10, 10:00am-4:00pm, Pacific School of Religion, Berkeley.
http://www.psr.edu/summer-session-2010-workshops | 510.849.8267 | summer@psr.edu.
Poetry Reading with Ellen Bass, renowned Santa Cruz poet, author and teacher.
Ellen Bass gives a reading of her poetry, including works from her latest book. The Human Line, Bass’ seventh book of poems, startles with its precise detail, intimate images, and wild metaphors. Bass brings attention to life’s endearing absurdities, and many of the poems flash with a keen sense of humor. She also faces many of the crucial moral dilemmas of our time—genetic engineering, environmental issues, continuous war, heterosexism—and grounds her vision in the small, private workings of the heart. This event follows Bass’ day-long “Poetry as a Spiritual Practice” workshop.
Free. Saturday, July 10, 4:30pm, Pacific School of Religion, Berkeley. No registration necessary.
http://www.psr.edu/summer-session-2010-workshops | 510.849.8267 | summer@psr.edu.
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