Presented by VAST, Listening From The Heart: A Sharing Circle is a three-week workshop for Jewish-identifying people to explore both personal and collective feelings in relation to the violence in Israel and Palestine.

In this offering, we will gather online in a small group and co-create a supportive space together, to express the emotions we may be carrying in our bodies such as anger, grief, fear, and hopelessness.

Through somatic and mindfulness practices and writing prompts, we will welcome our emotions, along with the truth of what our hearts are holding. We will also call upon our wise and well ancestors for their guidance, wisdom and loving support.

Rather than debate politics, this circle is a time for deep listening and bearing witness to our authentic selves, and an invitation to respect, honour and hold each other’s experiences with compassion.

No writing experience is needed to join. Sharing your writing is always a choice and is not required to participate in this workshop. Open to 10 participants.

Date: Three consecutive Tuesdays: September 17, 24 & October 1
Time: 7pm-8:30pm (PST)   |   Please bring a journal and pen
Cost: Free   |   Location: Online via Zoom
To register, please visit: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdukWCns50xlavBcBuH0TkWTcoY7Qekzzdf2qBNW-e1yrPN2g/viewform
For questions about the workshop, please contact community@vastbc.ca or facilitator Claire Sicherman: sichermanc@gmail.com.

This event is full. Click on the link to add your name to the waitlist: https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/excavate-express-intergenerational-trauma-the-wisdom-of-our-ancestors-tickets-672668187657?aff=oddtdtcreator

Excavate & Express: Intergenerational Trauma & the Wisdom of Our Ancestors is a six-week heart-filled online workshop that explores intergenerational trauma and healing through writing and conversation. In this offering, we will gather online in a small group, co-create a supportive space together, use mindfulness and somatic exercises to ground our bodies, and writing prompts to reveal the stories we hold. We will write, discuss, and share on topics including grief and love, family stories, writing into the unknown, and the gifts of our ancestors.

No writing experience is needed to join – this is a warm, friendly, and gentle class. Sharing your writing is always a choice and is not required to participate in this workshop.

Program Details:
Wednesdays: January 17, 24, 31 & February 7, 14 & 21 (6 consecutive weeks)
Evening workshop 7pm-8:30pm
90-minute sessions
Open to 8 participants
Cost per participant $193.03 (Includes processing fee) (subsidy available)
Zoom Video Conferencing
Presented by Jewish Family Services - Vancouver

Claire Sicherman is the granddaughter of Holocaust survivors, a member of the third generation. She is a published author, speaker, and teacher of writing. Her book Imprint: A Memoir of Trauma in the Third Generation speaks to the effects of intergenerational trauma and the possibility of healing.

Registration opens October 16th through Eventbrite: https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/excavate-express-intergenerational-trauma-the-wisdom-of-our-ancestors-tickets-672668187657?aff=oddtdtcreator

For questions about the workshop, please contact Claire Sicherman at sichermanc@gmail.com.
For information about the subsidy, please contact Josephine Enobong at jenobong@jfsvancouver.ca.

Welcome to Dream into Page: Writing Ourselves Home, a four-week heart-filled online workshop designed to support and nurture your writing practice, explore authenticity and why it’s sometimes so hard to be ourselves, and uncover our intuition.

In this month-long offering, we will gather online in a small group of six writers, create a supportive space together, write, discuss the joys and challenges of the creative process, and workshop writing using affirmative feedback. Incorporating mindfulness and somatic exercises to ground our bodies and prompts to generate new material, we will write into what it means to be authentic, how to open to intuition, and inquire into how it all relates to the body and the stories we hold.

During the four weeks, you will have the opportunity to workshop writing (up to 800 words), with your peers providing supportive feedback. You will receive a Google Document with resources you can share with each other along the way. During the month-long period, you will also receive one thirty minute 1-to-1 session with me.

Details: Wednesdays from 7pm - 9pm PST November 1, 8, 15 & 22
Online using Zoom

Cost: $225 CAD/$180 USD

To register, please email me at sichermanc@gmail.com 

Women writers with all levels of experience are welcome – this is a warm, friendly, and gentle class. Please have a piece of writing (up to 800 words) ready to share by the first class on November 1 as we will be taking turns workshopping over the four weeks. While we will focus on memoir/creative nonfiction, all genres are welcome. Sharing your writing is always a choice and is not required to participate in this workshop. Maximum 6 participants.

