""There is no house / like the house of belonging"" says David Whyte. And this is so true. This poem helped me after I was widowed. It helped me to reclaim my home as my own, and not to be driven out by years of memories of my shared life with my wife.” David Jennings.

“ ‘The Journey’ by Mary Oliver. This poem helped me so much when I was at a crucial crossroads in my life. It really helped validate for me how I’m responsible for my own life and that my needs are as important as anybody else’s. I ‘finally knew what [I] had to do, and began.’ Thank you Mary Oliver. And thank you Bethany Rivers for introducing me to this important poem.” Janice Hopland.

“There was one poem that stood out for me more than any other, when I was going through depression and that was Rumi’s ‘The Guesthouse’. There was infinite understanding offered of every emotion that washes through us. And the idea that each emotion brings gifts, even though we don’t necessarily understand them at the time, brought such comfort to me, in my darkest days and nights.” Sarah Davies.

“If there was one poem that helped me through my loss and depression, it was Hafiz’s ‘I know the way you can get’. I loved the ‘squirrels and birds’ sensing my sadness and coming together to decide on a ‘chant / to help your mind and soul.’ The line about measuring ‘every angle in your darkness’ was so resonant for me. That’s what I’d spent hours, days, years doing. The part that struck home the strongest though, (even though I’ve been an atheist for years), was ‘God... being so Playful / And Wanting, / Just Wanting to help.’ The sense of something bigger than myself, wanting to help, wanting me to get through this, wanting me to be happy again – that gave me such comfort, and a real sense of hopefulness.” Jo Singer

22nd November - Loss & Healing: using the power and beauty of poems to help people through dark times of grief. Contact Bethany Rivers (M.A.) for more details or to book a place, bethanyrivers77@hotmail.co.uk. £39 for the day, just bring pen, paper, packed lunch and a willingness to explore. No knowledge of poetry necessary.

10th December & 20th December - Creativity & Healing: how the beauty, compassion and understanding of words can help boost your creativity. Contact Bethany Rivers (M.A.) for more details or to book a place, bethanyrivers77@hotmail.co.uk. £25 for the day, just bring pen, paper, packed lunch and a willingness to explore. No knowledge of poetry necessary.