Awaken Your Inner Poet.

Welcome to the Poetry Vessel.

Join Malibu’s Poet Laureate for private and public poetry workshops to guide you through meditations backed by ambient music and herbal scents to help you open your inner poetic eye.

You are invited to attend Nathan’s events or hire him privately to lead a poetry workshop at your retreat, business, studio, university, home, or other location.

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Founder of The Poetry Vessel and Malibu Poet Laureate, Nathan Hassall, sitting cross-legged on a large rock formation near the water in Malibu, practicing meditation with a backdrop of distant mountains and a clear sky.

Meditation & Poetry.

Meditation and poetry go hand in hand. Meditating and contemplating, allowing images to unfold and converge, relaxing and synthesizing, and opening the dreaming eye: each of these helps contribute to a poetry practice.

Find Calm.

By calming your body, you allow the chatter of your egoic mind to fade, allowing you to recover your Self’s poetic guidance and wisdom. When connected to poetry, you can find the language of the heart, which, if you listen closely enough, sings in transformation.

Founder of The Poetry Vessel Nathan Hassall sits cross-legged on a stage with a meditation setup, surrounded by bowls, papers, and a candle, with a large eye graphic on the wall behind him and small wall lights illuminating the scene.

Write Poetry.

With prompts that invite exploration and exercises that loosen the grip of self-doubt, Nathan guides poets to trust the words that come when they least expect them, discovering fresh expressions and perspectives. In these settings, you will find ways to open your imagination and find and follow your unique voice.

Founder of The Poetry Vessel and Malibu Poet Laureate, Nathan Hassall pictured with a beard and long hair tied back, sitting at a table with books, a notebook, a cup, and a lantern, in a room with a window and shelves in the background.

What People Are Saying

  • A middle-aged man with a bald head, wearing a striped collared shirt, smiling subtly and looking at the camera, against a plain background.

    On Nathan Hassall's Poetry Workshops...

    “I’ve never taken a [poetry] workshop before, I’m in my 50s, and I came back as soon as I found out there was another one. It was fantastic and Nathan was amazing. Can’t wait for more!”

    - Robert Roman, Producer at Sony Entertainment

  • Close-up of an elderly woman smiling outdoors with greenery in the background.

    On Nathan Hassall's Poetry Services...

    “Nathan believes so deeply in poetry and in the power of the spoken word and in community…With these workshops that he’s given, Nathan nourishes that and makes community possible.”

    - Dr. Ann Buxie, PhD in Mythological Studies with an emphasis in Depth Psychology, focusing on Hinduism and Buddhism.

  • A woman with long, wavy brown hair and a warm smile, wearing earrings and a necklace, posing against a dark background.

    On Nathan Hassall's Poetry Workshops

    “I’ve had the most fantastic time, Nathan is a sublime poetry instructor and we’ve had a terrific time reading and writing and getting to know each other. It’s just been a lovely experience. I’m so glad I found this group! [Nathan’s workshops were] a thoroughly fulfilling experience.”

    - Julie Daniels, Voice/Speech Instructor at Los Angeles County High School for the Arts

  • Charlotte Ward, Malibu Poet Laureate

    On Nathan Hassall's Poetry Workshops...

    “Nathan has shared an inner obligation to express drive musically. A song to sing, a rhythm to thrum, we listen applaud all that stirs us to breathe poetry into the bright community air. Thank you, Nathan!”

    - Charlotte Ward, Author, MBTI, Neuro-Linguistic Programing, Photo Reading, and Success Unlimited Network expert.

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FAQs

  • These workshops are curated to open your inner creative eye. Through the poetry writing process, we gain access to self-knowledge and wisdom. With the writing guidance, you learn to write freely and creatively, without inhibition, which is soothing to the body, mind, and soul.

  • Yes, workshops are generative — meaning we write new poems together.

    Typically, we write three poems in any two-hour workshop and five or six in four-hour workshops.

  • Workshops include but are not limited to:

    • Guided meditation to open your creative eye

    • Printed poetry packet

    • Option to share your poems aloud with the rest of the attendees.

    • OPTIONAL aromatherapy (palo santo, sage, essential oils) 

    Special Add-ons include:

    • ADD-ON Special notebooks for your guests to have a memento for the event, write in after and keep for life.

  • Workshops are typically offered either for two hours, or four hours. 

    For multi-day retreat and workshop packages, please contact us directly.

  • Themes include but are not limited to:

    • Awakening Your Inner Poet

    • Exploring the Shadow

    • The Four Elements (Earth, Fire, Air, Water)

    • Eco-Poetry

    • Repetition & Variation

    • Ego & the Unconscious

    • Self-Love & Romantic Love

    • Custom Theme of your choosing (w/additional fee)

    Enquire for more details. 

  • Yes, we offer individual and group workshops that can be booked for your bookclub, an intimate gathering, a wine and cheese poetry night, a birthday party, an anniversary, and more. 

    These can either take place from the comfort of your home, business, or event venue.

    Enquire for more details.

  • Yes, some of the topics I frequently lecture on include but are not limited to:

    • Poetry and meditation

    • The craft of poetry

    • Poetry as an alchemical art

    • Busting creative block

    • Writing nature poetry

    • Shadow exploration and poetry

    • The elements and poetry

    • Custom Topic (w/additional fee)

  • Private workshops are offered at a flat rate of $150 per hour + $25 per guest attending the workshop.

    • Additional payment is required for expenses if traveling more than 20 miles from the center of Malibu. 

    • Payment is collected via PayPal, Venmo, Zelle, and cash only.