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Dear subscribers,

I just wanted to remind you that you are receiving this email because you have subscribed to Miriam Hall/Herspiral Contemplative Arts' Newsletter. Please unsubscribe or make other choices about which emails you prefer to receive at the bottom of this email.

Hello all -

It's been a bit. I've been wrestling with adapting to the new US administration, as many in the US (and other places impacted by our elections) have been. In addition to the usual phone calls to representatives and holding space for people in my regular groups, I've been engaging with a local community defense group for immigrants and looking into where my facilitation skills can be helpful for trans communities. This all means increased self-care and connection to community to nourish me. If you are in Wisconsin, your vote is deeply needed on April 1. Vote and spread the word.

The Paradox offering from last quarter has turned into an ongoing Practicing Paradox offering. Like most of my groups, it remains robust and full. We all realize how much we need community and creativity right now!

My announcements start with a reminder to save the dates for the annual July writing retreat (July 26-31, 2025) near Arena, Wisconsin. This delightful summer swim into practice and community will be incredibly restorative this year. Then, I will likely run a second edition of my Contemplative Writing Facilitator/Teacher Training again this year! I've included a link to fill out a form if interested. Finally, a reminder about the forthcoming Karuna Training cohort, where I am on lead faculty. Karuna starts at the end of May, so now is a great time to reach out if you are considering joining.

Otherwise, I am including some recommended upcoming classes from my colleagues Rebecca Jamieson and Amelie Davidson, as well as writing mentoring from Aliya Mughal. I've also included links to Leesa Renee Hall's Inner Field Trip community (where I am a facilitator/mentor) and a link to me on Insight Timer.

I have some digestations in progress, after months of feeling a bit blocked about them. I've been writing a lot but not completing much, and I am getting clear on the ancestral rage emerging around restricted voices and topics. So some richness will be coming your way soon!

I wish you deep wellness and love,

Miriam

Save the Date: Annual Contemplative Writing Retreat

July 26-31, 2025

Registration will open in a month or so. This annual retreat is a deep balm. The site consists of a couple hundred acres of ancient Driftless region land, a spring-fed pond for swimming, and incredible homemade food. You can attend in person near Arena, Wisconsin, commuting from Madison, staying onsite, or staying nearby (we are renting a second house for this, next to Taliesen!).

I will also likely include a hybrid Zoom option, as has been the case for most of my retreats.

You can attend all or part, on and off. The structure is quite flexible, and the community is deeply welcoming. So save the date!

Contemplative Writing Facilitator/Teacher Training

I am in the "gathering interest" stage for this program, which would be a second edition of an offering I first made in 2022. Here are some of the topics/structures (more information located on the form link).

PROGRAM INFORMATION​
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All participants are either 1. A part of Miriam’s ongoing offerings of contemplative writing in the form of classes, groups, and retreats or 2. Have a practice strongly related to contemplative writing, ideally, but not exclusively, having made some offers already on your own

Logistics:

• 6 recorded half-hour lessons with homework
• 6 live meetings of 2 hours each, twice a month for three months
• Private ongoing forum for discussion, sharing, digesting
• A one-hour one-on-one meeting with Miriam
• Minimum five participants, maximum ten

You can expect to end the training with:

• Deep confidence in your worthiness and clarity about what you have to offer that is unique to you
• Practices that help you hold your mind and others’ when things get rough in group space
• Connection to a committed community

If you know you might be interested, please follow this link and fill out the Google form. Filling out this form does not commit you to the training but helps me gauge where the community is regarding planning.

Karuna Training: Miriam is on lead faculty for the next basic cohort Begins late May 2025

​https://karunatraining.com/basic-karuna-training-overview/​

For the first time, I will be one of the lead faculty for a basic Karuna Training cohort (now a year-long program). This means I will lead or co-lead at least half of the programs.

This is a fantastic opportunity to dive deeply into the relational, embodied wisdom that arises in ongoing group learning. We study classic Tibetan Buddhism, use postures and colors to explore the Maitri Space Awareness/Buddha Family teachings, and apply all this to healing and communication within relationships and social change situations. Karuna Training infuses much of what I offer - especially Return, writing, photography, and social justice work. Also, Karuna gives CEUs, continuing education credits!

If you have any questions, please review the website and contact me if you can't find an answer. I am also offering a FREE CALL to anyone who is strongly interested in applying.

Want more of a sense of Karuna Training? Listen to my recent talk podcast with them, or practice podcast with them, and/or read the accompanying newsletter. There are also a few Introduction to Contemplative Psychology programs coming up, in person (though not in Wisconsin) or online, and you can check those out here on the events page.

Rebecca Jamieson has numerous excellent

offerings coming up related to writing

Topics include personal and lyric essay writing, crafting poetry during climate crisis, flash essays, and revising essays and poetry. Find out more on each offering at https://www.contemplatecreate.com/classes.

And a first-time offering from Amelie Davidson

"I am very excited to offer a new, four-part Jewish, contemplative writing series! In each session spanning from Passover, the holiday of liberation, to Shavuot, the holiday of revelation, we will meditate, write to a prompt and share our writing in a small, supportive, non-critical space. No writing experience or specific Jewish knowledge necessary. Thursdays 11:30-1:30 cdt

April 17th, May 1st, 8th and 29th on Zoom

$200 for the series Email me with questions or to sign up. I would appreciate your help in spreading the word to anyone who might be interested!

With gratitude and warmth, Amelie"

Aliya Mughal has openings to work with writers in need of support

​https://www.aliyamughal.co.uk/mentoring-writers​

Inner Field Trip (the book) is one year old!

For those of you who have followed me a long time, you have heard about my colleague and friend, Leesa Renee Hall (author of the new-ish book Inner Field Trip, a multi-award winning workbook). Her community, Inner Field Trip, where I am one of the main mentors and facilitators, is OPEN! Hop on over and consider joining us - highly sensitive folks interested in working on biases, complexity, and politics with kindness, community, and integrity.

​Link to ways to join.​

Last but not least, I finally got a teacher profile going on Insight Timer, where I have posted one free guided practice ("Synchronization for Creative Inspiration") and will be posting more soon.

Please listen and review/rate!

Link to my profile and the recording.

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Love,

Miriam

If you'd like to join me over on Mighty Networks, where you can chat with me and other contemplatives/artists/Buddhists/recovering perfectionists in a private platform, please do!

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