Between living and dreaming there is a third thing. Guess it.
(Antonio Machado)
Writing is about a conversation with yourself and with others. An exchange of energies. It is a skill drawn from attention, presence and openness – an organic process rather than a talent. On this retreat we follow Wordsworth’s advice ‘Fill your paper with the breathings of your heart’ As we move between words and silence we become mindful of the gap that the poet Machado talks about. We wander and wonder for a weekend the spaces in-between. When we write and meditate we attend to the moment in a zen-pen way. This moment open us up to time and space beyond tick-tock clock time.
We draw inspiration from the mynah birds in Huxley’s novel Island who call out ‘attention, be here now.’ Word by word…heart beat by heart beat…breath by breath we create an expanded sense of reality. We consider how words are simultaneously a mirror, lens and window. The retreat also focuses on how to pay attention, be present in your writing and engage the reader as a creative partner. And source your bliss. Beginner writers/meditators are welcome for we live this retreat weekend in beginner’s mind. This is the fourth Mindful Writing (Zen-Pen) Temenos (a sacred enclosure) retreat. Time to walk, circle the garden, sit amidst blue glass and be……..
Cost:
The cost of R3960 pp includes:
Temenos accommodation – two nights plus free third night
2 brunches and 3 suppers in Tibaldi’s (ex Mon breakfast)
Teas (drinks own account)
the retreat
a gift related to writing
a story evening (Oom Schalk. Nasrudin, Rumi the Rabbi and You)
Booking and payment through Temenos www.temenos.org.za 023 625 1871
Living a larger Life- Storytelling Evening: Oom Schalk, Nasrudin, Rumi, the Rabbi and You (Sat night 2 March) R80 for public
Stories start a conversation with ourselves and with our community. We enter the world of story to recover our creativity, zest, energy and passion. We allow the imagination to lead us. We consider how attention to life stories and fiction, so rich in image, symbol and rhythm, can rekindle joy, help us heal and create a more abundant life. Everybody has a story. Listen to Oom Schalk, the veld philosopher, Nasrudin the trickster, to Rumi the mystic, to the quirky Rabbi. To Anansi the spider, Come and raise your story IQ.
All you need do is change the name and it's about YOU, this story' (Horace)
Dorian Haarhoff is a story-teller, poet, speaker and a writing mentor. A former Prof of English Literature (Univ of Namibia) he has also taught in a Canadian faculty. Dorian now facilitates writing and story-telling wordshops. He has frequently led writing retreats at Temenos and Buddhist Retreat Centres. Dorian is passionate about developing innate creativity and imagination. He believes in the power of stories and images to create new realities. To bring healing. To build our belonging. His workshops are based on his text, The Writer’s Voice. A Workbook for Writer’s
Dorian is the purest storyteller I have encountered. Archetypes cling to his coat tails and hide in his book-bag hoping for a mention in his next work. Every creative writer should work with Dorian. Like Pilates for creative spirits, he re-awakens the story loving child within. (Tess Fairweather)
At Temenos we're always happy to host Retreats and Workshops,
for more details contact Margaret