WINTER'S SOUL
Sundays from December 13 through April 25
1:00-3:00pm via ZOOM

Sunday afternoons in Winter just seem to be made for contemplative creativity. Think of Winter's Soul as potluck for your imagination: A come-when-you-want-to creative space for befriending Winter. Every Sunday between now and April 25, we have carved out space and time to learn, listen and create. Each week will be something different--a different idea, technique, and facilitator--to keep our winter soul engaged and flexible, with conversation and prompts and plenty of time for the creative endeavors of art making or writing. Come one Sunday or all; stay for an hour, stay for the whole two hours. We're easy. As always, you don't need to be an "artist" or a "writer," only curious. Like I said, we are easy. 

Cost? During the pandemic, with finances so tight for so many of us, I am not charging for what art + soul offers. I will, however, gladly receive love offerings as you are able, as this is the way I make my living. Click here for options to support art + soul: http://www.artandsoulwm.org/support.html

Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84010662967?pwd=U2c3L2ZmaDNLR2hnWEd5OEVLQWRxQT09

Meeting ID: 840 1066 2967
Passcode: 856145



WINTER'S SOUL SCHEDULE
*note: this schedule is tentative and at the mercy of the movement of Spirit... which may direct us differently than from what is listed here

Sunday, December 13: An Anthroposophical Advent: Where the Light Lives
Join Waldorf teacher Sherry Jennings as she invites us to creatively ponder some inner questions that this season of waiting invites through the human wholeness lens of Anthroposophy.
For more information about Anthroposophy: 
The Anthroposophical Society in America: https://anthroposophy.org/​
Center for Biography and Social Art:  https://biographysocialart.org/

Sunday, December 20:  Solstice!
A weaving together of meditation, poetry and creative expression as the light returns! Facilitated by Sarah Nangeroni, yoga teacher and art therapy graduate student 

Sunday, December 27: Endings and Beginnings: The Prayer of Mystic Julian of Norwich
Eager to release the intensity of 2020, straddling the cusp of a new year, we lean deeply into these words from our wise sister Julian: Await, Allow, Accept, Attend. We'll begin our time together grounded by Julian's simple, accessible body prayer, and from there, listen for which word speaks most urgently to us we move into new space and time. Facilitated by Susannah Crolius, art + soul. 
​
Sunday, January 3: Postcards to Myself
Set an intention for the new year. Notice a joy or tiny pleasure. Enjoy that particular line of poetry that gets you every time. Mixed Media artist Cal Kitson is a master of intersecting word and image on paper, often smaller sizes of paper; she will be our intrepid guide as the Muse invites us to play with any and all kinds of papers you have around your home. Bring images, rubber stamps, watercolor pens, embellishments too!

Sunday, January 10: Portal/s
Portal: a doorway, gate, or other entrance, especially a large and elaborate one; synonyms: doorway · gateway · entrance · way in · way out · exit · egress · opening · door · gate · threshold · entryway This word "portal", it keeps beckoning to me. I am thinking it is the art + soul word of 2021.  We'll investigate this image and invitation as symbol and experience and see where we are led creatively upon reflection. Facilitator Susannah Crolius.

Sunday, January 17: Aftermath 
It is 3 days before the inauguration of a new president. Surely this surfaces all kinds of thoughts and feelings that beg to be expressed. I am thinking the theme of "aftermath" is just about right for today--maybe the creation of a collage of many layers that attempt to capture as many feelings as possible about what has been and what might be and then deconstructing your piece into a new emerging story. Or, for you writers, the calling forth of an invocation or incantation for this new beginning or black out poetry or...?  

Sunday, January 24: Winter Soul: Poems and Prayers to Winter
Bring a poem or quote about the winter season and share it with us; then let those words come alive in color and texture of art or word. Take a five-minute winter pilgrimage outside with your camera, or dust off your charcoals, your pens and inks, your muted watercolor pens or pastels, even the pencil sitting on your desk to draw or write with and encounter your Winter Soul.  Facilitator: Susannah Crolius.

Sunday, January 31:  Fragments of the Feast
If you're so inclined, you can celebrate Celtic saint and light-bearer Brigid of Kildare today, her official Feast Day. And, if that's not your thing, go ahead and explore other fragments of the divine feminine, so many stories that have been buried or erased all together. Of course, given the kinship of women and nature, this means that our creative responses are likely to be "wild"! Facilitator: Darcy Johnson, interfaith minister.

Sunday, February 7  Gaze
On this first Sunday in February, we will gaze, a contemplative practice of seeing, often practiced as a form of prayer with icons and religious artwork. On this first Sunday of Black History month, the images that we will gaze upon will be works by Black artists, singers and dancers; in other words, gazing with our eyes, ears and senses until Spirit moves us into creative response.  Facilitator: TBD.

