Words have a power to heal and create — such was the ancient belief. This certainly holds true for our times, but we will need to find new forms if it is to continue to work fruitfully and responsibly in our places of work, classrooms, and communities. A conscious work of healing our own words and relationship to language is surely involved in this.

Through playful and serious tasks in creative writing (both individual and collaborative) we will explore the heart of this matter, attempting to recreate our language through a deep attention to one another and to the world. Sometimes we will take our notebooks out into nature and let the wind ruffle our pages. Simple rhythmic exercises drawn from childhood sources will further enhance the experience of bringing life back into language. Ancient myths concerning both the creative potential of language and the loss of it will provide a wider imaginative context for the work we do together. The workshop is open to beginners and the more experienced alike.

Texts:

Paul Matthews, Sing Me the Creation and Words in Place, both from Hawthorn Press