“Myths are public dreams, dreams are public myths”
Joseph Campbell All workshops combine the principles of Gestalt practice, group process and western theatre. We use a range of creative approaches including drama enactment, artwork, movement, gestalt, ritual and visualisation. All workshops are residential and take the participant on an intense and in-depth exploratory journey into the inner realms of the heart, the soul, the body and the psyche Myth and stories often form the foundation or springboard from which to explore universal themes. The Hero's Journey An experiential workshop for change, growth and wondrous insight How often have you asked yourself What am I doing with my life? What is my purpose? What is my next step? If you are seeking an answer to these questions then perhaps this workshop is for you. It is based on a "Monomyth"; a term coined by the mythologist Joseph Campbell. It is a basic pattern that underpins myths and stories from a wide variety of cultures. The hero is called to adventure; he leaves his home and sets forth, he faces many challenges and adventures and then returns home with a reward. This workshop was originally designed by Paul Rebillot; inspirational teacher, gestalt therapist, actor and director drawing on his own personal crisis and transformation. During the workshop we will set off on a journey of personal exploration to discover the hero within. We start from where we are and take stock of our current situation in the various aspects of our lives. We then begin to identify the quest that we are each on. Having done this and gathered some helpers and resources we depart on our journey. In our journeying we will face our enemies, critics or demons, who so often hold us back. We will play and dialogue with them in order to get to know them better and then confront them in order to enter into " a region of supernatural wonder where fabulous forces are there encountered " (Joseph Campbell). Our hero's will then have to overcome several ' tests' before returning with the reward. We will then explore how to integrate the new reward or gift into our lives. By experiencing the pattern of the Hero's Journey people become more familiar with the pattern of transformation and as change appears in their lives it no longer holds such a threat because they now have a map. We will draw upon the creative forces of ritual, drama, art, visualisation, movement, body work and gestalt process during the workshop. "When you try to understand everything you will understand nothing. It is best to understand yourself and then you will understand everything" Shunryu Suzuki Kissing or Kicking  “Shoot for the moon. Even if you miss it you will land in the stars”
Les Brown A Journey Through Chaos, Passion and Vulnerability. This workshop will take you on a personal journey which will give you the opportunity to reflect and integrate your individual reactions to chaos, passion and vulnerability. You will explore the fears and needs that lie behind these reactions and a chance to discover the possibilities that can be found in their expression and transformation. Imagine you are a traveller embarking on a journey to three lands. - First you will explore your interactions with the ‘land of chaos’; this was inspired by the story of Alice in Wonderland.
- You as the traveller will then journey to a very different landscape where you may encounter the different guises of passion; the feral and animalistic, the passion of knowledge and the intellect and the passion of love and sexuality. Our starting point for this was the Greek tragedy of Electra.
- You will then travel on and interact with the ‘land of vulnerability’, our inspiration for this was the folk tale of Vasalissa.
- Your final destination is to a 'new land' where you will map your journey, reconsider your experiences and bring the treasures from all three lands together in your own mandorla.
Persephone's Quest  “He who knows others is wise; he who knows himself is enlightened” Lao-Tzu We will explore the tension that can evolve in this place and we will experiment with being with both. This workshop has grown from the themes inherent in the Persephone and Demeter myth. A myth about a young woman's rape and abduction into the Underworld, her mothers’ grief, rage and action which brings about Persephone's eventual return. It is a myth about finding a strength which allows a transformation of the event to take place. It is an exploration of the synthesis where the beauty and terror of existence can be met. The Dig “Look and you will find it – what is unsought will go undetected”Sophocles The Dig is an experiential workshop designed to explore a hidden part of ourselves and to uncover something that is ready to be found; whether that be a misplaced dream, a barrier that is hindering our progress or a part of ourselves that lies undiscovered and dormant. With the birth of a new identity we will proceed to discover what 'need' drives us to embark on our quest to the ‘Island of Discovery’. There we will ‘dig’ for that which has been lost, buried or merely forgotten. We will create a new community that we can call upon for support and we will meet the ‘Angel of the Island’. We will encounter many obstacles and finally create a ritual of rediscovery.
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