Nature speaks self-paced journey

A 6-week sensory immersion into nature

Hosted by Michelle Knight

Receive insights and tools from nature outside and within

Join us on this hands-on, sensory immersion into nature using a diverse range of art-making materials, including some sourced directly from the outdoors, to inspire your creative play and re-connection with nature.

We’ll allow the Elements (Earth, Water, Fire, Air and Ether) that exist both in nature and within ourselves to guide the art-making journey. We’ll work with clay as a grounding element, and play with fire, making marks with the smoke from a candle, using nature’s bounty as a tool for self-care and awareness.

The elements will activate and support the corresponding chakras in the body, to revitalise and balance these energy centres so you can release the tension, stress, and negativity you might be holding.

In the words of Vincent van Gogh:

“…and then, I have nature and art and poetry, and if that is not enough, what is enough?”

You’ll experience…

  • Deep wisdom from nature, both outside and within you – giving you insights and tools to take with you as you navigate all of life’s ups, downs, and in-betweens.

  • A judgement-free space where your inner child and sense of play are invited to take over from the restraints of adult life – so you can create and make art without the pressure of it needing to be “good.”

  • Your own personal connection to nature, one that we can’t necessarily put into words for you. Just like everything in nature, you’ll learn to be with yourself and trust the process.

  • Motivation and inspiration to continue to protect and live in harmony with nature all around you.

  • A new meaning of what art/creative self-expression truly is. Your subconscious will speak to you in a way it might not have done before because it’s hard to give it the time and space to do so.

How your journey unfolds

There are 6 workshops over 6 weeks, and we’d recommend a weekly rhythm of 2-3 hours to allow space for the creative benefits to take root although you can take part whenever suits you best.

1

As soon as you sign up you’ll receive a welcome email with more information about the journey, the materials, and how to participate so you can start the workshop straight away if you wish.

2

You’ll receive instant access to all the workshop video recordings, so you could complete them all in a week if that feels good to you. Because we recommend a weekly rhythm over 6 weeks, we’ll send you an email every week introducing the week’s workshop, which you can complete in your own time. You could follow a weekly rhythm or space out the workshops further if that feels more manageable.

3

Each session starts with a meditation to ground you into the present moment, let go of your to-do list, and let your mind and body know that it’s time to slow down and make space for creativity – so you can get the most out of the sessions.

4

We understand how difficult it can be to stick to a new habit, especially one as “luxurious” as self-care! You can join our optional online creativity practice sessions where you can dedicate time to your creative self-expression practice alongside like-minded people doing the same as you. Or you could add a 1-1 session with Michelle to receive deeper and fully personalised guidance.

5

  • “On this wonderful journey I was able to experience a deep sense of connection with the elements of nature and listen to their voice, which has contributed to revealing a greater awareness of the things I do in my life. Thank you for supporting me to dive into the purpose of my life.”

    JUAN CARLOS GUZMÁN

  • “The six weeks of Nature Speaks have been a truly lovely journey. Being guided in such a nonjudgmental and gentle way was incredibly valuable. Feeling more connected to nature and having been given the tools to find different ways to incorporate it into my creative processes more. The meditations and creative exercises that Michelle guided us through in each session touched my heart. ”

    LIAN JONKMAN

  • "This course provided a supportive, accessible safe space in which to engage with one's inner muse in a playful manner. Nora and Michelle are unfailingly helpful and engaged in their work. It helped me reconnect with my creative side, celebrate the natural world, and I look forward to continuing along the path it opened for me. Feeling deeply grateful!"

    NATURE SPEAKS 2024 PARTICIPANT

It’s not just an art workshop

You’ll receive the workshop to watch in your own time every week, but it’s not simply a link to a video without any further support, instructions, or information.

If you can’t work with the initial recommendations, you’ll get material swaps so you’re never left wondering whether your ball-point pen is a good substitute for a paintbrush.

We send music recommendations with each workshop in a list with playlists linked for every mood, including relaxing, piano, or chakra-based music so you can experience the full depth of each workshop.

Michelle will be reachable via email or WhatsApp if you have questions. You can also book an additional 1-1 session with Michelle for only €75 per hour (instead of the standard price of €95 per hour) to deepen your learning and get full support with what you’re experiencing.

Before you start, there’s a pre-workshop checklist that takes you through each step to get prepared and mentally ready for the class - because there’s nothing worse than trying to immerse yourself in a creative practice only to get disturbed by others or distracted by the fridge!

Nature Speaks is for you if you can relate to any of these

  • You’ve got a craving to reconnect with nature in a way that goes deeper than taking a walk.

  • You learn best by watching videos within your own time, as all lessons are delivered via video.

