Participants, Lower Hutt
Celebrants from Nelson, Tasman and Marlborough consider creative ways to enhance their professional practice through the mindfulness of seminaria. Their organiser, Marg Palmer later wrote: “Thanks so much Gaylene for a wonderful session. We are still all buzzing with enthusiasm.”
Participants share notes during supper, Lower Hutt
Pinky Agnew delivers our Commemoration Day poems to the mosque
“To our sisters and brothers of the Kilbirnie Mosque,
Today we gathered for a mindfulness workshop,
writing a poetic form called ‘Seminaria’.
We wrote these poems as a message of love and
solidarity to you. We also made a bouquet of
puti puti flax flowers.
We send you our love & our warmest good wishes
For the future.
Arohanui,
Celebrants Association, Wellington.”
Participants Fei (right) and Pule, teacher and social anthropologist
For Writers, Poets & Wordsmiths.
Friday 7-9pm, 11 June 2021
Where: Eastbourne, Lower Hutt
Cost: $40 (with concessions available, materials and refreshments provided).
In this evening’s workshop you will be introduced to the Mindfulness of Seminaria. There will be opportunity for questions. You will be given evidence of its use and efficacy as a mindfulness tool. In a safe, respectful social setting you will be given the opportunity to learn the rudiments of practice that will enable you to make it your own ‘fit-for-purpose poetry app’.
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For Celebrants and Others in Service.
Sunday 10-12.30pm, 6 June 2021
Where: Trafalgar Square, Nelson
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Seminaria Poetry Workshop.
Friday 7-9pm
18 September 2020
Where: 19 Bristol Square, Lower Hutt CBD
Cost: $40 (with concessions available, materials and refreshments provided).
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Seminaria as a practice for celebrant creativity, for finding new ways with words.
Celebrants’ Association of New Zealand:
15 March 2020
DURATION: 1.5 hours
LOCATION: Johnsonville, Wellington
When: 2:45 pm Sunday 15 March
Where: Childspace, 45 Helston Road
Cost: (not-for-profit rate for professional learning)
Alignment with Professional Practice, Professional Knowledge, Professional Engagement
Celebrants contribute significantly to the enrichment of our society. In my experience, through presencing the spoken word, a celebrant brings focused attention to a landmark event in someone’s life and is the catalyst for it to be experienced as greater than the sum of its parts.
How celebrants combine their professional practice and knowledge and engage with the situation, has powerful potential for fostering feelings of wellbeing. Facilitating in those present, the sense of vitality through self-realisation and meaningfulness (key wellbeing indicators), can make the event forever memorable in the biographies of all participants.
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Seminaria Mafaufau Loloto.
Samoan Research Group: 8 February 2020
DURATION: 2 hours
LOCATION: Kenepuru, Porirua City, Wellington
When: 2-4 pm Saturday 8 February 2020
Where: Samoan Ketesemane Church hall, Kenepuru, Porirua
Cost: Koha to church
Seminaria is an inclusive practice, equally suitable for secular and soteriological use (argued in my thesis because of the embodied, conscious connectedness it fosters (p. 256). Further, “As the mindfulness of seminaria shows evidence of becoming a useful process for others, further studies to develop understandings … might usefully include … a study of applicability to different cultural … groups” (pp. 260-261). After meeting Samoan teacher, Feiloaiga Malaga (MEd), at an Otago University symposium, she is coordinating this study of seminaria, in which she herself has become well versed. A focus group was held on 13th March, in the library, Victoria University of Wellington, Kelburn.
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For doctors, nurses and therapists.
The Mindfulness of Seminaria from a wellbeing research perspective: 20 June 2019
DURATION: 2 hours
LOCATION: Lower Hutt.
When: 9:00-11:00 am 20 June, 2019
Where: At the Aurora Health Collective Meeting, 19 Bristol Square, Lower Hutt.
Cost: Donated (a not-for-profit group’s professional learning)
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From the Inside Out Teachers’ Conference.
Two stand-alone workshops for 50+ participants:
13-15 April, 2019
Workshop A: ‘Seminaria’ streamlines teachers’ work and creates a sense of wellbeing: What is the research evidence? Interspersed with practical exploratory exercises designed to be fun.
Workshop B: Learning The mindfulness of Seminaria: A reflective practice. Practical applications for teachers’ personal-professional life.
DURATION: 1.5 hours including a short Powerpoint presentation summarising the research findings and the three ‘take-aways’ from this workshop.
LOCATION: Ellerslie, Auckland
When: 10:45 am and 2:45 pm, Sunday, April 14th, 2019
Where: Michael Park School, Amy St., Ellerslie, Auckland
Cost: Integrated into the conference fee.
These workshops highlight the value of a simple poetic tuning-in device — like an internal app to which teachers and leaders can turn and re-turn for solutions when stressful feelings mitigate against their calm, concentration and creativity.
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Mafaufau Loloto seminaria research group