Philosophy Blog

We had the joy of welcoming a new gifted participant to our philosophy/poetry group at Cherish tonight! His name is Harley Bell. He teaches creative writing and it’s been both humbling and inspiring to have him in the group. He even delivered targeted feedback to one of us - who had specifically requested it. No one here receives feedback that they have not explicitly asked for! But I really appreciated the way he did it - it resonated very well with Bachelard’s idea that “To revive a language by creating new images—this is the function of literature and poetry.”

Together during this session, we explored how certain images of the earth can foster rest and even wrote a poem for our Friday meditation group—Earth’s Lullaby. We also created another piece inspired by more dynamic and stimulating earthy objects.

There is always an incredible creative atmosphere in these sessions—both nourishing and stimulating—offering a deep connection to oneself and others.

If you'd like to experience it for yourself, a few sessions remain this autumn:

March the 26th

April the 9th (with guest teacher Susannah Kenton)

April the 23rd

⏰ 6:30 PM
📍 52 Bealey Ave

I was dusting my office—once my mother-in-law’s library—when I stumbled upon The Poetics of Space by Gaston Bachelard. The very book I had searched for in every library in Christchurch, hiding on a shelf I had not dusted in years… or perhaps ever. Or maybe just not attentively enough.

So I’m taking a moment to honour the memory of this incredible woman—with whom I did not always have an easy relationship.

You were—you are—an exceptional person. And I am so grateful we kept all your books. Thank you for this trove of treasures.

I cannot wait to offer the next series of poetry workshops inspired by The Poetics of Space next spring.

I am very excited to start facilitating workshops at the Canterbury Workers Educational Association / Roopu Kaimahi Matauranga o Waitaha from Spring 2025!

Dates and details to be confirmed.

I have been so humbled by the doors opening in Ōtautahi Christchurch.

Kia Ora.

Please feel free to join any of these Wednesdays:

• 26th of February

• 12th of March

• 26th of March

• 9th of April (with guest teacher Susannah Kenton)

• 23rd of April.

Space is limited and bookings are appreciated so I can get the room ready, or change room if necessary. Please write to me at lucie@philia.co.nz. I would be delighted to answer any question you might have!

I can still welcome 4 more people to any of these sessions.

Please help me with the cost of the books, the photocopies and the time I spend preparing the sessions. Most people donate 20 dollars per session. But please adjust to your current means and needs!

Weaving Poetry and Meditation: A Cherish Offering

At Cherish, I offer two distinct yet deeply connected experiences: the Poetics & Philosophy Workshop and Poetic Naps.

The Poetics & Philosophy Workshop: Crafting Personal Imagery

Every other Wednesday, our workshop is a space to reclaim imagination and explore personal imagery through poetry and philosophy. Drawing on Gaston Bachelard’s poetics of the elements—this summer and autumn, especially earth—and the poetics of space, we engage with words as a way to ground ourselves. Participants shape their own poetic language, finding new ways to express the places, textures, and memories that make up their inner landscapes.

Poetic Naps: A Restorative Pause

On Fridays, Poetic Naps offer a moment of poetic immersion. Inspired by Bachelard’s philosophy, these sessions invite stillness and receptivity, allowing participants to rest into the world of elemental imagery. It is a space to slow down, to absorb the cadence of poetry without the need to respond—simply to listen, to breathe, to be. These sessions are completely free, providing an accessible opportunity for anyone to experience poetic rest.

The Conversation Between the Two

This week, the dialogue between these offerings became especially vivid. Friday, on Valentine’s Day, I read aloud poems crafted during the Wednesday workshop. Words that had emerged in our creative space—raw, tender, searching—took on a new life in the quiet of meditation. What was once an act of expression became an experience of reception, allowing the words to settle differently in the body.

This interplay is what excites me most: how the act of creation can lead to deeper contemplation, and how stillness can, in turn, nurture creativity. Whether you are drawn to writing or to listening, to shaping words or letting them wash over you, these offerings at Cherish are meant to nourish both aspects of being.

Poetics & Philosophy Workshop: Every other Wednesday, 6:30 PM (Feb 12 - Apr 23) Sliding scale: $10-$50 per session or $50-$200 for six sessions.

Poetic Naps: Fridays, 1 - 1:30 PM (Free—this is my - not so random - act of kindness!)