Events

2024

Write a Delight Half-day Writing Retreat, Saturday, June 8, 9:00 AM – 1:00 PM, Albany, NY. A morning to pay attention to our bodies, our breath, our minds, and each other. The workshop will include sitting meditation, mindful movement, and writing sessions. Following Ross Gay’s prompt, we’ll “write a delight” and explore a variety of optional prompts, with the theme of appreciating our world. Let’s write together to develop a community of appreciation and caring. Register here.

After the Eclipse Writing Retreat, Saturday, April 13, 9:00 AM – 1:00 PM, Albany, NY. Our minds are full of ordinary and extraordinary events. How was your experience of the solar eclipse? Celestial events often signal us that it’s time to connect with ourselves, our world, and each other. Enjoy a morning of sitting meditation, walking meditation (and perhaps a little gentle stretching or yoga,) and writing sessions. Optional writing prompts will be offered. Suitable for new and experienced writers. Meditation instruction will be provided. Let’s write together in community. Register here.

Writing beyond the Mind, Thursday, February 22, 6:00 – 8:00 PM, Bath, ME. Starting with a foundation of mindfulness and awareness, we’ll explore writing from the body, automatic writing, art of language, and using lines and symbols that look like letters or words but do not have semantic meaning (asemic writing). Suitable for new and experienced writers and artists. Meditation instruction will be provided. In person at Firefly Studio, 98 Front Street, Suite 24, Bath, ME. More information and registration.

Winter Contemplative Writing Retreat, Saturday, February 17, 9:00 AM – 1:00 PM, Albany, NY. “Mindfulness,” says Felicia Rose Chavez in the Anti-Racist Writing Workshop “is an energy of awareness, meaning that you are both physically and psychologically planted in the present moment. When you write, you write with your whole body, not rushing or multitasking or compartmentalizing the assignment but rather relinquishing control, surrendering to the creative impulse. “

Whether the snow is falling or it’s so warm the sap is rising, we’ll spend the morning strengthening our mindfulness through sitting meditation, walking meditation (and perhaps a little gentle stretching or yoga), and writing sessions. Optional writing prompts will be offered. At the close of the morning retreat, we will end our silence with a discussion. There will be an opportunity to share our morning words as well. In person at Shambhala Meditation Center of Albany. Register here.

2023

Let’s Write Together, Saturday, December 2, 9:00 AM – 1:000 PM, Albany, New York. A morning of meditation, mindful movement, and writing prompts. In person at Shambhala Meditation Center of Albany.

Featured Poet, Tuesday, November 29, 6:00 – 9:00 PM, Visual Poetry: Poetry in Performance, The Arts Center of the Capital Region, Troy, NY. Seven poets reading curated by Nancy Klepsch in conjunction with the Visual Poetry: New Vistas exhibition.

Personal Universe Deck Workshop, Thursday, November 9, 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM, Bath, ME. A workshop on creating your own Personal Universe Card Deck, a powerful tool for divination, literary and artistic creation, and just plain fun. Following the instructions of poet Michael McClure, you will choose 100 words that represent your past, present, and future. You will then create a 50-card word sculpture that you can use to ask questions about the future, inspire your writing or art and play games with friends. At Firefly Studio.

Featured Poet, Wednesday, October 4, 7:00 – 9:00 PM, Poetry Open Mic Night, Cafe Lena, Saratoga, NY. Door and open mic signup at 6:30. For open mic, poets can read two short poems (less than one page) or one longer poem, with a limit of 5 minutes altogether. Food and drink available. $5 admission.

Half-Moon Morning Writing Retreat, Saturday, June 10, 9:00 AM – 1:00 PM, Albany, NY. Inspired by Natalie Goldman’s recent book The True Secret of Writing: Connecting Life with Language, spend the morning alternating sessions of meditation, mindful movement and writing. Everyone is welcome, new and experienced meditators, aspiring writers, established writers, and writers of any genre. In person, at Shambhala Meditation Center of Albany. Sign up here.

Let’s Write Together, Saturday, May 13, 10:00 AM – 1:00 PM, Bath, ME. This half-day program presents a wonderful opportunity to connect with your inner self, unleash your creativity, and discover your unique voice as a writer. Dress comfortably and bring a notebook and pen or tablet

Featured Reader, Third Thursday Poetry Night, Thursday, April 20, 7:30 – 9:00 PM, Alban, NY. Includes open mic for community poets.

Write-Vāsana: Half Day Writing & Yoga Retreat, Saturday, April 1, 9:00 AM – 1:00 PM with Marcy Hasin. It’s April Fools Day, but this is not a joke–join Marcy and Ellen for a morning of sitting, yoga, and writing. All primates welcome. Please bring a towel or mat for yoga and something to write on (notebook, tablet, laptop) and write with (pen, pencil, etc.). Monkeys, don’t forget your typewriters! At Shambhala Meditation Center in Albany, New York. .

Farewell to the Year of the Tiger Writing Retreat: Saturday, March 4, 9:00 AM – 1:00 PM. Half a day of writing, moving and meditating like a tiger before the start of the new lunar new year (which will be the Year of Water Rabbit). New and experienced writers welcome. Meditation instruction will be provided. In person at Shambhala Meditation Center of Albany, NY.

2022

Early Winter Writing Retreat: Saturday, December 3, 9:00 AM – 1:00 PM EST. Before winter freezes us in place, spend the morning in the company of fellow writers in the space of writing, movement and meditation. New and experienced writers welcome. Meditation instruction will be provided. In person at Shambhala Meditation Center of Albany, NY and online via zoom.

Summer’s End Writing Harvest: Saturday, September 10, 9:00 AM – 1:00 PM EST. Settle in and appreciate summer’s richness in this morning writing retreat which will take place in person at Shambhala Meditation Center of Albany, NY and online via zoom.

Sunflower Writing Retreat: Saturday, July 23, 9:00 AM – 1:00 PM EST. A morning of meditation, contemplation, movement, and writing for everyone.

Wake up Writing: Saturday, June 11, 9:00 AM – 1:00 PM EST. Come together and write. This four hour workshop mixes meditation, movement and writing. In-person and online participation available.

Write into Spring: Saturday, March 26, 1:00 – 5:00 PM EST. It’s time to start thinking spring and cultivate freshness in our writing. During this four hour in-person and online workshop at Shambhala Meditation Center of Albany, NY, we’ll alternate periods of sitting meditation, walking meditation, and writing. New writers and beginning meditators are welcome.