About Jessica

 

With advanced degrees in Education and Creative Writing, I have taught and coached thousands of students for more than twenty years with a focus on writing, mindfulness, personal development, nature education, and the places where all intersect. My approach to life and teaching has always been holistic and multimodal. 

For decades, I’ve spoken and presented on writing and mindfulness. I know power of writing, the arts, the outdoors, and mindfulness to bring greater intention, fulfillment, joy, and transformation to our daily lives. I have personally experienced the benefits of these tools to heal trauma, deal with physical pain and ailments, and manifest lasting changes in my life. When made a practice and conducted in community, mindfulness has the ability to awaken and uplift us, and to bring a greater sense purpose and peace to our lives. 

Author of two books: a book of poetry, Scarred Seasons, and a children’s book, Emma Belongs, my poetry has been widely published and has won prizes internationally. My recent project is a book on mindfulness and success for college students and emerging adults based on my expertise in college success and in developing mindfulness programs for college students.

While writing will always be a vehicle for self-awareness and self-expression, my joy more recently has been in teaching mindfulness, and in helping others use reflective writing, art, dialogue, and meditation to grow self-knowledge and agency toward inspired living. I am a certified Koru Meditation teacher, a mindfulness coach, and forest bathing guide.

Having grown up off the grid in a log cabin built by my father on a mountain in Maine, nature has always been a primary teacher. In the woods, I became a student of stillness at an early age; with no neighbors for miles, I used writing and creativity to discover my inner world and to connect with the world around me. At the Barred Owl Retreat, I facilitate deep connection with self and the natural world, which sustains and nurtures us all.  

All are welcome here; all deserve time and space in this noisy world full of turmoil and distraction to sit, to wander, to play, to be alone or in community, and revisit themselves and the life they are authoring and creating. 

My gift is in fostering and holding warm and inclusive spaces where folks can do some deep listening to themselves and to others. It has been my honor to support students and visitors on their journey.

I’ve had the privilege of both attending workshops with Jess and hosting my yoga training at the gorgeous Barred Owl retreat. Her depth of presence, commitment to honoring the land, and open-hearted teaching style is truly a gift to experience. Jess has created a sanctuary for healing, introspection and connection, nestled in the most magical woodlands of Leicester, MA. From start to finish, it was a seamless, dreamy experience… I can’t wait to return!

Claire Koepke

instructor, Birth of Something New: Yoga + Doula Care

Barred Owl Retreat is a place of great natural beauty, domestic charm, creativity and reflection. As its founder, Jessica Bane Robert has for many years guided and developed programs there and elsewhere that encourage and support deepening practice, both mindful and creative. She also invites a range of retreats and activities to Barred Owl.

I was fortunate to work with Jess as a founding faculty member of the Mindful Choices program at Clark University, where she has been deeply appreciated by her students. She also welcomed us at Barred Owl for numerous events related to A new Earth conversation at Clark. Our times there were transfused with the wonder of the place – house and setting weaving and flowing together. Between working sessions, we wandered the land and lake shore, danced with chickens, reveled in the gardens, and met in circle around the bonfire.

The grace of this place – and Jess’ wise guidance – are truly ground for transformative experiences!

Sarah Buie

Professor Emerita at Clark University ~Founding Convener, Council on the Uncertain Human Future, https://councilontheuncertainhumanfuture.org

I had the pleasure of working with Jessica at Clark University when she created, organized, and delivered the Futurebuilding mindfulness course for ninety first year students and mentored me, her supervisor, in co-teaching it with another colleague.  Developing this unique course for an unexpectedly large group of students with a range of challenges in a structure that was deliverable and meeting the specific parameters of a college was an enormous challenge–and Jessica nailed it. 

Her expertise in mindfulness is extensive and impressive. She was flexible in making adjustments to the course to meet academic expectations and student needs, patient and supportive of her colleagues in training us, and was by far, the most student-centered faculty member I have worked with in 20+ years in higher education.  She worked tirelessly to support the unique needs of many students, helping them to connect to the course content and successfully complete the course.

Anne Harrington

Director Graduate Programs in Education College of Professional Studies, University of New England

What students say about mindfulness after practicing with Jess…

“Everyone should take this mindfulness course!” – Aidan

“I found the course to be extremely powerful. The retreat of course was amazing! Basically, I found every exercise to be eye-opening and fun in some way.”   – Anastasiia

“This course reminded me how important it is to connect with myself.” – Carly

“I have new ways of understanding how to explore my life and each day.” – Esther

“I learned how important it is to reflect in organic and constructive ways.” – Sam 

“You don’t always have to go 100 mph; you can sit down, relax, and really think about life, and about what you want in life.”  – Amanda

 “The mindfulness course was a prominent pathway to achieving self-confidence and understanding values…it helped ground me and me understand the world as it is, both trying to improve it with my positivity and accept its flaws…It helped me learn to observe from a new perspective, and increase my overall conscientiousness for the environment around me and the people I associate with.” – Taqi

“Since I’ve begun learning about mindfulness, I’ve become less oblivious about certain aspects of myself and the manner in which I process thought.” – Sam

“I learned to live in the moment versus having a thousand thoughts at a time, whether by meditating or journaling.” – Jen 

“Mindfulness has reminded me that everything in my life has purpose and a lesson, and that I am part of a bigger community.” – Grason 

“I was previously easily controlled by the negative emotions I would experience, but through mindfulness, I can remain level-headed under stress. The skills I’ve obtained will benefit me in the future with remaining at ease while dealing with situations where I would have previously been uncomfortable.” – Isaiah 

“I found the breathing exercises to be particularly useful at certain times, and I still find myself utilizing them when I feel stressed.” – Camilo 

“In the future I will be using mindfulness to help me with stress and to help me sleep.” – Edmond 

“Doing daily meditation has reduced my stress and made everything so clear to me.” – Christian