Listening for Muses

Workshop Number

Leader(s)

Vonn

New

Audience

Who may register:

Open to All (adult & high school)

full-time attenders only

Time breakdown

Experiential Activities:

25%

Lecture:

Discussion:

30%

Description

Short Description:

A participatory exploration of artistic inspiration as Spirit-led ministry. We will combine meeting for worship with musical improvisation, movement, poetry, visual art and other collaborative forms of expression. In worship-sharing, we will discuss how these alternative forms help us open to new, non-verbal experiences of the Divine.

Long Description:

The experience of union with the Divine that happens to us in Meeting for Worship goes beyond what words can express or the verbal mind alone can grasp.

In this workshop, we will explore Meeting for Listening, a form of unprogrammed worship that invites ministry in the form of of improvised music, movement, visual art, journaling, and other forms of creative expression in addition to vocal ministry. In Meeting for Listening we use simple instruments and our bodies and wait expectantly for divine guidance to lead us in creating sound and movement together.

Because it is possible to listen to more than on sound at a time, the instruction "leave space between messages" takes on new meaning as we all play together at the same time. Friends experience a cohesive sense of gathering that is at the heart of building peaceful community. We will discuss ways in which our experience of artistic inspiration has brought us closer to Spirit and what it can teach us about listening for leadings in other parts of our lives.

As we make a joyful noise together we will consider that perhaps this joy is the most effective way to defy violence and build peace.

Each day, we will hold a Meeting for Listening with a different emphasis, such as rhythm, voice, movement, visual art, dreams, etc, followed by worship sharing about the experience. We will also do listening, sounding and movement exercises to build skills and confidence in what may be new territory for some. The instruments and media we use will be so simple (such as bells, shakers, sticks, etc) that no performance anxiety is expected.

This workshop is open to people of all levels of musical and physical ability. At times, we may be quite loud, so Friends with strong sensitivity to sound may wish to bring earplugs. Instruments will be provided and we will find ways to make sound with whatever is at hand. Participants may bring their own instruments if they wish, but are encouraged to leave song books behind.

Leader Experience:

I offered this workshop for the first time at the FGC Gathering in 2009. I'll be offering a shortened version for an intergenerational women's gathering at Powell House in April 2010. I have also facilitated groups in other topics at Powell House, and in regional and monthly meetings.
I have about 15 years experience in leading seminars and facilitating workshops and retreats. Currently, I am a member of the Quaker Quest Traveling Team. I have been offering workshops in music improvisation, musican and dancer interaction, and meditation and music. I hold a certificate in Deep Listening training which authorizes me to facilitate Deep Listening workshops. My travel under Concern involves leading workshops. Prior to this work, I was a political organizer and trained hundreds of volunteer activists and citizen lobbyists in Florida. I also have 10 years experience as a technical trainer and have traveled extensively teaching network engineering seminars to IT professionals.