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A Joyful Noise

melodye shore

Candles in the Window Retreat: Prize Winner

January 14, 2014 by Melodye Shore

You spread the good word via Facebook and Twitter, and you commented on our prize giveaway post. You're a rock star in our book, regardless. But guess what? We dropped all entries into the proverbial hat, and you won!

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Star generator via Redkid,net
Congratulations, Julia! You can redeem your $25.00 discount when you register.

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Retreat Website and Facebook Page
Thanks again to everyone who entered. We're so looking forward to meeting you in June!  We'll be hosting other Retreat-related giveaways in the meantime, so keep an eye on our Faculty members' blogs and Facebook pages. (Cool prizes include Jeannine Atkins' Views From A Window Seat, EarthHoney Chocolate, and The Little Book of Contemplative Photography, oh my!)

P.S. Don't forget: Early Bird Registration ends on Valentine's Day. Check out the sweet deals we're offering those who register early.

Posted in: Uncategorized Tagged: candles in the window a writing and yoga, earthhoney chocolate, jeannine atkins, julia karr, melodye shore, views from a window seat, writing and yoga retreat (with chocolate

Candles in the Window Retreat: A prize drawing

January 7, 2014 by Melodye Shore
When the day is devoted to writing, time moves as slowly as the sun. In an unbroken afternoon, my characters relax and tell the kind of tales you get when there are no buses to catch, no phones that might ring, when they know they’ve got my attention. They stutter less and speak whole sentences at a time.
“Retreat,” in VIEWS FROM A WINDOW SEAT, by Jeannine Atkins

Retreat-Header 2-2

Winter’s upon us, but good news: Our 2014 Writing and Yoga Retreat (with chocolate!) is just a few short months away. And what better place to experience “an unbroken afternoon” than Land of Medicine Buddha, in sunny California? Tucked among the redwood trees of the Santa Cruz Mountains, the retreat center is two hours south of San Francisco, and just a few short miles from the beach.

CANDLES IN THE WINDOW: A Writing and Yoga Retreat (with Chocolate!) spans the weekend of June 6 – 8, but the memories we’ll create will last a lot longer, guaranteed. So will the stories we’ll write with VIEWS FROM A WINDOW SEAT author, Jeannine Atkins. Also on the agenda: gentle yoga classes, a contemplative photography walk, meditation hikes and how-to sessions, and a chocolate-infused writing activity on Saturday night. Want to know more? If you haven’t yet visited our Retreat website and Facebook page, please do!

Our Early Bird Registration discount ends on Valentine’s Day, but to sweeten the pot even further, we’re offering an additional $25.00 price reduction to one lucky winner.

Entering is easy. 1. Leave a comment on this blog entry. Be sure it includes your name and a way for us to reach you.  
2. Click “Maybe” or “Going” on our CANDLES IN THE WINDOW Facebook page. 3. Share this blog link with your Twitter followers and Facebook friends.  Do one or all three—each option gives you another shot at the prize.

All entries must be completed by 5 p.m. Pacific Time on January 13th. The lucky winner will be selected in a random drawing on January 14th and will be informed via this blog and Facebook.

P.S. Becky Levine’s offering a signed copy of Jeannine Atkins’s lovely book to one lucky winner. We’ll explore VIEWS FROM A WINDOW SEAT at our Writing and Yoga retreat, so once you’ve entered our drawing, so be sure you drop your name into the hat on Becky’s blog, too!

Posted in: Uncategorized Tagged: candles in the window, candles in the window a writing and yoga, jeannine atkins, joyful noise, land of medicine buddha, melodye shore, views from a window seat lessons on writ

Mindfulness and Imagination: a Yoga and Writing Retreat

April 25, 2013 by Melodye Shore

I’ve done lots of event planning in my day. I've given speeches to large audiences, led seminars in closet-sized classrooms. But during a brainstorming session at Mother’s Market one day, I asked my long-time yoga instructor, Megan McCarver, to consider teaming up with me on something entirely different—a fun challenge for both of us, each in our own way.

