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Please note:
In addition to writing sessions and workshops, reiki classes will be coming soon, in early 2026!

Please consider joining us for one of our events. We do short timed writings together from writing prompts of various kinds, including a short list of words. We read our impromptu work out loud and receive good, specific feedback from the group, words or phrases that strike people, images, feelings the work evokes. (There is no critique, no advice for strengthening the writing, because this is spontaneous writing, not polished work.)

You don't need to be a writer in order to join us for these events. I am a big believer in Brenda Ueland's claim that "everyone is talented, original and has something important to say" (If You Want to Write, Graywolf Press). And if you are already a fan of Peter Elbow's "freewriting" or Natalie Goldberg's "writing practice," you may delight in the chance to do this in community. I believe there is a kind of alchemy that happens when we write together like this. I believe it can change us, as writers, as humans.

Note, I've been on a long hiatus, but am returning now (fall of 2025), and we're about to begin a yearlong celebration titled Full Circle: Honoring the Turning of Our World. Please join us for the first session on November 2, 2025.

In addition to these ongoing writing sessions, we hold other meetings and workshops periodically, including the occasional retreat and workshops on various aspects of both the process and the craft of writing. (Also, as noted above, reiki classes will begin early in the new year!) Please check the events page here for upcoming offerings.

If you are interested, do please sign up here for my email mailing list. If you signed up for this previously, please do so again! I'm incredibly sorry to say my former MailChimp email list now exists only in the ethers. :(
https://499words.org/email-form/

All good wishes,
Riba

***

Riba Taylor
Desert Writing and Reiki Group
WordPress site:
https://noholdsbarred.blog/

Upcoming events

4

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  • Winter Solstice / Yule — Full Circle: Honoring the Turning of Our World
    Online

    Winter Solstice / Yule — Full Circle: Honoring the Turning of Our World

    Online

    $29 for this session / $229 for these remaining eight sessions
    paypal.me/RibaTaylor
    (Please send your fee via the link above and then RSVP here on Meetup.)

    Hi everyone! I'm inviting you to the next celebration of the turning of our world, the changing movement of our year.

    This is midwinter day, the shortest day and the longest night of the year. It is the ending of the moon-dominated part of the year, and the last day before the days begin to grow longer little by little.

    Please join us in the wonderful alchemy of writing together in our notebooks, reading our work out loud, creating other magic rituals and building connection and community on this holy day.

    Riba

    (Note, I'll ask for cameras on in Zoom for this communal work. Thank you! And I currently have one donated "scholarship" spot available. If you'd like to offer an extra spot, too, please use the same PayPal link at the top and indicate the extra donation in your PayPal note. I'll keep a running tab of these.)

    SAVE THE DATES!
    Full Circle
    Sundays
    9:30am to 12:30pm Pacific Time
    February 1, 2026
    March 22, 2026 (equinox)
    May 3, 2026
    June 21, 2026 (solstice)
    August 2, 2026
    September 20, 2026 (equinox)
    November 1, 2026

    • Photo of the user
    • Photo of the user
    • Photo of the user
    5 attendees
  • Announcing changes to our group!!
    Online

    Announcing changes to our group!!

    Online

    (Photograph copyright by Frames For Your Heart on Unsplash. Thank you for letting us use your gorgeous image!)

    Hi everyone. I hope you're doing well.

    I wanted to tell you I've decided to begin offering both writing and reiki events on this Meetup site. Beginning early in the new year, I will be offering Reiki I trainings here. (Initial classes will be for women only. I'm not sure if that will change in the future or not.)

    I hope this won't be disturbing to the many writers who have already joined our group, yet I will understand if these newly (oddly?) combined offerings might make you change your mind about being a member. If you do decide to leave, please know I wish you all good things.

    As many of you know, I've been on a very long hiatus from leading writing sessions here. My threshold back into doing so has unexpectedly come in my commitment to leading sessions for the eight main pagan holy days in the year. (December 21st will be our second session, so we will come full circle next November with the ninth session. These celebrations will include both writing and ritual as we honor the turning of our world together.)

