Writing with Horses Creativity Retreat

As writers we can struggle with blockages confidence, inability to get into flow states, sustained contact with our unique voice and battling an inner critic that can stymie our potential as creative writers and indeed our happiness.

According to Psychology Today- Equine assisted activities can alleviate multiple emotional and behavioural struggles. How it benefits creative people is also on numerous levels including improving attention, focus and problem-solving skills as well as enhancing communication and social skills.

Horses just like writers are innately curious and expressive. A creative life is their natural way of being and we shall be experiment with them on how we too can embody more curiosity, and gain ease into expressing what we may be holding back.

Horses teach us about spaciousness – to put aside our ‘busy’ and find the freedom to move at a pace that nurtures your creative animal spirit.

Our human brain is amazing, but it can also hold us back!

Horses lack a prefrontal cortex and therefore lack executive function. They rely on their limbic brain.
When we are in a flow state, we deactivate our prefrontal cortex, the self-critical section of our brain steps back when we enter the zone, making us more open to new possibilities.

The prefrontal cortex is also where our sense of self resides.
In flow, that sense of self drops away.
When we are in the presence of horses we are witnessing, and importantly, experiencing what a life in flow truly is.

The workshop on a peaceful old farmhouse with panoramic views of the mountains allows you to escape the everyday, and to immerse yourself fully in your writing life. There will be times spent with the horses, times spent in freewriting where you will find yourself capable of much more than your prefrontal cortex imagined! There will, if desired, be feedback sessions on the writing created and sent to Tee in the retreat. These sessions are held in an intimate constructive environment The anonymous readings help you to appreciate how well your writing works for listeners, and to hone the skills of the writing craft.

In this intense creativity retreat – there are many ways horse wisdom can show us the way.
Although this retreat does discuss skills and craft – its main emphasis is to allow another species to reflect, provoke and transform your creativity and your writing life. To support you to show up to your writing in a way that is grounded, expansive and true.

If you want to live a more creative life, explore the concept of flow, and generally want to spend time being immersed in a horse’s world and stay in the wonderful yarra valley.