The Porch Gathering: A Retreat for Writers and Storytellers

329 North Carolina Terrace,Montreat NC 28757

30 August, 2021

Description

We're all storytellers, but the stories we tell can liberate or imprison. Let's gather to learn and share a better story, together. The Porch Gathering: A Retreat for Writers and Storytellers who know there is Something MoreIt is a time of Big Ideas, but many of us feel that we’re also living in a time of impoverished storytelling, the loudest voices often reducing our conversation, our interactions, our very perceptions to panicked variations of “us” versus “them”, or “if we can just get through this next challenge we’ll be ok”. Many of us have learned to live with a low-level sense of dread and disempowerment, wondering if we will ever again feel safe from violence, authoritarianism, or pandemics. These fears are rooted in something real - but at the deepest level, the current global crisis is actually a crisis of storytelling. At the same time we also live in a time of enriched storytelling - more opportunities, more connections, more wisdom than ever before is being shared across lines of difference, nation, and background. Many of us are sensing that there is something deeper, perhaps something subterranean within our individual and collective selves, something that reminds us of the wonder of childhood, the awe of mountainscapes, the enlivenment of the ocean. Tell the story in a way that exaggerates fear, and violence will increase. Tell the story in a way that decreases fear, and violence will reduce. Tell stories of separation - from each other, from the ecosystem, from ourselves - and separation is what we’ll get. Tell stories of evolving connection - with each other, the ecosystem, with ourselves - and guess what? We can transform our fear by the stories we tell.There is a better story, and what we try to do at The Porch is to try to learn it, share it, and learn some more. For the first time in our history, we’re going to gather The Porch community in one place, for a retreat on learning and sharing a better story. This retreat is especially for storytellers - whether you write stories or tell them in other ways. We’ll take time to share the parts of the story we’re learning, invite you to share your learning, and piece together the next bit of the mystery. Facilitators & GuestsYou’ll hear from one of the most distinguished writers of what she calls spiritual geography - the landscape visible and invisible. Kathleen Norris will offer wisdom writers and storytellers in both memoir and poetry. Our beloved co-conspirator the writer Jasmin Pittman Morrell, who co-edits The Porch will be on hand to share experience about creative nonfiction transforming suffering into light. The writer, folk music advocate, and former editor of the roots music journal No Depression Kim Ruehl will invite us into the journey of writing about creative activists for cultural change - and becoming part of that change. The spiritual director and advocate for the common good Brian Ammons, who brilliantly weaves ancient wisdom into contemporary culture in ways that liberate us from old stories that, in his words “do a number on us”, will offer reflective exercises and other ways to hold space that help us get into the space where our muddled thoughts become poetry. And the Irish writer and story activist Gareth Higgins, who founded The Porch with a vision to change ourselves through revisioning the myths we live by, will bring his loaves and fishes to the table, helping us prepare a banquet of transformative tales. There’ll also be a special intimate performance from the Belfast Boys, the wonderfully entertaining, heartfelt, and thunderous duo of exquisite guitarist Alan Mearns and acclaimed northern Irish poet Adrian Rice. Who’s It For?Storytellers who want to live better and help others do the same. Whether you write or tell stories in other ways, you’ll find a community here that will help you feel less alone. You’ll have the chance to receive feedback on current work and questions, and to share in the enjoyment of contributing to the patchwork of a better story for us all. We’re inviting writers previously published in The Porch to join us, and all participants will have the opportunity to propose their own contributions to the magazine going forward. What’s the Schedule and Where is it Happening?5.30pm Monday August 30th (beginning with dinner) to 12pm Thursday September 2nd (ending before lunch). Detailed schedule is below. The venue is William Black Lodge, at Montreat near Asheville, NC. How Much Does it Cost?Registration is $495, and we also offer pay-from-the-heart pricing for anyone who needs it. We believe what we’re offering here is valuable, and will resource us all for continued participation in the fellowship of a better story. We also want this gift to be accessible, and know that the distribution of money in our society has little to do with the value of the stories we tell. So if the registration fee is beyond your reach, you are invited to pay what you can afford, based on considering the resources you hold, the value you believe the retreat will bring to your life and work, and your desire to support The Porch. If you believe the retreat will help you learn and share a better story, but the registration fee is beyond your ability to pay at present, please contact us via this link to discuss your needs and we will work with you toward a way to make the retreat possible, either via partial scholarship, payment plans, or other mysteries... And if you are able to pay more to enable us to share the work with anyone regardless of ability to pay, we welcome and are grateful for your extra contribution. What about accommodation and food?Shared rooms and all meals are offered at the William Black Lodge (WBL) at a significantly discounted rate of $250 for the entire retreat: this covers three nights’ accommodation, and all meals and coffee breaks from dinner on Monday through breakfast on Thursday. If not staying at WBL meals are available at a separate cost for the entire retreat. Information on booking rooms or meals at William Black Lodge will be sent to you on registration. We are grateful to WBL for their generosity in offering these significantly discounted rates. There are also many local accommodation options available. How Do I Get There?Asheville Regional Airport is about 45 minutes from WBL; we will create a Facebook page for participants to connect with each other before the retreat, including the possibility of arranging rideshares from the airport. Detailed Schedule*Monday From 2pm-5pm: Check-in available 5.30pm: Opening Dinner 7pm: Evening Plenary — Gareth Higgins on The Porch vision of transformative storytelling. Followed by Introducing Porch Circles - a powerful way to connect with self and others, with Brian Ammons Tuesday 7.30am: Optional morning meditation with Brian Ammons 8am: Breakfast 9am Morning Plenary — Kathleen Norris reading and interview 10:30am Breakout Sessions Focused on getting started from the blank page. Writing about Film/TV/culture — Gareth Higgins Poetry — Kathleen Norris Creative non-fiction — Jasmin Pittman Morrell 12.15pm: Lunch and break 3:00pm - 6:00pm Workshops or solo writing time An opportunity to share your own writing and storytelling and receive feedback in small groups** or to take time to write on your own. 6pm: Dinner 7pm: Porch Circles 7:30pm: Free Evening Wednesday 7.30am: Optional morning meditation with Brian Ammons 8am: Breakfast 9:30am Plenary with Kim Ruehl — reading and interview 10:30am: Breakout Sessions Storytelling in the spirit of the Seventh Story — Gareth Higgins Memoir — Kathleen Norris Biography — Kim Ruehl 12:15pm: Lunch and break 3:00 - 6:00pm: Workshops or writing time 6pm: Dinner 7pm: Porch Circles 7:30pm Evening Music & Poetry Performance from the Belfast Boys Thursday 7.30am: Optional morning meditation with Brian Ammons 8am: Breakfast 9:30am Workshops Finding the Story Within - Gareth Higgins Spiritual Geography - Kathleen Norris 11: Closing Session 12:15: Depart *Schedule subject to change ** Participants are invited to share up to 1000 words (bring printed copies or add to the workshop’s shared Google folder). Participants aren’t guaranteed a spot to be the focus of the workshop, but everyone will have the chance to offer feedback and learn together. A FINAL REMINDER ON PAY-FROM-THE-HEART PRICING: We are committed to making this workshop accessible regardless of ability to pay. If you want to join the workshop, and feel you could benefit from it, but the registration fee is beyond your reach, contact us via this link, and we will be in touch to discuss your needs. The Porch is a community of storytellers, artists, writers and activists who believe the best criticism of the bad is the practice of the better.