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IN PRAISE OF LISTENING: Reading, Writing, Drawing, Slowing Down
July 10 - July 12, 2026
Christian McEwen
"Many an old story begins with the words, 'Long ago, when animals could speak...' Perhaps the corollary would be just as good an opening... 'Long ago, when people could listen.'"- Lyanda Lynn HauptThe word “listen” derives from the Old English hylsnan which means, quite simply, “to pay attention.” But in recent years such generous, expansive listening has been increasingly under siege. Our eyes are seduced by our dazzling screens; our ears plugged up with plastic buds. We listen to podcasts at the gym; to audiobooks while driving; to guided meditation apps as we try to soothe ourselves to sleep. Little by little, we risk losing our ability to listen deeply to one another and the natural world, and even to ourselves.“Slow down a moment! Stop and listen!”When we take the time to listen, not only with our ears, but with the fullness of our heart and mind and spirit, it becomes possible to recover the curious children we once were: lively and engaged. Christian McEwen is the author of In Praise of Listening: A Gathering of Stories (Bauhan Publishing, 2023). For years now, she has been leading workshops with a focus on just such dedicated listening.Over the course of the weekend, we will explore the act of listening in a variety of ways, reclaiming that very ordinary joy, learning to braid it into each detail of our daily lives.We will start by recalling childhood memories of sound, refining them further through both words and images. We will also practice deep listening (“hearing one another into speech”) and take the time to attend to natural sounds, going for a mediative “sound walk,” and listening to silence. There will also be the opportunity to enjoy the gorgeous acres of the Menla campus, both alone and in company, pausing at intervals to listen to the land, and returning home with a nourishing acoustic gift.Schedule:Friday, July 10
ABOUT THE TEACHERs
Christian McEwen
Christian McEwen is a freelance writer and workshop leader, originally from the UK. She is the author of several books, including World Enough & Time: On Creativity and Slowing Down, now in its second edition. Her articles have appeared in The Nation, The Village Voice, The Ameri...
MENLA
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