Creative Counselling
Julie Cunningham
The Heroine's Journey Workshop.
Memoir, Collage, Mixed Media & Journalling
In this workshop, we explore and celebrate the Heroine’s story pattern within our own and each other’s lives. As the roots of the Heroine’s story structure are as ancient as Goddesses, certain myths are referenced, offering a deep-time story framework.
Just as the hero's qualities can be enacted by all genders, so can the heroine's qualities, yet they are not as celebrated. They are, however, vital to celebrate for us human becomings, now. Why?
Different to the hero's blazing individuality the person enacting the Heroine's journey asks for help when she, he or they need it, and transforms enemies rather than annihilates them. Further, humour and kindness are sprinkled throughout the journey. These are some of the qualities found in the Heroine's Journey.
Over five weeks, in each session or four and half hours, an introduction to the stage of the journey, is followed by a short discussion and meditation on that stage's theme. This sets the scene. A journalling process follows and then the mixed media and collaging process. The sessions also a gathering for lunch, and an invitation for shared reflection at the end.
What do people say about it?
Judith
The process was such a gentle and safe one that I felt completely able to explore areas of myself that I have wanted to for years.
The story & meditation allowed me to settle into a grounded place. Additionally the myths engaged ideas and feelings that already existed and helped me express them.
Janet
Referencing the Heroine’s Journey gave structure to my memories and allowed reflection on the universal journey and how our experiences are a part of a well-worn path.
The meditation allowed the time for our thoughts to settle and our inner world to emerge.
Responding to different images in the collaging process helped me express feelings and reactions without the need to draw. I also enjoyed finding papers that allowed me to express a mood or create my image.
The HJ workshop was a vehicle to help me release my self-directed creativity. Previously my art experiences have been mostly directed. The use of collage and freedom to express what arose was invaluable.
Fran
I really enjoyed the workshop. I was surprised about the direction it took for me as despite having a bit going on in recent years there wasn't anything in particular that was uppermost in my mind when we began.
It was also surprising to see how my collaging varied and developed over the 5 weeks! I've definitely benefited from some other art activities in terms of learning to play with materials and images, and trying to follow rather than force a form to emerge.
I really liked the way the collaging process worked, by-passing the need to explain anything and just going straight to images that appealed for whatever reason. Then the process of working with those brought clarity and form to the abstract feelings and thoughts.
I did quite a lot of writing during the week following each workshop as for myself I found I was still processing and developing the ideas behind the collage that I was working on. Even though I was mainly just finalising the arrangement and form of the images I'd selected on the workshop day I was resolving a lot in the background as I did that.
