Reflection from Writing, Listening, and Liberation 2026 with William Edelglass:
What stood out to me most during the Writing, Listening, and Liberation retreat was the opportunity for participants to share their writing aloud, and the small handwritten cards offered in response by listeners. The act of listening, alongside writing, created a sense of trust in the liberative possibilities of both the practice and the community. For me, this kind of listening became a way to practice presence with others. It also felt like an invitation to experience what it is like for my own stories—as memories, relics, dreams—to be cared for and held.
A moment that stayed with me was a story William shared on the first night, “A Story and a Song” from A Flowering Tree and Other Tales from India by A.K. Ramanujan. This story became a site of inquiry throughout the retreat: What stories and songs are asking for my attention, wishing to be told and heard? It also shaped many of my conversations with other participants, as we reflected on how to notice these stories and songs inside of ourselves, and how to bring them to light.
– Jiamin Li
