Creative Workshops

Aug/Sept 2010

Writing Newsletter

 

Re-story and re-imagine your Life and Work

 

Something ignited in my soul… I wrote my first bare line. Pure foolishness. Pure  Wisdom, of one who knows nothing, And  suddenly I saw the heavens unfastened and opened

 (Pablo Neruda)

 

Dear writer, storyteller, reader, word watchers…

 

A story. A young child who tells his friend, “I think I’ll be a writer one day.” The friend responds, “That’s difficult isn’t it?” “No” says the child, “all the words are in the dictionary. All I need to do is rearrange them.”

 

So how do we rearrange them so that they spark and blaze inside us? Fire is a recurring image in so much poetry. What happens in a text and in the spaces between, when words converse with other words? And the body thrills and stirs as our breathing quickens, eyes glow and skin tingles? And something catches alight.

 

Karen Armstrong in  The Case for God shares two stories about the legendry Rabbi Akiva (d. circa 134 ce):

 

Rabbi Akiva heard that his student Ben Assai was expounding the Torah surrounded by a nimbus of flashing fire. He hurried to investigate. Was his pupil attempting a dangerous mystical flight to the throne of God? “No Ben Assai replied, “I was only linking up the words of the Torah with one another and then with the words of the Prophets and Prophets with the Writings. And the words rejoiced as when they were delivered from Sinai and they were sweet as at their original utterance.”

 

It was said that Akiva’s fame had reached heaven and that, intrigued, Moses decided to come down to earth and attend one of his classes.  He sat in the eighth row behind the other students and discovered to his embarrassment that he could not understand a word of Akiva’s exposition of the Torah that had been revealed to him, Moses, on Mount Sinai. “My sons have surpassed me,” Moses reflected ruefully, like many proud parent as he made his way back to Heaven. 

 

So part of the fire in the words is the freedom to write and link them and make our own meaning – rekindled at each reading. Seizing the fire. As in William Blake’s Tyger, addressed to the Divine and also to the writer in us all:

 

In what distant deeps or skies
Burnt the fire of thine eyes?
On what wings dare he aspire?
What the hand, dare seize the fire?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dorian’s Aug/Sept  Storyshops/ Writeshops/Conversations

 

 

 

If you want any of these workshops in your area speak speak.

 

Western Cape

 

 

1. Somerset West

The Great Metaphor Hunt: A Storyshop for Therapists and Other Healers

 

 

Sat 31 July 10.00 - 15.00        R430*

Helderberg Nature Reserve

 

I love metaphor. It provides two loaves  where there seems to be one. Sometimes it throws in a load of fish. (Bernard Malamud)

 

Metaphors are everywhere, open to the eyes that seek them. Especially in nature. This hunt, this picnic (rich in story, words, images and symbols) aims to enrich the personal and work experience of those involved in the healing professions. It will help you create a more dynamic practice and widen your repertoire of skills.  It considers how attention to this mytho-poetic world:

 

 

 

 

We share a picnic. The feasting part of the ‘therapicnic’ will also be structured around metaphor.  Bring writing materials and a light lunch to share.

 

2. Bellville Holy Cross Sisters’ School

 

Mon 2 Aug

Sessions with students (creative writing) and staff (re-kindling  your passion for teaching)

 

 

 

 

3. Stanford Valley Farm (near Hermanus) R2200 (includes  accommo and meals)

Conversations with Nature A Story, Land Art and Writing Retreat

 

Fri  20 (18.00) – Sun 22 (15.00) August (I join land artists Leli Hoch and Andree Bonthuys)

see site freewheeling.co.za 

      

 

What did the grass below the koppie say

Stranger, the yellow grass, when you looked around,

Then hastened on? Of shadows on the ground

the long grass spoke... (Veld Secret : Bosman)

 

Writing and Story Component

 

On this retreat we explore our life stories through our connection to nature. We draw images and symbols from natural life and the landscape around us. We create and craft our writing journey. We celebrate our belonging to the universe and to Africa through stories round the night fire. There will be time for silence, yoga, bird watching, walking and for dreaming. Beginner writers/story tellers are welcome.   The retreat also covers how to:

 

 

4. Betty’s Bay

Walking with your Story - A Creative Retreat R650 workshop only (see accommo below)

 

 

Fri 10 to Sun 12 Sept  (7 pm Fri to 1.30 pm Sun)

 

On this retreat we explore our life stories through our connection to nature. Betty’s Bay will be our writing home for the weekend. We walk to waterfall, dark wood, mountain, grotto, lily pond, beach and dune. We draw from these places the images, symbols and themes for our life journey. We celebrate our belonging to the universe and to Africa through stories round the night fire. There will be time for silence, bird watching and for dreaming. The workshop includes:

 

·         the art of storytelling

·         creative outdoor activities

·         creating and crafting our life stories

 

Book early as space is limited.  Beginner writers are welcome.  

