IPTN Peer Group Session

Carol Boland (PTP) facilitated a Self-Discovery through Poetry group session on Sunday 26 July at her home in Hollyfort, Gorey. The theme was 'Self Love' and the poem used for discussion was  'Love After Love' by Derek Walcott. We began with each person looking into a hand-held mirror and naming one feature of their face that they liked about themselves. This feature was then used as the title of each person's cinquain poem. Following a lively discussion surrounding  personal reactions to 'Love After Love', the writing prompt 'The time will come' was used to elicit further feelings brought to the fore by the group discussion. Feedback from the attendees was very positive. Here is the group poem written at the end of the session, with lines contributed by each of the twelve woman:

For Molly

We need empathy not sympathy
only the brave
feast on life
take down the love letters from the bookshelf
do as you choose not as you should
give back your heart to yourself
faultless to a fault
sitting in a circle laughing, feeling free
uplifting senses will fulfill the heart.
I feel blessed and grateful
the rain has turned into sunshine,
from under the last rainbow shower
will form diamonds of every hue.
Freedom.

Ger and Michael Murphy at IPTN
Conference 2014

We are delighted to announce that Ger Campbell, chair of IPTN, is now officially a Poetry Therapy Practitioner (PTP) having qualified with iaPOETRY under Niall Hickey, PoetryReach.
Many congrats from all at IPTN.

There will be celebrations!

IPTN Peer Group Session - Sun 26 July

Our next poetry therapy - self-discovery through poetry - workshop is on Sunday 26th July '15 in the garden at Gove Mill, Hollyfort, Gorey, Co. Wexford.
Carol Boland PTP will facilitate the session which runs from 2 - 5pm. Fee €10 (€5 for members) to be paid in advance.
For further details email irishpoetrytherapynetwork@gmail.com
All those interested in poetry therapy are welcome.

Report on Peer Group Meeting 28/3/15

A most interesting and in-depth peer group meeting was held on March 28^th in Kilkenny Campus.  The first exercise involved choosing two prints of famous paintings which were presented to the group.  Each person chose two prints that appealed to them.  Our chosen prints provided the springboard for various creative writing exercises.  They also allowed us to discuss and voice opinions, emotions and feelings that surfaced as a response to the images.

The first exercise called upon the power of the imagination. People were asked to place themselves in their picture. To place oneself in a picture and write freely for about five to ten minutes is a very freeing experience.  Each participants writing was different and unique. Although it was not necessary to share the writing everyone chose to share.

The second exercise we all agreed was not an easy task as it involved the creation of a conversation between people in the pictures. When writing a conversation in this way we are looking at assumptions.  We can only assume what we think the people might be saying to one another or what we would like them to say to one another.  Although the task was difficult it did bring us to some touching, humorous and sad places that allowed for a heightening of awareness.

Our chosen poem for the day was “The Gift” by William Stafford. We read it together a number of times and discussed the impact of the various lines and the meaning we took from them.  The following group poem was created using the first line of William Stafford’s poem.  It is a really wonderful group poem which we called “Aerial View”

Aerial View

Time wants to show you

A different country

A road trip full of wonder

And waiting.

Across the continent of your life

We must explore

And try new things

And push the boundaries

Of peripheral vision.

Climbing mountains

To get a better view.

Take the risk and move

Towards the edge, lie down

And crawl or spread your wings

And fly, fly, fly.

Ger Campbell

Chairperson IPTN

Exciting year ahead for IPTN

2015 IPTN Committee

It's full steam ahead for IPTN in 2015. Following a year of peer group sessions and our successful Poetry Therapy Convention, we are pleased to announce the election of two new officers to our committee: Maria Bradfield (PRO) and Therese O'Connell, who replaces our retiring Treasurer, Kay Meany. (Many thanks Kay for your ceaseless efforts during your time as Treasurer.) Our chairperson's report may be read on 'About Us' page.

Agreements at our AGM include:
Peer group sessions will be organised in St. Kierans's College, Kilkenny on a monthly basis and will be chaired by Ger Campbell. Additional sessions will be run elsewhere to facilitate iaPoetry trainees - minimum 80 peer hours over 2 years. The cost remains at €10 per session.

The annual IPTN membership fee is now €15. Members will be entitled to a 50% reduction on €10 session fees.

To help us raise the profile of IPTN, we welcome Maria Bradfield to the committee.

The AGM was followed by the first peer group session of the year.

IPTN AGM - Sat 31 January, Kieran's College, Kilkenny

IPTN's annual general meeting will be held on saturday 31 January 2015 at 2.30 in Kieran's College, Kilkenny. With all that has happened over the last year, we have much to discuss. In particular, we would like your input on the future activities of the Network, including workshops, monthly meetings and annual conference. If you can't make the AGM, please email us with your suggestions.

The 2015 IPTN committee and officers will be elected on that day and our new constitution ratified. If you would like to get more involved, please feel free to put your name up for election!

Wishing you all good mental health for 2015

Carol
Secretary IPTN

Happy Festive Season

Wishing you all a very happy festive season.
We are on our Xmas break now but will be in touch with you all again in the New Year.