"...we all have a dream of telling our stories, of realizing what we think, feel, and see before we die. Writing is a path to meet ourselves and become intimate." Natalie Goldberg, Writing Down the Bones
There is a part of you that already knows what wants to be written. Longs to be known. Needs a voice. Not the part that edits before you begin, or worries about whether it is good. The part underneath all of that. The one that feels things first.
This group is an open door to that place. We slow down, we settle in, we breathe. And then we write. Not to perform. Not to produce. But to listen. To let emergence happen all on its own.
Inspired by the spirit of contemplative art and the understanding that genuine creativity arises from presence, Tapping the Wellspring draws on mindfulness, somatic awareness, and the invisible field of intelligence we all move within. We move out of the thinking mind and into the felt sense of being alive. From there, words arise that surprise us. Writing in this way can help us visualize a new story, tell an old story in a new way, or find hidden wisdom within.
This practice is for those who feel stories stirring but have not yet let them out. We move from tightness around writing to freedom in it. From silence to expression. From not knowing to being surprised by what we already know. In just 8 sessions, you will feel more freedom of expression and a deeper intimacy with what wants to move through you.
Each session opens with a mindfulness practice drawn from Hakomi somatic therapy, Buddhist meditation, and an attunement to the invisible field of intelligence we share. These are not warm-ups. They are the practice itself. Presence is the portal.
From that settled, awake place, we write. Natalie Goldberg calls it "first thoughts." Trungpa Rinpoche called it "natural mind." We trust what comes. We do not fix it mid-flight.
After writing, we are invited to share if we feel called. Witnessing each other's words with care, and hearing our own voice read aloud, is part of the work. You are in a held space. What you bring here is safe here. All parts of you are welcome.
A full gathering, once a month. We sit together, breathe together, write together. There is something about sharing the same room that the body recognizes.
Weekly sessions, held via video. Consistent practice, consistent community. Wherever you are, you belong here. All you need is a notebook and a few quiet minutes.
Fridays, 10:00 am to 11:30 am
May 1, 15, 29 and June 12, 26
[Location to be confirmed upon registration]
$15 to $25 sliding scale. No one will be turned away for lack of funds.
Saturdays, 9:00 am to 10:15 am MST
May 2, 9, 16, 23, 30 and June 13, 20, 27
Via Zoom. Link sent upon registration.
$200 for the full series. Two scholarships available, please inquire if needed.
Gwen Hill-Pollara is a Hakomi somatic coach, Matrix Works group facilitator, a writer, and a devoted student of what it means to live from the inside out. She works with the body's intelligence, with what lives just below words, with the part of you that already knows. Hakomi is a method of mindful, body-centered self-study. It is gentle, precise, and tends to go exactly where it needs to go.
I bring this same orientation to writing. I am not here to teach you grammar. I am here to help you hear yourself. I believe the subconscious is generous when we stop interrupting it. Writing, it turns out, is one of the finest ways we have to make the invisible visible, to become more known to ourselves.
I draw from Buddhist meditation practice, an attunement to the invisible field of intelligence that connects us, and the dharma art teachings of Chogyam Trungpa Rinpoche, who understood that art made from an open heart is already complete.
Registering is an act of commitment to yourself. It holds your place and begins the practice.
Reserve Your SpotPlease let me know whether you are joining the online group, the in-person circle, or both. Include a note with your payment or email me directly at gwendolion@yahoo.com.
Pay via Venmo @Gwen-Pollara
Zelle or PayPal: gwendolion@yahoo.com
Questions? Write to gwendolion@yahoo.com or text 303-807-1854