Welcome to Lapidus International

If your body could speak, what would it say? Have you ever had a conversation with it on the page?

In this workshop, we’ll explore ways to connect with our bodies and hear their voices through writing. Kate will also share learnings from her MSc research on mind-body writing and reflections on how they still shape her life all these years later.

As part of the workshop:

• We’ll explore activities to help us connect with our bodies through writing
• We’ll take some time for relaxation and reflection
• Kate will share her research findings, their impact and additional learnings 10 years on

Like the sound of the workshop but can’t make this date? You can find out more and register your interest here: https://www.katemcbarron.co.uk/conversations-with-our-bodies/

The day will be experiential and give you an introductory foundation on how to use Gendlin’s FOCUSing process in combination with writing for wellbeing exercises. This will enable you to deep dive as a reflective writing practitioner and as a writing for wellbeing workshop facilitator. This is a unique way of offering deeper insights and new perspective on what is happening in your life/the lives of your clients. There is a £20 discount for Lapidus members. The day will be 10am till 4pm, with plenty of breaks in between. I’m happy to have an initial 15 minutes conversation with anyone who has queries.

We are all born with a wild imagination. It is through this unlimited creative resource that we can access the unconscious, connect with our intuition, develop a greater degree of self-awareness and expand our sense of possibility. Fire Your Wild Imagination will be a chance to explore this vast inner superpower through a holistic practice underpinned by Jungian psychology, creative writing and journaling designed to facilitate creativity, foster self-discovery & facilitate transformative growth with the gentle guidance of Dr Rachel.

Fire Your Wild Imagination will include daily depth writing workshops focused on cultivating creativity through attuning to your curious inner child, your wise inner sage and the wisdom of nature. The retreat will take place at the rustic and charming historic family home of Monte da Japonica and its surrounding cork woods.

The retreat is for writers, creative & therapeutic practitioners, seekers, inner explorers and those on a journey of self-discovery who are curious about how writing & imagination can be used to support transformative growth and would like to dive deeper. The focus of the retreat will be on process, rather than outcome, and on what comes up in the writing, rather than craft and you’ll be invited to work with the material at a level that feels right for you. For those who have a writing or other creative practice, depth-writing can be used as an adjacent activity to support, deepen and expand your projects. Wherever you are at, this retreat is a chance to fire the creative, healing superpower of the wild imagination that courses through all of us.

Cost: single & shared rooms from £495 (For individual room costs, send me an email)
Deposit: £125

About Rachel
Rachel Newsome, PhD, is an independent writer, teacher and creative guide with twenty years of experience as a former lecturer in Higher Education. She holds a Jungian arts-based doctorate in Creative Writing and delivers a programme of depth writing offerings aimed at supporting transformational growth in others. She is Co-Editor of forthcoming Routledge publication ‘The Creative Psyche: Between Matter & Spirit’ and is regular speaker for the UK public education platform Seed Talks. She is author of Depth Writing with Dr Rachel on Substack and serves on the London Arts-Based Research Centre editorial team.

Writing For Wellbeing & Activism – A 2-day event

Writing has the power to uncover, heal, and transform. As we write, we shape our world and ourselves.

Inspired by this belief, Lapidus International invites you to participate in a two-day conference that explores the intersections of writing, wellbeing, and activism. This conference is an opportunity for academics, practitioners, writers, and activists from around the world to share knowledge and engage in dialogue on the role of writing in personal healing and social transformation.

This gathering aims to bring together participants from various disciplines to investigate how writing for wellbeing can also serve as a vehicle for activism. We welcome diverse perspectives that examine writing as a method of supporting mental health, fostering resilience, and creating social change.

To find out more and book tickets please click here.

Breath Write Shine

For this year’s Lapidus Summer Festival, we’re shining a spotlight on the creative side of writing for wellbeing, with a special focus on poetry and expressive writing. Whether you’re a poet, storyteller, or simply someone who finds healing through creative expression, this festival is for you.

Expect a vibrant afternoon full of inspiring workshops, thought-provoking talks, and plenty of creative connection; all celebrating the power of words to support wellbeing.

Whether you’re just beginning your journey or are already deeply immersed in the practice, there’s something here to spark your imagination.

The event is open to members and non-members, to find out more about the line-up, and purchase tickets, please click here.