It is early spring in Arizona’s high desert. A baby tumbleweed scampers across the lazy two lane hwy, seconds later a hawk dives in to a field up ahead. I rummage into my purse for the camera hoping to I can get some good shots while I’m driving—I want you to see this view!
I want to slow down and enjoy the meander through the canyon, but there were some traffic delays and I’m running late. My destination is the
Sedona Rouge Hotel and Resort where I will be attending the
Write Your Book in 5 Days Retreat. This will be my first writing retreat and I’m so excited! Thirty-five writers all attempting to write a novel in 5 days or less. We were told to come without any attachment as to what the novel would be about. But first, I’m on my way to see Lori, a therapist who will be working with us during the retreat to help us release the physical manifestations of stress and other emotions that come up.
Whatever baggage has kept us from publishing that novel will most likely become active during the workshop. Lori wants to help us release the underlying energy so the results of what we learn at the retreat can be permanent. Using a variety of techniques she can assist the client in acknowledging and releasing regrets, self judgments and false beliefs.
Advanced Release Therapy is located just down the road from the Sedona Rouge in a casita next to Lori’s house; a large window looks onto the red rock mountains. Lori will be using Myofascial Release today to help me gain some movement in my shoulder (my arm locked up last week).
Lori scans my energy and begins to work. Using rocking, a bit of massage and stretching she is able to ease the rotation in my hips and gain back the range of motion in my arm. I also learn that I hold a lot of energy in my navel and that I need to be more willing to voice my feelings and to embrace my empathic gifts. She did get some emotions to release…I didn’t even know they were sitting there! We had a little talk about how and why I put up these walls (I won’t go into that here), and by the time we were finished I felt ready to embark on my little journey.
I’m off to the resort, the meet and greet session is already underway…
Robyn Chausse
Tomorrow is the big day! I am leaving for Sedona tomorrow morning.
If you have been following my posts you were probably wondering why I was taking so long to write this one. Well, something unexpected happened. During Tom’s third preparatory webinar he led a guided meditation to allow us to explore the people and situations that we feel have been holding us back from reaching our full author potential. These could be fears, things people said or did, experiences we’ve had, etc… The purpose was to bring these issues to our conscious mind to allow us to work through them. Our homework was to write letters about these experiences—a journaling project. I never got to the letter writing; apparently my issues decided they just didn’t want to be dealt with! Instead, I awakened one morning with bursitis in my right shoulder and could not write, type, or even move my arm. Who ever heard of getting bursitis from sleeping!
(For those of you just dropping in on my posts, I have been preparing for Tom Bird’s Write Your Book in 5 Days retreat taking place in beautiful Sedona, Arizona. If you would like to read the previous posts click here for my first and here for my second.) Serendipitously, I had scheduled an interview with Lori Zeltwanger from
Advanced Release Therapy, one of the therapists Tom has lined up to help participants work through the energetic and emotional blocks keeping our inner author trapped. Instead of an interview, I received a phone session. Lori guided me in how to give in to the pain and receive the underlying message. I had a good emotional release and at one point found myself attempting a pretzel maneuver—I’ll get back to that later. Did it cure the bursitis? No, but it gave me some tools for exploring my emotional and energetic blocks while I worked with the Chiropractor on the physical restrictions. After all, how much can a therapist do over the phone? Usually she would be assisting the client hands on. Lori will be working with me during the retreat so I will be able to share more information on how she facilitates this rebirthing process.
In addition to Lori, who is a physical therapist, there will be two Holographic Repatterning practitioners available to help insure that the shift the participants make is a lasting one; I’ll be introduced to them tomorrow.
Right now I have to run and start packing for the trip. I’m really looking forward to this retreat and to being able to bring you along on the journey! What’s even better than reading about my experience, though, is to take your own journey into birthing your inner author. Tom still has some openings for his other summer sessions—I urge you to sign up now. He has special prices available for his
retreats and there are special prices for rooms at
The Sedona Rouge, so now is the time to act!
Robyn Chausse
In my last post I mentioned I had just received my attendee pack of goodies for Tom Bird's Write Your Book in 5 Days Retreat. I have finished reading the first book, You Were Born to Write by Tom Bird, and attended my first webinar.
