Writes of Passage
A wilderness poetry, writing, and creative expression day long retreat
August 31st in Whitefish, Montana
“When I dare to be powerful, to use my strength in the service of my vision, then it becomes less and less important whether I am afraid.”
Audre Lorde
We have crossed a threshold...
Do you feel that?
Somewhere, we took a collective step across an invisible boundary dividing normalcy from the unknown.
Now we're in the descent, witnessing the untamed shadows of millennia play out on our smartphones.
Depth psychologist Francis Weller has called this time “The Long Dark,” a process he sees lasting at least two generations. As the story of humanity's separation from earth falters, we are invited to remember a deeper belonging, one that can help us find our place in this transitional time.
As with all rites of passage, it is difficult to turn fully to face the truth of a nonnegotiable death process. Often, there is both a profound hearing of the call and an equally fierce resistance to that call. Even once we do say yes and voluntarily step across the threshold, we meet dragons, guardians, and challenges that require us to dig deep to muster a response. On the path of initiation, we are emptied out and confronted with ourselves, brought face-to-face with the transpersonal forces governing our lives.
And since we’re here now, past the threshold and into the dark portal of global transmutation, our choice is to participate willingly or to fight, impossibly, against being changed.
Writes of Passage will be a day-long exploration of many of the themes of initiation through the craft of writing. Centering the sacred, we will consider the mythological dimension of our current epoch and listen through our language for our particular place in this turning of the ages. Weaving community council, self-inquiry writing practices, poetic reading and exploration, nature-based exploration, and lessons on the craft of ensouled writing, this will be a container for turning toward what is.
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In this gathering we will:
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Slow down into our bodies through somatic practices, contemplative practices on the land, and sacred talking circles
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Explore central phases of rites of passage such as "hearing the call/refusing the call," "stepping across the threshold," "belly of the whale/encounter with the sacred," and "returning with a gift for our people"
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Explore poetry, writing, dance, rhythm and visual art as mediums of listening, healing and truth telling
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Work with dreams and learn how they connect us to our specific place and time and point us toward our own meaning and purpose
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Explore the “imaginal realm” through the practices of wild wanders, art/collage, dreams, poetry, deep imagination journeys and more
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Practice ceremony in community to claim your life and set intentions for what you really want
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Have supported solitude in nature to move slow and listen to your own inner voice
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Cultivate wholeness through being in co-regulated relationship with the natural world and human and other-than-human community
Facilitators
Dates: August 31, 2024
Venue: Two Bear Farm, Whitefish, Montana
Two Bear Farm sits on 100 acres bordering the Stillwater River at the base of Spencer Mountain approximately 7 miles west of the town of Whitefish. They are passionate about land stewardship, production of healthy food that improves human health, and educating young farmers to prepare them for their own farms someday.
Details:
This is a retreat for anyone feeling the call to community, creativity, and contemplation at this potent moment in history. Merging wilderness rites-of-passage, eco-depth psychology (dream work, imaginal explorations), embodiment/dance, poetry and writing, we will take this day to connect to our bodies, each other, and the land to hear the voices of our own creative spirits. We strongly believe that art is a central component of personal and collective healing and transformation and that by offering our attention to our muses and the wider chorus of the earth, we can step beyond wounds and blockages to inhabit a larger, more alive sense of existence.
The actual dynamics of how this gathering will unfold are often determined by the group and the moment but this retreat will definitely include somatic/embodiment practices like Authentic Movement, dance, and meditation/yoga. Each day will also involve dream work, wandering on the land with contemplations/questions, lessons on poetry and writing, and a group sharing circle for witnessing and being witnessed.
Preparations
Registrants will receive a preparation package including practices to begin and recommended resources for review. Site is remote and shared when enrolled.
Participants are responsible for bringing their own breakfasts and lunches and group dinners will be communally prepared by meal teams.
Pricing
In honoring our commitment and intention to making our work accessible to as many people as possible, we are offering this retreat on a tiered scale basis $75/100/150 and we have two scholarships available. To learn more about our scholarships, please reach out to Kristopher at admin@kristopherdrummond.com.