Writing as a Spiritual Practice: The Healing Power of Telling Your Story

This program will either be moved to a virtual gathering, be rescheduled to another date in 2021, or cancelled. 

We are currently working out all the details. We apologize for the inconvenience and thank you so much for your patience, support, and understanding.

Sign-up to be notified when we have more information confirmed. You may also find details on Hollyhock’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic here.

This transformational five-day workshop uses personal writing as a path of self-discovery, authenticity, and spiritual growth. When you learn to express the whole truth about experience and to discern your own soul’s journey, you come to understand the mythic dimension of personal struggles, triumphs, confusions, longings, digressions, and so-called mistakes. The realization that you are the storyteller – not the story – frees you to examine beliefs, expectations, and biases that have limited your sense of self. As Mark teaches,

“When you tell the truth, your story changes.
When your story changes, your life is transformed.”

Scientific studies have shown that a consistent writing practice has the ability to improve physical, mental, and emotional health. Using targeted writing prompts, small-group sharing, and inspirational lessons and readings, Mark guides you through a process of self-inquiry designed to deepen insight, heal obsolete narratives, and hone your writer’s craft. Writing As a Spiritual Practice has helped thousands of people around the world to achieve their creative and spiritual goals. Known for his intuitive work with students, Mark creates an atmosphere of warmth, wisdom, and safety in which to do this powerful practice.

In Writing As a Spiritual Practice, you will learn to:

• Use writing as a path of healing and insight
• Cultivate witness consciousness in personal storytelling
• What it means to tell your “untold story”
• Recognize the importance of exploring the psychological shadow as a part of spiritual awakening
• Enrich personal narrative with spiritual wisdom
• Practice the five essential elements of effective storytelling
• Develop an ongoing, transformative writing practice

I cannot say enough about this profound writing practice to heal, and awaken. I went away feeling weightier, more embodied, with a deep sense of having recovered more of my authentic voice, and depth of presence. – Krystal Dyan, 2019

Mark discusses the core question that motivates both memoir writers and spiritual seekers: