‘Mind’ Your Language: Mindfulness and Poetry

Starting in February, we’re hosting a four-week Mindfulness and Expressive Writing Course. The poet and Mindfulness Meditation practitioner Colin McGuire will lead each session, which is two hours long.

The Mindful-Writing course combines an introduction to Mindfulness Meditation practices combined with expressive and creative writing exercises. The course is open to all levels of mindfulness and writing experience. It begins on Saturday, 8 February at 11am; the four sessions taken together cost £100.

We caught up with McGuire earlier in the month when we discussed Mindfulness, creative writing and what his course can offer you.

How did you discover mindfulness?

What brought me to mindfulness was a growing interest in my own my well-being and the nurturing the relationships I have in my life. I wanted to gain some insight into my relationship to my thoughts, feelings and emotions particularly those that were troubling or unhelpful in my life.

What can mindfulness do for you as a person and as a poet?

Mindfulness and Expressive Writing are valuable for a poet and / or a would-be writer. Writing takes place in the present-moment and sometimes the written-moment can be a daunting place. I believe Mindfulness and Expressive Writing can help unblock writers block, support creativity as well as allow poets and writers to explore the therapeutic qualities of private expressive writing for their own well-being and the well-being of others.

What can participants expect during your mindfulness sessions?

The course is four weeks-long. Each session is two hours long (including a short break). The course provides participants with an experiential introduction to Mindfulness Meditation and Expressive Writing. Each Mindfulness Practice is explained, practiced and reflected on and followed with a specific Expressive Writing activity.

Some of the Mindfulness practices we will cover include, Mindfulness of Breath, Body-Scan, Self-Compassion and Loving-Kindness. Participants will be encouraged to journal, reflect and participate in the expressive writing exercises. Participants are also encouraged to practice their meditations at home over the 4-week period in a way that is comfortable for them. All of the writing done over the course is private and DOES NOT NEED TO BE SHARED; relevant material can be shared at the discretion of the participants.

Ultimately the course is designed to Introduce Mindfulness and Expressive Writing, both practices aim to support the well-being of participants, enhance creativity and develop creative and self-reflective writing. The course will stimulate creativity, inspire mindfulness practice and provide participants real skills and techniques they can take home and apply in everyday life.

You can book your place on the course here. (The course takes place over 4 Saturdays in February: the 8th, the 15th, 22nd and 29th.)