Poet and beloved workshop facilitator Cathy Smith Bowers returns to Grailville after a three-year absence. Drawing from her experience and knowledge as a published author and Poet Laureate for North Carolina, Cathy has developed this workshop for both beginning and experienced poets to explore the rich sources of creative material that belong to each of us: dreams, family stories and memories both known and unknown to our conscious mind-our 'abiding images," as Cathy has named them- are asking something of us. They're asking us to look beyond the surface to the bigger levels of meaning and metaphor." Come "write into the mystery of your abiding image" and develop new material for poetry, and for your own spiritual learning.

The Abiding Image: Poetry as Self Discovery with Cathy Smith Bowers is offered as a full-day workshop on Saturday February 16, with the option of a two-day overnight women's only retreat, Saturday-Sunday, for those wishing to go deeper into this writing experience. The day workshop will offer opportunities writing and sharing. The women's retreat, co -led by Pauletta Hansel, will focus on writing and crafting poetry as a spiritual practice.

Cathy Smith Bowers is author of The Love That Ended Yesterday in Texas, Traveling in Time of Danger, A Book of Minutes, The Candle I Hold Up to See You, and Like Shining from Shook Foil became North Carolina's Poet Laureate in February, 2010.

The Abiding Image: Poetry as Self Discovery with Cathy Smith Bowers is a part of Grailville's Practice of Poetry series that offers ways to use poetry as a spiritual and creative practice. The practice of poetry helps us find new meaning in our experiences, and to make room for both inspiration and careful discernment in the decisions that affect our lives.