The Creative Arts and the Contemplative Practices have existed for thousands of years and by incorporating them to storytelling (which has also existed since the dawn of time) allows storytellers to express themselves in interdisciplinary ways. In this hour and a half webinar, attendees will explore storytelling through the creative arts and learn skills of contemplative exercises that can have a positive impact not only during this pandemic (COVID-19, Race, Gender and Sexual Orientation Inequities) but throughout one’s life.
As a Filipino-American it was and still is essential in understanding and embracing my Indigenous and Colonial past. Through self-knowledge and love, there has been a lot to unpack and unlearn; crises, social/self stigma and biases, hatred, trauma, and violence to overcome internally, relationally, and societally. I want to create inclusive safe spaces that allow for authentic storytelling with individuals that are able to engage in nonviolent transformations of the mind, body, and spirit. It Is my hope that through participation in this interactive webinar, we will have learned to activate storytelling, the creative arts, and contemplative practices in better understanding who we are, respecting others, and empowering all that we can be.
Participants in this workshop will:
1.Understand the possibilities and impact that storytelling has when incorporating the Arts, Creativity, and Contemplative Practices. Having the tools to allow people to authentically share their stories by healing and empowering the body, mind, and spirit, while at the same time cultivating an artistic, expressive, and ethical way of life.
2.Unite practice and theory, where the arts, creativity, and the contemplative practices can be explored and researched to not only fulfill conventional academic/clinical aspirations, but also point toward entirely new models of expression and learning within internal, relational, and societal development.
3.Excavate one’s personal, autobiographical experiences through storytelling while incorporating and promoting the arts, creativity, and the contemplative practices.
4.Explore and pursue personal, professional and artistic development by incorporating storytelling through creativity, art-making, and the contemplative practices.
5.Experience the therapeutic effects (medicine/healing) of storytelling, through the artistic, creative, contemplative practices, and the benefits it has on one’s physical body, mental health, and well-being.
Literature:
Bell, L. (2019). Storytelling for Social Justice: Connecting Narrative and the Arts in Antiracist Teaching (Second Edition). Routledge.
Eberhart, E. & Atkins, S. (2014). Presence and process in expressive arts work: At the edge of wonder. Philadelphia, PA: Jessica Kingsley.
Piver, S. (2015). Start Here Now: An Open-Hearted Guide to the Path and Practice of Meditation: Shambhala Publications.
Rappaport, L. (2013). Mindfulness and the arts therapies: Theory and practice. Philadelphia, PA: Jessica Kingsley.