 

 

          

Venue:             The Retreat, Heron Road, Bettys Bay www.theretreat.co.za 0720728100

Accom:           Avail at venue if you are quick or many B and B’s in Pringle and Betty’s

Meals:              Light supper Fri/Sat. Tea/coffee. Bring own Sat lunch or pop up to the deli.

Bring:                Pen, paper, shoes for beach + mountain. Membership card/fee Bot Gdns

Contact :          Mea Lashbrooke 074 101 1927 or 021 797 9916 Workshop bookings only

 

 

 

 

 

KZN

 

 

 

 

 

 

5. Crawford College La Lucia

 

Fri 23 July am

A creative writing morning with students courtesy of Brenda Pratt

 

6. Oom Schalk Alive: An evening of stories by HC Bosman

 

Friday 23 July   18.00 for 18.30 R100 (inc  soup, cheese, bread Please bring own drinks)

 

It is not the story that counts. It's the way you tell it (Oom Schalk Lourens)

 

An evening of fun, laughter and veld wisdom with Herman Charles Bosman around the fire.

Listen to ‘Oom Schalk’ narrate stories of love, leopards, peach brandy, star gazing,

ox wagons and concertinas.

 

 

 

 

Venue Collingwoods B & B 14 Umzwilili Road, Kloof. Little road runs alongside Kloof Library.  RSVP to Roma Howard Tel: (031) 7020230  Cell: (082) 4530917 e-mail: romahoward@rha.co.za Bring cushions in case we run out of seating space.

 

I attended a writing workshop with him a few years ago, and can vouch

that he will provide an evening of joyful entertainment. (Roma Howard)

 

7. Yezingane Network – Story Assignment   Sat 24 July

I’ll be working in story alongside The Children's Sector HIV/AIDS National Network concerned with children and HIV and AIDS. 

8. Living the Questions Now  -  A Storyshop for Coaches

 

Mon 26 July  2010      08.30 - 12.30  R430

 

Story Intelligence (SQ) = emotional (EQ) + social intelligence + business intelligence

 

 

The meaning of my existence is that life has addressed a question to me … or conversely that I myself am the question (Carl Jung)

 

What are the great questions of your professional and personal  life? How do these impact on your coaching practice? What about leadership? Transformation? Are you mindful of how your own story might influence how you listen to the stories of others?

 

In this story-shop we consider and explore these questions. Turn them upside out and inside down. We work in an experiential and interactive way as we consider individual and collective (corporate)  stories and apply them to your coaching environment.  We rediscover how, when you entertain the impetus and structure of a story and raise your Story IQ, you release the magic of the narrative to inspire, energise, engage and enliven. The telling of and listening to stories stimulate creativity while opening to the life of the imagination. To possibility. To begin to find big answers.

 

 

Be patient toward all that is unsolved in your heart…  try to love the questions themselves like locked rooms and like books that are written in a very foreign tongue. (Rilke)

 

 

Venue:   Cathy Yuill, 70 Hawthorne Dr Quail Valley Village  Mt Edgecombe 2   Umhlanga

 

9. Ixopo   Zen Pen: Writing and Meditation

 

13  - 15 Aug at Buddhist Retreat Centre. brcixopo@futurenet.co.za   039 834 1863

www.brcixopo.co.za

 

“Looking at your image in a clear stream, you answer the question by your very presence.”

 

In this workshop we explore the connection between writing and meditation. We write and meditate on the many changes and transformations we experience as we journey along the river of our lives. We consider how creativity steadies the boat and how writing helps us dip the oars into dark water so we may navigate the river safely.

 

 Gauteng

 

10. Exploring Your Story: The Sage, Sangoma, Trickster Scientist and You

Wed    4 Aug 19.00 – 21.30   R250  courtesy Amanda Gifford  The Genius Lab  

 

All you need do is change the name and it's about YOU, this  story.  (Horace)

 

Stories start a conversation with ourselves and with our community. The evenings  focus is an Introduction to Story Telling with a focus on Exploring Your Own Life Story… on learning about the how to tell a small piece of this story by exploring the joy of  stories from different traditions..  Listening to them,… playing with them… laying our story down beside them.  We touch on the philosophy of stories… how beliefs can trap us… how stories can free us…We begin to look at a story that reveals something about you… your life… an autobiographical story… a self revelatory story. Which story is the one asking to be told in you?

 

Why stories?  Because stories are origins and origins are places that we walk out from. Because stories have many feet and travel several roads at once...  because the story conjures the invisible. (Deena Metzger)

 

 

Contact:        Amanda  The Genius Lab   amanda@geniuslab.co.za  083 299 2921  www.geniuslab.co.za

Venue:        63a 5th Av Melville (near  Lucky Bean Restaurant

 

 

 

 

 

11. The Great Metaphor Hunt : A Storyshop for Therapists and Other Healers

 

Sat 7 Aug 10.00 - 15.00       R 520

 

I love metaphor. It provides two loaves where there seems to be one. Sometimes it throws in a load of fish. (Bernard Malamud)

 

Metaphors are everywhere, open to the eyes that seek them. Especially in nature. This hunt  (rich in story, words, images and symbols) aims to enrich the personal and work experience of those involved in the healing professions. It will help you create a more dynamic practice and widen your repertoire of skills.  It considers how attention to this mytho-poetic world:

 

 

 

 

Bring writing materials and a light lunch to share.

