Early September Creative Workshops Newsletter 05

 

Dear writers

 

Daily I talk to folk who are pouring themselves into letters, breathing in the vowels, tasting the consonants with lips, tongue, palate and teeth.  Ilze Bruggemann one such person, sent me this poem. In copying it, I lost the lines then thought I would leave it for you to divide - for fun.

 

Electric Lock

Tonight the streetlights where I live went out at midnight as usual. While I looked for my key the kindhearted taxi driver aimed his headlights at me as he backed up. The ruthless glare projected the inky silhouette of a middle-aged man onto the iron gate. It was only after I had found the right key on the chain and inserted it straight
into my heart that the good fellow drove off. Then I turned the key in my heart with a click, pulled out the delicate piece of metal, pushed the gate open, and strode in. Soon I got used to the darkness inside. (Shang qin Trans: Michelle Yeh)

 

In early Sept. I walked 30 kilometres of the Tsitsikamma trail. In the mist rain the world became, in the words of ee cummings, ‘mud puddle wonderful.’  I saw a trunk split lengthways. One half had fallen to the ground to sprout as another tree. So newness begins again.

 

A reminder…for WritEscapes events in the Cape, contact Mandy Lebedes who gives writers a voice mandy01@iafica.com  083 301 9832

 

Last month I wrote of the story work I’m beginning to do in corporations. On 30 Sept. in Cape Town I’m offering (through the Krysalis Institute) a one day workshop, Beginnings and Bottom lines, The Power of Stories in Corporate Life. 

 

And talking of stories at work, Peter Christie of Not The Bored Room - Storytelling in Organisations, with storytellers from around the globe, is running an International Storytelling in Organisations workshop in the Free State  13-18 Nov.  The key theme is the storyteller as spiritual leader . Contact Peter on 011 485-1889 . bigchilef@nottheboredroom.co.za

 

Here are the 05 last quarter workshops in Johannesburg, Durban and Cape Town. Please email if you’d like a more detailed flyer or look up my site.

Thanks you to those who pass on this letter to writing friends and who give friends birthday gifts of a workshop.  

Please unsubscribe if you need to.

 

Zen Pen workshop at Ixopo Buddhist Retreat Centre KZN 16-18 Sept. Join the conversation between writing and meditation – 039 834 1863

 

The Bigger You; Writing Longing and Belonging

 

I am not I. I am the one walking beside me. (Jiminez)

 

This workshop explores ‘the companion self.’ That part of me that accompanies all I do - a good basis for a life story. When we think of a relationship, most of us think of relating to lover, spouse, child, friend. But what about the relationship with the person we have known longest - ourselves ? Writing opens to a lifelong love affair - with yourself.

 

Cape Town 15-16 Oct R640

Johannesburg:  29-30 Oct  R780

Durban: 5-6 Nov    R580

 

Your Personal Myth: Writing yourself Alive, Aware, Awake R390

(as part of the Consciousness Film Festival)

 

Joseph Campbell, the mythologist, suggests we are in search of experiences that make us more alive. Writing is one of them. Explore your creativity and imagination. Write your life as a movie. Travel in search of your personal myths - the stories that energise your life.

 

to book contact Erika van Gruenen 021 788 6834   kairon@icon.co.za

 

Cape Town             Sun. 13 Nov. 9.30- 15.30 

Pretoria                     Sat 19 Nov  9.30 -15.30

Gauteng                  Sun 20 Nov.  9.30-15.30 

 

The 2nd Summer Writing School

 23-27  Nov. Somerset West   (R1880)

 

Eight folk came Helderberging last year. Take time off, writing away for a few early Sumner days.  This writing retreat includes tuition * one-on-one mentoring *one email follow up consultation * files and a surprise gift for writers*fine writing company *most meals * nature reserve admission*dine with the sea in your face. Reasonable B & Bs close in Somerset West or nearby Gordon’s Bay, Strand

 

Create your Story - Craft your Writing    

3 Dec Somerset West  (R330)

 

Peter Elbow (Writing with Power) compares creating to sailing into the blue beyond. He likens crafting to plotting our way home to the harbour. In this workshop you sail home,  balancing what is said with what is implied. You encourage the creativity of the reader as you seek to be present in the text and find your voice.

 

Venue:      4 Bridgewater Park Marais Street Somerset West

 

My Life, my Death: A Writing and Story-telling Workshop  R360

 (with Peter Fox)   Sun  4 Dec

 

Everyman I will go and thee and be thy Guide (Death, from a Medieval Play)

 

We’re constantly in the flow of life and death. In this workshop we celebrate our life and befriend our death.  Myths, stories and poetry are our guides for the day.

Peter Fox is co-author of the recently published Dying, A Practical Guide for the Journey.

 

Venue:  Southern suburbs Cape Town

 

….And for early 2006

 

Letters to the Divine: a Writing and Lettering Workshop

(with calligrapher Anne-Marie Moore) Houghton Johannesburg R780

date to be decided

 

We explore our creativity and imagination. Write poems, praise passages, songs, stories, prayers, chants and calligraphy them.  Explore the art of letters as a ritual. Join your letters to those of the mystics of every faith who have celebrated the divine.

 

and finally, from Hafiz

 

The sun turns a key in a lock each day

As soon as it crawls out of bed.

Light swings open a door

And many kinds of love rush out

Onto an infinite green field. The

 

May words lead you into such a sunrise

 

Dorian

 

"Between our two lives
there is also the life
of the cherry Blossom."
(Basho)

 

Dr Dorian Haarhoff
021 852 7587 / 082 873 6802
http://dorianhaarhoffwriter.homestead.com
4 Bridgewater Park
Marais Street
Somerset West 7130