In the 17th century Charles Perrault rewrote peasant folktales for French upper class children. His adaptations emphasized morality, but often with a sexualized subtext for adult readers. Adhering to social codes of his day, Perrault morphs the earthy and clever Red from oral versions of Little Red Riding Hood into a naïve girl who is ravished (raped) by the wolf.

Scholar Jack Zipes documents this transition and its widespread impact in the west where rape culture and blaming/shaming the victim continue to this day.

In this class we examine personal narratives of shame and offer them to the forest floor to decompose and serve as nutrients for new growth. Learn tools to navigate and transform this fundamental emotion.

Into the Wildwood is series of six seminars focusing on the archetypes found in Little Red Riding Hood.

Each seminar explores a different theme portrayed in the tale. Through storytelling, autobiographical writing, art, and guided visualization we identify echoes of this tale in our own life stories and create a personal transformative narrative.

I draw on:

• A Jungian approach to myth, fairy tale, and the unconscious
• SoulPages, a pathway to the authentic self through expressive arts (developed by Rakefet Hadar)
• Narrative psychology which studies how we story-make our lives and how to expand our narrative for greater life fulfillment

Into the Wildwood challenges the pervasive cultural attitudes found in Little Red Riding Hood that perpetuate disempowering stereotypes, especially for women. Notably, in the last twenty years a resurgence of retellings for adult readers have been published that recast Red more positively. These seminars are an opportunity to contribute to this movement by reshaping ourselves through inner work. So, bring your story to be transformed in the Wildwood! Other details:

• No prior experience necessary in either writing or art. These seminars are designed with the beginner in mind. Experienced hands are welcome too!
• Most materials supplied. Upon registration you will receive a short list of things to bring.

What you will come away with:

• Journaling techniques that you can apply to other issues
• Therapeutic tools for processing difficult emotions and stuck places
• A visual journal of the work done
• Reusable handmade stencils, masks, stamps, and other mark making tools