Sea Wolf Books
& Community Writing Center
Sourcing the Self: A Writing & Yoga Retreat at Summer Lake Hot Springs
Nov. 1-4, 2024 (3 nights)
Book before October 13 and receive $50 off your stay.
Writing
Memoirist Mary Karr asks, “What would you write if you weren’t afraid?”
The writing component of our retreat will focus on creative writing with an emphasis on memoir. Unlike an autobiography, which details the entirety of one’s life, memoir tends to focus on one specific stage of life, or even a specific event/series of closely-related events based on one’s memories. For these workshops, you do not need to know what you will write about. If it makes more sense for you and your interests, the writing exercises can be used to write fiction as well. We will read stunning excerpts from several incredible memoirs, learn a little about the craft of memoir, and do some exercises to get parts of our own stories out of our bodies and heads and down on paper.
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Oprah once said, “Everyone has a story and there is something to be learned from every experience.” As humans, stories have long helped us make sense of the world and our own experiences. Maybe you already believe you have a story worth telling (you do) or maybe you’re still doubting it–in these writing retreat sessions, you will have the opportunity to explore your own story in creative, new ways.
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*Please know that sharing your writing is completely optional and not at all a requirement.
Yoga
There are many definitions of Yoga that can be considered right and true. But, your definition of yoga is the one that should matter to you.
We don’t have to do every pose or breathing exercise (etc.) to reap the benefits of this ancient practice- we just need to do what suits us. As with everything, this will change with time. Luckily, we can continue to adapt our yoga practice to accommodate our current state. Yoga helps us learn the language of our bodies and see that we are an amalgamation of our lived experiences.
We can drag around the baggage we naturally accrue or we can unpack. This is a practice in letting go (aparigraha), which only works if you identify what you’re clinging to. Yoga provides the scaffolding to begin this personal excavation process.
Our bodies are wise and will tell us how they want to move if we listen. We can tap into the storyteller our body naturally is. The great expanse of Oregon’s outback will provide the perfect setting to get quiet and truly hear the voice of the soma. Yoga is mindfulness and mindfulness starts with the body, which is always present. Our time together will be spent in exploration of the somatic narrative our bodies are longing to express.
If you need even more encouragement, this specific area has recently been designated the largest dark sky sanctuary in the world. https://darksky.org/news/outback-dark-international-dark-sky-sanctuary/
Accommodations & Meals
*For all accommodations, participants need to bring their own sheets, blankets, pillows and bath towels.
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We will provide a welcome dinner on Friday evening at 6:30pm in the Westside Cabin. Aside from that, you will need to prepare for your own meals throughout the retreat. Each cabin has a full kitchen and dining area.
Sunset Duplex Cabin
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The Sunset is part of the duplex cabins made from poured walls of pumicecrete, a lightweight concrete made from pumice from the Crater Lake eruption about 7500 years ago. Pumice is a lightweight volcanic rock full of entrapped air which makes for high insulation value; warm in the winter and cool in the summer.
The registration links below ask for a $100 deposit. You will be expected to mail in a check for the remaining amount within 7 days. Details to follow via email after registration.
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1 queen bed in bedroom ($800)
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1 full futon ($700)
(foldout couch in livingroom)
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Cabin features:
Geothermal radiant floor heat
Large passive solar windows
Full kitchen with stove/oven, refrigerator, toaster, blender, coffee maker, coffee grinder, cooking utensils, plateware, glassware and cutlery, custom concrete countertops; full bathroom with shower, dining table, two chairs; full bathroom with shower
24-hour access to the mineral pools*
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Booked
Cantina Duplex Cabin
The Cantina is part of the duplex cabins made from poured walls of pumicecrete, a lightweight concrete made from pumice that originated from the Crater Lake eruption about 7500 years ago. Featuring an indoor pergola and numerous desert-style details, The Cantina evokes a funky, Southwestern feel.
The registration links below ask for a $100 deposit. You will be expected to mail in a check for the remaining amount within 7 days. Details to follow via email after registration.
