Exploring Your Childhood & The Archetype of The Innocent (the child)
Writing about childhood experiences in this program involves a deep level 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.
Meditation Retreat, Road Trip and the Middle Path
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 Childhood - Retreat Location
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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Feedback from Course Participants
Stimulating. Inspiring. Confronting. Educational. Eye-opening. Humbling. Challenging. I wasn’t expecting to be so deeply moved. Loved the whole course! -Rick B
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Revisiting Childhood - A Rich Source of Personal Development
Awakening Or Reconnecting With Your Inner Child
We all know that staying as a child when our development facets have moved into adulthood only stunts our growth. Equally damaging, however, is losing touch with our childlike selves to adopt stoic and joyless adult roles or armour. Our program involves celebrating the gifts your childhood brought, cultivates gratitude and looks at where you can foster more of the healthy traits of the child, or innocent archetype, into your life.
A child can teach an adult three things: to be happy for no reason, to always be busy with something, and to know how to demand with all his might that which he desires. ~ Paulo Coelho
Shadow Work
Although we continue to revere ‘the ideal childhood’, the most interesting and humane adults tend to be those who have found the gifts in their woundings. Leonard Cohen said, “There is a crack in everything, that's how the light gets in.” He spoke of the need to confront brokenness in order to find resurrection and return. Only when we explore shadow work and integrate those disconnected parts of ourselves, can we become whole and healthy. Otherwise we remain what William Faulkner called a Man-Child, or escape into Pollyanna denial where grief and other unpleasant emotions are avoided, rather than transmuted.
The happy childhood is hardly worth your while. ~ Frank McCourt
Health and Wellbeing
It is universally accepted that childhood, or the first phase of our life, has an enormous bearing on how capable we become of living happy, high-functioning lives as adults. Psychologist Erik Erikson argued that if we fail to integrate healthy development stages we will inevitably have to revisit them. This program helps you to identify areas you mastered as well as those that need to shift, either in thought or behaviour. Reclaiming the wonder, appreciation, enthusiasm and optimism of the child archetype can fertilise all of the aspects to your life. Think of someone integrated, such as the Dalai Lama. He’s disciplined, yet light. Purposeful, yet playful.
True adulthood, or psychological maturity, has become an uncommon achievement in Western and Westernized societies, and genuine elderhood nearly nonexistent. ~ Bill Plotkin
Details About The Life Writing Program
Consider embarking on this Write of Passage in order to
✴︎ Undertake Narrative Writing About Childhood
✴︎ Gain Insight Into How To Write A Childhood Memoir
✴︎Begin Writing About Childhood Trauma
✴︎Write A Short Story About A Memory From Your Childhood
✴︎ 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 childhood, with optional writing exercises.
Lunch
Afternoon Session
Explore workbook readings and insights relating to childhood, 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 childhood.
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 child (the Innocent), with optional writing exercises.
Lunch
Afternoon Session
Explore workbook readings and insights relating to the archetype of the child (the Innocent), 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 childhood.
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.
We each have an interesting and story to share. This program looks at writing your life story with an exploration of adolescence.
