COURSE DESCRIPTION:
Spiritual memoir is the practice of listening deeply to our life experiences through the creation of artful, true stories. We come more alive when we accept how our experiences have formed us and when we form something of what we’ve experienced. By writing memories with intention, we can find holiness in the details, patterns that unify our sense of self, and deep personal healing. By crafting our stories to engage the inner life of readers, we can participate in transforming our world.
Join Elizabeth Jarrett Andrew for an introduction to the art and spiritual practice of writing memoir. What is memoir, and how is it different from autobiography? What makes memoir spiritual? How can the practice of writing memoir, whether for an audience or no audience, support spiritual growth? We will start with the basics, using writing exercises, readings from master writers, and conversation. We will also discuss how to sustain the practice with writing partners or small groups.
The course is comprised of video lectures, writing exercises, supplemental readings and materials, and the opportunity to interact with other course participants and the course instructor.
COURSE EXPECTATIONS:
- Experience the course in its totality over the two-week period: Engage with instruction materials, video lectures, supplemental materials, forum conversation and community opportunities with the course instructor. We anticipate that the course will take approximately 5 -7 hours depending on your level of engagement with the course exercises and materials.
- Complete the course evaluation: As you complete this course, you will be asked to fill out an evaluation. The evaluation is detailed in order to capture the totality of your experience in this course, thus informing the design of future online courses. We encourage you to create time and space for this portion of the pilot as its value in providing feedback is essential for the release of a full model and for other future online courses. The evaluation will be available within the course.
- Technical Requirements: If you have access to a computer or other device (laptop, i-pad, phone, etc.) and an internet connection, you will be able to engage with the video and supplemental materials as well as the course forum. You are welcome to download and print all supplemental materials if you have access to a printer. There will also be one Zoom call.
- Highly Recommended Course Text: Writing the Sacred Journey by Elizabeth Jarrett Andrew. You can complete the course without this text; however, there are recommended readings from Elizabeth included throughout the course.
IMPORTANT DATES:
- You will receive a welcome email with instructions for getting started as well as several pre-course evaluation questions. You will receive this email on Tuesday, May 26. We ask that the pre-evaluation questions be submitted by Sunday, May 31.
- The course will be active from Monday, June 1 – Sunday, June 14. You are welcome to interact with the course at any point over this two-week period. After the course time period is complete, you will receive an email notice reminding you that your access to all course materials and content will be ending on Wednesday, June 17.
- There will be two opportunities to interact with course instructor, Elizabeth Jarrett Andrew:
- One one-hour long Zoom call on Tuesday, June 9, from 4:00 – 5:00 pm (Central Standard Time).
- Two dates when Elizbeth will spend time commenting/answering questions on the course forum:
- Friday, June 5
- Wednesday, June 10
- Course Evaluation due date: Wednesday, June 17.
CONTACT AND REGISTER:
If you are able to fulfill the course expectations and would like to register for this pilot or have questions, please contact the Wisdom Ways Office at 651-696-2788 or office@wisdomwayscenter.org.
