I often close my writing and meditation retreats with these powerful words by Howard Zinn, followed by three sounds of the bell.
As a writer, meditator and change-maker, tuning my attention to the world's magnificence is an ongoing practice. Under capitalism, our attention is treated as an extractable resource, and we are pulled in directions that sometimes feel beyond our control.
It's important to go gently with our scattered, distracted and fearful minds, whilst remembering that we do have agency over what we notice and where we look.
In recent weeks, I have been deeply inspired by the young people protesting in France, the teachers, parents and trade unionists joining them, and the politicians from La France Insoumise who have put themselves between young people and the police.
Last weekend, at the Stop the War 'Wages Not Warfare' rally in Bristol, I was moved by Russian and Ukrainian anti-war activists who have refused conscription at enormous personal risk to their safety and freedom.
I'm also trying to pause more frequently on my early morning walks to yoga, passing through allotments where the leaves are turning the most extraordinary colours. Yesterday, on my way to the shala, I stopped to watch the clouds pass across the moon.
Seven years of meditation practice and attending retreats have helped me direct the flashlight of my attention more consciously. I run my writing and meditation retreats in Pembrokeshire in the hope that we might make these shifts together, whether we see ourselves as writers, change-makers, meditators or a combination of all three.
The creative space, silence, phone-free environment, time in nature and connection with other writers bring out something truly magnificent in the people who attend. It is life-affirming to witness.
My next retreat is 10–15 January 2027, at our beautiful old rectory in Pembrokeshire. You can book your place with a deposit of £150, and two fully funded places for activists and frontline workers are available that you can apply for here.
May we all know the magnificence of ourselves, and the world.
Hello, I’m Holly.
I offer creative writing retreats in Pembrokeshire, online writing groups, book mentoring and editorial support.
I’d love to hear from you. If you have any questions about how we might work together, please get in touch using the form below.
