Journal writing is a voyage in self discovery, a voyage to the center, to the one creative source that is within each of us. This source may be called God, Allah, the Tao, Spirit, or simply love. With it comes inner peace. This weekend we are using the labyrinth as a metaphor for our inner journey. The word journey has the same route as journal. To journal is to journey. In this workshop we will discuss journal writing and read short excerpts from C.G. Jung, Etty Hillesum, Thomas Merton, and Marion Woodman. We will write our own journal entries, finding images to lead us to the center of the labyrinth. We will write our way to inner peace.

As we leave the labyrinth, we carry with us a deepened sense of peace. It is now, as Etty Hillesum wrote, our duty to reflect this peace to those around us, to share it with our family and friends, with our community. With excerpts from C.G. Jung, Etty Hillesum, Thomas Merton, and Simone Weil, we will find ways to do so, through example, through listening, through writing. There will be handouts and guided writing practices. We will encourage others to find their way to the center – to journal and to walk the labyrinth.

Daniela I. Norris is a former diplomat, turned political writer and – with age and wisdom – inspirational author and speaker. She is a trained Past Life Regression Hypnotherapist, Between Lives Spiritual Regression Therapist and the author of four books of fiction and non-fiction. Her second novel, Premonitions, is due out in early 2019.

Jim is a metaphysical fiction writer and has written the Dragons and Visions series and one on reincarnation. He is working on his first children's book. His works explore the metaphysics of our multidimensional existence.

In their workshop, Daniela and Jim will combine their experience of spiritual writing and fiction writing, to provide tools which can be used on a journey to creating Inspired Fiction.

Inspired Fiction is writing which draws on inspiration from what is greater than ourselves to create a story that speaks about everyday events in an uplifting, sometimes life-changing way. A life-long fan of authors such as Paulo Coelho (The Alchemist and many more), Benjamin Hoff (The Tao of Pooh) and Robert Pirsig (Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance), they are convinced that fiction often has an easier way into our hearts and minds than non-fiction.

Anne is an American art teacher who has been living in France for the past 13 years. She has taught in international schools for 10 years. Anne will be leading the children’s workshop for the Conference.

We will be making books and using a combination of multi media to create a story. The age group we are aiming for is 6-12 years old, depending on the demand. I am very passionate about the arts and I am looking forward to creating beautiful works of art along side our young and inspiring minds.

Uma Girish is a Grief Guide and Award-Winning Author. Her writing has been published in seven countries and her short stories and personal essays have won awards. Uma is the author of three books: Understanding Death: 10 Ways to Inner Peace for the Grieving, Losing Amma, Finding Home: A Memoir About Love, Loss And Life’s Detours, and the recently-published Lessons From Grace: What A Baby Taught Me About Living and Loving. Her transformational memoir won Honorable Mention in the 2015 Chicago Book Awards. Uma guides spiritually-oriented women who are grieving different kinds of life transitions and is also co-founder of the International Grief Council. She lives in Chicago.

In her workshop, Uma will guide you to open to the wisdom of your soul and access the gifts of healing your lineage as you dialogue with an ancestor. Unexpressed truths, hidden stories, and untold life events are often what keep families stuck in the energy of unconscious behaviors. When uncovered, they can be the catalyst for the deepest healing in families. In identifying the ‘dark clouds’ that are hanging over you and keeping you from shining your radiance in the world, you will discover an ancestor’s story that you’ve been trying to live. It’s time to free that story by letting it be born on the page, blessing it and releasing it.

Katharina has her background in nursing and is an Integrative Kinesiologist specializing in EDUCTOR Quantum Bio-feedback. As a therapist she teaches more than she treats as she discovers the inner emotional roots to all ailments.

The main aim of this group session is to cleanse the Chakras in our bodies.
Our physical, psychological and spiritual journey past and present is energetically coded within the Chakras, thereby making each chakra entirely unique. Wisdom from past lifetimes is stored. We will look at the seven main chakras and how they influence various parts of the body as well as the endocrine system, moods, personality and general wellbeing.
In the exercises you will be guided to receive inspiration from the chakras themselves which in the end will help in creating your own personal statement of self empowerment.
During the workshop Katharina will be running a program on the Quantum Biofeedback device, Eductor, to support the cleansing of the chakras and healing process of the group. (Inclusion in the therapy session is optional)

Uma and Daniela will be leading us in interactive exercises at sundown. We will learn how to release resentments, let go of the past, practice forgiveness, and arrive at that "center of inner peace", deepening the connection with our truth, arriving at that place from which the creativity flows.