CONTEMPLATIVE WRITING RETREATS
Drawing from decades of experience in meditation, writing and other creative practices, Andrew has been leading contemplative and writing retreats since 2010. While most of his retreats blend the creative and the contemplative, some are more heavily focused on writing craft, while others are more devoted to mindfulness practice, with longer periods of silence and solitude. In these immersive, multi-day experiences, live or online, participants improve their writing and explore the terrain between the meditative and the creative, the conceptual and the embodied.
Following Andrew’s retreats, participants report:
A clearer understanding of writing craft.
Sharpened focus and concentration.
Reduced anxiety and stress.
A deepening awareness of contentment and gratitude.
A greater appreciation for the value of stillness and silence in an active life.
For more information on upcoming retreats, or to reserve a space, please visit the upcoming retreats page below. To be notified of future retreats, please join the mailing list.
LANTERNS IN THE TREES
In 2021, with Stanford colleague Jonah Willihnganz, Director of the Stanford Storytelling Project, Andrew co-founded an educational company called Lanterns in the Trees, LLC. Through this organization, Andrew and Jonah collaborate to offer retreats in California, Scotland, Budapest and other locations.
RECENT RETREATS:
The Words Beneath the Stones: A Writer’s Retreat from Edinburgh to the Isle of Skye
Co-taught with Jonah Willihnganz, director of the Stanford Storytelling Project
The Muse of the Magyar: A Writer’s Retreat in Budapest, Hungary
Co-taught with Jonah Willihnganz, director of the Stanford Storytelling Project
The Wordless Way: A Mindfulness and Writing Retreat at Ratna Ling
Co-taught with Jonah Willihnganz, director of the Stanford Storytelling Project
The Practice of Wilderness
Co-taught with Sessei Meg Levie of the San Francisco Zen Center
Participant retreat reviews:
"An incredible teacher. Very inspirational. One of those 'once in a life time' teachers."
“This workshop was life-altering. I expected to learn some new skills, but had no idea that they would be so powerful.”
"Very deep, very moving course. Completely changed and improved my outlook on my relationships with others and myself."
"This course is life changing. It provided me with another intellectual community and family. I learned so much about life practices… and about myself."
“Andrew’s warmth, his sincerity and his ability to create an inspirational learning environment all combine to make him an excellent workshop leader… His dedication to his students is inspirational.”
—Charlotte Gullick, Director, Mendocino Coast Writers Conference
Photo credit: Participants on retreat in Death Valley, California. Image by Andrew Todhunter.