I began reading You Were Born to Write. On Page eight it states not to go any further into the book until I have a fast pen and two 14x17 drawing pads. Literal Me went right out to the craft store for drawing pads. Thank goodness they were on sale. During the webinar Tom said that we will not be doing the exercises in the book. Hmm… perhaps I should take a sketch class…
In the first part of the book Tom offers 17 Writing Principles which are basically affirmations created to counteract false beliefs. One of these really hit me; I actually cried when I read it.
Principle #4
All the inspiration we need is already inside of us.
“When you were born, as exhibited by your free flowing, expressive, heartfelt, unconditional, spontaneous living patterns at the time, being directly connected to your Source through your CCM (Creative Connected Mind) was natural, until being so open and expressive led to pain.”
“You had learned to speak and speak you did, maybe too loudly, to openly, and too honestly.”
I won’t bore you with all the memories that flooded my mind when I read that but let’s just say that the fact I am sharing my emotional reaction with you is proof to me that something has already shifted inside. Who ever heard of an author afraid of sharing emotion? Exactly the point.
This retreat is not only about writing a large number of words per day; it is about getting to the core of what blocks you from prolific writing. Tom is all about changing the innermost blocks and releasing the innermost you. In fact, Tom is so intent on making sure the transformation is complete he has arranged for bodywork therapists to be available during the retreat.
During the webinar Tom introduced us to Lori Zeltwanger, PT, owner of Advanced Release Therapy. Lori is a Physical Therapist who specializes in facilitating the release of physical, emotional and energetic blockages. I am hoping to have a few sessions with Lori so I can share with you how the bodywork adjuncts Tom’s method.
Until next time…
Robyn Chausse
Come with me! There are a few spaces still available for the March 24-29 retreat at the beautiful Sedona Rouge. Special prices are available for both the retreat and the hotel rooms.
Check out Tom’s June and August retreats; the first 12 to sign up receive special pricing! Contact Tom at [email protected]
Can anyone really write a book in five days? That was my first thought when I saw the advertisement for Tom Bird’s Writing Retreats. Like most would-be novelists I’ve been working on a novel for several years; in fact, I have several folders of would-be books. I’m a NaNo flunky. I even have a short story I’ve been picking at for a year. In an attempt to get past my unconscious blocks I downloaded a self-hypnosis CD a couple of years ago--I’ve listened to it twice. Considering my history I decided I should just concentrate on building my freelance business and put my book on the backburner…still. I forgot all about the retreat until someone suggested I take the course and write about it.
So, here I am, all signed up and wondering what I’ve gotten myself into. My biggest fear at this point? That I will be at this retreat with all eyes on me and nothing will come out! What was I thinking?
Welcome to my journey! I will be attending
Tom Bird’s Write a Book in 5 Days Retreat in beautiful Sedona, Arizona March 24th through 29th and I’m inviting you to come along—literally! Tom has a number of seats available at a special price for WOW
! readers. It is an unadvertised special so you need to contact Tom personally for details. (You can contact Tom at
[email protected] or call him at 928-203-0265) If you are ready to finally write that book, come along with me! For the rest of you—
I’ll be posting entries on my experience as I go along. Surprise #1 (I guess I’m expecting more?) This is not just a 5 day retreat. I just received my Attendee Information Package; Holy Moly, there is a lot of information here!
There are two books to read prior to the retreat. One titled
You Were Born to Write and the other is
You Were Born to Be Published, both written by Tom Bird. Tom believes that each one of us has a book to write; his role is to assist us in overcoming our inner blocks and bringing forth our inner author. Reading these books prior to the retreat helps prepare us for the journey. The books are accompanied by a subliminal CD called "Transitioning Back to the Writer You Were Meant to Be." In addition to this work-at-home material there are 4 webinars to attend; apparently there are writing assignments given during these sessions.
Whew! I wasn’t prepared for the preparatory work :) My initial sense of overwhelm, however, is melting into a nervous excitement. Can Tom really midwife my inner author into being? Am I ready to fully step into this role I’ve been toying with? We’ll see.
By Robyn Chausse
Note: Tom mentioned he had two spaces available at $795 each on a first-come basis. If you are ready to birth your inner author contact Tom and ask if these two spaces have been filled—it’s a terrific price!
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Thanks for sharing!
I was skeptical about Tom's approach at first - closing your eyes and breathing, feet flat on the floor, for 10 -15 minutes, then open eyes and write! I was amazed that stuff actually just came out. Afterward, I actually followed his protocol of 2 hours a day, write-write-write without stopping, without thinking. Again, amazed at the stuff that just comes. Very worthwhile!