  • You want to prioritise your self-care and use art as a tool in a non-judgmental space.

  • You realise that positive change in the world doesn’t happen without change within, and you know connection to nature is essential.

  • You’re not looking for a regimented art therapy schedule or course but instead, you want access to something for life that you can return to whenever your mind calls for it.

Pricing

€195 for 6 workshops, which works out at around €30 per workshop! Considering each workshop is about 2.5 hours long, that means you are only paying about €11 per hour.

Although they often are, financial means should never be an obstacle to taking care of and expressing ourselves. To be as accessible as possible, the well offers need-based scholarships. These come in the form of reducing the cost by anything between 20 and 80%. You can inquire about one through this form here.

If you would like to get in touch directly with us to ask questions before booking, you can do so here.

Introducing Michelle, your teacher and guide

Michelle Knight has been a trained Awakening the Spirit Through Art (ASTAR) facilitator since 2011, has studied Fine Art, and is a qualified teacher and Lifeline counsellor. She practices what she preaches and has her own weekly art-making practice with the founder of the ASTAR method, Lindy Solomon.

She’s passionate about holding a space that allows others to discover and celebrate their uniqueness. It’s such a joy to witness her students rediscovering their creative spirit and freedom. We are honoured to have her as part of ‘the well’ to help people fill up their own wells and to heal and grow through creativity.

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A note from Nora, founder

I set up the well because I’ve experienced first-hand what burnout, exhaustion, and poor mental health can do and how it negatively impacted the change-making work I cared so deeply about. I didn’t think I had the time for self-care, and I didn’t think it was worth it – especially when there were others whose situations were much more dire than my own.

I learned the hard way that sacrificing yourself at the altar of change is not the way to foster a more regenerative and just future. I had to reach rock bottom before recognising what I was doing was not working and start to chart a new course. But eventually, I rediscovered my passion for life, worked through the complex emotions I felt, and healed my burnout by using art and creative self-expression for self-care.

Michelle's work first found its way to me in 2020. When I say her work is magic, I really mean that. I had never met someone who leverages so many different creative media – collage, drawing, painting, clay, mobile making, you name it – and makes them not only approachable for truly anyone, but also infuses the process with so much heart and care that you can't help but be transformed by the experience.

When I started the well in 2023, it was obvious to me that I wanted to collaborate with her and bring my skills in to complement and elevate her gifts. I'm so grateful for how our collaboration has flourished since, and I can't wait for you to experience its benefits!  

I took part in Nature Speaks and left with renewed inspiration from the variety of techniques we experimented with and a deepened connection and sense of belonging to nature. Ever since, nature has been such a resource for me in my change work, and a continuous source of inspiration.

Replenish your inner well

Sign up today and get instant access to the workshops so you can start your art-based self-care straight away.

We cannot fill others’ wells up if our own is not full. We hope you allow yourself just a couple of hours of self-care each week by participating in one of our Journeys.

Trust us, you are worth it and you’ll thank yourself for it. The world/future needs you, it needs all of us, but it needs you well, and fully able to show up for the work you’re here to do and the contribution you’re here to make.

FAQs

What if I don’t have access to materials?  

All of our Journeys and workshops are designed with ease and accessibility at the forefront. All materials are easy to source and most are readily available, but if you don’t have access to all of the recommended materials, it doesn’t matter. What matters is taking the time for creativity and making space for your wellbeing.

What happens if I forget to watch a workshop or I don’t have time?

Life happens, right? You have lifetime access to the workshops so if you miss one, or three, it’s okay. So long as this offer exists, they will be waiting for you to return to when you’re ready.

I am an artist - will this be too basic for me?

Because we aren’t an art course it doesn’t matter whether you’ve been an artist for 20 years or didn’t create since primary school. Each of our ateliers leverages a specific art-based practice to nourish and support you in different ways. How you engage with it is entirely up to you. The process typically yields outcomes such as new insights, a deeper connection to self, a renewed sense of hope and creativity… Artists are more than welcome, it’s good practice to create for yourself rather than an output every once in a while.

Will I learn how to draw/paint?

Naturally you will pick up skills simply by doing the activity. But this isn’t a 1-hour “how to draw” class that you could find on Youtube. The focus is on the mental and well-being skills and the deep self-reflection. The art is the medium for something deeper. Discovering new creative tools that you can return to and explore further in the future is more of an additional benefit.

I haven’t done anything like this since school - do I need to be good at art?

No! You just need to be curious, come with an open mind, and be willing to put all your misconceptions aside about what “good art” looks like. We are not an art course and we don’t judge people on their perceived quality of work.