retreating
Last April, in the middle of the Texas hill country, women from around the US gathered for four days of rest and inspiration and community.
I found a hint of my purpose there in those rolling green hills. As I sipped coffee and wrote in my journal Friday morning, I realized I could do this always. Gather with fellow women and sojourners in this creative life to wrestle with the tension of marketability and art for art's sake and believing and speaking into one another's giftings.
At first, I had this grand scheme of in-person retreats about three or four times a year. But money and logistics halted that dream fast and in a hurry. One day Story Sessions will get there. But not today. And that's okay, because since that retreat, we've held three virtual retreats where we meet together around our computer screen and for four days wrestle with the same topics and breathe into one another the Truth of who we are:
writers.
dreamers
mystics.
artists.
Through these retreats I've gained clarity for visions and learned the practice of naming. I've been reminded about the importance of writing through expectations and the simple fact that a rough draft is just that—rough. We've spoken with bestselling authors and met across state lines to stay with strangers who aren't so strange in a retreat-like hotel room.
We've met over tortilla chips and jalapeño ranch and laughed until we cried.
In January, we're doing it again and I would love for you to join.Since walking with the ladies in Story Sessions, we've often mentioned the difficulty in balancing art and work and motherhood and faith and everything else on our plate. How do you scribble down a sentence when the babies are crying in another room? How do you ignore the dishes {and do you? Is it wrong?} and instead write the chapter begging for release? And what about ritual? How do you write as a spiritual practice—with discipline and expectancy and belief?
Is it even possible?
I believe it is not only possible, it's essential.
These dreams you have of writing? This ability? It's not an accident. Our words are not meant to be placed on a shelf only to collect dust in the midst of dirty bottles and work deadlines and piles of laundry.
It's hard. It's so hard. I get that. But it's possible.
Join us January 22-26 as we discuss creating discipline, embracing curiosity, knowing our limitations and increasing ritual within our daily practice. We'll talk about what it means to take a look at nature and her seasons and what that means for us as artists. We'll struggle {together} over the amount of musts we face every day.
And we'll leave with a plan in place to get us to the finish line.
Will you come? We would love for you to be there—to join us as we sip our coffees or gin and tonics or glass{es} of wine and laugh over shared connections.
Interested? Come join us! Choose your package below and fill out the form and you'll be contacted within 24 hours.
To purchase a ticket for admission :: CLICK HERE
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