Megan said yes! Over the next few months, we explored several areas of mutual interest—yoga and writing, art and photography—and linked them a common theme. We reserved space at a Tibetan retreat facility in Soquel, California, and then we reached out to others: "Please join us for a weekend of Mindfulness and Imagination…"

Word spread, and our reserved spots went fast!  People joined us from as far away as New York and Texas, and from cities all over California. Twenty people, all told.  And no wonder—nestled into the mountains and surrounded by giant redwoods, Land of Medicine Buddha is at once peaceful and transformative. It’s an ideal spot in which to meet kindred spirits, and  to explore new possibilities.

Beginners unfurled their mats alongside long-time practitioners. Megan encouraged us to become aware of our comfort levels, to stretch the boundaries of our self-imposed limitations as we moved through a sequence of yoga poses. “Focus on the breath,” she said, “Let it give you an opening.”  


California Lavendar

We hiked in the forest, ears attuned to the peaceful sounds of nature. Leaves fluttered in the cool morning breeze. Bees hummed in the afternoon sun. Birds sang lullabies to their hatchlings, tucked safe in their nests, and an owl called out, “Whooo? Who goes there?” 


Prayer flags in a stand of redwoods

During silent meditation, we listened to own inner voices. That carried over into our Creative Art Journaling Workshop, where we explored new ways of translating our thoughts into words and images.


Creative art journal and inspiration

We faced our doubts, banished our inner critics. And with hearts wide open, we poured ourselves onto the page.


Margaret Avritt facilitates a writing session

The kitchen staff nourished us with delicious vegetarian meals, prepared in a way that promotes ethical practices and eco-sustainability. After an especially yummy lunch on Saturday, Stace Dumoski took us on a photography walk. "Taking pictures is very much like getting the first draft ideas down on the page," she said. “You won't really know what you have until you review the pictures later, so just focus on the experience for now. See what happens when you change your perspective . Use your zoom lens, switch positions. Tilt your head or turn your camera.”


Stace Dumoski pauses for a brief orientation on our photography walk

On Saturday evening, Venerable Nordzin spoke with us about compassion, as seen through the lens of Buddhist teachings. She spoke openly about the challenges that come of recognizing our own inner light, much less sharing it with others. “Soften your gaze,” she said. “Greet one another –your own selves—with kindness.”


Venerable Nordzin and Megan McCarver

Tears of gratitude, joyful smiles—I witnessed both at the prayer wheel when we said our final goodbyes. We swapped email addresses and phone numbers, packed our belongings, and carried with us a treasure-trove of shared memories. And…on the way home, this happy couple got engaged!


Lori Nobel and Keith Spielman at Carmel Beach

The feedback from our retreat was at once heart-warming and affirming. Given the popularity of this event, Megan and I are pleased to announce two additional retreats at Land of Medicine Buddha!

Candles in the Window: A Yoga and Writing Retreat (with chocolate), June 6-8, 2014. This one’s my baby. As with the 2013 retreat, we’ll enjoy creative art journaling, yoga, photography walks, writing sessions, nature hikes, etc. Lynae Palmer (aka "Lusty Chocolate Shaman," of Earthhoney Chocolates) is bringing special treats for all of us, and–drum roll, please–author Jeannine Atkins is our featured presenter!! More information to follow, here and on Facebook, but if you have any questions/want to be added to our email list, just drop me a note. It’s going to be an amazing experience, and you won’t want to miss it!

Megan will host a retreat during the weekend of April 4-6, 2014. Her theme is in the works, so stay tuned! In the meantime, please mark those dates on your calendars.

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Posted in: Uncategorized Tagged: candles in the window, land of medicine buddha, margaret avritt, megan mccarver, melodye shore, mindfulness and imagination, stace dumoski, yoga and writing retreat

My blah de blah WordPress account

May 16, 2011 by Melodye Shore
Hello, and welcome to my home away from home!

This a placeholder only–unless/until I transfer my affections to WordPress or Blogger. (I’m currently blogging over at LiveJournal, which I love, but it’s been acting kinda wonky of late.)

Please contact me via my official (la de dah) website, or leave a comment on my LiveJournal blog.

Posted in: Uncategorized Tagged: melodye shore

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