Memoir Writing as Spiritual Practice

HOSTED IN WRITERS WORKSHOP


Pre-Festival Offering
Thursday September 3, 2026

9 am–5 pm

cost: $59.00

TICKETS
Facilitated by Jamie Marich
Hosted by Mary McKinney and Sarah Skinner
 
In this day-long workshop, trauma specialist, author, and memoirist Dr. Jamie Marich gives you gentle guidance on approaching the creation of your memoir as a spiritual or healing practice.
 
Many folks believe they have to be famous or have the most uniquely original life story to write a memoir. Or we may believe that the only worthy memoirs are from those writers who are lucky enough to sign on with a major publisher and have their books end up on the New York Times bestseller list.
 
What if you could approach writing your memoir, or a nuanced exploration of one aspect of your life, as a spiritual practice? Or as a vital component of how you process and heal?
 
Whether you have an intention to share your writing with the world, or whether you are engaging in this writing process for your own health and healing (or some combination of motivation), you are welcome to join us for this collaborative experience. A long-time writer who brings in aspects of her own life into clinical writing that she calls “memoir-ish,” Jamie has gone through the process of writing a formal memoir, \You Lied to Me About God.\ She has a great deal of information and insight to share about memoir writing and the fusion of expressive arts practice, as well as using the process of constructing your memoir to deepen your spiritual and/or healing practice. Please come prepared to write.
 
Although sharing your work is not required to participate in the experience, it is encouraged, and there will be several chances given for sharing within a supportive, expressive arts framework for giving and receiving feedback.
 
 
Facilitated by Jamie Marich


Dr. Jamie Marich (she/they), LPCC-S, REAT travels internationally, teaching on topics related to trauma, EMDR therapy, expressive arts, yoga, and spiritual trauma while maintaining a private clinical practice and online education operations in her home base of Akron, OH. Marich is the author of over a dozen books and manuals in the field of trauma and expressive arts, including “Dissociation Made Simple” (2023), “Trauma and the 12 Steps” (2012/2020), and “Dancing Mindfulness” (2015). Her most recent release, “You Lied to Me About God: A Memoir” (North Atlantic Books, 2024) received a Kirkus starred review. Marich grew up with one Catholic parent, one Evangelical parent, has a brother who is a Roman Catholic priest, and also survived a yoga ashram experience. They are currently enrolled at The Chaplaincy Institute, pursuing interfaith ordination.

Hosted by Mary McKinney and Sarah Skinner

Mary McKinney is a sometimes speaker, not-often-enough poet, aspiring memoirist, full-time Marriage & Family Therapist (psychotherapist), Community Chaplain in Training, overtime worker for Mental Health and Harm Reduction Justice, Circle Keeper, reluctant and clumsy leader, passionate stigma shatterer, eager student, and all-the-time proud mother and lover of her family (legal and chosen), critters, trees, trails, music, and all things purple. Mary first came home to the WGF in 2016 and soon joined the extra fun of volunteering, Co-Curated the Art Studio 2023-2025, and has now taken the leap to Curate the first Writers’ Workshop!

Sarah Skinner is a poet, seeker, and weaver of spaces where truth finds its voice. Rooted in the Blue Ridge Mountains, her work moves between prayer and protest, tending the sacred fire of words that awaken, remember, and return. She believes poetry is more than art—it is invocation, threshold, and radical hospitality. Sarah’s poetry has been a voice in movement spaces, from local gatherings to national justice events. A trained dialogue facilitator and seasoned event leader, she holds space for stories that challenge, heal, and transform. She has spoken at Wild Goose Festival, March for Our Lives, and faith-based justice gatherings. In her work, Sarah calls forth the prophets—the dreamers, the voices waiting to rise. She invites all who long to cross the threshold into presence, into witness, into the luminous fire of knowing.

Check In for pre-festival events will be available on Wednesday from 1 pm to 5 pm, and Thursday from 7am to 9 am.
If you’re tent camping, there’s no additional campsite charge for Wednesday night.
Some campsite locations are restricted due to large venue tent construction in several areas.
RV campers will need to purchase an additional night.