High summer, we've had a busy few months and almost ready to head out for a couple of weeks holiday, and time to let you know what we've been busy with! One of the most exciting things we have been up to (amongst many) is launching a new line of merchandise and an online shop with the beautiful archetypes illustrations we have developed recently.
We will all be away from emails from Friday August 12th until Tuesday August 30th.
New Online Shop!
We’re super proud to be offering our first line of merchandise in our new online shop with T-shirts, cards and posters. This comes from two years developing the four archetypes images as part of our Creative Pathways to Healing and Meaning programme. These images (see below) were conceived and designed by Caspar Walsh and brought beautifully to life by Devon based artist, Philip Harris.
Your purchase supports long term addiction recovery through Rite to Freedom. All sales go towards the running costs of the charity. We hope you enjoy these magical illustrations and that they support you in your journey as much as they have us in ours.
Our recent New Tribes Residential, from Ali Chapman
Our July New Tribes Recovery Residential was an extremely powerful and moving event in so many ways - we were blessed with the most fantastic weather which gave spectacular sunsets and sunrises. As I was camping up on the moor the joy of walking to my tent with the others and drinking in the colours and star lit sky just blew me away.
Our participants were an amazing bunch who really threw themselves into the whole experience, an extremely tight and slick staff team giving a real sense of holding, which allowed for trust and confidence to be felt by all.
Our staff training events prior to the residential meant that there was a real sense of cohesion in the team, beating with one heart.
It was a particularly poignant residential for me as I stood in circle with Ben, Caspar and Chris who had led me through my own residential in 2016 – and here I was staffing with them! The pride I have for the work we do and all the beautiful souls we meet is huge.
A significant, subtle shift of energy and realignment of roles saw Caspar stepping into the position of Ritual Elder – it felt so right, with his love of mentoring, joy of imparting knowledge and holding of the vision of the work. Yes!
This truly was a special one....
Our very first Creative Pathways residential, from Caspar Walsh
There is a part of the monomyth or Hero/Heroine’s adventure, where we finally return to the village after our time on the dangerous and winding roads of our healing journey, and with that return we bring something back. Something that represents a core part of who we are, what we discovered, what we fought dragons to win back – our treasure.
The four archetype illustrations I conceived and brought to life with the amazing artist Philip Harris over the last two years, are my treasure. A gift to the community to help us each find even deeper healing and meaning. Deeper adventure. Deeper connections with ourselves, with each other and the wider world.
Creative Pathways to Healing and Meaning is something I’ve been visioning for some years now. My work with the four key archetypes began in 1999 as part of my initiatory work in The Mankind Project. They’ve held a fascination for me ever since. They provide an imaginative, internal compass to navigate both the challenges and celebrations of life. They are at the heart of the our work in Rite to Freedom.
Watching the Creative Pathways programme flower into life has been one of my greatest senses of achievement.
The first residential in July of this year was the culmination of our work bringing it to life over the last three years. It was incredibly moving and empowering to see the community stepping so deeply and courageously into their healing.
This next stage will give us all an opportunity to create art works together, to celebrate this journey. Watch this space for events toward the end of the year.
Watch for dragon's treasure, brought home.
Next Dartmoor Residential
Our next Dartmoor 'New Tribes' Residential runs September 30th - October 2nd.
We have had a lot of interest already but please put in an application to join. A clean time of 6 months is required. More details and application here >>
First Ireland Residential
We are running our very first 'New Tribes' Residential in County Clare, Ireland this October 21st - 23rd.
A clean time of 6 months is required. More details and application here >>
Ireland Family and Friends Weekend
We are running our very first Family and Friends Residential in County Clare, Ireland this October 28th- 30th.
"The family members who are dealing with the everyday chaos that addiction brings are often left unsupported. R2F offers a deeply restorative and healing place where those family members can come together, and spend nourishing time with expert addicts in recovery, who share lived experiences of relating with addicts, and all the traumas that come along with it." ~ Ben Ford
More details and application here >>
Creative Pathways Archetypes
The Archetype illustrations below are from our Creative Pathways to Healing and Meaning Programme.
Original artwork by Philip Harris. Concept and design by Caspar Walsh. Click an archetype to see their overview and poem.
Available in our new online shop!
This latest film introducing our work with the Sovereign Overseer Archetype completes our set of four archetypes films.
Click here to watch all four of our Archetype films.
Support
We have different ways that you can support the work that we do at Rite to Freedom. We rely on a variety of income streams and are working hard to diversify these to ensure the longevity and sustainability of our work. Every little bit helps enormously with what we do.
See our Donate page here where we have an easy new facility to make a monthly donation, for as little as £2 a month - the price of a cheap cup of coffee!
For 2022 we are one of the Co-operative Group's charities. If you are a Co-op member you can choose for your dividends from your shopping to go to us (still registered under the old spelling of our name, but change in progress!!) More here >>
"What lies before us and what lies behind us
are trifles to what lies within us.
And if we do what is in us,
carry that out into the world, miracles happen."
- Albert Jay Nock
