Maternal Journal

6-Week Course

Summer dates TBC

A space in which creative journaling is used to boost wellbeing in pregnancy, birth, and parenthood.

Our journaling resources and guided exercises introduce different creative styles and techniques to help you get started - you don't need to be 'creative' to do this. Maternal Journal is all about the process.

OUR AUTUMN 2024 DATES WILL BE ANNOUNCED SOON

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Your Facilitators

Andrea

(she/her)

Creative facilitator + local mama

Andrea is a mama to two little ones, navigating the wild and joyful ride of the early years. She is passionate about creating nurturing and soulful spaces for mamas and parents to be, share, connect and create. Be it a doodle, a poem on a napkin (or nappy!), a lyrical conversation over a cup of tea, a performance, or perhaps a radical post-nuclear and post-capitalist vision for nurturing ourselves and our babies…all good! Isolation can be a big issue in motherhood/ parenthood, and Andrea believes that spaces to envision and build our village are essential. Andrea is an applied theatre facilitator, associate lecturer, creative programmes designer and producer. She is exploring ways in which participatory arts can hold space for honouring mothers (in all their expressions), pregnancy and birth. 

lilli

(they/them)

Local full spectrum doula, antenatal educator + hypnobirthing practitioner

lilli is a doula and hypnobirthing practitioner holding space for the past, present and future during times of transition. They offer emotional, physical, and spiritual support throughout the full spectrum of pregnancy, abortion/pregnancy release, loss, birth and postnatal transition. lilli is in lifelong learning to provide trauma-informed, anti-oppressive and gender-expansive care for all birthing people, partner(s), solo parents and families.

Questions

  • It can be hard to find time in our busy lives to lean into creativity. Journaling is a great way to do something with your hands and play around with materials whilst exploring our inner and outer experiences. Whether it’s simply scribbling, collaging or writing a web of words it’s all a beneficial practice for supporting our wellbeing.

  • Maternal Journal is all about the process not the final piece. You don’t have to be ‘creative’ to get value from this experience. There’s somthing in the process of journaling for everyone. Plus we mix up activities and mediums so there is a range of different ways to get something on paper.

  • Navigating the unknown

    Being + being with

    Rebellion

    Love + rage

    Collective care

    Revolutionary mothering

    Using your voice

    The body as a home

    The village / the lost village

  • Yes, people are welcome during all stages of pregnancy and babes in arms/pre-crawlers are welcome too. We don’t have childcare but volunteers are happy to help keep little ones busy here and there during the session. If not being able to bring your toddler is a barrier to you attending please drop us a message so we can try to arrange some extra help.

  • People on all reproductive journeys deserve spaces to connect. We welcome bereaved parents, please reach out to us so we can discuss how to support you best if you would like to join the group.

  • Yes! All parents, caregivers, birthing people, and non-birthing parents are also welcome and actively encouraged to join this space.

  • Although journaling in community can offer to support your wellbeing. This group is not an alternative to therapy. Please reach out if you’d like us to receive information about local mental health support services.

Values + Approach

 

We all have different experiences

This means working with people as individuals, acknowledging intersecting identities, experiences, needs and barriers, and how these influence how people relate to motherhood/parenthood and the world around us.

We all deserve to feel respected
We honour bodily autonomy and trust that you are the expert in your body and lived experiences.

There’s not one ‘right way’
We invite curiosity and care into our space. We recognise that we are each at different points in our unique journeys, have different approaches and learn best in different ways.

Community is important
We believe everyone has something they can teach or share and everyone has something they can learn from someone else in the room. This space is yours to connect and find support within.