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I can hardly wait for this intensive, yet at the same time I'm mildly terrified. What if there are stories stored in my body that I haven't previously had access to? And what if they've been hidden because I wasn't ready to process them? And what if I'm ready now and they come gushing out and I change my mind about being ready? Will I be able to put them back into hiding? I don't think so. Yikes.

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It's a very valid thing to think about, Phyllis, and we'll be careful about it. I'll be recommending some strategies to explore safely. The breathing exercises help, too! As does the structure of the exercises (external focus) and the readings. It is trauma-informed and creates a pretty safe container. ❤️

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Okay then, I'm in! This course will be my 75th birthday present to myself. Best to get the stories out so they don't get buried with my body LOL

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Happy almost 75, Phyllis — very excited to write with you 🥰

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Thanks! I finally polished up the piece I wrote during your 12-week essay challenge. Now I just have to figure out where to submit it.

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Jan 28Liked by Jeannine Ouellette

This makes me so excited! And I am happy to celebrate your 75th, too!

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If I jump in which I'm seriously considering, I'll be celebrating my 75th birthday during the 12 weeks as well, so it's comforting to know I won't be the only septuagenarian engaged in this intriguing intensive.

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I think we have quite a few septuagenarian writers in the current Story Challenge, Brad! I am also happy about the other ways in which the community is diverse, and I hope it continues to just become more and more so! Would be lovely to have you writing along with us.

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I have yet to figure out why the word septuagenarian makes me think of a lizard. Or maybe it's not the word itself, but rather the resemblance between my neck skin and that of certain lizards.

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Jan 28Liked by Jeannine Ouellette

I’m in! This is a thing I am struggling with and anxious about, too. A year ago I might not have been open to it. But if I have learned anything in the past year in this space, it is that those places of resistance that hold potential for growth and have writing heat. Exploring that with you and Billie alongside folks here sounds like a gift. And again, spooky. What I need, when I need it, and before I know to ask for it. Grateful.

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Billie and I will treat all of our hearts (and resistances) with care in this intensive. We promise. ❤️

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Jan 28Liked by Jeannine Ouellette

I have no doubt!! 💜💜 I am excited. I appreciate the time to get my head around it and to build anticipation. And my writing is cooking thanks to the current challenge. Thank you. I hope your writing headlights are illuminating the path ahead!

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Emily I believe that we are kindred spirits

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That makes my year, Phyllis. Honored to be in your circle.💜

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Jan 27Liked by Jeannine Ouellette

I am BEYOND excited for this. For a long time I’ve felt torn over my love of reading and writing, envisioning them as a perpetuation of my disassociation, but my relationship to writing has started shifting to feel more embodied, and I know this series is going to deepen that shift!

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I am so excited for you to experience this curriculum, Katie. All of my writing exercises are aware of embodiment, because of our focus on exteriority. But this is a very intentional and focused exploration!

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I’m so excited for this. I took a class at the beginning of last year and realized how powerful Yoga is to my life and writing practice. Thank you for putting this together.

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Yay, I am so glad. Looking forward!

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Jan 27Liked by Jeannine Ouellette

Gagging for this. My passions for yoga and writing combined, plus a boost towards being a braver writer and person.

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Really looking forward to writing with you this way, Anna!

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Jan 28Liked by Jeannine Ouellette

I am also excited/terrified for this intensive! My retirement starts April 1st, so I can't wait to dive in unencumbered by the distractions of a day job :)

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Oh my goodness congratulations on your retirement, Vanessa!!! And I was saying to my husband yesterday that I am so heartened by how many people acknowledge how frightening embodied writing can be. I feel like it's a writer thing, to be able to say, "this is scary" and then ... do it anyway (or not, of course, but so often, we do, because we sense that the fear is the good kind of fear, leading us toward the thing we need in order to grow). Really excited to write with you in this way, Vanessa, and please know that Billie and I do not take the responsibility lightly.

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I would put 100 hearts here if I could

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Hope you like the new stage of life!

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Hope you love the new stage of life!

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This is scary but I also think it will be good, and I have a lot of confidence in your ability to guide us through the murk.

