Transformative Writing Series Week Two: “Self-Reliance” by RW Emerson

Transformative Writing Series Have you ever changed your life after reading a great spiritual thinker, life coach, or spiritual writer? Transformative writing is the intentional use of writing for psychological change and well-being in the realms of awareness, self-discovery, insight, consolation, and personal growth for both the author and reader. In this series, in classes that can be taken separately or together, we will read, experience, and discuss transformative writings by 4 inspiring authors. After each week’s reading, we will experiment with writing our own transformative works.
Week Two: Ralph Waldo Emerson’s “Self-Reliance” is a battle cry for personal autonomy, fearlessness, and non-conformity. It begins with the unforgettable “To believe your own thought, to believe that what is true for you in your private heart is true for all men – that is genius.” This class will delve into the delicious courage of self-reliance, the beauty of transcendental experience, and how Emerson’s essay can transform us as writers and people. Then we’ll try writing our own philosophical essays.