May 9-11, 2025
Mothering the Self, Mothering the World:
Reconnecting with Gaia through the practice of purposeful memoir. with Jennifer Browdy, PhD
Join us for Mothering the Self, Mothering the World, a purposeful memoir writing course this special Mother’s Day weekend at the beautiful Rowe Retreat Center in the forested mountains of northern Berkshire County, Massachusetts. Through the practice of memoir writing, tap into your own creative well as you reconnect with the land, plants, animals, and other Gaian beings that sustain us.
Spiritual teachers like Thich Nhat Hanh, Thomas Berry, and Llewelyn Vaughn-Lee agree with cutting-edge quantum theorists that there is no essential separation between our individual selves and the larger world of which we are a part. With every breath we inhale the oxygen created for us by the plants of Mother Earth, which we nourish in turn when we exhale.
Over the course of an intimate, thought-provoking series of writing-based workshops, award-winning memoirist and veteran teacher Jennifer Browdy, PhD, will guide participants in the practice of purposeful memoir: exploring the ways our life stories are interwoven with the larger unfolding stories of our time and the places we have lived and loved.
As Robin Wall Kimmerer eloquently notes, what is needed in our time is not only a restoration of a reciprocal relationship between humans and the more-than-human world but also a re-story-ation—a purposeful return over the stories of our lives, looking back to better understand how we arrived at our fraught present moment, and to begin envisioning how we can step intentionally and joyfully into the thriving future that we co-create with Mother Earth.
Workshop sessions will be interspersed with opportunities to connect with the beautiful springtime landscape of Rowe, featuring its lake, forest trails, and rustic, peaceful decks and porches. We will share delicious meals, heartwarming conversations, and laughter as we knit ourselves into a community of kindred spirits, exploring our connections with each other and the entire Gaian web of life, in service to the healing and regeneration of ourselves and our planet.
About the Presenter
Jennifer Browdy, PhD, a veteran professor of literature, writing and media arts at Bard College/Simon’s Rock and the global Bard Open Society University Network, coined the term “purposeful memoir” to describe essential contemplative work for leaders, activists and anyone who wants to make a positive difference in the world. The founding director of the Berkshire Festival of Women Writers, which ran for 7 years from 2009 – 2016, she is the publisher of Green Fire Press, an author coach, editor and co-host of the online writers’ community Birth Your Truest Story. Her award-winning books include: Purposeful Memoir as a Quest for a Thriving Future, The Elemental Journey of Purposeful Memoir, and the memoir What I Forgot …And Why I Remembered. She publishes two Substack newsletters, Writing to Right the World & The Spirit of Education and leads an annual memoir retreat in Tuscany as well as annual Riding & Writing trips to Iceland.
Conference Pricing Information
For the 2024-2025 conference season, our presenters are generously offering a sliding scale pricing model. This allows you to choose a payment that aligns with your budget, supporting a diverse community of participants and reflecting our commitment to accessibility.
In addition, we’ve updated our pricing structure, returning to separate program fees and housing and meal costs. You’ll notice an increase in accommodations and meal pricing, as well as a new sustaining operations fee. This change is necessary to maintain our facilities, offer ethical wages to our staff, and ensure the continued success of our programs.
As a non-profit organization, your participation and support are crucial. We appreciate your understanding and look forward to continuing to provide enriching experiences that foster growth and connection. Thank you for being part of our community.
Full Price Event Program Fee $350
For those who can comfortably support themselves and others. Your contribution helps make our programs accessible to others.
2 Discount Options:
Discount 1 – Comfortably Contributing – $250
For those who can meet their basic needs with a little extra for occasional luxuries. Paying for this class may qualify as a sacrifice but it would not create hardship.
Discount 2 – Berkshires on a Budget – $150
For those who need some financial assistance. You might be a student or a freelancer or retired with a low fixed income. This tier ensures you can still participate without financial strain.
Accommodation Pricing
Includes lodging, meals and a sustaining operations fee.
- Dorm/Cabin Bunk - $510
- Semi-Private Twin - $610
- Private Room Twin - $635
- Private Room Double- $710
- Private Room Double- $710
- Commuting Attendee - $380
- Non-Attendee Guest - $510