Celestial Journeys: Wayfinding in a Time of Transformation with Jeannie Celestial

"Celestial Journeys: Wayfinding in a Time of Transformation" will be a series of reflective creative virtual workshops for Filipinx and Filipinx Americans.

Each web-based workshop will center a framework in Filipino culture, a meditation and creative prompt, cultural production/expressive arts activity (e.g., creative writing, painting, collage making, found art sculpting, etc.), reflection and sharing time. The expressive arts activities will lead participants through a journey of self-reflection and positive change. The workshops will offer tools to manage stress and isolation caused by COVID-19 and racial injustice.

Celestial Journeys will help bolster participants’ emotional well-being to cope with state-sanctioned stay-at-home orders, inviting participants to self-exploration and soul-searching while creating tangible artwork.

Photo by Art Swenson

Celestial Journeys will draw from trauma-informed systems, Sikolohiyang Pilipino (indigenous Philippine Psychology), and healing-centered care. The facilitator will provide education on indigenous Filipino core values as well as social justice concepts to guide participants in identifying their own personal values, setting goals and intentions, and thriving during this time of COVID-19. The facilitator will help participants elicit strength from our ancestors, decolonizing practices from internalized oppression, and claim our authentic selves. The workshops can be attended in succession (participants attend all sessions) or on a drop-in basis.

As Filipinxs, our community is still on a journey to normalizing and de-stigmatizing conversations around mental health. We are thankful for Dr. Celestial’s offering, and hope many of you can participate in this program of collective community healing with us!

- Kim Arteche, Balay Kreative Program Manager

Written by Dr. Jeannie Celestial.