Writing can be cathartic. It can be healing. And you do not have to be a writer to benefit from the healing and meditative effects of writing. Likewise, you do not have to be a meditator to experience the life-changing power of mindfulness and self-compassion. But sometimes, writing can be frustrating, when you can’t seem to find the way to express your feelings on paper, so that the healing can begin.

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This mini- retreat is based on his new book Unlocking the Heart: Writing for Mindfulness, Courage, and Self-Compassion and is for those seeking to bring more self-care and creativity into their routines. Award-winning poet and author James Crews shares his poems with subjects ranging from vulnerability and grief to courage and gratitude. This book is more than just a poetry anthology, each poem is accompanied by James’s personal insight into his inspiration and state of mind when writing his poetry, and writing prompts to help inspire you to get started on your writing journey. This mini- retreat is for anyone who is interested in the poetic work of others or is inspired to try any kind of writing for themselves. But whether or not you want to write your own poetry, this deeply moving, and ultimately inspiring, practice in mindfulness can help bring self-compassion, courage, and creativity into your daily life.

Award-winning author: James Crews is the recipient of the Prairie Schooner Prize and Cowles Prize. His writing has been featured in The New York Times Magazine, The New Republic, Ploughshares, and Sun Magazine. Author of Kindness Will Save the World and How to Love the World.