Alongside the Elements

ABOUT FACILITATOR

Radhika Sharma (they/she) is a Crown Heights-based facilitator, designer, and educator working towards food sovereignty. In their work, they prioritize interdependence and the beings our dominant system marginalizes. They are currently building a cooperatively-owned food guild of BIPOC-owned food businesses based in Central Brooklyn. They follow Zen Buddhist practices to make sense of life and enjoy holding space in community.

Objective

An offering of space to engage with each element (fire, water, earth, air) through walking meditations. Participants will then record their discoveries and reflections, and share their realizations with the group. This time is meant to give participants permission to slow down and focus on how their senses engage nature through the elemental lenses via a guided walking meditation that includes specific attention practices. As participants develop a more nuanced and juicy understanding of how they relate with their elements, they are allowed to capture their thoughts through observational notes, drawings, poetry, etc. in their notebooks. We will then reconvene to share our findings through a semi-guided discussion to build collective understandings before closing out.

WHAT PARTICIPANTS SHOULD BRING

• Notebook and Pen

Disclaimer

In case of inclement weather, this program will be rescheduled to May 4th

CURRICULUM

State intentions for the workshop based on the season (e.g. spring/fall intend to connect participants in elements in transition, winter/summer intend to explore elements in extremes). Highlight that this session intends to be a solitary space for individuals to explore their elemental relationships (versus collective understanding) – they are meant to see and be seen by the elements. Review the structure of each element (10~ minutes of practice, note-taking for a few minutes, small group discussion for a few minutes) and what sound they will hear during transitions in and between sessions. Encourage participants to note-take in whatever way aligns with them (e.g. poetry, journaling, notes, sketches, etc.).