Journaling from Nature in writing, drawing, and movement

Responding to nature – landscape, sea or sky-scape, companion animal, independent animal, tree or flowering plant or lichen – is an important source of insight and reflection.

The morning program will invite participants to frame immediate experiences of nature at Rolling Ridge in Psalm or Twitter, watercolor or doodle, gesture that suggests owl flight or an embodied prayer of praise. They will also explore memories of the personal impact of nature – the rainbow that brought comfort after a death, the tenderness of a childhood pet, a revelation while being truly caught in a storm.  Participants both will work alone and share with the larger group.

During the afternoon each participant will choose one such experience and shape it into a longer reflection. Each may write a poem or a sermon, plan the pages of a children’s book, work with collage or walk the labyrinth. The program will conclude with a palette of suggestions for journaling, blogging, storyboarding, and ways to use personal diaries to inform  artistic creativity.

Led by Maren Tirabassi:

Maren C. Tirabassi is the author of seventeen books. Gifts in Open Hands – More Resources for the Global Community is a June, 2011 title from Pilgrim Press.  Other recent titles include All Whom God Has Joined, Before the Amen – Resources for Worship, and Caring for Ourselves while Caring for our Elders. Maren travels throughout the country facilitating workshops on creative worship, youth ministry and liturgical writing and she teaches memoir and poetry in a wide range of settings from high school to senior center, correctional facility to ESOL class. Maren is the Pastor of Union Congregational UCC in Madbury, New Hampshire.