Horses & Poetry: Creativity & the Practice of Mindfulness

Name: Horses & Poetry: Creativity & the Practice of Mindfulness
Start: 2025-02-16T09:30:00-08:00
End: 2025-02-16T16:30:00-08:00
Location: Rush Ranch

Schedule

Sun Feb 16 2025 at 09:30 am to 04:30 pm

UTC-08:00

Location

Rush Ranch | Suisun City, CA

Learn about mindfulness, authenticity, compassion, & communication from both horses and poetry. Equine-Assisted Learning and creative writing are proven tools for self-reflection and managing emotions on your journey toward holistic wellness.
During this weekend workshop series, you will learn how horse time & the expressive art of poetry can help you to develop the practice of mindfulness. We also hope to serve as a catalyst for your creativity!
Mindfulness enhances the therapeutic and transformational potential of poem-making and poetry. All together — poetry-as-healer, creativity and mindfulness — will greatly enrich the life you are living.
Poem-making, when approached as a therapeutic, healing and transformational process, rather than with literary analysis and judgment, provides an opportunity for increased self-awareness and growth. This process encourages listening, connection, healthy surprise and meaning.
In a poetic medicine circle, poems are read out loud with the group to inspire discussion, and writing prompts. After each writing exercise, you are invited to read your poems to one another. This process allows you to rewrite internal dialogues and narratives, while also bringing about a feeling of being seen, deeply listened to, and connected to community.
Anyone can put pen to paper; what happens after that is a journey. Poetry is a dance of spirit in words. No prior experience with horses or art are required. All activities with horses are facilitated on the ground in a safe and supportive environment. There is no horseback riding in this program.
Our facilitator John Fox, PPM, is a poet, educator, and author. His books include, Finding What You Didn’t Lose: Expressing Your Truth and Creativity through Poem-Making (1995) and Poetic Medicine: The Healing Art of Poem-Making (1997). His work is featured in the 2008 PBS documentary Healing Words: Poetry & Medicine. Through the Institute for Poetic Medicine (IPM), John has brought poetry-as-healer to communities across the United States.

Participant Testimonials:
"John Fox is the most sensitive and effective teacher of poetic medicine I know. He listens to both poem and person deeply, and he is a master at guiding others.
“This program got me in touch with a part of myself that I was longing to get in touch with. It gave me a safe place to be creative,
to access my depth through creativity.”
"I learned to hold space, not only for others but for myself."

Crescent Moon Center is a women led 501c3 nonprofit offering an empowering path toward healing, resilience, and growth through proven experiential art and equine-assisted learning workshops, along with ongoing community engagement and support. Our mission is to build a community of support around people in recovery from, or at risk for, alcohol and drug dependency, and those facing life challenges due to stress, trauma, and disability.

Sliding Scale Donations: 100% of funds supports the work of Crescent Moon Center. Your donation - no matter the size - can help us provide programs and scholarships to people who would otherwise be unable to participate in our programs.

Please note:
* All activities with horses are facilitated on the ground in a safe and supportive environment. There is no horseback riding in this program.
* Lodging is not included. We can provide information and assist you with finding lodging nearby that fits your needs.
* Healthy snacks and beverages will be provided. Bring your own brown-bag lunch.

Interested? Questions? Email us: [email protected]