WORKSHOPS AND SPIRITUALITY

Post lockdown

A professional designer, I am also a qualified Spiritual Director with a ministry in the Anglican Church. I trained on Encounter, the three-year programme run by the London Centre for Spiritual Direction, based at the Church of St Edmund the Martyr, Lombard Street, London.

As a fellow traveller, I accompany people on their spiritual journey, and before lockdown we met face-to-face in London and Sussex. With all our lives being changed by Covid, currently, I see the majority of clients via Zoom, Skype or by phone. However different this may be, it is ‘not second best’ as our Lord continues to be the God of surprises! It also means that I meet with people virtually from any part of the country or overseas, no longer being bound by geographical constraints.

As a potter, I remain fascinated by the healing properties that clay has to connect with people at a deep level when used in a contemplative way. It can help us focus on the present moment, relieve stress and help us unlock and acknowledge past experiences buried deep within us.

Before Covid, we lived in a world where we were constantly ‘doing’. Post-Covid, many of us are battered and bruised, grieving, traumatised by experiences, but also in many ways enriched.

Clay can help us connect with ourselves as human ‘beings’.

‘Prayer through Clay’ – Retreat workshops
Keeping safe in the new norm with Covid

As we encounter the ‘new norm’, both in ourselves and in others, new ways to run and participate safely in clay workshops are evolving.

I continue to run retreat workshops for dioceses, parishes and retreat centres. These workshops offer a practical opportunity to work with clay and see how this expressive medium can enrich our prayer. Through clay we can be drawn into a deeper awareness and understanding of our individual faith journeys.

The time spent in quietness together begins with an introduction to basic clay making techniques, which forms the first part of the retreat. It is non-judgemental. What each one feels drawn to make is personal to you. We are all clay in the Potter’s hands.

The prayer tableaux pieces I make in the series ‘Onward Journey’ are illustrations of my ‘Prayer through Clay’ work.

Practical considerations

When working with your parish or community, I will set up and lead a Prayer through Clay workshop, the length of which can be tailored to suit, and no previous experience of working with clay is necessary. All clay equipment and materials are provided.

Numbers participating at any one time are now based on social distancing the workstations. This is determined by the space offered for the workshop, its suitability regarding exits, access, ventilation, and a range of other checks that are made at the initial site visit meeting.

For all courses post-Covid, each participant has their own workstation, and there is no sharing of tools or equipment. The clay supplied is fresh to each user, and is not recycled.

Previous retreat workshops have been for the Oxford Diocese, The Community of St Mary the Virgin, Wantage; St Paul’s Church Lorrimore Square, London; London Diocese of Willesden, St Mary’s Church Kenton, and for the European Diocese, the annual gathering of Spiritual Directors in Europe, Barlad, Romania.

I remain passionate about silence!

TESTIMONIALS – RETREATS

“I attended the course 19 August 2015 and found it challenging – both artistically and spiritually and a resource for healing. The generous preparation and care offered by Mary throughout the day was a great blessing, which has remained with me. I learnt the possibilities of failure as I worked and reworked my lump of clay and through my frustration discovered that abandoning a goal beyond my capability is not shameful but a release into simplicity and joy.”

Felicity Prescott

“It was great to have periods of quiet interspersed with music. The altar time was very special at the end.”

Luci Sale

“I thoroughly enjoyed my time. Very informative. Lots of information and techniques given. Time passed all too quickly. I loved the feel of the clay. Very meditative and peaceful.

Thank you Mary, very much indeed.”

Sandy Petty

“I don’t consider myself as a creative person and never do arty things. I was encouraged to attend by a friend and, although I was apprehensive, I found it enjoyable and God spoke to me really directly “out of the blue” in a way I had not expected, which was wonderful. Mary is a gentle teacher and did not impose expectations, which helped me relax. Thank you Mary.”

Janet

“Mary’s teaching style is very engaging. The balance of teaching in the morning and quietly making your own pieces in the afternoon works really well. This workshop left me wanting to do more with clay, it’s very satisfying and absorbing and I loved it. And this is a very non-judgemental atmosphere where no one is looking to see if you’re talented in the clay-department or not. I highly recommend it.

Debbie Garside

‘Prayer through Clay’ Retreat Day Workshop  – St Paul’s Church Lorrimore Square, London.

‘Prayer through Clay Retreat Day Workshop – Chichester Diocese Head Teachers.

‘Prayer through Clay’ Retreat Day Workshop – St Mary the Virgin, Kenton.

‘Prayer through Clay’ Retreat Day Workshop – St Andrews Steyning

‘Prayer through Clay’ Retreat Day Workshop – All Saints Hove

‘Prayer through Clay’ – Retreat Day Workshop, Community St Mary the Virgin Wantage