Heart Alchemy: From Grief to Resilience - An Afternoon Writing & Embodiment Retreat
w. Naazneen Diwan
Why make space for grief? There is so much loss and pain and heartache in this moment that it might feel overwhelming to face. And, when we do, in community, in this cared for container of ritual, yoga, meditation and poetry, that is when we can truly open to the joy and resilience that is our birthright. No need for any formal training, either in yoga or poetry or spiritual practice, this retreat is open to anyone who longs to heal, who wants to connect with the heart, and who wants to learn and grow in their spiritual strength. Poetry and embodiment are our sacred vehicles for harnessing the boundless powers of our hearts -- the love, compassion and fortitude that we just need uncover and invite into the light.
September 21st
12 - 4pm
at Abide West
Sliding scale $50 / $65 / $80
About Naazneen Diwan
Naazneen is a queer, Muslim, Indian raised in the Midwest of the U.S. As a caretaker for her three elders, one with Alzheimers and all aging with various disabilities and illnesses, her grief has been both lingering and persistent. She holds a Masters in Arabic from the Ohio State University and a PhD in Gender Studies from UCLA. She is a poetry editor and coach and has taught creative writing residencies and poetry workshops, internationally. Her most recent research focuses on storytelling workshops with Muslim women activist-survivors of the Gujarat communal violence of 2002 and examined how gendered violence impacts mental, emotional and spiritual wellness and how self-transformative practices can lead to more effective collectives advocating for change. Her engagements in academic, creative, and social justice interventions have centered holistic care and sustainability and, to that end, she has been studying and practicing Iyengar Yoga for the last 15 years as well as been a practitioner of meditation for over 10 years, teaching meditation with True North Insight’s BIPOC sangha and through facilitating healing arts workshops with activists and survivors of trauma. She most recently taught the poetry workshop Letting Go, Letting In: Writing in and Through Grief with 15 brilliant writers through Literary Cleveland.
Read more about Naaz here: https://99namesediting.weebly.com/about.html