Although the study of Transformative Language Arts is still emerging and defining itself, ordinary people in extraordinary circumstances have been writing down their stories in order to find peace for hundreds of years. As a result, we have hundreds of first hand accounts of circumstances like surviving abuse to survival at sea.
In the coming years we will continue to find examples of this. Recently, I watched an episode of 60 Minutes. One of the stories highlighted veterans recently home from Iraq and the issue of post traumatic stress disorder. Apparently the armed forces are better at training how to kill than with training citizens how to make the transition back to civilian life. One man, Jesse Odom, said he dealt with what he saw and what he did by locking himself in his room with a six pack and writing into the wee hours of the morning. As a result of those writing sessions, those "purification rituals," his book Through Our Eyes is being published this Memorial Day weekend. It is being heralded as a raw account of what our troops go through on a daily basis in Iraq and is sure to become a record of the experiences of a generation.
Monday, May 26, 2008
Tuesday, May 20, 2008
The Power of Words conference: Liberation through the Spoken, Written and Sung Word
Sept. 12-15, 2008, Goddard College, Plainfield, VT.
Seek greater freedom and transformation for yourself and your community through the power of words at this unique gathering of people who write, tell stories, perform, and do other language arts. Make community with others in the emerging field of Transformative Language Arts, and discover ways to make a living doing what you love.
Keynoters:
* Walter Mosley, author of 29 books, including The Year You Write Your Novel;
* Bread and Puppet Theatre Company;
* Kelley Hunt, international rhythm and blues singer-songwriter;
* Rick Jarow, author of Creating the Work You Love;
* Sherry Reiter, poetry therapy pioneer; the Afrikana Madonna performing spoken word soul; and
*Lewis Mehl-Madrona, author of Coyote Medicine and native American physician and shaman.
Over 25 presentations by writers, storytellers, performers, community leaders, medical professionals, songwriters, healers, and social change artists include Janet Aalfs, Callid and Kristina Keefe-Perry, Elizabeth “Beth” Hin, Marianela Medrano-Marra, Reggie Marra, and Evelyn Torton Beck, and Kelley Hunt & Caryn Mirriam-Goldberg leading a full-day pre-conference workshop on making a living through the arts. Organized by Goddard College’s Transformative Language Arts concentration, this conference features hands-on workshops, performances, open readings & celebrations at the peak of fall foliage. Conference costs start at $210 for registration plus additional fees for pre- and post-conference workshops. Lodging and all meals on campus begin at $216/double or $276/single. Some partial scholarships available including scholarships through the Roxanne Florence Fund for people of color. Work-study positions available. Professional and poetry therapy hours available. Complete schedule and registration at www.goddard.edu/powerofwords or call Denise at Denise.Whitesides-Skeeba@goddard.edu, 802/454-8311, x204.
NOTE: Early bird registration until June 1st!
Special Pre-Conference Amherst Writers & Artists Training: AWA is pleased to offer its four-day Writing Group Leadership Training, an intensive in the AWA writing group method and its application to writers of all levels and from diverse backgrounds, at before the conference Sept. 8-12, 2008 at the college, and for a reduced rate (please see http://www.amherstwriters.com/ for further information, and to register.
Transformative Language Arts, part of Goddard College’s individualized MA program (www.goddard.edu/masterarts_individualized), is a 48-hour MA degree in social and personal transformation through the spoken and written word. Goddard College, a pioneer in progressive education, encourages its students to become creative, passionate, lifelong learners, working and living with an earnest concern for others and for the welfare of the Earth. http://www.goddard.edu/
Seek greater freedom and transformation for yourself and your community through the power of words at this unique gathering of people who write, tell stories, perform, and do other language arts. Make community with others in the emerging field of Transformative Language Arts, and discover ways to make a living doing what you love.
Keynoters:
* Walter Mosley, author of 29 books, including The Year You Write Your Novel;
* Bread and Puppet Theatre Company;
* Kelley Hunt, international rhythm and blues singer-songwriter;
* Rick Jarow, author of Creating the Work You Love;
* Sherry Reiter, poetry therapy pioneer; the Afrikana Madonna performing spoken word soul; and
*Lewis Mehl-Madrona, author of Coyote Medicine and native American physician and shaman.
Over 25 presentations by writers, storytellers, performers, community leaders, medical professionals, songwriters, healers, and social change artists include Janet Aalfs, Callid and Kristina Keefe-Perry, Elizabeth “Beth” Hin, Marianela Medrano-Marra, Reggie Marra, and Evelyn Torton Beck, and Kelley Hunt & Caryn Mirriam-Goldberg leading a full-day pre-conference workshop on making a living through the arts. Organized by Goddard College’s Transformative Language Arts concentration, this conference features hands-on workshops, performances, open readings & celebrations at the peak of fall foliage. Conference costs start at $210 for registration plus additional fees for pre- and post-conference workshops. Lodging and all meals on campus begin at $216/double or $276/single. Some partial scholarships available including scholarships through the Roxanne Florence Fund for people of color. Work-study positions available. Professional and poetry therapy hours available. Complete schedule and registration at www.goddard.edu/powerofwords or call Denise at Denise.Whitesides-Skeeba@goddard.edu, 802/454-8311, x204.
NOTE: Early bird registration until June 1st!
Special Pre-Conference Amherst Writers & Artists Training: AWA is pleased to offer its four-day Writing Group Leadership Training, an intensive in the AWA writing group method and its application to writers of all levels and from diverse backgrounds, at before the conference Sept. 8-12, 2008 at the college, and for a reduced rate (please see http://www.amherstwriters.com/ for further information, and to register.
Transformative Language Arts, part of Goddard College’s individualized MA program (www.goddard.edu/masterarts_individualized), is a 48-hour MA degree in social and personal transformation through the spoken and written word. Goddard College, a pioneer in progressive education, encourages its students to become creative, passionate, lifelong learners, working and living with an earnest concern for others and for the welfare of the Earth. http://www.goddard.edu/
Saturday, May 3, 2008
"Doctor Heal Thyself"
Along with the reminders for doctor appointments, meetings, and family events I've begun placing special stickers on my family calendar. These stickers are reminders to spend some time taking care of myself. It could be as simple as sitting quietly with a cup of tea, reading a book I really love, or, if my life has been particularly harried, sitting down with my journal.
Keeping a journal can help you identify the patterns in your life and your business. It can heal old wounds and help you find your way through rough times. Most importantly, it can help you know yourself. In knowing yourself you are in the best position possible to serve others.
In her book, Journal to the Self, Kathleen Adams introduces several journal keeping techniques to help writers get the most from their efforts. I have found the method that works best for me and I invite any of you who keep a journal to write in about what works best for you.
Additionally, Kathleen will be hosting a free teleclass May 8, 2008 on memoir writing http://www.namw.org/. If you're interested in writing about yourself or your family, check it out!
Keeping a journal can help you identify the patterns in your life and your business. It can heal old wounds and help you find your way through rough times. Most importantly, it can help you know yourself. In knowing yourself you are in the best position possible to serve others.
In her book, Journal to the Self, Kathleen Adams introduces several journal keeping techniques to help writers get the most from their efforts. I have found the method that works best for me and I invite any of you who keep a journal to write in about what works best for you.
Additionally, Kathleen will be hosting a free teleclass May 8, 2008 on memoir writing http://www.namw.org/. If you're interested in writing about yourself or your family, check it out!
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