Writing the One: An Equinox Practice in Sacred Poetry and Reflection // with Scott Youmans

Delight and deepen into the season with inspiration from living wisdom traditions. 

Drawing from a tapestry of Indigenous, Goddess, Hindu, Buddhist, Jewish, Christian, and Islamic voices, you will intuitively create, connect with your inner wisdom, and embody the balance of the season. 

Equinox invites a natural pause in our personal and celestial journeys, to honor the path behind us and consider the path ahead.

In the north, we've had a busy season of activity and are about to harvest the ripe fruits of our labor; in the south, we are emerging from winter's chill and delighting in earth's reawakening. The cycle of Nature continues, and too often we forget these auspicious moments, succumbing to the routine of our lives. Writing the One is an invitation to really notice this moment, to connect with your Nature and to the expression of the One, of the Nature all around you.

Sufi teacher Hazrat Inayat Khan offers that "There is one Holy Book, the sacred manuscript of Nature, which truly enlightens all readers." Like Rabbi Zalman Schachter-Shalomi and mystic Mirabai Starr, Khan taught that each wisdom tradition is an aspect of the whole of Nature – the One – and needs to be the healthiest expression of itself for the benefit of all beings. As we are all part of the One, our time together will be in service to the highest good of the One within and around us.

Each week will offer a collection of songs, stories, passages from sacred texts, and poems inspired by the various wisdom traditions around themes related to the equinox, equilibrium, and Nature. Through guided writing prompts, we'll dance with these ancient and contemporary voices to inspire our own creative expression. Participants will also have the opportunity to engage with and create rituals to honor this seasonal pause point.

This course is about connection and presence.

We'll meet twice on Zoom to connect and share about who we are at the beginning, and what we've noticed and created at the end. During the course, you'll have a variety of resources and activities to choose from and play with. These are not meant to overwhelm you, but rather to inspire you. Don't feel like you have to do everything or do anything with the intention of perfection.

The workshop balances active creation with quiet reflection, offering space for meditation and contemplative practice alongside our creative work.

You will leave with a broader appreciation for various faith traditions and have the opportunity to create pieces that reflect your unique equinox. Whether you're an experienced writer or new to creative spiritual practice, I hope that you'll leave with original writing and a renewed sense of connection to the sacred.

Week By Week 

Week 1: Sept 9 – Sept 15

Preparation / Opening Session

Anchors to the One: Indigenous and Goddess Traditions 

Beginning our journey toward balance, we invoke Earth's ancestral wisdom to bless our creative path. We explore poetry and sacred texts that speak to "approaching the doorway" of the season. We will meet on Zoom to build community, engage in group practices, and set intentions that ease the pressure of perfection.

Week 2: Sept 16 - 22

At the Threshold

Anchors to the One: Hindu, Buddhist, and Taoist Traditions 

As we reach the Equinox threshold, Eastern "Middle Way" wisdom informs our transition. We consider what it means to truly cross into balance in our own lives.

Week 3: Sept 23 - 29

Equilibrium

Anchors to the One: Zoroastrian and Abrahamic Traditions (Jewish, Christian, Islamic) 

At this celestial pause point, we dance with voices focused on loving one another and being in covenant with Nature. We investigate the still point where personal peace meets global balance.

Session 4: Sept 30 - Oct 7

Continuing / Closing Session

Anchors to the One: Sufism and the Sacred Manuscript of Nature

Bringing together threads from all encountered traditions, you will harvest your insights to craft a personal "Holy Book". This may take the form of a poem, mantra, visual meditation, or ritual for accessing balance whenever life feels chaotic. We meet for our final Zoom session at the end of this week to share our creations and witness each person's unique synthesis of wisdom for the journey ahead.

Who Should Take This Class

This course offers practitioners and seekers a chance to explore sacred poetry and reflection across traditions. Whether you're a facilitator looking for inclusive approaches, a writer deepening your spiritual voice, or someone seeking creative ways to embody their spirituality, you'll leave with new tools for transformation.

We offer scholarships based on income as well as some partial scholarships for people living with serious illness and/or disability or people of color. Please fill out this scholarship application form so that we can find the best way to make the class accessible to you.

Where and When Does this Online Course Meet?

This is a hybrid course combining live zoom meetings with resources and exercises provided in downloadable Google docs. The Zoom sessions will meet Wednesday, September 9 and October 7th, 8 pm ET/5 pm PT.

The day before class begins, you will receive an email from the facilitator with a link to a Google Drive folder containing the first week's information. This email will be sent to a Google Group, an email-list, that will be used for communication throughout the class.

Participants will be invited to share and respond to their creative work through Google Drive and through the Group email list. Further instructions and examples will be in the first email and  can be clarified at our first Zoom session.

About the Facilitator

Scott Youmans, MA, TLA, is a board member of the TLA Network and graduated from the TLA program at Goddard College. An Interfaith Minister, Scott is a hospital chaplain, and offers spiritual companionship, facilitates workshops, and supplements these interests by offering technical expertise to values-based organizations.