Please join us for a one-and-a-half-day poetry retreat as we explore through reflection and writing what life is asking of us during these times—holding on, letting go—while turning to the natural world as our inspiration and guide.
This program is being independently organized and led by a Courage & Renewal Facilitator(s) prepared by the Center for Courage & Renewal. While we support our facilitators in various ways, CCR has no direct responsibility for the planning or facilitation of this event. Please direct any questions to the facilitators using the contact form below.
The Center for Courage & Renewal and its facilitators do not discriminate on the basis of race, creed, color, ethnicity, national origin, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender expression, age, height, weight, physical or mental ability, veteran status, military obligations, and marital status.
…All around the globe, in every season,
leaves hold and synthesize
whatever the day gives them.
On a day when the energy of the world
seems too much to hold,
let me bid my heart turn
like a leaf to the sun
and make sugar.
The way Rilke turned grief into sonnets.
The way Sibelius turned war into song.
Excerpt from A Different Holding Pattern, Rosemerry Wahtola Trommer.
Autumn in the northern hemisphere is a time that naturally invites letting go. We watch nature settle into seasonal changes with a range of emotions, from joy as green turns to burnished gold, and melancholy as the days grow shorter. In many places, trees shed their leaves, and the cycle of return to the soil completes itself.
And yet, letting go is not always this straightforward or easy, is it? When do we need to hold on? What and whom do we need to keep close?
In this one-and-a-half-day retreat, we will nurture a trustworthy space to invite in an exploration of our relationship with this paradox. What happens when we deeply draw our attention to our surroundings, listen to our bodies and hearts, and look to nature as our teacher? How does it shift things for us? Through the Courage & Renewal approach and poetry writing and exploration, this offering invites you to connect with yourself and others—to slow down, reflect and notice, while experiencing poetry through the gateways of listening, creative writing, imagination, and shared exploration. With the discoveries we make, we can then appreciate—and capture in writing—the way in which we might be able to hold on and let go, all at once.
Writing into the Paradox of Holding On and Letting Go will be grounded in the Courage & Renewal® approach which you can learn more about in Parker J. Palmer’s book, A Hidden Wholeness. All are welcome.
Marcia Eames-Sheavly and poet-teacher-storyteller
Rosemerry Wahtola Trommer will cofacilitate this
unique mini-retreat experience.
You’ll find her poetry online at A Hundred Falling Veils.
Please note that program timing is in Mountain Time. We offer an hour-long break at 12:00 p.m. MT the first day of the retreat.
Online, via Zoom. If you are new to this format, you’ll receive guidance in advance so you know what to expect. You will need access to a computer or laptop; a set of headphones/earbuds may be helpful. You will also need a strong internet connection and a location in which you can be uninterrupted during our sessions.
This program is being independently organized and led by a Courage & Renewal Facilitator(s) prepared by the Center for Courage & Renewal. While we support our facilitators in various ways, CCR has no direct responsibility for the planning or facilitation of this event. Please direct any questions to the facilitators using the contact form below.
The Center for Courage & Renewal and its facilitators do not discriminate on the basis of race, creed, color, ethnicity, national origin, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender expression, age, height, weight, physical or mental ability, veteran status, military obligations, and marital status.
Find more highlighted programs here or dive deeper and explore our full slate of programs by visiting our program calendar.
There was a problem reporting this post.
Please confirm you want to block this member.
You will no longer be able to:
Please note: This action will also remove this member from your connections and send a report to the site admin. Please allow a few minutes for this process to complete.