The Wizard's Apothecary - Story Writing for Wellbeing - for parents & carers of children aged 6-8 years

THE WIZARD'S APOTHECARY 

In life we often are met with challenges. Creating stories for your children that spin their inner grievances into story ‘gold’ shows them how to look upon all life as a magical tapestry full of opportunities for transformation. The modelling of such story creation by parents/carers will seed in these children the courage to face what life brings to them as adults, by placing trust in their imagination and its wisdom to show them the way.

• No matter whether the story you have created is less than genius, it is from your creative mind and heart, and as such carries a courage and wisdom that no other pre-written story can give to them.

• The language of each family is specific, and the carer knows the child’s loves and fears as internal metaphorical language better than anyone! They can offer unparalleled imaginative insight.

• The nature of everyone’s writing has a unique flavour that carries through in to its form.

This course’s aim is for you to succeed in bringing your child into a sense of the world’s beauty and nourishing their capacity for rapture within its bounds – in the face of all that comes, to inspire them to be brave and innovative; hopeful and creative, for the manifestation of the world they want to live in.

THIS IS FOR YOU IF:

• You have a curiosity about and/or love for developing your capacity for creative writing.
• You have an interest in your child’s inner world and a wish to attune to it.
• You wish to encourage your child’s capacity for mental picturing as the gateway to self-compassion and acceptance of others in the journey of what it is to be human.
• You wish to be inspired to find the mental and emotional space you need to reconnect with your child
• You are willing to investigate your own history/past as a stepping stone to understanding your child’s associative behaviours and linked karmic patterns. 

PROGRAMME CONTENTS

5 Week Journey in which

Parents/carers will be guided to create stories that ‘live’ in the folktale & wonder-tale mood suited to the age of children 6 to 8 years, connecting them to ways of ‘seeing’ their child, to enhance their imaginations in order to write into story journeys - pictures that reflect the qualities needed for each child’s growth into greater well-being, sufficiency and sense of wholesomeness.

Parents/carers will be encouraged to hand-write their stories into booklets by the completion of the course to share with their child.

WHAT TO EXPECT

• Investigative techniques for developing your knowledge of the symbolic and metaphorical as mirrors to your child’s inner world.
• A safe and supportive environment in which to explore story writing for wellbeing
• A broad range of practices for writing as organic and embodied expressivity
• Narrative coaching suited to your specific story 
• An opportunity to share working on your story in a community of people on a similar quest for kindling of joy through story.

THE INVESTMENT

So many things that in hindsight we have not spent time prioritising we later regret. One of the key things people cite on their deathbeds when asked if they have regrets is that they wish they had spent more time developing a rich, personal relationship with those they cared most about. 

Is it a priority for you to work with an imaginative process by which to perceive yourself and your child in a more authentic and attuned way?

Are you willing to spend time and depth of thought to journey to a greater connection with your child? 

THE TIME IT TAKES

 Week 1). The Imaginative Gateway: Wednesday 28th May, 9 – 1pm [4 hours]

 Week 2). The Story’s Map: Wednesday 4th June, 9am – 1pm [4 hours]

 Week 3). Transformative W/rites of Passage: Wednesday 11th June, 9am – 1pm [4 hours]

 Week 4). Story Gold: Wednesday 18th June, 9am – 1pm [ 4 hours]

 Week 5) Story Harvest: Wednesday 25th June, 9am – 1pm [4 hours] 

Additional: Weeks 2 & 4 there will be the option to stay back to discuss work and for private consultation. 

LOCATION: - BANGALOW UNITING CHURCH,         17 Station St, Bangalow, NSW.

WHAT IT COSTS: (2025 Launching programme price)

Early Bird: $320     After May 21st: $380

ABOUT YOUR GUIDE

Out of my years of experience, and of practices as a writer for theatre, as a mother, and as a Waldorf educator, I have found a pathway and developed a methodology; a unique way of supporting individuals and groups in accessing and harvesting the healing gift of imagination through creating story.

I don’t promise a magic cure – however it is my experience that through these processes parents will generate new thoughts, fresh ways of seeing things, and experience ‘movement’. There’s a difference between movement and ‘magic cure’. I aim to bring awareness to where there was no awareness, in working with child-studies through a diversity of lenses, and in guiding practices for crafting of writing to meet the needs of the child.

This programme is part of the works created by Every Old Sock Meets an Old Shoe www.everyoldshoe.com.au 

To discuss your needs and the course content in more detail please email lynnfrancespreston@proton.me

Please ensure you read the admission statement (below) as a confirmation of your understanding and agreement to the course's terms before purchase:

ADMISSION STATEMENT

I understand that:

During this training, we shall be working with personal family content, which may serve as a mirror and a gateway to soul searching themes, and that may at times be challenging. Whilst the teacher will support all participants during the workshop, I understand this is not a therapy group and that I am ultimately responsible for my own process and integration of the experience.

I am participating in this training on the basis that I am responsible for my own wellbeing and will be mindful of what personal content I choose to bring to the social space of the group.

I am willing to commit myself to the work and structure of the course, and to contributing to the social cohesion of the group. I understand that the habitual use of drugs and alcohol are incompatible with the aims of the course.

As a participant I hereby agree that upon receiving course confirmation of booking, I will email Lynn Preston lynnfrancespreston@proton.me  with a disclosure of any relevant information concerning my physical/emotional health, including full details of all my medication that I currently receive, and will include full details of any psychiatric care that I receive or have received, and full details of any medical conditions that may be aggravated due to the physical work or emotional stress. 

Please additionally feel welcome to connect via email in order to arrange a time to discuss by phone your suitability to this course before booking.