Welcome to Dream into Page: Writing the Hard Stuff, a four-week heart-filled online workshop to support and nurture your writing process.

In this month-long offering, we will gather online in a small group of six writers, create a supportive space together, write, discuss the joys and challenges of the creative process, and workshop writing with affirmative feedback. Using mindfulness and somatic techniques to ground our bodies and prompts to generate new material, we will write into the hard stuff, go to the places that scare us, explore the language of emotions, and how these all relate to the body and the stories we hold.

During the four weeks, you will have the opportunity to workshop writing (up to 800 words), with your peers providing supportive feedback. You will receive a Google Document with resources you can share with each other along the way. During the month-long period, you will also receive one thirty minute 1-to-1 session with me.

Details: Online using Zoom, from 7pm to 9pm PST Monday, October 3 and three consecutive Tuesdays October 11, 18 & 25

Cost: $199 CAD/$165 USD (includes PayPal fee)

To register, please email me at sichermanc@gmail.com 

Women writers with all levels of experience are welcome – this is a warm, friendly, and gentle class. Please have a piece of writing (up to 800 words) ready to share by the first class on October 3, as we will be taking turns workshopping over the four weeks. While we will focus on memoir/creative nonfiction, all genres are welcome. Sharing your writing is always a choice and is not required to participate in this workshop. Maximum 6 participants.

Welcome to Dream into Page: Writing Grief & Love, a four-week heart-filled online workshop to support and nurture your writing process.

In this month-long offering, we will gather online in a small group of six writers, create a safe space together, listen to one another, write, discuss the joys and challenges of the creative process, and workshop writing with supportive feedback. Using somatic techniques to ground our bodies and prompts to generate new material, we will write into and talk about the often-silenced subject of grief as it relates to the body, to love and to the stories we hold.

During the four weeks, you will have the opportunity to workshop writing (up to 800 words), with your peers providing affirmative feedback. You will receive a Google Document with resources you can share with each other along the way. During the month-long period, you will also receive one thirty minute 1-on-1 session with me.

Details: Online using Zoom, Tuesdays from 7pm - 9pm PST February 1, 8, 15 & 22

Cost: $199 CAD/$167 USD (includes PayPal fee)

To register, please email me at sichermanc@gmail.com 

Writers who identify as women, and with all levels of experience are welcome – this is a warm, friendly, and gentle class. Please have a piece of writing (up to 800 words) ready to share by the first class on February 1, as we will workshop over the four weeks (you will not be expected to share this writing during the first class). While we will focus on memoir/creative nonfiction, all genres are welcome. Sharing your writing is always a choice and is not required to participate in this workshop. Maximum 6 participants.

Welcome to Dream into Page: Writing Grief & Love, a four-week heart-filled online workshop to support and nurture your writing process.

In this month-long offering, we will gather online in a small group of six writers, create a safe space together, listen to one another, write, discuss the joys and challenges of the creative process, and workshop writing with supportive feedback. Using somatic techniques to ground our bodies and prompts to generate new material, we will write into and talk about the often-silenced subject of grief as it relates to the body, to love and to the stories we hold.

During the four weeks, you will have the opportunity to workshop writing (500-800 words), with your peers providing affirmative feedback. You will receive a Google Document with resources you can share with each other along the way. During the month-long period, you will also receive one thirty minute 1-on-1 session with me.

Details: Online using Zoom, Tuesdays from 7pm to 9pm October 5, 12, 19 & 26

Cost: $199 CAD/$165 USD (includes PayPal fee)

To be added to the waitlist, please email me at sichermanc@gmail.com 

Writers who identify as women, and with all levels of experience are welcome – this is a warm, friendly, and gentle class. Please have a piece of writing (500-800 words) ready to share by the first class on October 5, as we will workshop over the four weeks (you will not be expected to share this writing during the first class). While we will focus on memoir/creative nonfiction, all genres are welcome. Maximum 6 participants. Please contact me for information on sliding scale spots for BIPOC writers. You will need to download Zoom.

