Writing Retreats
For thirty years I have led writing retreats for women inspired by my time in Taos studying with Natalie Goldberg. Twenty-four of those years included intensive weekends and four-day sessions in Block Island, Rhode Island. Together, we’ve written our stories and listened to those of others, walked the beaches, felt sand between our toes, sat by the fire, shared rooms, laughs and tears. Many empowering changes have taken place in the lives of the women who have come through the years.
I have loved these strong and spirited times of connecting; they have fed me as much if not more than they have the participants. I thought the time had come to end the weekend retreats, and we had our final Block Island session a few years ago. With its stone walls, its wind and rain, its stunning sunsets, beaches and spaciousness, Block Island will stay with all who have come, for once a circle is formed, it can never be broken.
But in 2018 I unexpectedly came upon a new space at the Connecticut shore that seemed retreat-perfect, and reached out to all the women who’d wanted to return. So we gathered once more and will continue to do so each October at the shore and possibly on MLK weekend here in Lakeville, where another group convened for three days in 2020.
We women need time carved from our busy lives, away from the anguish and overload the world tosses at us daily, the men, children, and jobs that pull at us for response and care. I believe my retreats offer this oasis, providing a nourishing community for slowing down, telling our stories, taking risks in writing we would never take alone. Responding to prompts, we will move our pens fast across notebooks and pads, with relief that there is no critical feedback, only focused attention and deep acceptance. Writing from the heart and not the head, we find pieces of ourselves and our lives that often surprise us with their vividness and energy.
Upcoming Retreats
Now that the worst of the pandemic is behind us, and vaccinations, boosters and testing (all required to attend) are available, I have resumed my weekend and Sunday retreats for the foreseeable future. The next Sunday retreat at my home in Lakeville will be in March 2024. Date to be announced. Call or email me for more specific details.
I will be offering a writing retreat at Wisdom House, Litchfield CT in the Farmhouse from April 12-14, 2024.
Also at Wisdom House, I will be giving a three hour writing workshop on March 13, 2024. “Isn’t weird to be the same age as old people.” Refer to the Wisdom House website for registration information.
Sharon
I continue to offer Sunday retreats at my home in Lakeville on an intermittent basis. Here are what some of the participants have had to say about their experiences:
Sharon creates a sacred circle of women that is safe, allowing the writer a supportive space to fully surrender in the gift of retreat. For the last 8 years I have grown to cherish these days as not just another item on my “to do” list but a place to fully exhale, release and find my voice. This sacred circle of writing women provides a place for personal growth and continues to be a direct path to an authentic life.
L.C.
As a newcomer to the group, I entered Sharon's home full of insecurity - afraid to expose my tender underbelly. What I found was an inspirational and nurturing guide, a comfortable and deeply personalized sanctuary for creativity, and an eclectic circle of courageous and intuitive women. Being allowed the unadulterated expression of raw emotion sans scrutiny has given me a tangible sense of artistic freedom, clarity, and inner peace that follows me home each month.
J.B.
These retreats rejuvenate my writing life in a way that nothing else does. I come away feeling cleansed and eager to move back into my writing projects with vigor, as well as with a handful of new and surprising ideas for future writing. Sharon creates an amazingly safe and nurturing environment that enables us all to move toward our true voices. As we write and speak our words, we hear and are heard in a deep way. The process reminds me how to be present as a listener. These retreats are a sanctuary where there is no judgment, just loving witness.
N.M.
Writing in the company of other women infuses the isolation of the art with a sense of community. Reading one's writing aloud in the company of other women validates and supports one's art. Hearing other women read their writing enriches and inspires one's own effort. Above all, Sharon's writing retreats offer a safe, non-judgmental environment in which to explore, to understand in one's own voice one's inner landscape.
L.Q.
Retreat Details
The Sunday retreats are limited to 6 women. Please email me at sharoncharde@gmail.com to register or for more information. The next retreat will be in March 2024. Date to be announced.
Cancellation policy FOR ANY REASON for Sunday retreats: half-fee if canceled a week before, full fee if canceled 72 hours (three days) before.
Cost: $85.00