 

 

Playing with metaphor in the context of a picnic and treasure hunt sounds like an opportunity to become curious again…, to free fall with words  ....to ignite creative participation in our clinical work. (LIzbe Vos)

 

Venue:    JMD Psychological Consulting    79 Third Street, Linden 

Cost :     R520  - payable to the practice in advance via EFT or direct deposit

Contact: Dr Janne Dannerup/Sino Thebe  011 888 1110 or sino@jmdpsych.com

 

12. Jewish Festival – Limmud Conference - Johannesburg

 

Sun 8 –Mon 9 Aug

I have been invited to present two sessions:

Apples, Manna and Honey. Writing your Spiritual Journey

Rabbinical Tales:  Story-telling as a Spiritual Art

Southern Cape

13. Knysna Thurs  2  Sept Montessori school – a day with students staff and parents

USA Oct

 

I will be working in Boulder, Colorado in October (14-22) at the Univ Colorado – stories, Jung and film studies. And will also be facilitating other workshops in the community. If you know of anyone who might be interested, please contact me.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ongoing activities (some repeat info)

 

 

 

 

Email Courses:  Writer’s/ Poet’s Voice Course – one-on–one tuition

 

Some folks respond to structure, assignments… if so, ask and it shall be negotiated. Here is one possibility: Do you love reading and writing? This one-on-one apprenticeship aims to take you further up the writing mountain and offer you a deeper engagement with your craft. This course is structured in the nature of an ongoing conversation with a few chosen writers or poets, (ancestral or alive) with me and with yourself. I encourage you to keep a journal to record your observations and reflections.

 

Speaking Engagements

 

Be still when you have nothing to say but when genuine passion moves you, say what you've got to say, and say it hot. ( D. H. Lawrence)  I’m building up this aspect of my work.

 

Development Work

 

During 2010/11 I will be again be working alongside Dr Laura Campbell of the HSRC facilitating  training of home-based caregivers and grannies  - - through stories and creative play - who care for children who are dying.

 

Bosman and Nasrudin under starlight

 

This winter season I will be a story-ing …an evening, wine, cheese, breads and tales for the telling. This kind of evening is a bit like the old days - singing around the piano at home.  -Except I use stories and creative activities to get folk interacting and to prompt conversations. Themes…  Chinese, South African,  Mediterranean, Arabian nights. Spending quality time. Any rhyme or reason – birthdays, TV fatigue, the art of conversation. Gather a group for Summer.

 

Mentoring – one-on-one

 

“You make me sound like myself” (various clients.) Walk with me in words. You put on one shoe, I wear the other. Memoirs, mindfulness adventures, work in the word… genres tumbling out of folk on the one-on-one path. Such a richness of story here.

5-

 

 

 

Corporate Work

 

 

 The Halo and the Noose, the Power of story-telling and story listening in Business Life R195

 

Want to source a 100 plus stories? co-written with Graham Williams (Graysonian Press). We run corporate story workshops based on our book. Roma Howard, a training practitioner in leadership and team effectiveness, writes:

 

I was utterly captivated by The Halo and the Noose, and now regularly recommend it when I am facilitating my Train the Trainer & Presentation Skills courses. )

 

 

For orders:  from the authors or Graysonian Press  Inspirational books that change the world www.graysonian.com  0836101113

 

We've established a website in order to offer The Halo and the Noose as an eBook, and to create a Member's facility for those who are serious about their story-telling and listening prowess in business. Members can access various resources, audio streams, article archives, their own newsletter, questionnaires, communicate with the authors and will get ongoing offers. The site is http://www.haloandnoose.co.za 

 

In response to a growing demand we offer an eWorkbook, discounted to members (Story Matters @ Work) that contains many new stories and exercises covering elevator, personal, business issue, corporate, crucial conversation and other stories.

 

New Poetry CD

 

The Stone on the Stomach - a Poetry CD with 30 of my  poems old and new read by me and by son Dominic…  R120

 

Friends at Work and Play

 

Elma Pollard: Write for Earth email based writing course

 

Learn the art of eco-journalism with energy and passion. Offer your voice to help craft a

better future. More information at this link http://thegreentimes.co.za/index.php?id=63

 

Aneta Shaw:  Creative relaxation in a small group context

 

Enhance personal growth and honour your soul through creative  techniques.  Aneta is a clinical psychologist and hypnotherapist, has integrated years of experience and life in other countries with ancient ways of being in this world. 

 

Aneta  082 686 8118 or 021 8555415    aneta.shaw@vodamail.co.za

 

Writer-sites and News (see site news on my web dorianhaarhoff.com)

 

 

So may your words ignite your life.

 

Dorian