An inspirational journey through expressive writing
4 – 9 June 2020, Pelion
WE ARE SORRY TO ANNOUNCE THAT THE RETREAT IS POSTPONED DUE TO CORONAVIRUS
A six-day writing retreat in Greece designed by the psychologist and author Dimitra Didangelou to help you to enrich your self-connection through writing and nourish your soul, mind and body. A creative oasis for self- renewal and mental well-being.
Dimitra’s approach through expressive writing techniques encourages life reflection, self-exploration and creative expansion.
The teachings are useful for all individuals, while the practice of expressive writing can particularly benefit those seeking to gain insight into their inner lives, increase self-awareness, listen to their inner voice and connect with their full creative potential.
Here are some activities you can expect from your retreat:
- Daily workshops on expressive writing in natural landscapes
- Meaningful structured conversations on subjects inspired by ancient Greek philosophy
- Excursions to the astonishing beaches, yoga, acupuncture, massages, horse riding, swimming, hiking available onsite
- Dinners with delicious local dishes and wine
The retreat will be held in English.
With places limited to 12 participants, it’s a good idea to secure your place early!
WHAT MAKES THIS RETREAT SPECIAL
The content
The more you know about yourself, the richer your inner life becomes. Through specific writing tools and methods developed by experts (Dr. Pennebaker, Adams, Progoff, Thompson etc), expressive writing helps us to get in touch with our feelings and thoughts. Expressing the feelings and thoughts through writing allows us to tune into our inner life and enriches our ability to self-inspire. Workshops are designed to help us identify where our blockages stem from and give us the strength to overcome them.
The practice of expressive writing focuses entirely on tapping into our inner selves, without any concern for narrative structure or grammar rules. There is no right or wrong answer. Expressive writing can be practiced by anyone, at any stage of their life.
For more information, read our FAQ about Expressive Writing.
Here is what some of the past participants have to say about Dimitra’s workshops:
The exercises opened my eyes to a new way of thinking about my work, and myself. From the first session, I felt I was already a step forward in discovering newfound enjoyment and confidence in my writing. The workshops were so practical and flexible that I could adapt them to my specific needs.
S.B., Prague
Dimitra provided me with deeply insightful advice on the best way to proceed with the writing of a deeply personal memoir and on the struggles that come with it.
S.A., Berlin
I hugely enjoyed the one-on-one session with Dimitra. She is a great listener, and knows how to ask all the right questions to get you thinking about your own writing process. I finished the session feeling very motivated and with new insights and perspectives relating to present and future work. Perfect!
M.H., Berlin
Freedom, revelation, catharsis. I felt like I got the pen down to my soul and then I imprinted it onto paper. And then, I faced the truth that finally was inside me. I saw, on the paper, me, in my most authentic form.
Th. K., Cyprus
The Host
Dimitra Didangelou is a psychologist MSc, science journalist and author. After filling thousands of pages for personal and professional purposes, she quickly discovered the power of the written word. Her specialization is therapeutic and expressive writing, helping people gain insight into their lives, listen to their inner voice and enhance their creativity.
Alongside founding and editing a web-magazine that explores psychology, she is the founder of “Expressing MySelf”, an Institute which offers workshops promoting conscious and creative living.
She loves writing fiction based on real stories because she believes that the unbelievable stories life brings in surpass even the most powerful imagination.Her training includes Advanced Study in Therapeutic Writing (The Center for Journal Writing in Denver, CO, USA), an MSc in Psychology and the Mass Media, a BA in Psychology and a Certificate in Philosophical Counseling and Psychotherapy.
Dimitra is a published novelist and her short stories have been distinguished in many writing contests.
See Dimitra’s TED speech here
Learn more about Dimitra here.
The location
The retreat will take place in Pelion peninsula, one of Greece’s most undiscovered areas, the homeland of mythic Chiron Centaurus, tutor of many ancient Greek heroes and healer. Pelion is in the Greek mainland, which is home to some of the most beautiful beaches, forests and hiking trails in Greece. You will be accommodated in Pinakates, a hidden gem in the mountainous hills, village of less than 200 inhabitants, one of whom is Dimitra. We will organise your trip from the airport to the village, where you will stay in the traditional stone houses typical of the region. The place is surrounded by forests paved with hiking trails and in 20’ driving distance there are beaches with crystal clear water and traditional fishing villages. Workshops will take place in a variety of spectacular natural scenery.
“I thought I knew Greece, but I had never heard of Pelion until friends told me about the simple stone house they were staying in, the perfect swimming, the unripened food, the joys of pine- and olive-covered slopes and deserted pebble beaches. When they went on about it as a forgotten corner of Greece, I thought maybe they were exaggerating. But they weren’t”, writes Anthony Sattin on CONDE NAST TRAVELLER.
Read the whole article here.
The low- cost:
Early Birds until 15/3: 690 € (double room shared)
After 16/3: 750 € (double room shared)
For Single Room: extra 200 €
For bookings contact Dimitra at
dimitra@expressingmyself.org
THE RETREAT IS POSTPONED DUE TO CORONAVIRUS
all the deposits will be refunded
In order to hold your place, there is a non-refundable deposit of 250€ (included in the total price). The balance of the fees will be due on July 31st. Once paid, fees are non-refundable except in the event of our cancellation.
Accommodation is based on two sharing in a twin room. If you’d like your own room, there’s a single supplement of €200. You can book with a friend and we’ll put you in a room together or we’ll match you with someone.
The accommodation will be in a family run traditional guest house. Each studio is independent with a private bathroom and a private kitchen. Note that there is no internet connection in the guest house, but there is wifi at the coffee shops and the taverns.
Space for workshops is limited to 12 participants to ensure lots of individual support and a nourishing environment.
Included in the price:
- Bed and breakfast
- One individual session with Dimitra
- Workshops with Dimitra in a natural environment (including transportation to the beach)
- Haiku writing and walking workshop
- Various evening events, including guided conversations and open-air cinema
- Welcome dinner and drinks
- Snacks and material during the workshops
Not Included:
- Airfares
- Transfers from/to the airport (we can organise it or book a taxi for you)
- Travel Insurance
- Meals, with the exception of the welcome dinner (in the village there are three taverns which serve local traditional dishes and two coffee-shops with snacks. You can have a meal between €5-10).
Optional Extras:
- Yoga
- Massage
- Acupuncture
- Horse Riding
- Hiking
- Swimming
- Ride with the traditional steam train
For bookings contact dimitra@expressingmyself.org
How to come
We recommend first checking the flights to the closest airport of Volos (45′ from Pinakates) where Easy Jet has cheap flights: http://www.thessalyairport.gr/en/
Flights go to either Athens (4 hours driving to Pinakates) or Thessaloniki (2,5 hours).
Both Athens and Thessaloniki are nice cities to spend some time or days. The nearest city to Pinakates is Volos, about 40’ driving and there is a connection to Pinakates by bus: http://ktelvolou.gr/en/home/
We can organize your transportation from/to the airport or book a taxi just for you or shared.
What else?
Video from previous retreats HERE.
This is a good guide to the region.
If you want to combine your retreat with a before or after vacation in Greece, ask Dimitra for recommendations!
For bookings contact dimitra@expressingmyself.org
THE RETREAT IS POSTPONED DUE TO CORONAVIRUS
