If you dream it, write it!

Announcing my new June poem-a-day writing retreat

Hey everybody! How are you doing today? 

Okay, that’s it. After making my way these last 22 days through

Kaitlin Curtice

’s fabulous poem-a-day writing challenge, I’m caving in to my own demands and running one of my own. Say hello to Pen Play, a poem-a-day writer’s retreat for the coming month of June.

Yay!! 

Of course, this is all so spur-of-the-moment, but this journey has been SO powerful and SO uplifting and just so joyful that I knew I needed to keep the community art connection going. 

One of the most remarkable aspects of the poem-a-day experience has been the way it’s facilitated such unbelievable new connections (and dare I say a few friendships?) between a sweet group of folks who have shown up virtually every day. 

I’ve never met any of these people in person, but I feel I’ve come to know aspects of their energetic blueprint as they share their wonderful poetry. What really strikes me about it is the fact that all of this has happened in the purest and most organic way. No one is, of course, forced to share anything, so when we enter the space, we can know that all we see is freely given.

There is incredible magic and beauty and healing there such that, frankly, I’m still not over it :) I’m not sure I ever will be :)

The retreat that I wish to create ahead is not meant to replicate Kaitlin’s offering in its entirety, copy paste. She has a different audience, different focus, different language, different reach; (almost) nothing about it will be the same (though I am taking inspiration from the way she formatted it logistically and sticking with simplicity ;D). Plus, it can’t be. Change always happens, and that’s beautiful. 

So, my friends, however this journey will pan out, I offer it up to you, humbly and warmly.

This excites me. Words excite me. Meeting people, and their words, in their words, really really excites me. This past month (and it’s not over yet! I’m still savoring every minute) showed me that, and since it’s now nearly coming to completion, I must be honest with myself about how I’ll bloom more of it.

I look forward to seeing who shows up, and how and where.

I look forward to seeing which words will take flight, in what direction, with which songs. 

I look forward to seeing how far we may all dare to reach, if we agree to go even farther together.

I look forward to seeing what we celebrate, what we honor and feel. 

I look forward to seeing what we may each learn, me from you, you from me, all of us from each other. There is so much wisdom among and within us, and that’s golden.

Here are a few technicalities:

• Every day, you’ll get an email and a post with the prompt of the day, which will be a single word. Subscribe to the Joy Journeys publication to get them fresh and direct to your inbox

• Our retreat will run for 21 days, from June 1st to June 21st and is absolutely free

• Each prompt will be accompanied by one of my own poems, as I’ll be taking this journey with you

• You’re most welcome, and encouraged, to share this with your friends, anyone you think would like to play with their words and could use the community. It would be a dream to see this community grow, to see us lift up more and more writers and artists together. 

I invite you to take this time as something new, a break in the routine. Where can you bring more presence, more awareness to how the words flow with and through you? Where would you like to experiment each day? Where is your next opportunity to grow? 

I invite you to come as you are, and as the one you’re in the direction of being. This space is your home, your oasis; it’s a space to change your game. 

Take it one step at a time, and enjoy the ride!

Looking forward to seeing you soon. Much love <3