12-seminar course exploring Spirit into Form: Exploring Embryological Potential and Prenatal Psychology
This is a new course with Cherionna Menzam-Sills to deepen together in the experience of reading her new book, Spirit into Form: Exploring Embryological Potential and Prenatal Psychology. Cherionna shares some material from the book each class, as well as guiding you through an experiential exploration and group discussion. The plan is to read two chapters each month, then meet to explore their themes together. Bring your curiosity, your questions and your willingness to read the book!
Recent trauma therapies are incorporated into the book and will inform our time together. One aspect included in the book is the element of cultural trauma, how our personal trauma experiences can be influenced by the larger context of the culture in which they occur. For example the stresses mothers are exposed to prenatally affect their babies and the birth. These stresses often include not only the accelerated pace of the modern world but also being in a collective field of racism, violence, and other ongoing threats like a global pandemic.
One aspect of healing of collective trauma is being able to meet in groups where we can experience a safe holding field, which is also what little ones need. Although it is important to note that this course is not therapy and not a replacement for personal therapy if needed, a major intention of this course is to establish and grow such a therapeutic healing field, where we can be present with whatever trauma may have occurred on our way into form, and also access the incredible potential of that early time.
The format for the course is twelve 2-hour sessions. We will meet once a month to review, explore and discuss together a section of the book. Usually, we will cover one chapter each month.
Each class will involve a guided group settling meditation, a short presentation or talk relevant to the reading for that month, a guided experiential exploration related to the reading, and time for questions and discussion, both in the large group and in smaller groups in break out rooms.
Please note that this course, while likely to have therapeutic effects, is not therapy and is not to be used in place of therapy. If you find yourself activated or overwhelmed by the reading, please find a therapist you can trust to support you with this. Most helpful would be a practitioner who is familiar with pre- and perinatal trauma, or at least has somatic/body-centered trauma skills, like Somatic Experiencing. Other practices like trauma-informed yoga or meditation can also be supportive.
Includes:
- 12 CLASSES between 26/09/2021 and 7/08/2022 (24 hours of class time)
- Lifetime access to video recordings of each class
- Lifetime access to additional videos and other supplemental learning materials
