Upcoming Event: Facing a Changing World
Facing a Changing World: A Confluence of Perceptions
September 9 &10, Nelson, BC Nelson United Church Basement 602 Silica St. Nelson BC
In the face of the many social and ecological challenges of our era, it is important for us to have focused times and spaces to acknowledge and strengthen our connection with what matters within ourselves and with the world we deeply care about. This workshop will offer such an opportunity for sharing experiences in a small group setting.
Part 1: The Spiral of Renewal - Friday Sept. 9, 6:30 PM– 9:30 PM
This interactive experience based on The Work that Reconnects developed by eco-philosopher and activist Joanna Macy, assists participants to move beyond the often numbing, isolating sense of frustration and grief, into spaces of inspiration and action. Through facilitated experiences, participants can acknowledge both gratitude for the beauty of our world, and grief for what is happening to our planet and society, and through this ‘truth telling’, renew their energy and commitment to make a difference.
Part 2: The Faces of Change - Saturday Sept 10, 9:30 AM – 5 PM
Within and around us there are many assumptions and world views that we have to navigate as we move through the in our personal or collective spiral of change. Often we can freeze these into place by using simplistic labels: deniers, doomers, optimists, pessimists, cheerleaders, apathetic, greedy etc. As a more creative alternative, image and metaphor can offer ways to express the complexity, and ambiguity that arise when facing the common dilemmas experienced in paradigm change, and release the judgement we can load onto ourselves, others and the process of change in general.
Building on the previous evening’s experiences, we will use collage (no artistic skill needed) as a means of expressing the different perceptions of change, and compassionately (and at times with humour), give voice to the dilemmas we individually and collectively face in addressing the biggest changes humanity has had to make.
Materials and instructions will be provided.
Part 3: A Public Art Installation TBA
Beyond the benefits this workshop can provide to participants and the projects in which they are directly involved, the creative expressions can also be of service to the larger society. The collages will be printed and may eventually become part of a growing body of images that reflect humanity’s shared search for meaning.
Facilitator
Jan Inglis has a background in somatic psychotherapy, adult development, public engagement processes including the use of popular theatre and the creative arts. Her PhD focused on the social economic paradigms related to climate change. She has worked with Joanna Macy’s concepts of despair and transformation since the 1980’s.
Cost: Sliding scale $45 -$75. (Eventbrite does not easily support a sliding scale so 2 categories of payment have been created).