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We are very careful. I take the fear seriously (I was disconnected from my body for a very long time). We go inch by inch and with care. ❤️

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Jan 27Liked by Jeannine Ouellette

I'm in such desperate need of this on several levels. I'd like to sign up now. How exactly do I do that? Many thanks 🙏

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I'm so glad you are excited. You don't have to do anything to sign up, if you are already a paid subscriber. If not, you will need to upgrade your subscription to paid--and if you do that, we highly recommend founding leve so that you can access all the guided meditations recorded for you via Voice Memos, and the candlelight meditations on Zoom, etc. It really is worth the small additional annual fee if you can afford it ($80/year total). If you have questions about upgrading, just let me know!

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Jan 28Liked by Jeannine Ouellette

Ok! I'm beyond excited. I'm already paid. I'm more than happy to upgrade to founding 🙏

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Yay, Niki! I am really excited about the candlelight meditations. Billie used to teach those during the Covid lockdown, and they're so lovely.

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That sounds incredible, what a gift 🙏

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“Our cells hold records of the past, awareness of the present, and imaginings of the future. These embodied sensations form the basis of writing electrifies the primal exchange continually experience with the world.”

This all sounds wonderful, I look forward to the experience as a writer, woman and yoga teacher/student. 💝

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It will be our honor to write with you in this way, and for you to bring your experience to meet ours. ❤️

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Jan 27Liked by Jeannine Ouellette

Thrilled for this!!! You and Billie are so very generous with your time and energy! Thank you!!

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We’re excited to offer this (and experience it again). Looking forward!!

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Jan 28Liked by Jeannine Ouellette

So looking forward to this!

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We are too, Imola!

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While I don't have the available time for this intensive, it gives me so much hope that writing and the physical self are merging in creative spaces. Yoga AND poetry/prose - sounds like my kind of party! 👏

This post is also a gentle reminder to myself to write through my body, more than I already do, thank you❤️🤗

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You are very very welcome!

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Jan 28Liked by Jeannine Ouellette

I am so looking forward to this!

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I'm really glad, Peg. I feel like I've really begun to get to know you through the PAHS forums and here, and I so appreciate that and look forward to writing with you in this deep and connected way.

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I'm sure I will learn a lot from the intensive whether or not I can apply all of it to this new book project or not, and since you've given us plenty of time to prepare, I'm in and have marked the start in my calendar. I'm already a paid subscriber so is there anything else I need to do to be officially registered? Any suggested prep work to engage in between now and the start date?

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This is wonderful, Brad. And no prep needed -- I will be sharing things in the weeks ahead to "set the table" for our work, but otherwise, nothing required. If you are a paid subscriber, you are all set. Unless you wish to participate in the candlelight meditations, the Voice Memos (which will be guided meditations to accompany the posts), and Live Salons, then upgrade to Founding, which at $80/year is less than paying monthly. It's $30 more than the base annual rate, but a lot of additional interactive content, esp for the Visceral Self intensive. Just let me know if you have any more questions.

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Oct 27Liked by Jeannine Ouellette

It’s late October and I am seeing this just now. Is there a way I can access the Visceral Intensive?Is it perhaps recorded?

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Hi, Carrie--

You can work through the whole thing in order here (and there are recordings of the meditations for founding members). The posts are labeled Week One, Week Two, Week Three, etc.... Please let me know if you have any questions! https://writinginthedark.substack.com/t/visceral-self

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Feb 28Liked by Jeannine Ouellette

I am really looking forward to this. I am currently revisiting the embodiment coaching training I studied last year, this will be an incredible compliment to the practices I am deepening on that course. Thank you so much for this

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That's amazing, Esther! I am so excited to write with you!

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Feb 17Liked by Jeannine Ouellette

I have recently joined, and look forward to joining the intensive. I am a founding member, will I just receive info or do I need to take action?

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Kathy, thank you so much for your founding membership! This gives you access to everything we do here--and also helps us build the sustaining community we envision. It will be especially lovely during the Visceral Self, when we have Voice Memo meditations and candlelight Zooms. So grateful. And you don't have to do a thing. Everything will come to you via email and be available indefinitely on the home page. Thank you again!

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I am very excited to join in this intensive. 💜

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Yayyy!!!! I can't wait to write with you!

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