WORKSHOPPED WORDS
in partnership with Santa Cruz MAH
All Ages & Faith Practices Welcome!
Rite Life is a workshop that blends the act of automatic writing, with our individual practices of ancestor veneration, to confront that which haunts us, and to celebrate that which allows us to live.
The workshop was born in 2016 from the vision of a profound poet and spiritual teacher named Honeysun, just a couple of years before she passed beyond this life. Her initial concept for the Rite Life workshop is preserved in the way it’s practiced today, facilitated by Gabe, her friend and pupil, alongside a bright circle of local writers and practitioners of craft.
B.Y.O.C. (bring your own chair), some writing supplies, and yourself—just as you are…
See y’all in the cemetery!
Visit Bookings to inquire about Workshop Sessions
When it comes to leading workshops, my philosophy of facilitation is simple: if you finish a workshop having written anything that would not have been written otherwise, that is a success; that being said, I strive to steward quality work through participants by catering to all ages and levels of writing experience present.
My prompts often involve numerous steps, and guiding us along a path from one place within themselves to another. Each workshop is designed to open up a new door in yourself, expanding the living space within your body. I’m available for virtual workshops, but prefer to do them in person. I have experience teaching kids as young as 6, college level students, as well as adults of all ages and backgrounds. If you have questions, reach out, I’m all ears!
Special accommodations or requests are available on a case by case basis.
Signature Workshops:
Available for individuals or groups, virtual or in-person when circumstances allow for school visits and youth focused workshops. Inquire to learn more!
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Learn about the past, present & possible future meanings of some of the most common so-called “bad words”. Uncover the power they are charged with, how they can be wielded for the purposes of bringing about healing, or to inflict harm.
We will learn how to intentionally use them AND when it’s even more powerful not to use them, depending on the circumstance and the word in question. We’ll come up with synonyms and antonyms to our favorite curse words, encouraging more intentional word choice.
Lastly, we’ll differentiate these words based on imbedded harm. Meaning, we’ll learn to cease the use of words that are inherently violent for us personally to use, while uplifting those that are not, along the way learning how some language has been created for the explicit purpose of oppression.
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This is a workshop exploring the depth of individual words and the meta-concepts behind them, utilizing Khalil Gibran’s book The Prophet as our source of direction.
We’ll develop a list of words and ideas that we resonate deeply with, then choose one to open up and step inside of. Using an excerpt of The Prophet as a guiding example, we’ll reflect on all that gives the idea of our choosing its deepest meanings.
The simple yet profound lesson we learn from this workshop is the only way to define words is by using other words. We use etymology, philosophy, semiotics and creative writing as our pathway into developing deeper understandings of life’s richest concepts.
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Merging visual arts and creative writing, we’ll combine the images and words of other artists with our own creative vision, blurring the lines between innovation and imitation, resulting in a figurative venn diagram of artistic mediums, using poetry writing prompts in a brand way
We’ll incorporate other writing exercises like blackout poems, found writing, koans and odes. This workshop has a strong emphasis on visual story telling, invoking a feeling within the audience rather than just a thought.
Whether you’re an experienced poet, new to writing, or don’t feel like you have a poetical bone in your body, this workshop is generative for anyone and everyone.
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This is a hybrid meditation and writing workshop that utilizes mirror gazing as a means of reaching into our emotional well. Merging the practices of looking in your own eyes for 2 minute increments with silent contemplation and automatic writing, this workshop offers a variety of benefits, material and personal.
This workshop combines strategies of psychology, philosophy, faith practice and journalling to evoke new ways of thinking, and blaze fresh mental pathways to lead us out of stagnancy and self-sabotage.
It may seem a bit uncomfortable at first, but after just one session, you’ll find a fresh connection with yourself as an artist, a human being and drifting piece of stardust.
Some experience with, or openness to meditation and prayer is encouraged.