'Every creature, every plant, every rock and grain of sand'
2019 Findhorn UK31st August to 4th September 2019 in Findhorn Foundation
Here you find more informations about the congress.
The theme of the congress 'Every creature, every plant, every rock and grain of sand' focuses on our relationship with nature, ecology and related spirituality drawing on Celtic spirituality and other faith traditions. We hope to involve a larger number of other faith participants than we have in the past. We will also engage with the distinctive ethos and spirituality of the Findhorn Foundation itself. The symbol at the centre of the logo is the Triskelion. This is an ancient celtic symbol first used, it is thought, 5,000 years ago! Part of what it symbolises is movement and action but the three fold nature of the symbol also connects with Life -Death - Re-birth; Spirit - Mind - Body; Creation - Preservation - Destruction; a Christian interpretation is also clearly Trinitarian, Father - Son - Spirit. So for various reasons it suggested itself as a powerful symbol for our congress.
Unusually there is no single text for our congress, instead we will adopt the approach of Scriptural Reasoning, an approach used in interfaith dialogue where texts from different sources are brought together around a theme. So, in due course there will be a 'ring of texts' and different groups may work with different texts, but all around our theme.
some images: https://www.magentacloud.de/share/a8.tbmwzc6#$/
2019 Findhorn UK31st August to 4th September 2019 in Findhorn Foundation
Here you find more informations about the congress.
The theme of the congress 'Every creature, every plant, every rock and grain of sand' focuses on our relationship with nature, ecology and related spirituality drawing on Celtic spirituality and other faith traditions. We hope to involve a larger number of other faith participants than we have in the past. We will also engage with the distinctive ethos and spirituality of the Findhorn Foundation itself. The symbol at the centre of the logo is the Triskelion. This is an ancient celtic symbol first used, it is thought, 5,000 years ago! Part of what it symbolises is movement and action but the three fold nature of the symbol also connects with Life -Death - Re-birth; Spirit - Mind - Body; Creation - Preservation - Destruction; a Christian interpretation is also clearly Trinitarian, Father - Son - Spirit. So for various reasons it suggested itself as a powerful symbol for our congress.
Unusually there is no single text for our congress, instead we will adopt the approach of Scriptural Reasoning, an approach used in interfaith dialogue where texts from different sources are brought together around a theme. So, in due course there will be a 'ring of texts' and different groups may work with different texts, but all around our theme.
some images: https://www.magentacloud.de/share/a8.tbmwzc6#$/
Workshop 1
Leaders: Lotta Geisler, Sweden and Roshmi Lovatt, UK
Using as our inspiration the symbol of the Triskelion, we will use texts from three (or more) traditions including New Testament, Bhagavad Gita and Celtic Folklore. We will draw upon the natural environment of Findhorn to access the participants’ relationship with the earth and nature, and connect this with differences and commonalities within and between us.
We will encourage participants to explore their intra and inter relationship with these traditions through using creative, playful and expressive techniques. This will include the use of poetry, movement, sound, drama, art image and form, with moments of reflection and sharing.
This workshop is open to all participants who wish to engage their curiosity and openness to explore faith, nature and creativity as individuals and as part of a group.
Lotta Geisler is Bibliodrama trainer in Sweden. She works part time as a Therapist with young adults, and is a Group Supervisor.
Roshmi Lovatt is a Creative Arts Psychotherapist in the UK. She works with individuals and groups.
Workshop 2
Leaders: Mandy Carr, UK and Ruth Knaup, Germany
7 But ask the animals, and they will teach you,
or the birds in the sky, and they will tell you;
8 or speak to the earth, and it will teach you,
or let the fish in the sea inform you.
9 Which of all these does not know
that the hand of the Lord has done this?
10 In his hand is the life of every creature
and the breath of all mankind.
Job 12: 7-10
Whilst the chosen text is from the Old Testament, it not only reflects Jewish and Christian approaches to spirituality, but also the traditional Celtic belief, that the divine can be found in every living creature - also in ourselves.
Playful exploration through bodywork, dance, drama, poetry and creative writing will aim to encourage physical, emotional and mental openness to the range of our spiritual and creative responses to the Bible-text and the natural world surrounding us.
Activities will focus on nature as a lens through which to view and develop our personal and collective spirituality.
We welcome participants from all faiths and none!
Please bring the text in your first language to the workshop sessions.
Mandy Carr (England), is a former senior lecturer in dramatherapy at Anglia Ruskin University. Her interests include intercultural, interfaith and inter-political dialogue through the arts. She is currently engaged in doctoral research into the tensions and harmonies in the relationship between dramatherapy and religion/spirituality. A Jewish woman originally from Liverpool, Mandy has been a member of the ‘Liberal Judaism’ movement for twenty years.
Ruth Knaup (Germany), Psychologist, dancer, choreographer, author. Working with Bibliodrama for 15 years in various combinations. Her personal focus is on fostering personal growth through creative play. She published several books on self-care and finding joy in life. Herself rooted in the Christian belief, she is very interested in interfaith-dialogue and a more open spirituality.
