John Fox and Poetic Medicine is Amazing~!!

UPCOMING EVENTS

With John Fox & The Institute for Poetic Medicine

January 14, 2010

John's Schedule At A Glance

THE HEALING ART OF POEM-MAKING

and

POETRY, COMMUNITY & THE FLOURISHING HEART

March 26-27

Auburn, CA


FINDING THE WORDS TO SAY IT

May 5

Tucson, AZ


HEALING ART OF POEM-MAKING

and

POETIC MEDICINE: A WRITING WORKSHOP

May 7-8

Tucson, AZ



THE NATURE OF POETRY:

EXPLORING THE BEAUTY WAY

May 25-June 1

Canyon de Chelly, AZ



THE HEALING ART OF WRITING

June 27- July 2

San Rafael, CA

TAKES TIME

June 30-July 4

Bowen Island, B.C.

Canada


THE JOURNEY OF THE UNDIVIDED LIFE

Sept. 10-12

Burlingame, CA

Dear Friend of The Institute for Poetic Medicine,

We are aware, as we prepare to send this Constant Contact about my schedule, of the earthquake devastation in the country of Haiti.

My thoughts and prayers immediately went to my friend Dr. Diane Allerdyce, Chief Academic Officer for a remarkable charter school, Toussaint L'Ouverture High School for Art and Social Justice that serves the Haitian communities of Delray and Boynton Beach in Florida. Please read past my letter here to learn more about this school, her students and how you may support their response to the tragedy in Haiti.

(There are inspiring links including an NPR broadcast of poems written by Toussaint students.)


While our eyes are on Haiti now, when the news lessens, how can we continue to pitch in to help others in need? How can we draw closer to one another and be more cooperative on this small planet?

We may pray for solace and aide to touch Haitian people experiencing trauma and grief. May our prayer remind us of our own fragility and the great difference made by a simple gesture of support. We will be moved by acts of courage in the face of tragedy. Let us allow courageous acts to inspire and motivate the choices we make.

May all this stir in us a daily question: how shall I live?

Whatever challenges you face or goals you set for yourself in 2010, I believe you possess the resilience and creative spark necessary to keep stepping forward. If some unknown is large before you, may your depth and courage help you honor silence and the grace to pause and wait, for guidance, for rest. It is in that pause, in that rest place, where you might listen for a poem that is yours.

This silent pause, this listening space, is what holds our words. We, and those people we may be blessed to work with, can speak and listen to this heart language to foster truth-saying, release, insight, remembrance and renewal.

This Constant Contact contains my current schedule for 2010! I will offer programs in Tucson, AZ; Auburn, CA; Canyon de Chelly, AZ; Bowen Island near Vancouver, Canada and a co-led retreat with Sally Hare in the San Francisco Bay area. I'll also participate on the faculty with David Watts, Rachel Naomi Remen and Jane Hirshfield at The Healing Art of Writing conference at Dominican College in San Rafael, CA.


Look for future schedule updates on my web site. If you are interested in bringing "poetic medicine" to where you live, let us know. We can work with you to make this happen!

I believe the essence of community and poem-making is this: that each one of us brings something irreplaceable to life's circle. Your irreplaceable nature and voice is what makes the whole sacred. The expressive arts have a knack for teaching us about the sacredness of the person, the value of receptivity and a deep sense of community.

Let's travel this journey with that kind of sensibility in our hearts. I hope to meet you along the way.

Sincerely,

John Fox

for The Institute for Poetic Medicine