Welcome to Lapidus International
Weaving our words for wellbeing: making connections across our changing world.
Lapidus International is a membership organisation which offers a range of resources, including academic tools, development opportunities, events, and a supportive network to enhance both personal and professional writing practice.
Upcoming Events
- Lapidus Member Event Only
Knowing, Being and Becoming: The Transformative Power of Writing as Inquiry
Presenter: Lauren Metcalfe
Saturday 4th January, 10:00am-11:15am.
In this session, I will share how I came to know myself, be myself and become myself through the process of using creative writing in self-study research. We will explore the concept of autoethnography, and the transformative power of creative writing as both a method of inquiry and a conduit to developing and curating a sense of identity.
About the Presenter
Lauren is a counsellor and psychotherapist, who has also recently embarked on the next chapter of her career as a lecturer and research supervisor. With a background in Linguistics and Phonetics, she has always been fascinated by the power of language, the way we can speak, think and write ourselves into existence, and how words shape and reflect our worlds. Her MSc research took the form of an autoethnographic exploration of mixed-race identity—a journey of in-betweenness, otherness and belonging.
Zoom Link
Coming soon
About the Lapidus Living Research Community
The Lapidus Living Research Community (LLRC) meets on the first Saturday of every month via Zoom to discuss all things research, with a focus on qualitative arts-based research practices, theory and methods.
All Lapidus members are welcome, regardless of research experience.
An opportunity to join an 8-week workshop, starting on January 14th. Each week is themed, for example, Crossroads; Opposites, and I am, I am, I am. Both individually and in small groups, stimulus questions are explored, and personal and fictional stories come together in a way that supports connection to ourselves and to others. Previous group members speak of the depth of nourishment they gained, and of the joyful inspiration they shared and have taken away with them each week into their everyday lives.
“Everything about this group was inspiring—the facilitator, participants, and visual prompts.”
A week ahead of the Winter Solstice – the longest night of the year – join me to face the darkness and light the light.
In this 90-minute online workshop, you’ll write about the darkness in your life right now – worries and fears, doubts and dread – with the aim of clarifying and coming out of survival mode to peer into the shadows and take stock. And you will write about the light: the qualities and strengths you have within you that you can call forth to shine for yourself and others at this time. To bring the body into balance, I’ll guide you through my top three breathing exercises for resetting the nervous system.
If the world has you on edge, if your worries are taking up way too much space, if you’d like to get some perspective and remember what brightness is at your disposal, this workshop is for you. Hope to see you there.
With Elaine Konopka, writer and somatic practitioner.
If your body could speak, what would it say? Have you ever had a conversation with it on the page?
In this workshop, we’ll explore ways to connect with our bodies and hear their voices through writing. Kate will also share learnings from her MSc research on mind-body writing and reflections on how they still shape her life all these years later.
As part of the workshop:
- We’ll explore activities to help us connect with our bodies through writing
- We’ll take some time for relaxation and reflection
- Kate will share her research findings, their impact and additional learnings 10 years on
Like the sound of the workshop but can’t make this date? You can find out more and register your interest via the link below
Writing for Wellbeing for Women is held regularly in a spacious conservatory in the beautiful grounds of Scampston Hall, North Yorkshire. No prior knowledge is needed. Please bring a notepad and pen/pencil
Booking is essential as numbers are limited and this venue is popular. Cafe may be closed so bring a packed lunch is you would like, or there is a cafe locally or in the nearby town of Malton. For further information please contact sandie@essenceofwriting or visit www.sandie@essenceofwriting.com
- Lapidus Member Event Only
Poetry Therapy In Working With War Trauma
Presenter: Anna Liudnova
Saturday 7th December, 10:00am-11:15am.
How can we use poetry therapy in working with war trauma? The results of group workshops by Ukrainian volunteer Anna Liudnova include diagnostic tools, the book “Dialogue with Yourself: Recovery through Writing,” and the poetry performance “The Voice of Emotions in Motion.”
In her presentation, Anna will talk about:
· The performance: “The Voice of Emotions in Motion”
· Multidisciplinary approach to working with war trauma in Ukraine (Categories: Wounded military personnel (volunteering in hospitals), veterans and their families; internally displaced persons (including those from occupied territories or those who have completely lost their homes). Results of diagnostic tools and specific cases/stories of workshop participants and individual sessions.
· The book “Dialogue with Yourself: Recovery through Writing”. This book is bilingual and includes a foreword by Nicholas Mazza, an interview with Sherry Reiter, a section with writing prompts that Ukrainian psychologists and writers can use, and anyone can practice at home. It also contains poetry by Nicholas Mazza, Sherry Reiter and Catherine Tanguis; my own poems created during the war, as well as texts from participants of my workshops: military personnel, veterans, and their families.
· She will also offer a writing prompt.
About the Presenter
Anna Shevchuk (pseudonym: Anna Liudnova) is a writer, folklorist, art critic, performer, and volunteer. She is studying to be a Certified Applied Poetry Facilitator with the International Federation for Biblio-Poetry Therapy, and is a member of the editorial board of The Journal of Poetry Therapy. She is an expert in the field of cultural and creative industries at the Ukrainian Cultural Foundation and the Ukrainian Book Institute. She is the founder of the Folklore Studio “Vytoky” (“Roots”) for kids, teenagers and adults and a facilitator of the research project at the Kyiv-Mohyla Academy. She volunteers with military personnel, veterans, and their families.
Zoom Link
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87581622839
About the Lapidus Living Research Community
The Lapidus Living Research Community (LLRC) meets on the first Saturday of every month via Zoom to discuss all things research, with a focus on qualitative arts-based research practices, theory and methods.
All Lapidus members are welcome, regardless of research experience.
Join Lapidus International...
…from as little as £3 per month.
As a Lapidus Member, you are part of a supportive community who believe in the power of using words to enhance and transform.
You’ll receive a monthly newsletter, get discounts on events and training, have access to our online library of Lapidus journals and more. All for as little as £3 per month!
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