Philosophy Blog

Come Play with the Four Elements – A Poetic Teaser at WEA

While I’m currently in France for a few weeks, I’m already looking forward to being back in Ōtautahi Christchurch in time for a special session at the Canterbury Workers Educational Association.

📅 Monday 8 September
🕡 6.30 – 8.00 PM
📍 WEA, 59 Gloucester Street

Come play with the four elements!

This is a poetic taster session inspired by the beautiful writings of French philosopher Gaston Bachelard. His meditations on fire, water, earth, and air will be our starting point for poetic games and shared creative time.

No prior experience with philosophy or poetry is needed – just a bit of curiosity and a love of language.

All activities and readings will be in English – no French required!
Come and let yourself be inspired by the philosopher of the four elements, and leave with your own crafted poem and the memory of a warm, playful encounter with imagination and words.

Spots are limited – feel free to RSVP or come early to grab a seat!

Yesterday, we had our final gathering of the season, exploring Gaston Bachelard’s fabulous philosophy of poetry.

As a conclusion to his work on the poetics of the elements—and a transition toward his reflections on the poetics of space—we grounded our writing in the chapter “The House of Our Birth and the Oneiric House” from The Earth and Reveries of Repose.

It was one of my favourite sessions, with participants deeply moved by the theme of home, especially in a city like Ōtautahi.

I’m looking forward to beginning our new cycle this Spring, centred on Bachelard’s best-seller The Poetics of Space.

We had the joy of welcoming a new gifted participant to our philosophy/poetry group 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

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.