    I've been wanting to begin leading reiki trainings for groups for a good while now. I'm feeling cautious about going slowly, wanting to be gentle with myself so I don't become overwhelmed. I expect to commit to one reiki training and one new writing workshop or retreat, likely beginning between late January and early March, so look for new events to begin popping up soon.

    As of today, I've changed the title of the group to include the reiki. I'm not sure if the group might change further as things unfold. I would like to do more things akin to the Full Circle offerings, and I know I am feeling called to offer more women-only events. Again, I can imagine some men may feel put off by this change. I'm sorry for that, for changing the tenor of things midstream, as it were, both with adding reiki and classes for women. At this point in time, I'm disinclined to make the entire group a women's group. I've worked with some amazing men here! I would never have wanted to miss those chances. Though in truth, mostly it is women who join my sessions, and I expect more offerings for women will appear.

    Thank you for reading my very long announcement!

    I wish each of you a good ending of our year. If I don't see you on December 21st, I'll hope to see you in the new year!

    With a deep fondness and big wishes for your well being—

    Riba

    • Photo of the user
    1 attendee
  • Imbolc / Brigid's Day — Full Circle: Honoring the Turning of Our World
    Online

    Imbolc / Brigid's Day — Full Circle: Honoring the Turning of Our World

    Online

    $29 for this session / $202 for the remaining seven sessions
    paypal.me/RibaTaylor
    (Please send your fee via the link above and THEN RSVP here on Meetup. Thanks.)

    Hi everyone! I'm inviting you to the next celebration of the turning of our world, the changing movement of our year.

    This is considered the beginning of spring, the cross-quarter holiday midway between the winter solstice and the spring equinox. Depending on where you live, you may have to hunt for signs of spring. The days are growing longer, the light is changing, the earth is showing new signs of life.

    Please join us in the wonderful alchemy of writing together in our notebooks, reading our work out loud, creating other magic rituals and building connection and community on this holy day.

    Riba

    (Note, I'll ask for cameras on in Zoom for this communal work. Thank you! And I currently have one donated "scholarship" spot available. If you'd like to offer an extra spot, too, please use the same PayPal link at the top and indicate the extra donation in your PayPal note. I'll keep a running tab of these.)

    SAVE THE REMAINING SESSION DATES!
    Full Circle
    Sundays
    9:30am to 12:30pm Pacific Time
    March 22, 2026 (equinox)
    May 3, 2026
    June 21, 2026 (solstice)
    August 2, 2026
    September 20, 2026 (equinox)
    November 1, 2026

    • Photo of the user
    1 attendee
  • Spring Equinox / Ostara — Full Circle: Honoring the Turning of Our World
    Online

    Spring Equinox / Ostara — Full Circle: Honoring the Turning of Our World

    Online

    $29 for this session / $177 for the remaining six sessions
    paypal.me/RibaTaylor
    (Please send your fee via the link above and THEN RSVP here on Meetup. Thanks.)

    Hi everyone! I'm inviting you to the next celebration of the turning of our world, the changing movement of our year.

    The spring equinox is one of the two days each year when the day and the night are equally balanced. Now there is no doubt the daylight has been growing steadily. It can be an exciting, changing time of the year, full of hope and promise.

    Please join us in the wonderful alchemy of writing together in our notebooks, reading our work out loud, creating other magic rituals and building connection and community on this holy day.

    Riba

    (Note, I'll ask for cameras on in Zoom for this communal work. Thank you! And I currently have one donated "scholarship" spot available. If you'd like to offer an extra spot, too, please use the same PayPal link at the top and indicate the extra donation in your PayPal note. I'll keep a running tab of these.)

    SAVE THE REMAINING SESSION DATES!
    Full Circle
    Sundays
    9:30am to 12:30pm Pacific Time
    May 3, 2026
    June 21, 2026 (solstice)
    August 2, 2026
    September 20, 2026 (equinox)
    November 1, 2026

    • Photo of the user
    1 attendee

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