gaian guild for children…
and those who love them
with lucinda herring and Freya Secrest
bringing an Incarnational worldview to the young people and children in your life
Overview
september 6 - january 4
Registration open until October 10
Our pilot four-month program will provide a basic structure for you to enjoy, embellish, and build upon as you bring an Incarnational worldview to the young people and children in your life.
So many of us in the Lorian community have longed to bring the gifts of Incarnational Spirituality to the young adults and children in our lives. The Gaian Guild is a creative pilot effort to address this longing. A Guild is a group of people who come together to create, in service to a shared vision or purpose. Our Gaian Guild will craft a container of wonder, imagination, balance and potential for our children, and for all those who wish to inspire and support our next generations in these challenging times.
Lucinda Herring’s original stories, poetry, and fun activities will start us off, and we anticipate that those who join the Guild will in time naturally contribute their gifts of creativity and vision to this emerging and generative project.
program Description
The stories, poetry, and fun activities offered in the class aim to make Incarnational Spirituality principles and practices accessible and relevant to young people in everyday life. Grown-ups will receive additional resources, as a support for bringing these teachings and practices to their children. The material is designed to help children (and us!) find fun and meaningful ways to incorporate Gaian wisdom into our daily lives in a joyful, engaging, and easy-to-understand format. Part of the Guild’s vision is to nurture and build communities for Gaia. Families and friends are encouraged to experience the material together, to play and learn locally in their own homes, backyards, and neighborhoods, and to join in building an online community with us as well.
Lucinda’s material highlights standing in one’s sovereign sacredness and light, celebrating kinship with Gaia and the seen and unseen realms of nature, fostering skills of collaboration and community with the everyday world, and honoring sacredness in our built environment. Stories for older children include challenges they may be facing in their lives, and ways that IS practices can help them better handle those experiences. The gifts imagination, wonder and joy can offer our growing children lie at the heart of the material – gifts that can help them choose pathways of greater wholeness, joy and co-creative relationship with Gaia in all aspects of their lives.
The material is structured for children aged 4 -6 years (to be shared by grown-ups), 7 - 9 years and 9-12 years ( to be shared by grown-ups or accessed by children themselves if appropriate). There will be a simple audio recording of the stories and poems so that busy parents/grandparents and children who love audio can listen instead of having to always read things on the computer or phone. Grown-ups and children are encouraged to post their experiences and creative responses online to build our Gaian community.
Class Format and schedule
The Gaian Guild will run from September 6, 2024 – January 4, 2025. Grown-ups will draw upon the stories and playful activities posted at the beginning of each month, to engage the children and young people in their lives. Throughout each month, participants are invited to share experiences, offer feedback, and build their community of learning online. Children are encouraged to post their art and creative responses to the stories and activities on the class site, so they can begin to know their own contribution to our Guild and community.
Lucinda and Freya will be available online to answer questions and offer encouragement.
Additionally, Lucinda and Freya will host an hour-long Zoom gathering for grown-ups at the end of each month so that we can share together. We hope that some of your children can join and share their thoughts and experiences of the Guild on the fourth Zoom session on Saturday, January 4, 2025.
Updated Zoom Session Dates:
Saturday, September 28 at 11:00 am Pacific
Saturday, October 19 at 11:00 am PT
Saturday, November 16 at 11:00 am PT
Saturday, January 4 at 11:00 am PT
LORIAN COVENANT OF CONFIDENTIALITY
Please Note: Your registration in a Lorian class confirms your commitment to uphold Agreements of Confidentiality and mutual respect which govern the spirit, the intent, and the practice of our education experience together.
Registration - $160
Scholarships are available. If you are interested in a scholarship, please contact Susan at susans@lorian.org.
Facilitators
Lucinda Herring is a long-time Lorian, holding the association’s MSD in Spiritual Direction, and ordained in the first Lorian cohort in 2011. Her work as a minister, storyteller, writer, festival maker and threshold/end-of-life guide supports children, families and communities to co-create with the seen and unseen realms of nature in creative and healing service to Gaia and Wholeness.
Freya Secrest, MSD was ordained by Lorian in 1984 and currently serves as the Education Coordinator. She is a parent, educator, mentor, and grandmother who is passionate about exploring new models in our relationships with nature and each other that can open a new wholeness and shape a Gaian world.
Visit our Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) page for more information on our online classes, and our Policies page for information on late registration, refunds and privacy.