Explore the Mystery at the Heart of Life

Is a poem a prayer? Sometimes. Is a prayer a poem? Occasionally. Are all poems prayers? Definitely not.

In this livestream experience, join acclaimed Irish poet, theologian, and conflict mediator Pádraig Ó Tuama live from the Kripalu campus as we discover the searching nature of prayer: the human yearnings it taps into and the sometimes-known, sometimes-strange terrains of the soul it voices. Through exploring well and lesser-known poems, shared discussion, writing, and quiet reflection, we'll discover how poetry can become a language for wonder, grief, joy, uncertainty, and hope.

Kripalu is pleased to offer this special livestream experience with Pádraig, the influential host of the popular podcast Poetry Unbound from the On Being project, which has introduced millions of listeners to the transformative power of poetry. He is the author of several books of poetry and prose, including Kitchen Hymns, Love Between Men, and Feed the Beast, and serves on the faculty of Yale Divinity School.

In this program, you will:

• Explore the surprising relationship between poetry and prayer.
• Read and discuss both well-known and overlooked poems in a thoughtful, compassionate community.
• Discover how language can illuminate your own inner life.
• Experience poetry as a living, embodied practice.
• Make space for personal reflection, curiosity, and meaningful conversation in breakout groups on Zoom.

This retreat is appropriate for people of all approaches to poetry: well-read and new to reading poems. If you've ever wondered how a poem can help you listen more deeply—to yourself, to others, or to the mystery at the heart of life—this program offers a rare chance to learn with one of today's most beloved guides to poetry.  

NOTE: Kripalu is delivering this livestream experience through a third-party platform. When you purchase this program, you will be sent to union.fit and asked to create an account to complete your purchase and receive further details on accessing the program. All sales are final. All recordings will be available within 72 hours of the end of each session. You will have access to the video recording for 30 days after the program ends.