I am writing with some updates before I take off some time for the summer. Here are the contents of this email in order:
1. Contemplative Writing Compilation and Orton Park Writing Booth
2. Two Miksang Level 1 offerings this summer
3. August Contemplative Writing class openings
4. How to keep up-to-date with me while I am "gone"
1. As I did last year, I'll be making a small chapbook of writings from retreats and classes. If you did or didn't participate last year, or just have one writing from one retreat you want to share, please do! Work should be typed up and sent in Word to me, no matter what format. Edit as little as possible so the stream of consciousness flow is apparent. Please make it clear whether or not you want your name with the piece.
I will gather the pieces in July (so please send to me by end of June) and put them together in a booklet. Every submittor will get one, then I will sell the remainder at classes and at the Orton Park Festival Spontaneous Writing Booth. Proceeds pay for students who cannot afford retreats or classes at full costs.
2. Miksang contemplative photography will be offered twice this summer in Level 1 form. Ann Hall will be teaching June 28-29, and I will be teaching August 16-17. Full explanations of Miksang can be found on the international site:
www.miksang.org and registration for the local classes can be made on the Shambhala site: www.madison.shambhala.org. Otherwise, feel free to email me for more information.
3. I am taking off all of July and the first half of August, but as of the week of 8/17, I will be back teaching 5 classes a week. While the current students may not be certain as to whether they are staying until August, I highly recommend emailing or calling me now to reserve a spot, just in case! Class times are:
Monday 4:30
Tuesday 1pm and 6:30pm
Wednesday 9am and 7:30pm
Classes are two hours long, run in 8-9 week sessions and are 100$/session.
Please spread the word if you can't make it or are currently a student - your word of mouth recommendation is the best way I keep the classes going!
4. Finally, I had hemmed and hawed about letting folks know about my blog, as I include quite a few personal details in it. But the fact is, you all share things with me every week, and I *do* after all, put my stuff out there in public anyway, so I'd rather have *you* reading it than any random stranger. I keep two blogs, one with teaching info (where this kind of post goes), and one personal (essays and my own writing responses to the exercises, which some of you have asked about). Then, as you may have noticed at the bottom of my emails, I keep a "photo blog" on Flickr.
www.herspiral.blogspot.com (teaching schedule and details)
www.insidespace.blogspot.com (personal blog)
www.flickr.com/photos/herspira
As I will be teaching summer school and on vacation from June 26-August 17, this is the best way to keep up to date on where I am.
Hope to see/hear/hug you soon in a contemplative context!
Miriam