Workshop 3
Leaders: Tünde Kocsis, Romania and Dóra Falvay, Hungary
While being individual yet organic parts of Nature, in the rush of everyday life and work we rarely get a respite to marvel at the magnificence of the Universe. Now we should jump at the opportunity. An encounter with anything heavenly casts a light at our fragile minuteness which only by faith in God, the Creation and ourselves can be resolved from tension into active presence. What is our real measure in this Creation? Are we in our rightful place in it? Can we feel our life to be part of the immense system, not futile, but irreplaceable, individual addition? Are we, after all, Crown of Creation or do the feelings of dependence, vulnerability and irrelevance overwhelm us?
In the workshop we will be working with Bible texts exploring the littleness and grandness of human life. We look for stories where God provides through Nature support, and where a human feels low or even sublime and blessed in his being a creature.
We are looking forward to much play, movement, observation and perception, to releasing and recovering in Nature, in the group, through the Bible texts. We want to use the Triskelion symbol as a help to find to our power sources.'
Tünde Kocsis and Dóra Falvay will be trying to combine psychodramatic and text-oriented methods of bibliodrama.
Tünde Kocsis, drama educationalist, bibliodrama leader, Transylvania, Romania
Dóra Falvay, translator, bibliodrama leader, Budapest, Hungary
Leaders: Lotta Geisler, Sweden and Roshmi Lovatt, UK
Using as our inspiration the symbol of the Triskelion, we will use texts from three (or more) traditions including New Testament, Bhagavad Gita and Celtic Folklore. We will draw upon the natural environment of Findhorn to access the participants’ relationship with the earth and nature, and connect this with differences and commonalities within and between us.
We will encourage participants to explore their intra and inter relationship with these traditions through using creative, playful and expressive techniques. This will include the use of poetry, movement, sound, drama, art image and form, with moments of reflection and sharing.
This workshop is open to all participants who wish to engage their curiosity and openness to explore faith, nature and creativity as individuals and as part of a group.
Lotta Geisler is Bibliodrama trainer in Sweden. She works part time as a Therapist with young adults, and is a Group Supervisor.
Roshmi Lovatt is a Creative Arts Psychotherapist in the UK. She works with individuals and groups.
Workshop 2
Leaders: Mandy Carr, UK and Ruth Knaup, Germany
7 But ask the animals, and they will teach you,
or the birds in the sky, and they will tell you;
8 or speak to the earth, and it will teach you,
or let the fish in the sea inform you.
9 Which of all these does not know
that the hand of the Lord has done this?
10 In his hand is the life of every creature
and the breath of all mankind.
Job 12: 7-10
Whilst the chosen text is from the Old Testament, it not only reflects Jewish and Christian approaches to spirituality, but also the traditional Celtic belief, that the divine can be found in every living creature - also in ourselves.
Playful exploration through bodywork, dance, drama, poetry and creative writing will aim to encourage physical, emotional and mental openness to the range of our spiritual and creative responses to the Bible-text and the natural world surrounding us.
Activities will focus on nature as a lens through which to view and develop our personal and collective spirituality.
We welcome participants from all faiths and none!
Please bring the text in your first language to the workshop sessions.
Mandy Carr (England), is a former senior lecturer in dramatherapy at Anglia Ruskin University. Her interests include intercultural, interfaith and inter-political dialogue through the arts. She is currently engaged in doctoral research into the tensions and harmonies in the relationship between dramatherapy and religion/spirituality. A Jewish woman originally from Liverpool, Mandy has been a member of the ‘Liberal Judaism’ movement for twenty years.
Ruth Knaup (Germany), Psychologist, dancer, choreographer, author. Working with Bibliodrama for 15 years in various combinations. Her personal focus is on fostering personal growth through creative play. She published several books on self-care and finding joy in life. Herself rooted in the Christian belief, she is very interested in interfaith-dialogue and a more open spirituality.
Workshop 3
Leaders: Tünde Kocsis, Romania and Dóra Falvay, Hungary
While being individual yet organic parts of Nature, in the rush of everyday life and work we rarely get a respite to marvel at the magnificence of the Universe. Now we should jump at the opportunity. An encounter with anything heavenly casts a light at our fragile minuteness which only by faith in God, the Creation and ourselves can be resolved from tension into active presence. What is our real measure in this Creation? Are we in our rightful place in it? Can we feel our life to be part of the immense system, not futile, but irreplaceable, individual addition? Are we, after all, Crown of Creation or do the feelings of dependence, vulnerability and irrelevance overwhelm us?
In the workshop we will be working with Bible texts exploring the littleness and grandness of human life. We look for stories where God provides through Nature support, and where a human feels low or even sublime and blessed in his being a creature.
We are looking forward to much play, movement, observation and perception, to releasing and recovering in Nature, in the group, through the Bible texts. We want to use the Triskelion symbol as a help to find to our power sources.'
Tünde Kocsis and Dóra Falvay will be trying to combine psychodramatic and text-oriented methods of bibliodrama.
Tünde Kocsis, drama educationalist, bibliodrama leader, Transylvania, Romania
Dóra Falvay, translator, bibliodrama leader, Budapest, Hungary
| minutes of the ebn-meeting |