Sunday, February 14*  Postponed to February 21
My Favorite Things and Other Love Songs
"Lullabies are the first love songs we hear." (National Geographic)
Step into the communal living room today and gather round while we each share a few lines from our favorite children's book or song from when we were little. This being the day of celebrating Love, the creative invitation is to give voice to your inner child, calling forth your own lullaby, your own soothing song, your own love song, through art, writing, music or movement. Don't forget to bring your tea or hot chocolate (Marshmallow? Yes, please! Whipped Cream? Of course!), your favorite blanket and slippers. Favorite childhood stuffed animals are more than welcome to join the circle. Facilitator: TBD

Sunday, February 21  rescheduled session on "Lullabies" (see above) 

Sunday, February 28  Introduction to SoulCollage   
SoulCollage® is a simple and profound way to access your own wisdom and inner guidance.  Using intuition and imagination, you create your own deck of collaged cards, where each card reflects a different aspect of who you are. It is a creative process that is truly accessible to everyone, even people who believe they have no artistic ability.
Facilitator: Cal Kitson

​Sunday, March 7   Pandemic Year One, For Better and Worse
This past year has been intense. We invite you to treat yourself to an afternoon of meditation, art, relaxation, and self care. During this workshop we will explore several mindfulness and grounding techniques, a short guided meditation, and art making prompts and discussion around self care and self compassion. No art or meditation skills required, all are welcome! Feel free to bring a friend, family member or furry companion if you wish! This workshop will be facilitated by Sarah Nangeroni, a certified yoga and meditation teacher and 2nd year graduate art therapy and counseling student.

Sunday, March 14    Getting in Touch with Your Roots
It isn't quite gardening season yet, but this Sunday, dig deep and reach into your roots! Bring in an object representing your roots and culture-- through family, homeland, traditions, experiences, We will take turns sharing these objects, and how that item connects you to your culture/roots. After sharing, we'll spend 45 minutes creating collage, song, poem, art, etc., focusing on how your roots/culture emulates through your personality/self now. How have these roots made you into the person you are today?  Facilitator: Anastasia Collins.

Sunday, March 21   Let the Soul’s Voice Sound (rescheduled from 2/21)
The human voice is the outer expression of the inner life of the soul. We use our voice daily; we converse, we discuss, we question, we talk to ourselves, we sing. But how often do we let our souls speak freely without judgement? Or let our voice sound our deepest hungers and hurts? Or allow our breath to exalt  in unhindered laughter and joy? Or let our voices declare their unique truths? We will gently explore breath, sound and imagination warmed by your individual personal fire and see where that leads your creative spirit. Facilitator: Marya Lowry, Brandeis Emeritus Professor of Theater Arts and international voice teacher. For more information on Marya Lowry:
www.brandeis.edu/facultyguide/person.html?emplid=10926d62b2db638afedec19aa3d9c25730fa3e85


Sunday, March 28  Beloved: Mary Magdalene and the Other Women
This Sunday that begins Holy Week in the Christian tradition, we will not relegate the stories of "the women" to the background, huddled mute and powerless as all hell breaks loose around them. Instead, we will engage in creative midrash (a Jewish rabbinic process of thoughtful reading between the lines of the given story), making these beloveds central figures in this story.

Sunday, April 4 Witness to Hope: Contemplative Photography 
*note: we will gather for one hour this week, from 1:00-2:00pm
 This week being Easter, our time together will be shorter this day, from 1:00-2:00pm, and rather than making space to create while we are together, you are encouraged to wander this week being a Witness to Hope. What does it mean to be a witness to Hope? 

Take a walk or wander around your neighborhood and take photos or a video of things that speak to you of Hope. Or, maybe take broken or torn things and shape them into a kind of mosiac or collage where the parts are made into a new story or image.  You could write this week about Hope and read us your poem, song or prose of Hope.  Perhaps a little book of pictures and quotes about Hope will be your inspiration. Or, take your sketch pad paints  or journal outside or to a lovely sunlit spot in your dwelling and invoke Hope to come into your heart.  And then bring those images, words, stories to the circle and share your Hope with us. 


Sunday, April 11  Grace Unfurling: A Virtual Poetry Salon to Celebrate National Poetry Month
 Magically, mysteriously Spring has come...again. And...It's National Poetry Month! What else needs to be said? There is this word "grace" and there are the rhythms and seasons of our own unfurling lives. This Sunday we will explore where we have been surprised (again and again?) by the intimate meeting of grace and mystery through the written word. 
It will be difficult to choose just one favorite poem, I know, but bring that poem to the table and share it.  Surely some image from someone's poem will inspire you into further personal and creative process. 

Sunday, April 18  Wild Soul: Earth Day

Sunday, April 25 Tending Soil, Tending Soul
As the Winter's Soul series winds down (and the gardening season starts to wind up), seed packets will be our inspiration for this last session.  Seed, soil, root, even fertilizer (!), all are juicy metaphors to work with.