LULLABIES AND LAMENTS - “A Tear and a Smile in the Eye"

Trish and Mary are singers, educators, longtime friends & explorers of song.

Our lives are built upon the movement and lilt of 'rocking'. At the beginning and end of life we are cradled in song. The lullaby beckons us back to the hearth of our existence and the lament expresses the cries of our soul.

In these workshops participants will:

* have the opportunity to explore their own story using a selection of lullabies and laments from various traditions including Celtic, African American & Sacred Chant.

* explore memories of the hearth and home

* navigate landscapes of the lament & how they provide a container for threshold experiences. The lament has the power to hold the emotions that accompany grief such as loss, anger, rage, distress, lostness, sadness & fear.

'Lullabies and Laments' is a 3 part series. Each workshop stands alone and also builds upon the next one. Participants may choose one or all 3 workshops.

Workshop 1: “A Tear & a Smile in the Eye" - Wed 8 Feb 5- 6.30pm

Workshop 2: " The Heart of the Village" - Wed 15 Feb 5- 6.30pm

Workshop 3: " Singing through the Rivers of Change" - Wed 22 Feb 5-6.30pm

About Trish Watts:

Trish believes passionately that ‘Every life can SING!’ She was sung into life by the experience of the village church choir & instilled with a dream that singing is a way of life and a medicine for all. She is a registered Voice Movement Therapy (VMT) Practitioner and Co-founder of InterPlay Australia. Her work is anchored in the bedrock of ‘play.'

A cappella choirs have been part of her lifeblood, including 'Colla Voce' - a vocal multi-cultural ensemble; the 'Sydney and Cambodian Threshold Choirs '(singers who sing beside bedsides in palliative care and recovery); and the 'Music Arts School Community Choir' of Phnom Penh.

For the past 40 years, Trish has worked as a freelance artist, workshop and retreat facilitator. She has a strong grounding in sacred, spirited communal song.

About Mary Diggins

Coming from an Irish heritage, Mary remembers being held in the songs of her lineage from a young age. She is inspired by the beauty and passion of Celtic Music in giving expression to the spiritual journey.

Mary's background is in Education, Creative Arts and Spirituality. She is an experienced educator and facilitator with over 30 years’ experience of working in School and Community settings. She is a Retreat Giver and is a trained Spiritual Director in the Ignatian Tradition.

She is trained in the liturgical arts and has worked in collaborative leadership on pastoral and music teams to provide meaningful ritual and celebration.

Mary is continuing her studies in therapeutic harp to offer spaces for accompaniment and healing.