Exploring Initiatory Territories through Conversation, writing, and Collage with Tom Hirons & Niels Devisscher
As the old world dies and the new one struggles to be born, we find ourselves, as Gramsci wrote, “in the time of monsters.” This workshop invites you to enter that threshold space, where endings and beginnings blur, to explore what emerges in the dark.
Through writing, conversation, and collage art, we will travel through the territory of monsters, both sacred and profane. We’ll meet guardians of thresholds and teachers of transformation, such as Baba Yaga, Ceridwen, the Cailleach, and Medusa. We’ll ask how they differ from the bloodthirsty giants, Koschei the Deathless, or ravenous beasts like Black Shuck. Together we will inquire:
- What is a sacred devouring, and what is merely horror?
- Can we tell the difference when our life-as-we-know-it is being consumed?
- Alchemically speaking, is this nigredo—the dark phase of transformation—or simply oblivion?
In the middle world we now inhabit, surrounded by the monstrous in politics, ecology, and the psyche, how do we face these forces within and around us, without turning away?
And perhaps most importantly: can we still find something sacred within these monsters?
In this hands-on workshop by poet and storyteller Tom Hirons, and communications designer and collage artist Niels Devisscher, you will be guided into Supernatural and Monstrous territories using two different but complementary media.
No prior experience or skill in writing or collage art is required. For the collage, please bring any source material (books, old/new magazines, posters, colored paper) that you’ll use to create your monster, and tools like scissors and/or a hobby knife, and glue. You’re also welcome to create a digital collage and use a tool like Canva or Photoshop.
Tom Hirons is a writer and teacher of poetry. Author of ‘Sometimes a Wild God’ Lead editor at @feral.angels.press. Editor of @clarionpoetry magazine. tomhirons.com
Niels Devisscher is a communications designer, award-winning photographer and collage artist exploring ecological surrealism and more-than-human interactions and worldbuilding. nielsdevisscher.be
