Four-week cut-up poetry workshop on the theme of being "rooted"

I have been writing poetry for over 30 years as a form of healing. I began writing poetry when I was taking meditation classes in the 1990's with my tai chi instructor.  He taught me how to connect to my breath and to quiet my mind from conscious thoughts. It was during the meditation sessions that words or images would appear. These words gave birth to poems or prose.

My style of poetry continues to evolve and takes new shape. Since graduating with a Masters degree in Engaged Humanities & the Creative Life at Pacifica Graduate Institute, I have learned the importance of finding my connection and roots to our past, to our ancestors, to our place of origin.

One of the styles is called "cut-up technique" which is what we will focusing during the workshop. I found it to be very fun and magical. You randomly cut out words or full sentences from magazines or old books to recreate a poem. We will be using this technique to unlock aspects of what it means to be "rooted."

This will be a four-week workshop. The first week we will explore the element of being rooted to our birth story; the second week, we will look at what it means to be rooted to your place of origin or place you live at; the third week will focus on what it means to be rooted to your ancestors or family; and finally we create a cut-up poem of the idea of being rooted in your vocation.

Materials needed:

Old magazines or books

Scissors

Glue

A paper bag or a container for the cut-outs

8x11 cardboard paper or any other paper

Once you finish, you share it with the group. You'd be amazed at what comes up!