Posted in adventure, journal writing, Life-narrative, paying attention, Writing Classes, Writing Retreats, Writing Workshops

REACHING FOR AWE DURING THE APRIL 8 ECLIPSE

Posted on by Rhonda Wiley-Jones

Would you like to enrich your experience of the total Solar Eclipse coming April 8? Can you envision the setting where you will wait for the eclipse? With whom will you share this once-in-a-lifetime (for most of us) phenomenon? How do we prepare to have a deeper, richer experience of the total eclipse? Have you set an intention for those four-plus minutes of total darkness, so you can allow the wonder and enchantment to wash over you?

That’s what we will explore this Saturday, March 16, from 2:00 to 4:00 at the Butt-Holdsworth Memorial Library here in Kerrville. Bring pen and paper or your journal to write with.

Awe occurs in a realm separate from the mundane world of material money, acquisition, and status symbols — a realm beyond the profane that many call the sacred. (Dacher Keltner in his 2023 book, Awe: The New Science of Everyday Wonder and How It Can Transform your Life)

I will be your facilitator. I propose a variety of writing prompts for you to discover the answer to some of these questions above. In addition, I offer hands-on guidance in what I call “stream-of-consciousness” journal writing. This will allow you to access those answers quickly and successfully. We will share our answers, gather ideas from each other, and leave with an intentional and mindful plan of action.

…there exists a magic crackle, a sacred thrum, found at the threshold between two states. Liminal space has its own tantalizing quality to it. … I believe there is more–untapped, unseen. I believe relentless reality breaks us, and magical wonder can make us whole. (Monica C. Parker in her 2023 book, The Power of Wonder: The Extraordinary Emotion That Will Change the Way You Live, Learn, and Lead)

You can let the eclipse be a “been-there-done-that” experience or you can enhance this grand encounter with nature by thoughtfully considering how to prepare yourself to experience it. Let’s do it together. There will be handouts. Bring pen and paper to write with you.

Seeking Awe & Delight

A newsletter for inspirational ways to find awe and delight, insight on the transformative nature of travel, and ways to write about it.

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Author:

Wiley-Jones is fiercely committed to guide life-sojourners and travelers toward supercharged writing benefits to unlock transformative experiences. She will unpack journal-writing techniques, tools and tips with which you can experiment. She can facilitate exercises for you to delve into the depths of yourself, and/or to write stories for yourself, your family, and/or for publication. She is a skilled facilitator with a Masters degree in Adult Learning and 40+ years in creating safe envirionments and intentional workshop experiences. Wiley-Jones is an award-winning travel writer. She has two published books, 1) a coming-of-age travel memoir, and 2) a travel adventure historical novel. Her work other work can be found in national anthologies and local lifestyle magazines. Her motto about life-long learning can be summed up by an E.L. Doctorow quote, "Writing (or learning) is like driving a car at night. You can only see as far as your headlights, but you can make the whole trip that way." That's true in life, writing, and travel.