Writing the Maternal Body
A Weekend Group Experience at New Queens Haven
December 6-8, 2024
Accord, NY
To submerge in ancestral deep time, you are invited to an intimate, women’s only writing retreat in Accord, NY this July. Through writing prompts and group sessions led by a seasoned psychotherapist and author, we will explore the specific intergenerational crossroads that a mother inhabits at the site of her body. In addition to dedicated writing time, there will be ample time for delicious food, group sharing, and restoration in the natural world.
Writing can be a deeply therapeutic and growth-oriented experience, both for those who have an existing writing practice and for those who are new to it. This group experience is designed to help each participant tap into your own embodied experience first, and then use those experiences as tentacles for making connections toward strengthening your past and future feminine lineage.
What Past Participants Are Saying:
"Tracy is astounding. I am so grateful for the opportunity to write in such a supportive, nurturing context that made it possible to explore more challenging material from my own past. I learned so much from being in her presence, and from experiencing Tracy's gorgeous, intuitive, boundaried leadership of the group." -- T.H.
"This writing retreat was a life-changing experience that allowed me to explore my personal maternal journey through writing. I left feeling more connected to myself and inspired to continue my writing practice. I highly recommend it to anyone seeking a nurturing environment to explore their creativity and connect with their own stories.” -- S.L.
"This retreat was a little slice of heaven. From the moment of arrival it seemed that time slowed and we all experienced a weekend where the land and its host mothered us. Reading from chosen authors and listening to each other’s voices we were able to lean into the space created for us and risk the vulnerability of our expanding narratives." -- C.A.
Who Should Apply?
This retreat is focused on helping you enhance your psychological, physical, and emotional connection to your maternal identity, using nonfiction memoir writing as the primary method. As such, this retreat is appropriate for women-identified participants who have any level of experience with writing, ranging from those with a manuscript-in-process who could use new inspiration, to those who want to incorporate journaling more into their self-care but don’t know where to start.
This retreat is definitely geared toward mothers, but you don’t need to be a mother to participate. The maternal body can include your own birthing and mothering experiences, as well as reproductive choices, infertility, and your experiences coming from a mother’s body and the ripple effects any one of these experiences may have on the others.
This isn’t a solo retreat; the group process is an important component, so be prepared to share, engage, and learn with others. Downtime is included to help each of us metabolize many juicy interactions!
What To Expect?
The weekend will employ a variety of techniques to focus your writing and help get you into your unique embodied experience. You can expect to use timelines, photographs, tactile prompts, physical engagement, and scene writing.
Our home for the weekend is a spacious 325-year-old farm house on five acres nestled in the Catskills Mountains of upstate New York. The home, affectionately called New Queens Haven, is complete with a dedicated meditation space, steam shower, piano, and multiple indoor and outdoor writing spaces.
Details: The intensive will be held from December 6-8, 2024. Arrival is on Friday afternoon at 3:00pm, and departure is Sunday afternoon at 3:00pm. The retreat house is in Accord, NY, two hours north of NYC. If needed, transportation can be arranged from the Trailways bus in New Paltz or the Metro North station in Poughkeepsie, with no additional fee.
Cost is $1,000 for three days, inclusive of lodging; four guided group writing sessions; one led outdoor activity (swimming hole or hike); access to private meditation space; and all meals, catered by a local female chef (all dietary needs will be accommodated with advance notice).
To sign up for this opportunity: Please draft a brief email to Tracy at info@tracysidesingerpsyd.com indicating why you feel drawn to this retreat and how it fits into your current writing life. Upon acceptance, a 50% deposit is required to reserve your space. The remaining balance is due one month prior to the retreat.
Each participant will have a virtual 30-minute individual call with the retreat host one week prior to the retreat. This call is designed for us to get acquainted with one another, and to help you set your intentions for a successful and transformative weekend!