“Know that you have talent, are original, and have something important to say.”
– Brenda Ueland*
Writing with Spirit is a workshop to draw on and combine the innate creativity and spirituality that is within us all. Hildegard of Bingen, nun, composer, poet, scientist, taught that creativity is the essence of being human. Within God’s whole creation of earth, sky, sun and water we are both created and creators. We are called to express whatever unique gift the spirit has given us – through voice, body, mind. To live is to participate in the “greening” (Hildegard’s word) of creation. How many times have you thought of something to write or paint or dance, but then said, “I can’t write. I’m not a writer.” Or “I’m not a dancer (painter, singer, gardener etc”?) Van Gogh once said, “If you hear a voice within you saying : you are no painter, then paint, by all means, lad, and that voice will be silenced, but only by working.” Creativity begins with play. Not with an outline or a plot or a structure, but with allowing oneself to explore and dabble, like the kindergartner who smears fingerpaint on the paper. Just allowing any old thing to pop up. Creativity is fun! In this retreat we will write with prompts and meditation. We’ll have time for silence and walking meditation, to just be present, and time to create.
*from “If You Want to Write: a book about Art, Independence and Spirit” by Brenda Ueland
About the Facilitator:
Nancy Hayes Kilgore, winner of the Vermont Writers Prize, is the author of three novels: BITTER MAGIC (Sunbury Press, 2021,) WILD MOUNTAIN (Sunbury Press, 2022 and Green Writers Press, 2017) and SEA LEVEL (RCWMS, 2011,) a ForeWord Reviews Book of the Year. She has published in literary journals and on Vermont Public Radio. Nancy is a graduate of the Radcliffe Writing Seminars and holds a Master of Divinity degree and a Doctorate in Pastoral Psychotherapy. Nancy has spent most of her career as a pastoral psychotherapist and now leads workshops on creative writing and spirituality.
