The group is for pregnant people, and for 6 weeks we will meet weekly, to explore your journey into motherhood through creativity ***Rolling 6-week long courses will start on March 25th and run until April 29th 2021. The next course starts on April 6th and will run until May 10th. Please contact me to find out the next start date!***
March 25th is the first of a rolling 6-week long programme of Maternal Journaling, a creative journaling practice that can help you explore your pregnancy in a playful and illuminating way. By the end of the 6 sessions, you will have created a beautiful multi-textured art journal, all about this magical journey you're starting with your baby: something to keep forever. Sessions will include an opportunity to talk through issues arising around pregnancy and childbirth with a doula, safe space to check in with other pregnant people and, of course, learn about and practise, a number of creative journaling techniques. Your course fee of £65 includes a free journal for you to keep and covers all materials, so you just need to bring yourself! (Please note I am doing a discount as this is a new group - contact me to book for £60 - that's just £5 an hour). In order for us to meet in person, we will gather in the cosy covered area at the rear of Aesop's. There are chiminea fires to keep us warm but we are outdoors so you might want to bring warm clothes. I will provide teas and cake and you are invited to pop into the cafe and treat yourself to gorgeous hot refreshments as well, of course. I can't recommend this lovely cafe enough. This group is being set up in partnership with the incredible women at The Rebel Girls Club. If you haven't already connected with them, get there now and do it. You need these rebels in your life!
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25th March
Welcome to MJ and Introduction to Journaling
Theme: Automatism - we will be discovering ways to relinquish control over our mark-making to explore how you feel about pregnancy/your body etc. No need to worry about "being an artist" - in this session, the unconscious takes over.
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1st April
Theme: Cut and Paste Poetry
We will be spending time exploring a collaging technique, allowing us to enjoy creative writing, expressive language to create textual art. A playful and liberating session.
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8th April
Theme: Mark-Making to capture the connection between mother and baby
Mark-making can take a multitude of different forms - symbols, lines, scribbles, text, pattern etc. When artists combine these marks, they create a visual language that communicates meaning and emotion.
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15th April
Theme:
Writing into the gap with poetry
Using prompt sentences to get you started, this week we will be playing with a free-flowing poetry exercise exploring changes in your body through words. "When we speak we are afraid our words will not be heard... when we are silent, we are still afraid. So it is better to speak." (Audre Lorde)
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22nd April
Theme: Revolutionary Mothering
Inspired by 'Love on the Frontlines' a book about what it means to be a mother at the margins (edited by Alexis Pauline Gumbs, China Martens and Mai's Williams) in which they talk about how being a mother is a verb, a doing word, not a name. Becoming a mother can be daunting, but each new life carries with it the potential for transformation and revolution. We will make affirmations and dedications for yourself and your child.
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29th April
Theme: TBC
By now your journals will be bulging with work of which you will be really proud and which will document your thoughts, feelings and emotions relating to such a special time. I want to take some steer from you as a group to decide the direction of this event. It may be written word, painting, or something completely different. Also, I have some lovely plans for our final time together but they are top secret I'm afraid. (You'll have to come on the journey with me to find out more!)
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To book, or for more information, please get in touch: 07890 030238 or email charliedormandoula@gmail.com
Image: Display of Journals, Somerset House
