We are the Founding Members

Caspar Walsh

When I introduce myself as the founder of Write to Freedom (W2F) something inside feels right. This is worthwhile, beautiful work. I’ve enjoyed the visibility, the recognition - I had an idea, reached out, put the work in and W2F was born. Many, many people have been involved and supported us since 2008. The community is growing and now moves through the world without me having to nourish and nurture it so intensively.

There is a shadow side to being the founder of this amazing organism of beings, stories and transformation.  As we expanded, I began to feel more and more isolated. The desire, the need to be visible in the world, to be of service and be loved, had a flip side. I wanted to step out of the ‘all eyes on me’ spotlight into the wider circle. To stand side by side with my recovery Tribe. I needed to let go of the identity of the solitary hero trying to save the world. This was a lonely and exhausting way to live. And it has very much been part of my healing process. It’s helped me get back home.

The work is now about so much more than what I brought. It is what it is, we are where we are, because of each Tribe member and what you bring.

We started to wonder how we could acknowledge the depth and breadth of the work being contributed by so many amazing folk. It was agreed, going forward, that anyone in the Tribe who helps build our community needs to be recognised as a Founding Member. If you are actively involved in what we do, you are helping build our recovery community for all of us and for all those who’ll join us in the future. This is about acknowledging each person involved in our wide-reaching work. From holding a mentoring day, staffing a residential, helping with fundraising, admin, outreach, you are each helping to build the foundations of the work and our community. For me, each member of the Tribe is a Founding Member. The oxygen and the flame.

So, this is a call, to each of you to allow yourselves the sovereignty to step into your place as Founding Members. To recognise and honour the work you do and for everything you bring to your wider recovery community.

How would it be for you to introduce yourself, in our Tribe circles and to the wider community as a Founding Member?

The next stage of growth for our community starts with you.

After all these years of searching and healing, I’m finally in the wider circle, standing with you fine ones, shoulder to shoulder. We build what we have together, from now into an unknown future. With love and luck and a wild eye on the old way, a bright eye on the new and a shared vision for peace and freedom. We are each of us, Founding Members of the work, here and now.

Creative Pathways to Healing and Meaning

Next Steps for Write to Freedom (W2F) - Pathways to Healing and Meaning

After ten years hard, loving graft setting up the existing W2F programme of residentials, Mentoring Days, Experience Days and staff trainings, a new space for growth for our Tribe is opening up. This next phase is the Creative Pathways to Healing and Meaning programme. A beautiful opportunity for anyone in the Tribe who wants to learn, grow and heal more. These new residentials and staff trainings will offer support, guidance and space to explore more of who we are and what makes us tick, both personally and professionally. Our award winning film, We Seek the Teeth, completed in the Summer of 2019, is the first major project of the Creative Pathways programme. And what a start it was…

Creative Pathways to Healing and Meaning’s first project, the award winning short film poem, ‘We Seek the Teeth’. Featuring W2F trainee leader Ali chapman. Film crew made up of previous participants and professionals.

My journey in W2F since 2008 has been incredible. There have been countless highs, lows, learning and growth way beyond what I thought possible. My ability to step back and hand more and more over to the Tribe has come as a result of digging deep into the healing ground of old wounds and unfulfilled dreams. It’s also been very much about learning to trust and step into the wider, growing circle of our community.

The Jungian Archetypes - Navigating Inner Worlds

The 8 Shields model we use for staffing gives us a beautiful structure and focus for our work. What we are offering with Creative Pathways is another model to run alongside this existing structure. This will take our work to the next level. It will help us get an even clearer picture of where healing and meaning can be found.

On Saturday 14th of December we will be having an introductory talk on the Jungian Archetypes from Elizabeth Klyne.

We’ll be meeting on Zoom at 3pm and finishing at 5.30pm.

We’re hoping to record the session – but the recording feature doesn’t always work. Please make it in person if you can.

We will be using the same link we use for all Zoom calls. Please contact jo@writetofreedom.org.uk if you need it re sent.

This will be a chance to:

·       Understand what the Archetypes are

·       How they show up in our lives

·       Discover which ones we most closely identify with

·       How understanding our Archetypal landscape can support the healing journey

·       Ask questions of Elizabeth and discuss all of the above

We’ve pencilled in our first Creative Pathways staff training residential for February 2020.

