“I set out to bring down stars from the sky and then, for fear of ridicule, I stop and pick little flowers of eloquence.” - Edmond Rostand
Exploring Your Adolescence & Archetype of The Orphan
Writing about adolescence in this course will facilitate a great deal of personal reflection and contemplation that is stimulated by readings, writing exercises, short videos and much more, including end of day mentoring sessions to offer objective insights into your learnings and help you synthesise everything.
One is never afraid of the unknown; one is afraid of the known coming to an end. ― Krishnamurti
Life Writing, Personal Development and a Retreat Space
Feeling a bit listless in our ordinary routines, many of us like to spice life up with a road trip and all the sensory delight they can bring.
Others take the opposite approach, gravitating to meditation retreats in the hopes of giving their overstimulated and exhausted minds a break, by emptying them.
The programs we run straddle the middle path. Tranquil surrounds and reflective questions help to still the waters, while the diversity of activities and the provoking nature of it helps to shake you out of ruts and enculturated thinking.
Writing About Adolescence - Blue Mountains Retreat
Writing Studio - The Blue Mountains | Outskirts of Sydney
As society goes through major upheaval, connecting with our stories has never been more important Read More
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Writers Retreat
Memoir Writing Retreat
When I arrived at your retreat space to work individually with you I had a draft of my story which to me seemed a little dull and probably incomplete. The question of bigger narratives revealed itself as we discussed my life events and also explored other tools focusing on the idea that we each have a life path we explore. You helped me to identify themes that I had barely thought of. With unsurpassed patience, you read through my draft word by word and along the way you shared insights that now “must” be included in the book - they are all so vital. Now as I look back over this week, I am in absolute awe of the themes you have highlighted. I have work to do - but I am excited and can’t wait to begin to incorporate them! Marcus, you have given me such a valuable gift - I feel uplifted because of the “truths” we discovered together and emboldened by your words as I embark on this next stage. I greatly appreciate all that you have given me and your great generosity of spirit, - Ros.
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Details About The Life Writing Program Exploring Adolescence
Consider embarking on this Write of Passage in order to
✴︎ Undertake Narrative Writing About Adolescence
✴︎ Gain Insight Into How To Write A Memoir
✴︎Begin Writing About Teenage Trauma
✴︎ Understand the Orphan Archetype And It's Developmental Purpose
✴︎Write A Short Story About Your Teen Years
✴︎ Undertake Personal Development
✴︎ Explore Life Story Writing & Create A Foundation To Build A Memoir
✴︎ Discover Archetypal Psychology & A More Imaginative Approach To Self-Understanding
Cost: $590 for a 2 day program *$50 discount for a weekday program
Inclusions: Accommodation, meals, workbooks and personal mentoring/debriefing
Location: Katoomba, Blue Mountains NSW
Optional session with a bibliotherapist. Learn more about our bibliotherapy service.
Included in your package is an optional stand up paddleboarding session, mountain bike ride or bush walk at the end of day 1 of your program (weather permitting).
Program Outline:
Day 1
Morning Session
Explore workbook readings and insights relating to adolescence as viewed from mainstream psychology. * Optional writing exercises.
Lunch
Afternoon Session
Explore workbook readings and insights relating to adolescence as viewed from mainstream psychology. * Optional writing exercises.
Optional debriefing session to help locate themes and patterns which can be used as the basis for writing about an event from your adolescence.
Dinner (or the option for you to take in one of the local dining facilities)
Optional evening session (immersive, non writing activities)
Day 2
Morning Session
Explore workbook readings and insights relating to the archetype of the Orphan (Wounded Healer), with optional writing exercises.
Lunch
Afternoon Session
Explore workbook readings and insights relating to the archetype of the Orphan (Wounded Healer), with optional writing exercises.
Optional debriefing session to help locate themes and patterns which can be used as the basis for writing about an event from your adolescence.
A holistic retreat involving creative expression, life guidance, relationship exploration & a range of activities such as astrology/numerology readings, tarot, breathwork, transpersonal counselling & more.
Our self-love retreat is ideal for singles working on relationship patterns and for those who could use some self care and greater appreciation for who they are & what they have to offer the world.
The structure of the course is beautifully architected. An example for many to follow. Very rich insight and wonderful notes/handouts. - Eddie
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Orphan Archetype - Exploring Our Adolescent Development
Pulling Up Roots
Mainstream psychology regards the task of adolescence as that of forming our identity and growing beyond the family, peer and cultural conditioning we each receive. This program helps you recognise if healthy boundaries were formed or whether development stunting issues such as golden child syndrome and others occurred.
If you fight for your dignity, you risk losing the love you need from them [parents] to develop. If you don’t fight back, you lose your self-respect and your development is stifled - Jeff Brown
Orphan Archetype Journey
Carl Jung spoke of the Orphan complex, where we must navigate the experience of feeling misunderstood and different from our family and peers. This severing and going inwards is a necessary developmental stage. Remaining in the naivety of childhood helps us not. Integrating this passage involves not overstaying in the opposite behaviour where we become overly distrustful.
Loneliness is the absence of the other. Aloneness is the presence of oneself - Osho
Wounded Healer
Both indigenous cultures and ancient wisdom recognised that life is designed to break a person open, just as a seed must be broken in order to germinate. The modern rise of helicopter and pressure cooker parenting has gone the other extreme of being overly protective. Sifting through our teen years to recall the woundings we experienced allows us to find the gifts, or treasure they offer us.
The shell must break before the bird can fly - Alfred Tennyson