This event is now full. To be added to the waitlist, please email: sichermanc@gmail.com

Would you like to write about family but don’t know where to begin? Or maybe you’re curious about your ancestors, and would like some guidance around writing into the unknown? Or perhaps you’d like some support in unearthing your voice?

Welcome to Dream into Page: Writing about Family, Ancestors & Ourselves, a four-week heart-filled online workshop to support and nurture your writing process.

In this month-long offering, we will gather online in a small group of six writers and create a safe space together, listen to one another, write, discuss the joys and challenges of the creative process and workshop writing with supportive feedback. Using mindfulness and prompts to generate new material, we will write into and discuss topics including intergenerational trauma, what we inherit, discovering our voice and writing into the unknown.

During the four weeks, you will receive a Google Document with resources we can share with each other along the way. You will have the opportunity to workshop writing (500-800 words), with your peers providing affirmative feedback. You will also receive one thirty minute 1-on-1 session with me during the month-long period.

Dream into Page will give you the boost you need to put pen to page and allow the words to flow. I would like to hold your hand, gently guide you to listen to your intuition and be your cheerleader. Picture me doing cartwheels and waving my pom pom’s high into the air for you!

Details: Online using Zoom, Tuesdays from 7pm to 9pm February 2, 9, 16 & 23

Cost: $175 CAD/$137 USD (includes PayPal fee)

To register, email me at sichermanc@gmail.com 

Writers who identify as women, and with all levels of experience are welcome. Please have a piece of writing (500-800 words) ready to share following the first class on February 2, as we will workshop over the four weeks (we will brainstorm the workshop questions together, along with deciding who feels comfortable going first). While we will focus on memoir/creative nonfiction, all genres are welcome. Maximum 6 participants. Please contact me directly as I do offer a limited number of sliding scale spots for BIPOC writers. You will need to download Zoom as we will be using this for our class. If you have a friend who would be interested, please share. Early registration is recommended as the last offering sold out.

Is there a writing project you would like to start but you don’t know where to begin? Or maybe you’re feeling stuck in the middle of a manuscript? Or perhaps you need some support in finishing your draft?

Welcome to Dreaming into Page, a four-week online workshop to support and nurture your writing process. I know how hard it is to sustain the commitment and discipline on your own. Since writing can be an isolating experience, with encouragement from your peers, you will receive the boost you need to put pen to page and allow the words to flow. In other words, I would like to hold your hand, gently guide you to listen to your intuition and be your cheerleader. (Picture me doing cartwheels and waving my pom pom’s high into the air for you!)

In this month-long offering, we will gather online with other writers in a safe space, listen to one another, and discuss the challenges of the creative process. My intention is to tailor these four weeks based on your needs and interests. Using meditation and prompts to generate new material, we will write into and discuss topics including writer’s block, tuning into the body and senses, writing about the hard stuff (trauma, family and secrets), self-care and sustaining a writing practice.

During the four weeks, you will receive a Google Document which will provide a space to discuss and ask your questions, with resources we can all share with each other along the way. You will have the opportunity to share your work with the group (this is optional), with your peers providing affirmative feedback. You will also receive one thirty minute 1-on-1 session with me during the month-long period.

Details: Online using Zoom, Tuesdays from 7pm to 9pm October 6, 13, 20 & 27.

Cost: $175 CAD/$137 USD (includes PayPal fee)

To register, email me at sichermanc@gmail.com 

Writers who identify as women, with all levels of experience are welcome. It would be helpful if you had a project in mind you’d like to begin or one that you have already started. While we will focus on memoir/creative nonfiction, all genres are welcome. Maximum 6-8 participants. Please contact me directly as I do offer a limited number of sliding scale spots for BIPOC writers. You will need to download Zoom as we will be using this for our class.

Class is now full but we are taking a wait list. Please email ahavashira@gmail.com to be added to the list.

Rhythm of our language. Rhythm in our bodies. Rhythm of the earth. 

