Wolf at the Door creative writing retreat 2012
Retreat prospectus: please read before coming to Dhanakosa
The Quest and the Question: a week of intensive self-exploration and creativity
If we want to lead the spiritual life fully there is a secret ingredient we must
have: imagination. Without it we’ll find it very hard to motivate ourselves through all the distractions and
set-backs. So this week addresses the question: how can we awaken our
imagination and bring its energy and insight into our daily lives?
This is achieved partly by being in a beautiful and supportive environment with
other practitioners for a sustained period. But we supplement this process with
exercises, meditation and ritual, games and discussion aimed at achieving an
atmosphere of trust and openness to our own and others’ experience.
We may study published writers to see how they make their writing effective. We may look at how stories and poems are put together and discover how few words
are necessary to produce them.
Throughout all these activities the emphasis will be on the exploration rather
than achieving a finished, finely-polished work; on self-discovery rather than
measuring up to a pre-conceived standard.
As well as the scheduled workshops we hope you’ll also make friends and enjoy your creative journey with them.
In the afternoons there will be some free time for personal work and
socialising.
You will not be expected to have any prior knowledge of writing: full
instruction will be given and there is no obligation to read out or present
your work to the group or tutors if you’d prefer to keep it private.
Each day will begin with a group meditation in the shrine-room, and there will
be a short devotional ritual to round off the day. We would prefer if you had
your own meditation practice, as instruction is not normally given on this
course. If you don't have a practice, please get in touch with us before you book.
There will also be short periods of silence each day, as well as silence
overnight. This is so that we can concentrate more easily on our inner
experience, and allow ourselves to go deeper into our imaginative life.
If you wish to talk through any of the above points please feel free to contact
Ananda or Satyalila at Wolf at the Door.
Contact us:
WOLF AT THE DOOR BUDDHIST-INSPIRED CREATIVE WRITING WORKSHOPS
34 Cornwallis Crescent, Bristol BS8 4PH
Tel: 0117 946 6718 (Ananda) / 07753 242765 (Satyalila)
web: www.wolfatthedoor.org
“Art is longing”.
–Anselm Kiefer
“The superior man abides in his room. If his words are well-spoken, he meets with
assent at a distance of more than a thousand miles.”
–Confucius