Writing workshop in the mountains
Reimagining Creativity: Making Writing, Photography and Art accessible
Sometime in the later part of June my partner and I found ourselves marvelling the beautiful architecture of Dharmalaya Institute, a place very close to my home in the mountains. I had first visited Dharmalaya in January when my friend and I went to drop our friend V there. The space was lively with the music of many participants who had come from all over the world for Dharmalaya’s popular natural building course.
In June, there was a different sound that enveloped the space. A sound of deep silence, the chirping of crickets and birds and that of rain that just didn’t seem to stop. Compared to the 25-30 people that we encountered in January, now stood just the three of us outside the main building hearing countless stories from Parul who showed us around the beautiful campus enlightening us with many stories of the space and how it came together.
Just when we were about to leave the campus, Parul asked me if I was interested to take up a writing workshop sometime since the weather was a perfect time to get into a writer’s retreat.
In my mind, I performed a back flip, danced a bit, yelled in excitement and then maintaining my composure got back to my senses and replied. “Yes for sure, let’s plan something.”
Over the next few days, after scribbling a thousand ideas on my whiteboard and finally coming to a sense of what would be the best experience to offer at a workshop, we came up with: Reimagining Creativity: Making Writing, Photography and Art accessible.
While the intent was to have a writing workshop, I proposed an expansive menu including photography and art as well with creativity as a central theme.
I strongly believe that the biggest reason people are not able to write as much or be disciplined with their writing is because of their relationship with creativity.
Instead of writing, if we drive conversations keeping creativity at the centre and then branching to various mediums through it, we might be able to design and create a container in which no matter the medium, the artist is able to find themselves and thrive.
I am excited to share that from 25th - 31st August, 2025 I am facilitating this workshop at Dharmalaya and I am writing about it here on Substack to invite you for it.
This retreat offers a quiet and intentional space to engage with your creative self through writing, photography, and playful art exercises grounded in mindfulness.
We’ll explore how creativity can become a tool to slow down, notice the world more deeply, and reflect on our inner landscapes. This isn’t about perfect prose or technical skills it’s about finding your own voice and rhythm, through simple practices of attention and expression.
Together, we will:
Develop habits of observation and reflection: We'll explore how we don't need an elaborate set of ideas to write or create, just being aware to the environment around and being observant of everyday life can inspire us to create in subtle yet interesting ways. Here we'll build the muscle to be more open to what's happening around us.
Build a gentle, consistent creative practice: Creativity is a way of operating more than an innate talent. Throughout the workshop, we'll have enough and more spaces to practice our craft and create. By virtue of creating everyday and looking at our craft from the lens of pure practice, the invitiation would be to take this habit beyond the workshop inculcating a creative discipline that outlasts bursts of sudden creative inspiration.
Learn to create without judgment or pressure: Much like scientists, we'll together create a space of experimentation. Instead of imagining us as artists in a fancy studio, the effort will be to bring down creative arts from its pedestal and see it from a lens of objectivity further reducing the pressure it takes upon us to create quality art. We'll create bad art, average art and if lucky really good art too. But, we all shall create!
Engage in deep listening both inward and outward: To create better, we need to consume better. By nurturing our capacity to listen deeply and without judgement, we will together prepare the container within ourselves to be more receptive to the voices inside and outside of us.
Whether you’re someone who writes often or someone who’s never picked up a camera, this retreat invites you to reimagine creativity as something that can be experienced without having to be a master at it.
Program approach:
This retreat is rooted in the belief that creativity is not a gift for the chosen few but a human impulse. Creativity, here, is a way of noticing. Of slowing down enough to observe, reflect, feel, and respond.
As a space holder, I bring creativity to people not as something they need to learn, but as something they already carry. I offer them tools to reconnect with their thoughts, with their surroundings, and with their deeper selves.
We do this through writing prompts, photography walks, visual storytelling, zines, shared silence, and simple rituals that bring us back to presence.
This retreat is built on the belief that:
Everyone is creative
Art is not a performance, it is presence
You don’t need to be good to begin
Expression should not be gated by language, skill, or confidence
A safe, non-judgmental space can dissolve the barriers people carry around art
We remove the hierarchy between “artist” and “non-artist.”
Here, we’re not aiming to create great art, we’re just trying to reintroduce play into our lives through art.
Why writing and photography?
Writing helps us untangle our thoughts, clarify emotion, and preserve memory. It allows introspection and truth-telling in a way few mediums can.
Photography trains the eye to look more deeply. To pause. It connects us to light, shadow, time, and context.
Both mediums are accessible at all times, portable and don't need expensive tools to begin with. Even the most basic mobile phone these days can outperfom the best of digital cameras.
