Free yourself from your story.
Step onto a path of inner transformation!

Through deep, searching questions and expressive writing, you will embark on a healing journey into your own inner landscape. You will learn to use authentic written expression as a profoundly transformative spiritual practice.
By opening to radical honesty with yourself, you allow even long-standing dysfunctional relationship patterns to shift and heal.

We like to think we are honest—with ourselves and with others—yet the full truth is seldom spoken.
Instead, we inhabit a world of stories shaped by assumptions, inherited beliefs, expectations, and cultural patterns.
These inner narratives quietly distance us from our true selves.

It is time to change the story we tell about ourselves.

Mark Matousek (USA)
October 22–25, 2026

Thu: 6:00–9:00 pm, Fri–Sat: 10:00 am–6:00 pm, Sun: 10:00 am–4:00 pm
MAITREA, Týnská ulička 6, Prague 1
Interpretation into Czech will be provided.

When you speak the truth, your story begins to change.
And when your story changes, so does your life.

As you begin to explore your shadow patterns and inner themes, you gradually loosen their hidden grip and uncover valuable parts of yourself that have long been suppressed by fear or shame.
Often, we don’t know how to hold our own desires and gifts, and so we choose to look away from them instead.
Authentic writing helps bring these imprisoned parts into clearer view—and gives them the space to be released.

Human beings have a natural tendency to create stories—they help us orient ourselves in life and survive.
We are, in essence, Homo narrans: the only beings on the planet who carry an idealized image of themselves within a body of flesh and bone. This capacity offers us immense possibility, and equally profound challenge.
Our difficulties do not arise from narratives themselves, but from the seductive myths we mistakenly take for truth.

 When you realize that your inner images can be changed, you gradually learn to create stories that empower you and return you to places of wonder and joy—a beginner’s mind.
You are offered the opportunity to enter this spiritual practice in true depth, within a safe, supportive, and non-judgmental environment.

Mark Matousek (USA)

Mark Matousek has over 30 years of experience as an author, teacher, speaker, and—most importantly—as someone who has personally undergone transformative work. He helps people discover their authenticity by uncovering their true personal story.

Born in 1957 in Los Angeles, Mark studied drama and literature at universities in Berkeley and Los Angeles. He worked as a reporter and editor for Reuters, Newsweek Magazine, and Interview, the magazine founded by Andy Warhol.

He then spent several years as a freelance journalist and writer, contributing regularly to publications such as Harper’s Bazaar, Tricycle, Yoga Journal, The Chicago Tribune, O: The Oprah Magazine, and Psychology Today.

Mark worked with Sogyal Rinpoche on The Tibetan Book of Living and Dying and contributed to Ram Dass’s Still Here. He has also authored several of his own books, including Sex, Death, Enlightenment, The Boy He Left Behind, When You’re Falling, Dive, and Writing to Awaken.

Mark’s family comes from the Czech Republic, and he feels a strong connection to our country. MAITREA Publishing has released two of his books in Czech. 

In this workshop, you will learn to:

  • Use writing as a path to healing and deeper insight

  • Separate your true stories from the false ones

  • Recognize desire as fuel for creative and spiritual awakening

  • Break free from limiting beliefs and expectations

  • Overcome fear, shame, and self-pity through radically truthful storytelling

  • Cultivate witness consciousness in your personal storytelling
  • Understand what it means to tell an “unspoken story”
  • Master the five essential elements of effective storytelling

  • Enrich personal stories with spiritual wisdom

  • Recognize the importance of exploring the psychological shadow as part of spiritual awakening

  • Develop a long-term, transformative writing practice

Experiencing a session with Mark is a tremendous gift.
Stacey
An incredibly rare and profound approach. It changed my life.
Marie
A remarkable man and an excellent teacher!
Philippa

Sign up early!

WRITING TO AWAKEN
The Path to Transformation, Authenticity, and Awakening

Mark Matousek
October 22–25, 2026

Thu: 6:00–9:00 pm, Fri–Sat: 10:00 am–6:00 pm, Sun: 10:00 am–4:00 pm
MAITREA, Týnská ulička 6, Prague 1

Interpretation into Czech will be provided.
Payment can be split into 2 installments.

