May News 2020

Dear Community

“Stories allow us a personal encounter with the pain of our shattered and fragmented community” – Trevor Hudson (1999)

Today marks the 39th day of lockdown in South Africa. During this time, we have been witness to many stories. Stories of bravery and sacrifice. Stories of creativity and possibility. Stories of pain and grief, of isolation and disconnection, dreams and celebrations. Stories of frustration, fear and anxiety. Stories of privilege and of poverty and the large chasm in between. And we have borne witness to resilience in all shapes and sizes

Narrative Therapy is known as a “therapy of witnessing and acknowledgement”. By its very nature it seeks to “witness people’s stories - stories of both pain and possibilities”. (Duvall & Béres 2011:8). It is this practice of witnessing that is a vital part of who the i4cc is and, as we navigate new ways of living and being together, we continue to ‘hold space’ with, and for, you.

Mother’s Day happens on 10 May 2020 and, for many families, this year we will be apart.

Motherhood comes in many forms…not all “traditional”. How might you celebrate your Mom, or the person who has mothered you, this year?

"Mothers, I believe, intoxicate us. We idolize them and take them for granted. We hate them and blame them and exalt them more thoroughly than anyone else in our lives. We sift through the evidence of their love, reassure ourselves of their affection and its biological genesis. We can steal and lie and leave and they will love us."

―Megan Mayhew Bergman, Birds of a Lesser Paradise: Stories

As a mother, how will you acknowledge this experience this year?

"Motherhood is a choice you make everyday, to put someone else's happiness and well-being ahead of your own, to teach the hard lessons, to do the right thing even when you're not sure what the right thing is...and to forgive yourself, over and over again, for doing everything wrong."

―Donna Ball, At Home on Ladybug Farm

Please share your stories and favourite photos of Mothers with us.

Please share your creative gift ideas and how you will mark this day.

E-mail us or post on our Facebook and Instagram accounts!

Look out for some ideas on our Forum page "Celebrating Mothers" on

https://www.i4cc.co.za/forum/celebrating-mothers

From 18 May to 22 May we will be offering a Week of Guided Prayer online. To register or find out more about this retreat in daily life, please contact Nicky on nicky@i4cc.co.za

Watch this space for more information on our Introduction to Narrative Practices course!

We are still offering practices and ideas on our Forum page on https://www.i4cc.co.za/forum, a weekly narrative reading group via Zoom and online conversations for those in need at this time.

We would love to know how you are and what it is you are doing to get through this unprecedented time in our history!

Lets keep connected whilst keeping apart!