Philosophy Blog

🌟 Reclaim Your Imagination with Poetry and Philosophy 🌟

As we step into 2025, take time to ground yourself and begin the year by nestling into a creative and reflective space. Join us every other Wednesday from February 12th to April 23rd, at 6:30 PM, for a transformative series of workshops exploring the poetics of the elements and the poetics of space.

Drawing inspiration from philosopher Gaston Bachelard's seminal works, including The Poetics of Space—a key text studied by interior design and architecture students worldwide—these workshops will guide you to:

• Reclaim your imagination: Free yourself from the unchosen images that dominate daily life (news, marketing, TV shows, and other pervasive influences) and rediscover the power of personal reverie.

• Nestle in imagery: Explore poetic ways to feel more grounded in your home, the earth, and your inner world.

• Harness poetry’s power: Develop your own imagery, inspired by nature and space, to connect deeply with yourself and your surroundings.

Cost:
We believe in accessibility during these challenging times. The fee is on a sliding scale:

• $10 per session (base price)

• $50 for six sessions (base price)

• You are welcome to pay more, up to $50 per session or $200 for the package, to help support others.

Everyone gives according to their possibilities, making it sustainable and inclusive for all.

📍 Where: Cherish, 52 Bealey Ave.
📅 When: Every other Wednesday, starting February 12th, at 6:30 PM

Spaces are limited—secure your place now and start the year by reclaiming your imagination!

For more details, contact us at lucie@philia.co.nz.

Yesterday was our last Poetics night at Cherish for this year. We listened to Bachelard telling us about water and reveries, rocked by Susannah’s lovely voice. We listened to the Spirit of Water ☺️, we each composed our own rocking water-themed reverie, and then we braided a poem together.

It’s been a very lovely session. Many Thanks to everyone who was here. And see you next year.

After our soirée at Cherish last night, on Air and Dreams, from Gaston Bachelard, I am still on my little cloud. This morning, I look at the sky differently. I pay more attention on the air on my skin. The sunrise felt even more fresh and new than other mornings. I feel so present. There is an harmony, an alignment that I had not felt for a while.

Yesterday was different from the first three sessions of this workshop. More “healing”. We used the chapter on “silent speech” to create a breathing exercise that the delightful Susannah led for us with her extraordinary voice. Then we composed a poem inspired by the imagery of the blue sky, the constellations, the clouds …

And finally we created our own guided imagery exercise. Inspired by the chapter on Robert Desoille, one of the father of sophronosation. It is the first of Bachelard’s book that feels so “therapeutic”.

Participants loved it. They expressed this was “gold”, “awakening”, that they felt “nourished”, and that what we had created would have “ripples” beyond what our imagination can consider…

And my intention for today is that my inner state stays with me in some way throughout my time a d that it helps me take even better care of the young adults and teenagers I’m interacting with, or that I can return to it when needed.

Images can heal. They are not simple metaphors to express a deeper truth. They exist, and affect our psyche. So let’s pay attention to the images we let in…

Last night was our fortnightly soirée at Cherish, where we gather to explore the poetics of French philosopher Gaston Bachelard. It was a truly lovely evening, made even better by two new participants who, it seems, enjoyed the evening as much as we did!

This session centered around fire—and the elemental poetry it ignites. Drawing inspiration from Bachelard's Psychoanalysis of Fire, Fragments of a Poetics of Fire, and The Light of a Candle, we each wrote several pieces. Two of these we kept to ourselves, while one was offered up to our circle of living, breathing poets.

I always leave sharing as optional, but so far, everyone has shared their creations—and it's my favorite part of the evening. Hearing what others have created, right then and there, brings a unique magic to the room. There’s an intimacy and spontaneity that reminds me of improv theatre, which I often find more vibrant and engaging than scripted plays (especially those with a bit of grace—my favorite being the Court Jesters, from our Court Theatre!). Poetry shared in this way carries a similar thrill. When I’m at home reading poetry, I sometimes connect deeply with a particular piece, and when that happens, it’s an experience like Emily Dickinson described—shivers, goosebumps, and that feeling of being both burned and frozen at once. And in these workshops, those moments happen far more often, perhaps because the room itself feels alive with creativity.

These sessions take hours to prepare—I read, create prompts, and design a supportive structure. And it is absolutely worth it!

My gratitude to Cherish for the beautiful nest they’ve created, to Susannah for her inspiring voice and soulful support, and to everyone drawn to philosophy, poetics, and creativity. I feel truly blessed to spend time with such inspiring people.

My approach blends the analytical rigour of "Logic, philosophy of science and of knowledge" (name of my Paris Sorbonne master degree) with empathy, genuine care, and insight. Whether through short, intensive sessions or longer, periodic engagements, every partnership is uniquely tailored to support my clients in navigating complex challenges and aligning with their values.

The following is a testimonial from a Parisian school principal with whom I had the privilege of working. We met every six weeks (outside of the Christmas holidays and the summer break) over Zoom for exactly two years—about 15 sessions in total, starting on October 27, 2022. It’s rare that my support extends for as long as two years. However, each person's path is different, and some benefit from a more gradual rhythm, allowing time to integrate new perspectives and insights into their professional lives. Today, as we celebrate the end of our work together, I’m thrilled to share her reflections.

This testimonial was originally written in French and translated into English by ChatGPT.

"I would like to extend my heartfelt thanks to Lucie for her professional coaching support, which was both guiding and illuminating—full of integrity, wisdom, and practical insights that have truly benefited me in every way.

Lucie’s coaching approach is deeply pragmatic and rigorously grounded in the philosophy of science. Her method combines a search for concrete solutions with profound reflections, drawn from a wealth of general knowledge and extensive experience in human resources within the education sector. Over time, this blend of thoughtful analysis and practical solutions has provided invaluable support. The coaching we engaged in primarily focused on my professional positioning, addressing relational, operational, intellectual, and ethical dimensions. This shared journey of understanding and fine-tuning was both joyful and effective.

Lucie is a coach, philosopher, and facilitator with a remarkable scope of expertise. Her deep humanistic commitment, brimming with empathy and respect, positively bolstered my role as both an educator and a manager.

She enabled me to overcome numerous obstacles and resolve various challenges, restoring my enthusiasm in my dual roles as a specialist teacher and school principal. This coaching experience was truly ‘beautiful, good, and true’—in line with Plato’s cherished triad. Thank you, Lucie."

Working with dedicated leaders like this school principal reminds me of the profound impact thoughtful, philosophical coaching can have on the education sector and beyond. Each journey is unique, and it's always deeply humbling for me to support leaders in strengthening their roles and revitalising their passion for their work.

PS: My calendar is full until the end of 2024, but please get in touch to secure your spot for 2025!