If we are unable to raise the cash for the residential we will offer this as two stand-alone, non-residential days over the same weekend. Date TBC. This will be an opportunity to work closely with the Archetypes. To explore how they can help us move toward deeper healing and meaning in our lives. During the residential/days, we will offer support and guidance in helping you identify and develop personal skills and passions. We’ll then look at how you could begin a unique creative project or outlet to support your healing and your wider community. By creativity we mean anything from gardening to writing to filming to baking; whatever lights your fire. We do this healing work for ourselves first, then, with support, we can offer it as a gift to help make a difference in the world.

Attending these Creative Pathway training opportunities will become an essential part of you being offered a staff place on the residentials and holding the Mentoring and Experience Days. Working consciously with your Archetypal landscape will also be a key part of your ongoing training and supervision. It will be a fine path we travel together, with many weathers and landscapes to navigate. Our latest compass will be working with the Archetypes.

So who’s up for the adventure?

Contact me direct to let me know if you are going to be on the Zoom on the 14th of December and/ or want to talk it through.

Caspar@writetofreedom.org.uk

With love, gratitude and respect

Caspar
Founder and Creative Director

'We Seek the Teeth' Short Film Wins Film Festival Prize!

We are so delighted to share that our new short film, 'We Seek the Teeth', has just won 2nd place at the Recovery Street film festival (https://rsff.co.uk/) in September 2019!

‘We Seek the Teeth’ is part of our new Creative Pathways to Healing and Meaning programme and is a powerful exploration into the trauma and healing that can be found through connection with the landscape and the power of landscape and words. 3 of the film crew, Doug, Caspar and Steve are all in recovery, as well as Ali, who is featured in the film, and is also part of the Next Step programme for current Write to Freedom participants, exploring the healing of addiction and trauma through the creative process.

Poem ‘We Seek the Teeth’ written by Caspar Walsh, inspired by the words of Kenneth Tynan.

Community Fundraising Midnight Walk!

A midnight sponsored walk, 10 miles from Exeter to Exmouth, this past weekend - the Write to Freedom Tribe community literally going the extra mile to raise money to support the work that we do.

“Such a beautiful time together. The walk was a beautiful thing indeed! Walking through the night by the estuary in the stillness was just perfect. Big gratitude for J’s organising, A’s amazing pit stop cafe (kelly kettle was on), W and J for supporting us on the walk, and M for always getting involved. All tribe walkers were awesome… that goes for the four mutts too!

Thanks also to Morrison Utility Services who supported us with the high vis jackets and also financial sponsorship!”

To add your sponsorship support please contribute here - https://www.gofundme.com/f/joanna039s-campaign-for-write-to-freedom

W2F Tribe Crowdfunder

The Write to Freedom community has put together a crowdfunding campaign to support the addiction recovery work that we do. Please take a look, donate if you feel to, and share amongst your networks.

https://www.gofundme.com/f/joanna039s-campaign-for-write-to-freedom

Personal Stories from people who have attended a residential:

"I was very fortunate to attend a Write to Freedom residential. I am in recovery from alcohol addiction and was blown away by the experience I had - the support, the connection, and how it helped me and continues to help me in recovery ." J

"I am a recovering alcoholic, I've been going to AA meetings and working the 12step program. As part of my recovery I was told about Write to Freedom. I was lucky enough to go to the residential last June after having that experience it has played a big part in my recovery. Write to Freedom helps others from all over with different kinds of addictions. I can't put into words how many people these guys have helped and continue to help. Not only is it making a difference to the individual but also the community." J

"I am a recovering alcoholic and addict and have been sober for 3yrs and 5 months. I lost my husband through alcohol and his suicide 3yrs ago. Write to Freedom gave me a spiritual awakening in nature and release of pain I was carrying with me. All this was through the beautiful people whom bring this all together. I came with fear and sadness and left with an overwhelming sense of gratitude, through honesty and guidance, they helped me step out of the darkness and into the light. This is the most amazing charity that everyone whom is suffering could go on, with their continued dedication every month there after, for mentoring days that keep us all connected. I will be forever grateful." E

"Write to Freedom has proved to be an invaluable step in my recovery. When finding sobriety but not finding life and reaching a plateau this residential has been pivotal in enhancing my outlook on life and resolving much of what has been holding me back. An amazing staff team, you feel held and safe whilst engaging in transformative work. Thank you Write To Freedom team." C

"My life has taken an extremely positive direction since I attended the residential weekend with Write to Freedom and continue to take active part in fantastic mentoring days once a month in the beautiful Dartmoor. I have met like minded people that are always there for me and know I'm not alone or feel lonely amongst other people . I was full of fear, anxiety and distrusted the world and all of its contents.

