The Christmas tree is still up
An invitation to gather
Happy 2025! May the year ahead be filled with creative nourishment, inspiration and energy to create whatever lives in our hearts.
I hope you enjoyed a restful festive season. Our Christmas tree is still up. Yes. I know. It’s bad luck. But so far it doesn’t feel that way. The living room feels extra cosy, especially in the evenings.
There’s no big essay today. I’m in the midst of something of an inner winter, as many people are, this time of year, and I don’t just mean my resistance to taking down the Christmas decorations. My writing practice is being allowed to meander for now. It feels liberating. Necessary. No grand plans. No goals. Just allowing it to be a grounding practice - a way to feel more alive. We all need our version of that. It’s not an easy time to be human.
And on the subject of grounding, enlivening practices, I feel inspired to re-share something that’s been deeply meaningful for me and others, for eight months now…
…If you'd welcome a dose of creative inspiration in a soulful circle of women this new year, I warmly invite you to join an upcoming gathering of The Joyful Visibility Creativity Circle.
[It's definitely not a new year, new you, thing]
If a women's circle and a creative writing group had a baby, this would be it: A transformative space for women to explore writing as a healing, empowering practice that connects us with ourselves, our authentic voice, and the experience of being alive.
There is no critique. Just soulful support, inspiring prompts, and rule-free creativity in an intimate group setting of no more than eight. It's a space where we write ourselves free, and see each other as the magnificent, messy, whole, radiant beings that we all are.
The feedback from participants has been glorious:
"Immediately I felt very held by both Claire and the group. It felt nurturing but also strong, a space where we could be real.
It was such a pleasure to take time for myself and to tap into the power of writing to reflect on my past year, and to do that in a way that felt raw and honest – and also beautiful.
I will definitely be back - thank you!"
- Catriona Horey, Leadership and Life Coach
The full details, including the link to sign up, are here. A choice of times is on offer. Each session is 90-minutes, over Zoom:
Thursday, 16th January at 9am UK (almost sold out) and 6:30pm UK / 10:30am Pacific
Friday, 17th January at 11am UK
Same times on Thursday, 13th February and Friday, 14th February
There's no ongoing commitment. Come along once and join as a one-off, or every month, as many do, if you feel so inspired! Only £15 a seat.
Perhaps this is not for you - but for a woman you know - do share this email with them if so!
I’m sending you a wave from over here as this new year begins.
With love and creativity,
Claire
Find me elsewhere:
…Instagram: @clairemackinnonwrites
…Website: clairemackinnon.com
…LinkedIn: Claire Mackinnon
…Explore working with me one-to-one