During this time of the year when we are meant to have gratitude and love, and not be divided, it’s a time to call in the wisdom of the elders, as a way to find our way through. Our ancestors found their way through difficult times in history, and Hawaiians know a little bit about aloha, pono, resilience and tapping into inner strength to not just survive, but flourish.. Queen Lili’okalani wrote a songbook, took a lover and finished her memoir under United States house arrest. Hawaiians teach us not to unnecssairly squander vital energy.
What can the Hawaiian elders teach us during this powerful time in history?
Over a year ago I taught a course on the Hawaiian practice of forgiveness – Ho’oponopono. Now, I’m gathering writers for a weekend workshop to learn again from the Hawaiian elders through exploring the true meaning of Aloha (Saturday morning) and how to invite death to sit at the table with life (Sunday morning)
This class is organized and curated by author Laura Lentz (STORYquest and the soon to be released I Remember Tomorrow) and Puna Dawson, from Kauai.
Like all online writing events, this event will inspire us to write our own stories of Aloha, and tap into our own power and inner knowing
SATURDAY – November 20th CLASS – EXPLORING THE DEEPER MEANING OF ALOHA
We may all be familiar with Aloha as a greeting or farewell, Love is not spoken, it is lived, and the word “Aloha” holds within itself all one needs to know to interact rightfully in the natural world. The spirit of Aloha was taught to children because it was the world of which they were a part.
Aloha is being a part of all, and all being a part of me.
When there is pain – it is my pain. When there is joy – it is also mine.
I will not willfully harm anyone or anything.
When food is needed I will take only my need and explain why it is being taken.
The earth, the sky, the sea are mine to care for, to cherish and to protect.
This is Hawaiian – this is Aloha!
In this course we will explor the practice of Aloha, the meaning of the words inside the word, and create stories of times in our life when Aloha was present, and what new stories we can create through the practice of Aloha.
alo, 1. sharing 2. in the present
oha, joyous affection, joy
ha, life energy, life, breath
SUNDAY November 21st Class: The Ancient Hawaiians – Balancing Life and Death & Huna
Huna was here long before the best selling book The Secret, and the ancestral Hawaiian teaching could change our lives. Huna literally means knowledge which is “concealed,” or wisdom which is “protected like a treasure.” Huna is a way of thinking and moving through the world through healing, prayer, movement, chants and most of all – mindset. To call it positive thinking is to water down the ancient wisdom, the call it miraculuous is to take away the steps and the word to achieve balance. Puna Dawson will tell us how to balance life and death and live life to its fullest.
The mind is unable to go beyond and fathom the infinite complexity of life because it comes from it.
In this workshop, you will receive:
a talk by Puna Dawson to help us open to the Hawaiian ways of story.
two online LIVE classes – (Saturday and Sunday) – taught by Laura Lentz & Puna Dawson
Inspiration from Hawaiian literature, poetry and mythology to lead you to your own unique voice and story
an opportunity to explore all the magic inside the Hawaiian ways of moving through the world
a series of short writing warmups to explore Hawaiian words
the opportunity to write and share your story in a small group lead by a trained facilitator
become part of a larger community of writers healing through story through a private Facebook group
“Deeply listening to each other’s stories is an ancient Hawaiian teaching practice,
and one practice in all my workshops.”
— Laura Lentz
Papa K says “All knowledge is not in one school.
ʻAʻohe pau ka ʻikei ka hālau hoʻokāhi; One can learn from many sources…this is a Hawaiian Prayer:
“E kala mai, please forgive any offenses by me or my ancestors, my intentions are pure.
In my mana’o, I do not profess for this to be the “only way”
and I do share that, mahalo to the ancient ones, it is a very powerful effective way
for healing the Hawaiian heart and the Hearts of all Humanity.”
Laura Lentz is the author of STORYquest, the Writer, the Hero, the Journey. Laura is a writing coach and developmental editor, teaching 6-week creative writing workshops online and on the north shore of Kauai for ten years. Her workbook helps writers write to every stage of their story inspired by the Hero’s Journey through 12-weeks of writing prompts and examples out of best selling memoirs and poetry. Laura helps writers create content and expand their body of work through six week themed writing workshops – offering challenging and thought provoking writing prompts inspired by poetry, mythology and segments from literature. Laura serves on the faculty of The Kauai Writers Conference and is conducting a Master Class for writers who want to write in sacred places on Kauai and allow Kauai’s beauty to influence their work.