2025 began with a bonanza of poetry and dreamy writing

In January I wrapped up a 4-week class, A Dream of Many Colors, in which a group of writers and dreamers gathered to explore dreams and poetic writing through the lens of ancient Jewish wisdom. Together we wrote poems (often in 10 minutes or less!) that dazzled us with their beauty and depth.

This is a quote I shared during our workshop that I especially love and find appropriate for the times we’re living in:

“Poets are the record keepers. We are the ones who write the evidence of what’s worth saving, of not just what to fight against, but what is worth fighting for.”
–Eleanor Wilner

January concluded with the winter Stay Cozy @ Home & Write online retreat. That was a magical weekend dedicated to writing and community. But don’t take my word for it, here is what some of the participants had to say:

I wrote all about why I love February here. (Spoiler alert: The fact that February is my birthday month helps explain my preference for it!) That post includes an uplifting practice that I enjoy on my birthdays, and that I’m sharing as a little gift for you. (Look for it toward the bottom of this post.)

These February events will inspire you, too!

• Re-Dreaming Sarah: Restoring a Patriarchal Narrative to its Indigenous, Feminine Roots.
  with Tzivia Gover, Friday, February 7, 2025, 7-9 pm Eastern Time, hosted by the Western Mass. Jung Association, online

  The story of Sarah, Abraham, and Hagar lies at the heart of three world religions and has influenced laws, literature, attitudes and biases about the role of women to this day. In this talk I will look to this foundational legend through the lenses of dreamwork, poetry, and translation to reveal a more balanced and restorative narrative. Sliding scale admission fee available when you register.

Register for Re-Dreaming Sarah

To learn more about this project, in which I use poetry and restorative translation to dig deeply into an ancient myth to unearth the divine feminine story at its roots, check out my online publication The Life of H: Sarah, Reimagined.

Dreaming in Full Color Book Talk: Wake Up Your Midnight Muse
(Free, online) Tuesday, February 18, 7 pm Eastern Time/ 6 pm Central /5 pm Mountain/4 pm Pacific. With Tzivia Gover & Victoria Rabinowe

Join authors Tzivia Gover and Victoria Rabinowe in a discussion that will ignite your creative spark through the exploration of the metaphor, symbolism and imagery of nighttime dreams. Find out how to move from simply having dreams to being inspired and empowered by them with poetic writing, collage, and book arts and discover how to awaken the creativity, humor, wisdom and guidance that dreams offer. You will receive the link to join when you RSVP.

RSVP for Dreaming in Full Color

Here’s a birthday practice to try on your special day, or anytime you need a reminder of the cascade of gifts that flow into your life even on an ordinary day:

I love the ritual of giving and receiving tokens of appreciation and affection. I love the tingle of surprise when I unwrap a present that’s been given to me, just as much as I love watching the flicker of joy and surprise when someone opens a gift I’ve chosen with care for them.
Try this on your special day … or any day when a little gift from the universe (or a few dozen little gifts) would be welcomed:

🎁 For each year of your life, look out for one “gift” from the universe. These are moments of surprise, wonder, and joy that you accept as special presents meant especially for you.
🎁 Start as soon as you wake up. Did you have a dream? Write it down! That’s gift #1.
🎁 As you go about your day, keep counting. Attune your eyes and ears to notice special gifts. That love song on the radio? Listen as if it was composed and performed just for you! The little rainbow of colored light dancing through the crystal prism hanging from your window? Marvel at this delight designed and delivered especially for you.
🎁 Accept as gifts: Compliments you receive, cheerful text messages that ping into your phone, moments of beauty you might otherwise overlook.
🎂 Count them as if each one is a candle adding light to your cosmic birthday cake!

This Birthday Practice is excerpted from This Dream is a Poem, the cozy online literary home for writers, journal keepers, people who are curious about their dreams, and creative souls of all stripes and genres. Read the full post here.