Dream Story Workshop
LIVE YOUR DREAM! COME ON A WRITING ADVENTURE!
DREAM STORY WORKSHOP
The Dream Story Workshop was developed with the premise that dreams can inform and enrich our waking lives in profound ways, and that writing can be a powerful tool for self-discovery and healing. It’s for anyone who wants to bring more creative energy and spiritual perspective into your life. I believe one of the greatest gifts we can give to someone is to simply listen, with compassion, with patience, and without judgment, and one of the greatest gifts we can receive is to simply be heard. And there is a sort of magic that occurs when people come together in this way, creating a safe space for each other, giving ourselves and each other permission to be vulnerable and share our stories. (Sharing is always optional, and up to you in the moment to choose whether or not to share what you’ve written with the group.)
Writing exercises are spread out over the duration of the workshop, whether it’s an afternoon, a weekend, or week-long retreat, with plenty of time built in for exploring, dining, and play. Each workshop begins with one short exercise where we introduce ourselves, followed by a guided shamanic-drumming meditation to help us lower our inhibitions, raise our vibrations, and ease into the dream realms.
“Opportunities to find deeper powers within ourselves come when life seems most challenging.”
– Joseph Campbell
Love Says
This exercise intensive is about tapping into the divine feminine and bringing that energy into our writing practice and our daily life. What does that mean? It means embodying Love herself, stepping out of the way of ego, releasing narratives we carry that no longer serve us, opening our hearts to our full capacity to walk in gratitude, to be forgiving, to be deeply loving – to ourselves, and others. We write a letter to ourselves, a letter to another, and create mantras and affirmations to remind us of who we are and what we bring to this life.
Hero in the Mirror
Who do you see when you look in the mirror? Do you see a hero? The concept of the hero’s journey, or monomyth, as Joseph Campbell coined it, informs the broad spectrum of modern storytelling. Something sets the hero on their journey, they face challenges along the way, move through them, and return, transformed. And there’s a component of the supernatural, a force, being, or power that aids them in their transformation. In this workshop, we explore our own journeys, and look within to find the hero that resides in every one of us. Following writing prompts, we write about challenges we’ve faced and overcome, strength we found when we didn’t know we had it, and people who’ve enriched our lives in unexpected ways.
Love Says and Hero in the Mirror exercise intensives are included in week-long Dream Story retreats, and Love Says is included in weekend workshops. These intensives can also be provided as one-day or half-day workshops on their own. And they can be condensed into a one- or two-hour workshop to be offered at a conference, team-building gathering, wellness retreat, extracurricular-education activity, celebratory event, or gathering at home. Email me to book a workshop for your event.
“Linda Black’s Dream Story Workshop made me feel more in touch with myself than I have in recent memory … I believe everyone needs to do this illuminating work. Linda is the perfect guide and conduit for information and healing, not to mention her presence is incredibly soothing. Such an amazing experience that I would love to do again and again!”
– Meredith H. (Los Angeles, February 2023)
OLD SAN JUAN week
NEW ORLEANS weekend
2024 DATES COMING SOON!
WEEKEND WORKSHOP $249
FULL-WEEK RETREAT $399
Travel and accommodations are not included in workshop fees, but I’m happy to provide links to the on-site location and for nearby lodging. A 25% deposit is preferred at the time you register. But if you need to request a scholarship or just need a little more time to pay the deposit, you can register and secure your spot without a deposit. Just use the code NO-DEPOSIT when you register, and I’ll follow up with you by email.
DREAM STORY SCHOLARSHIP
Please email me to request a scholarship if you are facing economic challenges. And those of you who have the means and inclination to contribute to the Dream Story Scholarship Fund, please do! I will meet every dollar donated, in kind. So if you donate $50, you will essentially be providing someone with a $99 scholarship to attend a one-day workshop. The goal is to provide full scholarships that include travel and accommodation costs as well.
“Linda inspires with her life wisdom and considerable understanding of storytelling. Her workshop is so healing.”
– Jamie O. (Martha’s Vineyard, 2015)
WHAT TO BRING
An open heart and mind, and a writing platform – whether it’s a notebook and pen or your laptop, whatever works best for you to write in a way that flows and allows for spontaneity. Also bring your best listening skills, as sharing some of what we write is part of the process. Wear comfortable clothing, and you might want to bring a yoga mat to stretch out on during the shamanic-drumming meditation.
