Writing in community is something I’ve done for a long time – at workshops, retreats and in writing circles I’ve offered since 1997. Even during the pandemic, I facilitated weekly women’s writing circles via email and Zoom. It was a way for us to feel connected, part of a community, and grounded in the midst of it all.

My contributing chapter to a new book that came out last week, The Great Book of Journaling, is “Journaling in Community.” Lynda Monk who is the director of the International Association for Journal Writing (IAJW) and Eric Maisel, author of fifty plus books, are co-editors of the collection. They’re both on the IAJW Journal council as am I.

I’m very pleased to be among the contributors who have inspired my own writing and creativity for many years including SARK, Judy Reeves, Sheila Bender,  Kathleen Adams and many others. And I feel especially blessed to have my work supported in the world by Lynda and Eric in the book as well as by Lynda through the IAJW.

As I say in “Journaling in Community,” a ceremony is key for the depth of experience whether on your own or in a circle. “Part of that ceremony is the creation of a container to acknowledge the people in the circle as well as the stories they are writing and giving breath to. It’s a way to create a sense of safety for the stories shared, lessen the anxiety, and honour the people and their stories.”

Here is a link to Mango, the publisher of The Great Book of Journaling. The book is distributed in Canada by Raincoast and you can ask for a copy at your favourite independent bookstore where it’s always fun to browse.

Now that there’s more ventilation indoors and we can meet outside if we choose, I’m looking forward to offering a Writing Life women’s writing circle this summer at our new location in the country. The theme is “All Our Relations.”

Every day Sarah and I walk the land and continue to appreciate spring unfolding with daffodils in the field and blossoms on the plum trees. We’re on five acres so I’m calling it a field rather than a yard. Now there are clumps of daisies in various places, two Golden Chain trees, a flowering dogwood and several varieties of roses.

I made a flower essence from the Golden Chain tree at our last home. The definition is: In Praise of the Small. I always introduce a flower essence or flower essence combination to the writing circle  to offer Nature’s support and insight. This one, Golden Chain Tree, Common Labaurnum, supports our own still centre in the midst of overwhelm and helps us appreciate the small in the midst of the magnificent.  It encourages a sense of curiosity and wonder for the tiny creatures of the world, small things, and small moments. Here’s a link to more information about the Golden Chain Tree flower essence from Spirit of the Island.

California lilac blooms in our front flower bed along with jasmine, cinquefoil  purple irises and lots of lavender. We’re delighted to see rabbits and deer, an eagle occasionally, and although we saw a bear on two occasions, we haven’t seen it lately. I hope it is finding berries to eat as spring as been very reluctant this year.

The property is bordered by fir trees, arbutus and many wild flowers such as small-flowered lupine and bushes of Nootka roses with their beautiful scent.

At the summer writing circle (for four weeks beginning Wednesday, July 27th), we’ll take a walk around the property to connect to “all our relations” and come back to the house, whether inside or out, to write with gratitude, curiosity and possibly surprise. No previous writing experience is necessary to join the circle.

As noted above in the excerpt from “Journaling in Community,”  we create a ceremony in the circle and we follow guidelines so as to create some structure in the space to help make it feel safe and welcoming. While you may not set out to write about grief and loss, uncomfortable memories may seep in when you take the time to be still and silent.

When you sit down to write, you may get the sense that your stories have been waiting for you. In the circle, there’s a particular alchemy that takes place when we gather with the intention of tapping into our stories from life and sharing them with witnesses and companions.

If you’d like to know more about the guidelines I follow in the women’s writing circles, you will find them on the same page as the Writing Life Circle info (Wednesday, July 27 to  Wednesday, August, 10: 30 a.m. to 1 p.m.)  here.