The last few months have been a fallow season for me, mostly because of grief, but also because I came so close to burn-out that almost every bit of creativity was struggling to bear fruit.
I have missed sitting in quiet creativity with other souls, though, and will be starting the writing sessions again. I have made some changes and also added a new offering, The Nepsis Writing Sessions. These are in addition to the Mindfulness Writing Sessions that so many of you have attended in the past.
If you ‘follow’ my Eventbrite page, you might have had some notifications from Eventbrite today about the new sessions, but here are the details:
Mindfulness Writing Sessions are back every second Monday evening, starting on the 27th of July. I have shortened the session to one hour, from 20h00-21h00 BST. The cost of the ticket has reduced to reflect the shorter session. I will focus on one prompt only and we will spend longer writing in response to the prompt. This will allow for a far more peaceful writing pace. Previously it felt very rushed and I didn’t always feel satisfied that I had allowed for a rich space in which to explore what was written. Otherwise, everything remains the same: a space in which to sit with what arises in response to a prompt and for seeds to take into our personal creative practice.
The Nepsis Writing Sessions are a new offering that I have wanted to host for a long time. Nepsis: meaning “sobriety” or “watchfulness” in Greek. It is the ancient practice of guarding one’s thoughts and being alert. St. Hesychios the Priest defined nepsis as “a continual fixing and halting of thought at the entrance to the heart”.
These writing sessions are a rich online space for creative believers, where we get to spend some quiet time writing in response to a word prompt from a Desert Father or Mother, and then allowing the ancient words to enrich our faith and walk with God. We look inward and incline our ear to Christ, listening and following the sacred thread.
If you are a Christian, regardless of denomination, and would like a writing group in which to explore your writing, you are most welcome here! Just a note: these sessions are focused on the faith practice of Christian believers, however you are welcome to join regardless of your faith practice, however, if you would feel more comfortable in a group that does not focus on Christian faith practice, the Mindfulness Writing Sessions instead. As with the Mindfulness Writing Sessions, we start the session gently by focusing on simple breathwork. Prompts will be quotes and words from the Desert Fathers and Mothers. These writing sessions are always focussed inward and we do not challenge the other’s theology.
Times:
Mindfulness Writing Sessions are every second Monday evening from 20h00-21h00, as well as every second Friday morning. Friday sessions are 8h00-9h00 for the creative early birds!
The Nepsis Writing Sessions are every second Wednesday evening from 20h00-21h00, as well as every second Friday morning from 8h00-9h00. These are on the alternate Fridays to the Mindfulness Writing Sessions.
As always, the sessions are booked via Eventbrite and take place on Zoom.
Thank you so, so much to those of you who already booked tickets! It made my heart so happy to see this whilst I was uploading the sessions to Eventbrite this afternoon.
The booking link for all the sessions can be found here:
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/o/liezel-graham-35388627403
Sending you all loads of creative love,
Liezel
‘…what if your story was your gift to the world…’
liezel graham 