Labyrinth Through Fear: A Gift Event 

Title of Presentation: Labyrinth Through Fear: A Gift Event ^© 
Location: NCA
Date/Time: Sunday, Jan.13, 1-3pm

This workshop offers participants the opportunity to explore fear as information. Quest-ions (energy for the journey) include “What am I afraid of?” “What do I want?” and “What can I do to move through fear to the next level of courage?” In an atmosphere of unconditional positive regard that the group creates together, unknown gifts of the Labyrinth will reveal themselves. Through movement meditation, free writing, and open-hearted sharing, participants can offer and receive practical everyday skills that are designed to transform fear and adversity into courage and hope. All are welcome, and there are no pre-requisites for this class.

This fear I face
Is a deeper breath I take
Is the courage I share

(Triple Ripple movement poem)

Janet E. Aalfs, poet laureate of Northampton, MA (2003-2005), 7^th degree black belt, and master Taiji/Qigong instructor, has been sharing her poetic movement weavings locally, nationally, and internationally for 40 years. Founder and director of Lotus Peace Arts at Valley Women’s Martial Arts, a non-profit school since 1977, Janet is dedicated to helping create sites for revelation. Recipient of the 2013 Leadership and Advocacy in the Arts Award (UMass/CWC), and prizes for her poetry, Janet practices everyday peace-building through arts activism. In March 2018, she and Ingrid Askew, co-creators, offered Labyrinth as a 3-week intensive in one of Cape Town, South Africa’s townships. Janet has been a Dodge Festival Poet and presenter/performer at numerous events and conferences. Her poetry is widely published, and her books include Of Angels and Survivors (Two Herons Press), Full Open (Orogeny Press), Reach (Perugia Press), Bird of a Thousand Eyes (Levellers Press), and several chapbooks.