Instructor: Christine Hassing
Maximum Enrollment: 10
Class Term: 07/18/2022 - 08/22/2022
Tuition/Fees
SCN Member: $200
Non-Member: $240
Class synopsis
Even in the leafless tree branches of winter can be heard a whisper promising new beginnings. Though a log may be lodged horizontal from riverbank to riverbank, still the river continues to flow towards the direction it is meant to reach. A cocoon awaits the right time not to break apart but to crack open to allow butterfly wings to take flight. A story that has experienced the ebbs of life can also be reframed to reflect the beautiful life flows. This class will leverage nature to see and see again while exploring our lives to see how they might be reframed for healing, dignity, and worth.Class description
This six-week course will offer opportunity to spend time in nature as a means for extracting symbolism and messages for then writing and reframing stories of one’s life. Physical time in nature is not mandatory; if there are physical and / or environmental limitations, utilizing the exploration of nature through other avenues (on-line, books, photographs, imagination) will still lend well to writing and reframing one’s stories.
Class goals
The first and foremost goal is to provide a safe, compassionate, and unconditionally accepting environment to reflect and explore the stories of our life., A second goal is to provide learning prompts that offer curiosity, enjoyment, and creative ways to think about the stories of our life differently., A third goal is that through the process of exploring nature, seeing, listening, writing, and sharing, the narratives we may tell ourselves about the stories of our lives become reframed in a way that also offers healing, grace, self-compassion/ acceptance, harmony with the ebbs and flows, and joy.
Class communication method
Learning prompts and a reflective assignment will be provided to attendees on the Mondays of each week via a collective group email. Attendees will be encouraged to journal on their own in response to their learning prompt(s) and reflective assignment. An additional check-in with attendees will take place each Wednesday via group email. Over the course of the week, each attendee will utilize their reflective assignment and journaling to write a reframed life story. Note: a life story can be a specific chapter / memory or many; each attendee can discern/ decide what aspects of their stories they would like to write/ reframe. Attendees will be asked to share their reframed story (and their journey to reframing if they would like to) via group email at the end of each week (Saturday/ Sunday) for supportive and celebratory feedback. An individual or group zoom meeting can be arranged when class begins.Class outline
Week 1:
To see and see again; to hear and hear again. A solo exploration in Nature. Learning prompts will include guidance for exploring Nature and reframed life story excerpts.
Week 2:
Rhythm, Drumbeats, Signs, Messages, Nature Speaks Continued solo exploration in Nature. Learning prompts will include guidance for listening in Nature and reframed life story excerpts.
Week 3:
Rivers, Mountains, Caves, and Trees Continued solo exploration in Nature. Learning prompts will include guidance for symbols and metaphors of Nature and reframed life story excerpts.
Week 4:
Fur, Paws, Hooves, Wings. Continued solo exploration in Nature. Learning prompts will include guidance for exploration of animals of Nature and reframed life story excerpts.
Week 5:
Leaves, Roses, Daffodils, Perceived Weeds. Continued solo exploration in Nature. Learning prompts will include guidance for exploring plants and flowers of Nature and reframed life story excerpts.
Week 6:
Cold Noses, Unconditional Love, Honeycomb and Bees. Continued solo exploration in Nature. Learning prompts will include guidance for observing Nature through the lens of compassion, presence, and grace. Reframed life story excerpts will also be provided.
Class time commitment
Attendees are encouraged to allow for 20 – 30 minutes per day (nature immersion / journaling) with an additional 1.5 -2 hours in the week allocated for reflective assignment, the writing/reframing of a story, and classmate feedback.Instructor bio
Life Story writer/teacher, author, coach, Christine Hassing has published two life-story books, one her personal memoir To the Moon and Back to Me: What I Learned from Four Running Feet. The second is Hope Has a Cold Nose, a collection of twenty-three military veteran life stories about the healing effects of service animals for veterans journeying with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and military-sexual trauma (MST). Christine is an exceptional intuitive listener and compassionate life-story writer/teacher and coach with years of experience teaching individuals to find a centeredness in life, in their leadership, and within themselves. Christine’s gift in reframing life stories provides emotional and spiritual healing for an individual transforming through their pain, trauma, sorrow, despair, or grief.
