Below are details of previous courses Kathy has been involved in.
The Wise Art of Conversations with Silence – May / June 2021
This course was for anyone: those who are curious about silence but don’t know where to begin, through to those who may be very experienced in silence and/or silent retreats.
Based on the book Conversations with Silence: Rosetta Stone of the Soul by Sally Longley, it was crafted as a safe space to explore each of the key topics in the book.
Each session was based on a chapter, and offered participation and small private breakout groups online.
It was interactive, drawing on participant questions, struggles, wisdom and experience.
Responses (incl. writing, poetry, art, movement, drama) to one’s own conversations with silence was encouraged.
Wise Art of Art in Spiritual Companionship – June – August 2020
On line training to get some practical experience in “hearing” the thousand works of an art work.
Discovery of some of the theory of using art as a scapegoat in soul work.
Doing creative works(a different approach to art in each session)and listening to each other in triads or quads.
Session 1: Free Association and Interpretation of Art.
Session 2: Art combined with focussing techniques.
Session 3: Uncovering your wise person
Session 4: Abstract Art
The Wise Art of Theopoetics and Midrash – August & September 2020
Tikkun Olam refers to the Jewish imperative to engage in acts which heal the world’s wounds.
Both theopoetics and engaging in Midrash contribute towards such healing.
Theopoetics is a way to do religious reflection that gives particular attention to poetic,
narrative and artistic responses to a sacred text, as well as validating experience and bodily responses.
So it sits as a comfortable sister alongside the tradition of midrash, where we enter into the scenes
and lives of biblical texts, in order to portray the silences and voice that which is silenced.
You do not need to be a poet, writer or artist. Just come with your imagination and the desire
to foster healing. This course offers fresh ways to draw alongside others if we are in any of the caring professions.
The Wise Art of Virtual Spiritual Companionship/Direction – May & June 2020
This interactive course invited engagement from Companions, Directors and Supervisors with some of the challenges faced by virtual conversations.
A number of key topics such as setting up a Virtual Spiritual Direction session, Presentation and Body Language
and Managing Interruptions was covered, allowing enough space for sharing, questions and feedback.
Specific IT technical issues was not covered. The three 75-minute sessions will included an introduction of the topic,
drawing wisdom and experience from the group and some practical application and feedback with each other.
Session 1: Set-up of Virtual Spiritual Direction sessions
Session 2 : Managing a Virtual Spiritual Direction session
Session 3 : Personal Practice and additional resources
The Wise Art of Dreamwork – August 2020
Someone has said that dreams are unopened letters from God.
This interactive series has participation opportunities and will look at the role of dreams
in personal and spiritual transformation; we will have time to apply different frameworks
to our dreams, and gain confidence in the relevance and value of listening to our dreams.
The fourth session will also cover dynamics and procedures in facilitating a dream group.
Life Revision Course in 2019, 2018 and 2017
This course is aimed at helping you notice what are you longing for in this life?
The first question in the Bible that God asks in Genesis is “Where are you?”
God later asks Hagar, “Where have you come from and where are you going?”
And in Hagar’s conversations with God, Hagar names God as “The God Who Sees Me”.
At another time, God appears to Elijah and asks: “Elijah, what are you doing here?”, and for Elijah it opens out a new beginning.
God’s questions to us can prove invaluable.
Taking time to allow God’s questions to come to us, welcoming the questions and letting them find their way deep into our being and touching our life stories,
is at the centre of this two part course. It offers an opportunity to re-vision our lives!
Those who are at intersections in their lives find this particularly useful, as do those who simply want to stop and take stock of where they have come from and where they are.
Previous participants have found a great sense of camaraderie and community development, whilst also honouring the spaciousness required for deep prayer and
silence as each person takes the time to review their life thus far,notice patterns of decision-making, and to discern some ways of proceeding into the future.
PART ONE: WHERE HAVE I BEEN AND WHERE AM I GOING?
PART TWO: A WAY OF PROCEEDING: DRIVEN OR DRAWN?
Labyrinth retreats – some topics include:
Loved by God, Pushing Deeper, Splashing in a Labyrinth , Is God Alone enough for me?
One day retreats – some topics covered include:
Image of God, Silence and Solitude, Peace, Water metaphors from scripture, God as Fire, Fear not.