Proprioceptive Writing

Linda Trichter Metcalf discovered proprioceptive writing in the summer of '76 and it transformed her life. She was a professor of English and Humanities at Pratt Institute in New York and started teaching proprioceptive writing to her students.

After seeing the impact it had on them, she and her partner Toby Simon founded the Proprioceptive Writing Center in Rockport, Maryland in 1982. This center is now based in New York City and includes teacher training programs. Proprioceptive writing has been the subject of studies in graduate education and the subject of doctoral dissertations.

This information comes from the book and associated website.

We have actual nerves called proprioceptors, which are located in our muscles, joints, and tendons. These proprioceptors communicate with our brain, for example, allowing us to itch a scratchy nose without thinking - our sixth sense. While our first five senses take in information from the outside, this sixth sense gathers information from our bodies. Proprioceptive writing seems to tap into those thoughts and emotions that are located in our nervous systems.

It is similar to meditation in that its goal is to gain freedom from attachment to thoughts. It is different from meditation in that, instead of letting go of your thoughts and coming back to the breath, you engage the thoughts and feelings that arise. Some say that proprioceptive writing is a good way to prepare the mind for meditation. It is also different from stream of consciousness writing in that you are not trying to tell a story and you are reflecting on what you are writing.

Proprioceptive writing can be done alone or with a group. Through a 25-minute self-guided exercise that opens your heart and mind and reflects on what it hears you produce a written work called a "WRITE."

* Writing is not the outcome of the exercise, but it is a tool to gain insight into how we think and feel and what it means.

* While it may seem like a form of meditation or spiritual practice, it is not a religion.

* It is not meant to diagnose psychological or emotional problems, but may free us from effects of problems.

* It is not meant to be a polished or publishable piece of work.

* A place where you can be undisturbed. This allows the space to be absorbed by your thoughts.

* 25 minutes. You can go shorter or longer but this time seems to provide maximum impact.

* Several sheets of unlined paper and a pen. Unlined paper gives you more freedom.

* A burning candle. This creates a sacred space, helps quiet the mind, and is a focusing tool.

* Baroque music. This type of music has a calming effect on the body because its tempo has roughly the same number of beats per minute as the human heart.