How do we learn to slow down and listen? What wisdom can we access when we bring our full attention to our bodies and the earth? How might we create a personal and collective response to climate change?

Now more than ever is a time to come together to connect, write and build community. This workshop invites an intimate exploration of our interconnection with nature. We will open into the wonder and beauty of the earth, as well as the grief and unknown of climate change and the current pandemic. Through mindful meditation and writing through the senses, we will allow our curious and receptive attention to guide us into authentic and courageous response. Join us for these powerful sessions of writing and expression. 

Details: Sundays April 5, 12, 19, 26 from 2pm to 4pm.

You will need to download zoom as we will be using this for our class.

Cost: $60 for 4 classes (If this is a challenge for you, please let us know.) 

Maximum 10 participants.

To register, please send an email by Wednesday, April 1 to: ahavashira@gmail.com

Claire and Ahava facilitate writing workshops and retreats on Salt Spring Island and in other communities in the Pacific Northwest. They are passionate about creating safe, supportive spaces where diverse voices are shared, witnessed and valued.

Ahava Shira is the author of Weaving of My Being (1998), Love is Like This (2010) and co-author of Writing Alone Together: Journalling in a Circle of Women for Creativity, Compassion and Connection (Butterfly Press 2014). Ahava is currently writing a memoir. https://lovinginquiry.com/

Claire Sicherman is the author of "Imprint: A Memoir of Trauma in the Third Generation" (Caitlin Press 2018). Claire examines how the body holds memories of traumatic experiences, and the importance of breaking the silence of family stories. https://www.clairesicherman.com/

Click here for more information or to register

Details TBA

Click here to register

Thursday, June 20, 2019 | 1 - 5 p.m. | $99

Claire Sicherman with special guest Ahava Shira

Exploring the Authentic Voice

What does it mean to be authentic in our writing? How does fear deter us from telling the truth? Why do we censor ourselves? In this class, we will explore embodied writing, go to places that scare us, and examine what we are not letting ourselves say. Using prompts that encourage a connection with the body, gestures, movement and mindful awareness, we will listen for the stories we are holding within. Sharing of our work is invited and always a choice. Special guest Ahava Shira co-authored the book Writing Alone Together and has been writing and teaching for 25 years. Claire and Ahava regularly co-teach writing classes. Please note: Participants should bring a journal and pen to class, as well as wear comfortable clothing.

Friday | June 21, 2019

4:00 – 7:30 PM | Reception, Faculty Reading, and Book Signing | Heiner Foyer and Heiner Theater

A highlight of the conference!
Be sure to join us for a chance to mingle and converse with authors and fellow attendees, and take advantage of the opportunity to get your books signed. And of course, you won’t want to miss the truly riveting and inspiring readings of our incredible faculty! Appetizers and a no-host bar with beer and wine will be provided from 4-5 p.m. Faculty readings will begin at 5 p.m.

Saturday | June 22, 2019

10:15 – 11:15 AM | Concurrent Author Panels

The Body As Muse
Featuring: Claudia Castro Luna, Ely Shipley, Claire Sicherman, and Anastacia-Renee
Moderator: Courtney Putnam | Location: TBD

Washington State Poet Laureate Claudia Castro Luna writes, "One way to think of our bodies is as muse." Poets Ely Shipley and Anastacia-Renee and memoirist Claire Sicherman join Claudia to discuss embodied writing. This session will explore how the body offers a landscape of personal experience, how the breath interacts with the poetic line, and how movement can lead to breakthroughs.

1:30 – 2:30 PM | Breakout Session 4

Breaking the Silence: Writing Family Stories | Claire Sicherman | TBD

So much of writing our families' stories can be found in what we don’t know, in what is not said and not spoken. But what if we start uncovering what is true? In this session, we will use prompts, write together, and then read aloud, if desired. The prompts are designed to touch into those silences and facilitate connection with the body in order to stir stuff up and bring it out.

Reading Event #6: Writers of Non-Fiction

Saturday, October 13, 2018. 10am to 11:30am

Fairmont Chateau Whistler, 4599 Chateau Blvd, Whistler

Click here for tickets