Dark Forest / Light Forest

a creative writing & reading workshop on loss

SUMMER 2024

TWO COHORT OPTIONS:

Sunday 3-5pm PST

Monday 5-7pm PST

course summary

This course has been offered twice with a total of 32 participants. The course began as an independent study and has blossomed into an online, “in person” workshop.

Summer 2024 will be DF/LF third iteration with two options for two cohorts. PLEASE NOTE: If you took this course in 2020 or 2023, the 2024 course will be revitalized with NEW poems, if you are interested :-)"*

This creative writing course explores loss and grief through poetry, reading, writing, visual art, reflecting, self-care, curiosity, and community building.

What do I mean by loss?

Loss as in loss of a loved one, of a friendship, a home, a treasure, a part of self, a sense of time, a memory, an idea, a landscape, the climate, a spirit or energy. In this context, loss does not necessarily mean death, though it could, and often does. Loss is absence, a change in time and place, what once was. Loss is space, the in-between.

What does loss mean to you?

I inherited a dark forest but today I walk in another forest, the light one,

—Tomas Transtromer

course goals

• to engage creatively with loss & grief— here there is no intended “solution” or “answer”

• to express your feelings, ideas, thoughts, dreams, doubts, fears, surrounding loss & grief within the container of writing and reading poetry / interdisciplinary creative writing & art making

• to encourage self observation and reflection

• to engage deeply and critically with a curated curriculum

• to build (creative) community with others

• to practice reading, writing, and discussion

course structure

2 hour ZOOM meetings on Sundays OR Mondays

Sundays, 3-5pm PST: June 9th, 16th, 23rd, 30th, July 7th, 14th

Mondays, 5-7pm PST: June 10th, 17th, 24th, July 1st, 8th, 15th

Class cap: 12 participants / additionally, I ask that you commit to at least 5 of 6 sessions. While I completely understand needing to miss a class, for any reason, due to the nature of community building around loss/grief, it is very important that we commit to be present for each other. In any other setting, I would have an extremely flexible attendance policy, as accessibility is a core value of mine. If you have questions about this, please email me!

Each week will focus on a different poet. The poem(s) will engage with loss in some way (as well as other themes, styles, subjects, etc.). You will be given weekly packets which contain:

• a poem/poem-like text

• 1-2 creative writing prompts

• 1 journal prompt

• intention settings, gratitude engagements, self-care suggestions

• other resources related to the weekly material (podcasts, interviews, etc.)

The poems will create a thematic arc over the four weeks, including but not limited to:

• nature & loss

• self & country

• loss in language/form

• gifts within loss

• loss of a loved one

The creative writing prompts, journal prompts, and other reflection prompts will engage in similar themes brought up by the poem and then will engage further on loss and grief, encouraging you to use the poem’s space as your own creative space to process what’s on your mind and in your heart.

The prompts are designed to be inclusive, intersecting, holistic, tender, inquisitive, and flexible. You can engage with what speaks to you or return to it at a later time. There is no requirement to complete the work in order to show up to each class.

Due to the sensitivity of loss/grief, we will use most of our class time to discuss loss/grief through the lens of the poems, as a theme, as opposed to our own personal experiences. This does not mean we can not connect and share our own experiences of loss (we can and we will!) but rather this space is not a therapeutic grief group. The focus is on how we, as artists and writers, can process loss and grief through creativity, and what styles, elements, and skills help us achieve that.

However, in our last class together, we will have space to share a piece of writing/creative work (past participants have shared visual art, songs, collage, erasure, etc.) from your time in the workshop. I save this for the last class so it gives you an opportunity to generate, edit, and reflect on a piece that you feel comfortable sharing. I will also provide some introductory revision suggestions and strategies for editing work.

PLEASE NOTE: * I am not a licensed therapist. These materials and classes are not intended to be a substitute for professional support, but rather, a creative way to engage in the feelings surrounding loss. Please take care of yourself and reach out if you are unsure if this course is right for you*

registration

The cost of this 6 week course is $200.00 or $33.33 per class.

If this cost is a barrier, please reach out. I can provide limited low-no cost spots, prioritizing BIPOC folks. I also provide flexible payment plans (2-4 installments) with an initial deposit.

If you are ready to register, please fill out the registration form below and Venmo or Cash App the course fee of $200.00.

Venmo: @catie-hannigan

Cash app: @catiehannigan

PLEASE NOTE: Your spot is not reserved until I have received the course registration fee, course deposit (for payment plans), or email confirmation between us of a low-no cost spot. There are no refunds.

testimonials for Dark Forest / Light Forest

The class structure was perfect for allowing time for grief processing and then sharing. And you (Catie) fostered a nurturing and supportive environment that made it possible to share deeply held thoughts and feelings with almost strangers. - 2023 participant

I felt so safe to explore my grief creatively in your class. I spend so much time trying not to think about grief/ putting it on the back burner, and the generosity and flexibility of your teaching style helped me feel secure in processing my grief both through poetry and during group discussions. - 2023 participant

- Everything about this workshop breathed new life into my grief, I found more permission, more space, more acceptance to feel with and be in my grief while also sitting alongside so many others with their griefs. I found delight in knowing that Sunday from 3-5pm there would be a dedicated space where I could show up and be my saddest self.

- One of the most meaningful experiences of the community of this workshop was that everyone listened to one another's grief with open hearts, offered comments and observations with unflinching care. I didn't anticipate "ruining someone's day" with my grief because we all understand the reality of holding grief (and its sibling emotions) and joy (and its sibling emotions, too).

- The workshop was a vastly generative space with ample opportunities to write into a variety of openings; the gift of agency and flexibility nourished psychological safety for me (even hearing "there are no rules" gave me so much space). - 2023 participant

I took this course because navigating loss and dealing with grief already play a key part in my work creatively and I think grief as a whole is a very underrepresented topic within my social structure. In addition to widening my understanding of my own grief, which each week I did! I also became more attuned to the grief of others especially in regards to poetry. That is exponentially helpful to me as an artist and as an educator/mentor.

I will say my favorite part was listening to the lecture and following along with the packets. In regards to my learning style this worked very well and I looked forward to the simple act of sitting down, playing the recording, and following along while making notes. In addition, I thought the amount of prompts/engagements / other resources were HUGE. I was able to choose what worked for me at the time and have the others to revisit at a later date. - B.T. (2020)

I took this course after really enjoying a previous course offered by Catie. My main goal of being guided by smart, thoughtful prompts was achieved. As always, I loved how thorough and detailed the weekly prompts were - M.Y. (2020)