“Instructions for living a life: Pay attention. Be astonished. Tell about it.”
- Mary Oliver
The essence of Community
We often believe we’re alone in our creative struggles.
But being in a room with people who are asking similar questions, doubting themselves, showing up anyway it changes something inside. This workshop is not just about personal creativity; it’s about shared reflection.
Community brings accountability, resonance, and encouragement. It helps us go deeper and be softer.
“We do not think ourselves into new ways of living, we live ourselves into new ways of thinking.”
- Richard Rohr
Overview of the main themes and activities we’ll explore:
This workshop is about reconnecting with creativity as a way of being not performing.
We’ll explore presence, memory, solitude, and everyday wonder through writing, photography, and playful expression.
Some themes we’ll touch:
Being with ourselves in stillness
Letting go of the inner critic
Finding meaning in memory and imagination
Observing the ordinary with fresh eyes
Telling stories to understand, not impress
You can expect:
Morning pages & guided journaling
Silent walks with photography
Writing letters to self
Visual poetry & zine-making
Story circles & gentle sharing
Some experiences will be kept as beautiful surprises allowing space for spontaneity, curiosity, and flow.
What kind of experience to expect:
Full-time immersive experience:
This retreat invites you to step away from everyday busyness and into a slower, deeper rhythm of living and creating. This programme is called ‘immersive’ because the point is to be completely focused on the programme. While there will be some time for rest, reading/journaling, and personal reflection, there won’t be time for activities unrelated to the programme. While you’re here, the expectation is that your full attention will be focused on the programme experience from start to finish.
Restful and structured rhythm:
Each day will offer a gentle structure with sessions in the morning and afternoon, and evenings left open for rest, reflection, or roaming.
Supportive community of co-travellers:
We’ll hold space for each other through sharing circles and reflective spaces without pressure, only invitation.
Non-judgmental space:
This is a place to try, fumble, flow, and simply be without comparison or critique.
Natural simplicity:
We’ll be surrounded by quiet forests, birdsong, and earth. The accommodations are shared and are rustic, natural earthen buildings in a beautiful forest setting.
Yogic lifestyle:
We’ll follow rhythms inspired by yogic living with early mornings, silence, nourishing food, and mindful rest. Clean and simple ashram-style lifestyle in which everyone contributes to the running of the place, including cleaning, washing dishes, etc. No smoking or intoxicants.
Healthy vegan food:
Natural and mostly organic, purely vegetarian meals (100% plant-based, vegan). No junk food or packaged snacks, etc.
Digital detox:
We invite you to take a pause from phones and screens to be fully here, with yourself and this moment. In support of the immersive experience, there will be no use of mobile phones or internet from the start of Day 2 until the end, so that it is easier to be present with one another — and with our own experience. It may take some adjustment at first but soon you’ll be amazed how much better you feel engaging with nature and fulfilling activities with good people rather than the screen. You'll be expected to remain safely within our Himalayan eco-campus for the entire duration of them programme (without visiting town, etc.)
Who is this programme for?
This space is for people who:
Struggle with perfectionism or the pressure to create something “good”
Have lost touch with their creative self due to work, burnout or self-doubt
Don’t see themselves as “artists” but wish to express more
Are overwhelmed by screens, speed, or constant doing
Crave a pause, a reset, a return
If you found this relevant and if you’re interested, please do apply for the workshop.
If you have any questions, queries, concerns you may reach out to me on Substack, reply to this mail or write me an email at rishabhkhanejawrites@gmail.com.
Hope to see you at Dharmalaya!
Ok bye. Thanks for reading.
This newsletter is ad-free, AI-free, and an anti-algorithm publication.
As a feature of all my newsletters, I share a quote, a song, a book,
plant-based meal, film/video that inspired me, and some photographs.
Quote: “Fiction is the truth inside the lie.”
― Stephen King
Song:
Book/Newsletter/Article: Read “The Vegetarian” by Han Kang. Mind was quite blown, the writing is exceptional, the plot super intriguing and the book is slow poison.
Meal: I am writing this from Dharmalaya, have come here for 2 days to prepare for the workshop. Had a vegan burrito yesterday!
Film/Video: Watched Metro… In dino with my family last week. A brilliant experience watching a Bollywood musical with such beautiful, meaningful songs and brilliant acting.
Photograph(s):
Dharmalaya Institute Free Journaling eBook:
Last year, I compiled a journaling ebook for myself for times when I feel I have nothing to write. I am offering it to you for free. Whether you’re starting your journaling journey or feeling stuck in a creative block, this guide will help you find your way.
Download your journaling eBook here.
Thank you for reading my work
Rishabh
