Courses

Writing, paired with mindfulness practice, can bring us back to ourselves and connect us to others. During this course, we will learn about and try on contemplative practices paired with writing prompts. During the first week, we’ll meditate on the five senses and write inspired by memory. For the second, we’ll learn about loving kindness meditation and reflect on meaningful relationships. In the third, we’ll explore breath meditation and the practice of writing haiku poetry to connect to the present moment. For the fourth, we’ll explore how compassion connects us to other people and optionally experiment with writing fiction. For the final week, we’ll learn about the connection between gratitude and hope, then write to connect with past experiences and future hopes.

During each session, there will be an opportunity to ask questions and share insights, to celebrate our common humanity by sharing our writing and/or practicing mindful listening, and to reflect on the impact of the practices and activities. The course goals include helping participants build resilience, creating a bridge between mindfulness and writing, and fostering a community devoted to authenticity, kindness, and serious play.