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1 queen bed in bedroom ($800)
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​
1 full futon ($700)
(fold out couch in livingroom)
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Cabin features:
Geothermal radiant floor heat​
Full kitchen with stove/oven, toaster, blender, coffee maker, coffee grinder, cooking utensils, plateware, glassware and cutlery, custom concrete countertops; full bathroom with shower, small dining table, four chairs; full bathroom with shower
24-hour access to the mineral pools*
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Homestead House
Experience the serenity of wide-open spaces from the original homestead, with Winter Rim to the south and the Summer Lake playa to the north. Built-in 1926, this rustic but comfortable home anchors the property to the east and features 360 degree views of the valley.
The registration links below ask for a $100 deposit. You will be expected to mail in a check for the remaining amount within 7 days. Details to follow via email after registration.
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1 queen in bedroom with closing door ($800)
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1 queen in bedroom with closing door ($800)
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1 full in bedroom with curtain door ($725)
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Cabin features:
Full kitchen with stove, oven, and refrigerator, coffee maker and grinder, cooking utensils, toaster, blender, teapot, pots and pans, cutlery, glassware, plateware, dining room table, and chairs; full bathroom with shower
Large oil heater
Viewing deck of Summer Lake to the north
24-hour access to the mineral pools*
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Booked
Booked
Booked
Booked
ABOUT CHARLIE
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Charlie J. Stephens is a non-binary writer from the Pacific Northwest. Born and raised in Salem, Oregon, Charlie has lived all over the U.S. as a bike messenger, wilderness guide, high school English and creative writing teacher, and seasonal shark diver (for educational purposes only.) Always encouraged by their grandma and mom to write stories, putting pen to paper has long been a part of their life. They are a resident of Port Orford on the southern Oregon coast and the owner of Sea Wolf Books & Community Writing Center. Charlie’s short fiction has appeared in Electric Literature, Best Small Fictions Anthology, New World Writing, Original Plumbing, Feminist Press, and elsewhere. Their debut novel, “A Wounded Deer Leaps Highest” was published by Torrey House Press in April 2024. You can learn more about their writing life at www.charliejstephenswriting.com.
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ABOUT HEATHER
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Heather Carpenter is a 500hr E-RYT, LMT, doula, yoga studio owner, mother of 4, and singer/songwriter. Heather lives in Port Orford where she teaches yoga teacher trainings, weekly yoga classes and practices massage at her studio. She has been doing yoga since her teens and teaching for over a decade. Heather is passionate about continuing education and has studied with many talented teachers over the years. Her intimate knowledge of anatomy and kinesiology plus her love of somatics fuel her classes. She teaches to all levels and is skilled at adapting poses and classes in the moment for her students. Heather’s style is approachable and her love of yoga and the deep philosophical teachings behind it shine through in her classes.
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Here are some testimonials from our most recent retreats:
"I would whole-heartedly recommend this retreat to others! This carefully curated experience was a full-bodied, full spirited, joyful and restorative time for me this winter." Kat
"Heather and Charlie provided a safe and dynamic space for connection, expression and movement. Their affordable pricing and value made it an even better investment in the future me." Sara
"This was the most gentle and nurturing experience that allowed me to be present in my body, heart, and soul: to heal and just be." Heather
"Charlie and Heather shared their unique talents with generosity and joy, making it easy to access the most creative parts of myself." Kim
"I appreciated the efforts and forethought of everything Charlie and Heather provided, from the writing sessions to the yoga practice to all the delicious and nourishing meals." Jackie
"This was just what I needed: a reminder that the elements of this weekend are all within my grasp (yoga, writing, movement, nourishing food, rest, and good conversation.) Charlie and Heather have a way of providing comfort and healing to those around them and made such a great team." Alexa
Cancellation Policy: Cancel before October 20, 2024 and receive a 50% refund. On October 20 or after, receive a 10% refund. We have very limited space on retreats and a lot of time/effort goes into organizing and booking them. Thanks for understanding.