MAITREA - the organizer

Welcome to Prague, the most beautiful city of Europe

MAITREA was founded in 2006. It aims to provide space for those who feel the need for personal development and self-realization. It’s pleasure for us that you decided to visit the workshop here, in Prague.

Let’s introduce our projects:

  • House of Personal Development - Space for experiential seminars, workshops, trainings and therapy
  • Vegetarian restaurant - Beautifully designed restaurant with delicious vegetarian and vegan food
  • Publishing house - Books focused on personal development
  • Kindergarten - Harmonious development of a pre-school aged child based on R. Steiner’s principals

We hope that, you’ll get a lot of great experience, and have a great time here!

Foundation of Maitrea has been blessed by His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama.

FAQ

What should I take with me?

We recommend that you take a bottle of water that can be closed, a notebook and a pen. You can also bring coloured pencils if you want. Usually you don't need anything else. We will send you a detailed practical info before the workshop.

What type of cloth should I wear?

It is convenient to wear a comfortable clothing in which you feel good. You can change on site (especially for dance and movement focused seminars.) You can also use the shower if necessary (can be found on the same floor as the seminar rooms).

Is there any refreshments available?

Small snacks (biscuits, muesli bars, etc.) can be bought on site. Coffee, tea and filtered tap water are available. We take drinks in the seminar rooms only in closed bottles. An adjoining kitchen is designed for consuming refreshments. We recommend to bring your water or tea in a plastic bottle or thermos. If you forget about that, you can buy bottled water on the spot.

For lunch or dinner you can go to our vegetarian restaurant MAITREA. We recommend booking your seat at the phone number: +420 221 711 631 (11.30 am - 11 pm). If booking for a larger group, count with the so-called GROUP OFFER, where there is a choice of about 6 meals, and you will not be waiting for a long time. Reservation is reserved for you only 15 minutes from the agreed time.

Other alternatives: Country life (www.countrylife.cz), BEAS DHABA (www.beas-dhaba.cz),

Is accommodation available in Maitrea?

Unfortunately we do not have any accommodation capacity in our building. We recommend Airbnb or this nice and cosy accommodation in a nearby monastery.

Where can I park my car?

We are surrounded by the blue residential area. Parking (paid) is possible only in the shopping malls Kotva and Palladium, also in the Rudolfinum building (we recommend to leave the car in the P + R parking lot and to reach us by subway). In front of MAITREA, only short stops for getting off and unloading are possible.

How can I get to Maitrea?

  • Tram 5, 8, 14 - station Dlouhá třída: Then walk along Dlouhá street direction Old Town Square, turn the fourth lane left and there you are in Týnská ulička.
  • Metro A/B (green/yellow) - station Můstek: Then walk along Na můstku street and further into Melantrichova street until you reach to Old Town Square, pass the Jan Hus statue and walk into Dlouhá street and turn the first lane right.
  • Metro A (green line) or tram 17, 18 - station Staroměstská: Then walk along Kaprova street to Old Town Square, pass the Jan Hus statue and walk into Dlouhá street and turn the first lane right and there you are in Týnská ulička.
  • From Airport Letiště Václava Havla: Bus 119 to Nádraží Vokovice (green line) metro station, then earlier mentioned Metro Můstek (green line) station or Staroměstská (green line) station. Or you can take a taxi.
  • From Florenc Bus station: Metro station Florenc to earlier mentioned Metro station Můstek.
  • From Hlavní nádraží train station: Metro station Hlavní nádraží (red line) to Florenc (yellow line) metro station, then transfer to green line metro and go to Můstek (green/yellow line) metro station.
  • Taxi: If you don’t like traveling by public transport, you can also take a taxi. Nonstop customer service is on phone number: 14 014. MAITREA's address is Týnská ulička 6/1064, 110 00 Prague 1.