At Write to Freedom I found an abundance of love , support and most importantly people I trust and a secure place to learn about myself and the beautiful world I live in." T

June Mentoring Day - a photo blog

A Mentoring Day amidst the bluebells and fresh green of a Dartmoor spring time.

Overlooking the Dart valley

Amidst the bluebells...

...and the fresh green trees...

...and down to the wild waters of the river Dart.

Embracing the wildness.

Welcoming In January… a Mentoring Day on the Moors

Ali Chapman

I had a real sense of physically pining for the moors, my home and my people.

I wanted to shake off Christmas: eating food I wouldn't normally eat, being indoors too much and all the rest!

I shook a little off around a roaring fire with friends, I shook a whole lot more off with a childlike jump on the high moors shouting out and laughing, welcoming in myself and the New Year.

Happy New Year Everyone...I'm alive.

Photos by Emma.

The Healing Power of Addiction

Caspar Walsh. November 2018

As a kid, I was into war. I watched the movies and made the sound affects while holding invisible guns; the usual stuff. But when do normal childhood games move into something darker? When does the need for power move beyond the imagination of play?

Having a dad in prison, being removed from too many schools and an absent mother, left me feeling deeply powerless. Not in the way I would eventually understand in 12 Step Fellowship as powerlessness but a sense of having none of my own personal, healthy, life giving power.

My birthright: to know I am welcome here, that I have something loving and real to receive; kindness, consistency, a roof, food. To know that I have something unique to bring to the world. But before I could experience or realise these things, my need to numb myself against the onslaught of the darker world took hold, claws in deep, for decades.

I moved from the fantasy worlds of play to drug and alcohol in my early teens, believing chemicals would give me a sense of control and power. The opposite happened. It was all about giving away my power to something darker back then.

I’ve been in chemical recovery since 1988. Relationship recovery since 2001. Work and activity addiction since 2015. Despite the problems with non chemical addictions, I have also found identity, meaning and connection through my work and relationships, it’s a fine line to walk.

The way the world is, the way our species seems to be walking off the edge of a cliff, can be tracked back to addiction. To the dysfunctional childhoods of humans not loved enough; who then carry that lack of love into the rest of their lives. Creating dark strategies to cope with so much loss and grief and exile. Strategies that more often than not are connected to the accumulation of any kind of external power to fill the power voids inside. But this, true to cosmic form, is a black hole of fear and insecurity. No amount of gathering goods, cash, property, status will tend or heal these wounds to the soul. No amount of power over others will ease it. We will only ever want more.

Only love and care and patience will heal this wound. Only reflection, community and connection.

Take a look at the external manifestations of so many inner worlds. Like the wasted landscape of The Fisher King. The chaos we see on the outside, mirrors inner turmoil. Nature and how we view it is at the heart of this ravaged landscape. We aren’t, as so many believe, disconnected from nature. We may have simply forgotten and need reminding that we are nature. The sooner we realise this, remember this, the deeper our trust and respect for its healthy power will be. When we realise the love we have for ourselves, deep down, a love that has always been there, we will realise and remember our love and respect for the land. And within that, we will see and feel a loving power greater than ourselves and of ourselves; a power indistinguishable from inside or outside our skin. And we will instinctively choose to protect it, ourselves, the land, the earth and other beings.

The solution is in the trees and hills, the valleys and mountains, rivers and oceans. Walking into them, letting the cells of our bodies remember where we were born to be and breathe and connect. Less about the power of addiction, more about the healing power we can each derive from the story of our addicted lives, from embracing our grief and loss. The power to feel and connect and empathise. It’s all about remembering who we truly are, beyond the lies we tell ourselves. It’s about how to meet our human needs to feel real, grounded power. And when our needs are met, the next question is, what unique gifts can we bring to the world? How can we make a difference to the lives of others?