Join our March 15 Poetree Walk - Let's co-create with nature!
What kind of ecosystem creates a healthy space for us to grow? How do we think about care in our relationships with kapwa and kalikasan?
Hi there!
February has been a whirlwind, and I can’t believe it’s already March, and here we are.
There’s much I want to celebrate about the past couple of months and much to look forward to as we go into women’s month, and for me, the thread has been nourishing spaces for women with nature.
Some ideas for your own meaningful gatherings
Before I dive into what I really wanted to share here, allow me to celebrate some of the gatherings I’ve held or been a part of in the past month, in case they inspire you too:
All We Can Save Circles - it’s a 10-session guided book club with climate feminists in a gentle and artful discussion space; based on the anthology edited by Ayana Elizabeth Johnson and Dr. Katharine Wilkinson. Guidance can be found here, but I’ve found value in even just congregating with this women, and actually enjoy it more when we “color outside the lines” of their facilitation guide. Wanted to share more highlights on Instagram, but perhaps I’ll get to it eventually. 😅
Reading group with Good Food Community friends - I love this book club format that allows you to join without pressure. When we met up last February 8, we literally just read excerpts from The Botany of Empire together and responded to prompts. What a rich discussion it was. An idea for your next hang with friends, or come join us next time!
Also, in case you missed it before, here is Ugnayan’s humble guide to creating meaning gatherings. It’s by no means extensive, so feel free to create something that feels more suited to you and your guests / participants.
February “Fails”
Last year, I wanted to do something special for my 40th birthday this year. As the date drew closer though, I realized I didn’t want to organize an event for my birthday. It seemed to tiring, too much like work, and so I decided that in this lean income time of my life, I wanted to gift myself with a website. However, that was a fail with some of the domain setting I couldn’t figure out and still haven’t figured out 😅 but I do hope to share that with you at some point this month!
Now onto some other things…
For the past 7-8 months, I’ve been training in “expressive arts facilitation” with The Arts and Health Institute (TAHI) by Magis Creatives. In that same period of time, I’ve been creating a gathering space for some inspiring female friends who are advocates, creatives and spaceholders doing work across different fields and industries.
And for a longer time, I’ve been wanting to do more nature-based coaching (basically coaching while walking / being among nature), and I’d event developed a coaching framework inspired by nature over a year ago, but I haven’t really talked much about either of those things.
I’m happy to share that this March, I’m taking baby steps towards integrating all of that — expressive arts, women, and nature, and having them all as co-facilitators and co-creators of flow and wellbeing — when we gather for a Likha Ginhawa Poetree Walk.
Being disconnected from ourselves, each other and nature can leave us feeling depleted, demotivated and lacking the energy to show up more fully in this world.
But when we take a moment to reconnect with nature, ourselves, and others who love and grieve deeply for the world too, we realize that we can find hope when we pay attention. And we nurture hope when we practice agency and creation.
Many people who want to create social and environmental change face the challenges of an unsustainable status quo: greed and corruption, disinformation, climate disasters, gender inequity, lack of education, lack of protection, apathy, etc. At the same time, many struggle with feelings of rage, grief, anxiety and frustration with this broken system, while balancing how they show up for their roles at home, and in their communities.
My work and research has shown me that moments of reflection, together with a community of support, experiential learning and practice are essential in sustaining motivation, in the face of complex challenges.
I’m inviting women social and environmental advocates and activists to pause to reconnect and regenerate -- to mother and be mothered in a nurturing community of both human and more-than-human beings.
What: A Likha Ginhawa Poetree Walk
When: March 15, 7:15-11AM
Where: UP Biology EDC Binhi Threatened Species Arboretum in UP Diliman, Quezon City.
Through a mindful (or bodyful) poetree walk, with facilitator and coach Jen Horn (yes, me!), and biologist Abi Garrino, we invite you to notice things in nature that we miss when we’re quickly walking past.
During the walk, we’ll share stories of the growth and connectedness of the species in the arboretum, invite attention and art through simple prompts, so you can write down what you notice, or take photos of things that surprise you.
After the walk, we’ll find a place to settle down, co-create with nature, and in smaller groups, share to whatever extent we are willing -- supported by my fellow expressive arts facilitators-in-training Nikki Abaya, Isa Garcia and Z Santillan.
No poetry writing or art experience is necessary. Presence is poetry.
Sadya ng Pagtitipon
Reconnect with self and kapwa to regain energy to show up more fully
Root intentionally in nature, while learning more about it
Recognize the kind of environment we need for personal and collective flourishing
Grow our own capacity to “mother” others or create the space for collective flourishing
Who is this for?
This gathering is intended to bring together women/queer creatives, social and environmental advocates, leaders and community organizers (...wherever you might be in your journey -- whether you're just beginning to sprout or you feel like you're shedding your leaves)
Slots are limited to 16 only.
What to expect
A guided tree walk with reflection prompts
A space to practice mindfulness and authentic expression
Storytelling and sharing within a supportive ecosystem
Gathering flow (may be subject to change)
7:15AM - Assembly time
7:30AM - Introductions/opening
7:45AM - Start of tree walk (with writing prompts)
9:00AM - End of tree walk; break time; transition to settling down space
9:15AM - Self-reflection, creation, and group sharing
10:45AM - Closing ritual
11:00AM - Goodbyes
Contribution / Pay-what-you-can
You may opt to contribute Php 800 to nourish the facilitators with a meal, and with the excess, buy Good Food Community produce for women political prisoners at the Correctional Institute for Women. But you may choose to contribute more or less, according to the amount that corresponds to your financial capacity and the value you feel you will get from this experience.
In the effort to make this accessible, especially for marginalized women who work to serve their communities, we're keeping the minimum entry fee low, with a P200 minimum contribution to join. This covers entrance and arboretum guide fee, and some materials for the walk.
We hope to harness the power of nature, art and community to renew our energy for life, and the people, communities and advocacies that are important to us.
See you under the canopy of trees?
Cultivating connection,
Jen Horn | @pagbubuo