Fearless Creativity: A Writing and Meditation Retreat

Connect with you true voice!

Join Susan Piver, Shambhala meditation teacher and New York Times bestselling author of nine books on a week-long writing and meditation retreat set in the tranquil French countryside in June, the most beautiful time of year. Relax your mind, enhance your creativity, and connect with your true voice.

What do writers want more than anything in the world? Time to write. Yet even if such precious time could be found, it’s not always easy to settle into the writing groove. This retreat presents a unique opportunity for all who wish for some time and space to settle into an environment that is conducive to inspiration, imagination, and expression.

Supported by the encouraging yet non-intrusive presence of other writers, the focus of this program is writing. Short periods of the day will also be dedicated to meditation, a discipline that can truly help us synchronize mind and body in a way that supports the creative process. Evenings will offer a precious opportunity to discuss our work together and open new windows of vision, insight, and revelation.

Meant for writers of all genres and levels, this retreat is open to anyone who may wish to write, whether your preference is fiction, non-fiction, poetry, songwriting, screenwriting, or the simple wish to spend time journaling. Those new to meditation practice are fully welcome and detailed instruction will be offered. 

Please note that the majority of time will be spent on your own, working on your personal writing ideas or projects. This is not a writing class. It is meant to provide time, structure, and support for writing. Bring your ideas, works-in-progress, or simply your wish to devote attention to your creativity. 

If you don’t wish to share your work in public, don’t worry! It is entirely up to you. Feel free to make the decision you are comfortable with. 

If you would like to share something, here is how it works:

1. The writer can read anything he or she wants: something written that day, 10 years ago, 2 weeks ago…It can be a finished piece, a work in progress, or a mish-mash of sentences that may be something, maybe not. The piece can be around 1500 words long.
    
2. After the writer has read his or her work, he/she remains silent during the ensuing discussion. We do not call the person by name, but refer to him or her as “the writer.” We do not focus on grammar, structure, or punctuation, rather, we discuss how it feels to hear this work, where it touched us, where we became confused, how we might describe the writer’s voice. We listen and respond as readers, not writers.
    
3. When the conversation is over, the writer may request clarification or respond to however he or she would like.

Again, we are not reading as literary critics, but as readers. We answer such questions as:

What does it feel like to hear this work?
How would we describe this writer’s voice?
Where do we imagine the piece might go from here? (If applicable.)
Where did the piece really touch us, and where did we become confused?

Daily retreat schedule

09:00-10:00       Meditation and journaling
10:00-12:30       Personal writing time
12:30-14:30       Lunch break
14:30-15:00       Meditation
15:00-17:00       Personal writing time
17:00-17:30       Tea break
17:30-18:00       Rest
18:45-20:00       Dinner break
20:00-21:00       Evening session

Practical

This program is taught in English. Translation into French or other languages are available at no extra costs. Please give us notice of your request as early as possible, so that we can provide translation service.

Arrival day (May 28):Orientation talk at 8 pm. You’re invited to come from 5 pm in order to register and settle in your room. Dinner is served at 6.45 pm.
End of program (June 2): Closing circle and Banquet in the evening.

Departure day (June 3): You may leave anytime (no program). You’re welcome to stay for lunch.