EXPLORING SELF THROUGH ANDEAN COSMOVISION
DISCOVERING
Tuesday
7 pm
Creative Writing
April 2025
EXPLORING SELF THROUGH ANDEAN COSMOVISION
April 15, 2025
Facilitator: Paulina Muñoz
Join us for an inspiring creative writing session where we’ll explore the concept of SELF through the lens of Andean cosmovision. This workshop will introduce you to the guiding principles of Andean philosophy, offering a unique opportunity to reflect on how these ancient concepts are relevant in today’s world.
The guiding symbol for our workshop is the Chakana, a central figure in Andean cultures. This stepped cross represents the balance between three interconnected realms: the upper world (Hanan Pacha), the earthly world (Kay Pacha), and the inner world (Uku Pacha). These principles will serve as the foundation for our creative exploration, helping us to examine how ancient Andean values of balance, reciprocity, and interconnectedness can offer insight into your personal journey and help shape your understanding of who you are.
Led by Paulina Muñoz, a Visiting Researcher at CERLAC, York University, and the creator of the "Mi Historia en Palabras" methodology, this workshop invites you to engage in creative writing through the lens of Andean philosophy. Paulina’s expertise in narrative therapy and her work with diverse communities, including Latin American senior women and LGBTQ+ asylum seekers, ensures a safe and reflective space for all participants.
In this session, we will encourage you to explore your own stories, memories, and reflections using these principles of balance, reciprocity, and interconnectedness. This session is perfect for anyone interested in self-reflection, storytelling, and the power of ancient wisdom to guide modern creative expression.
Come with an open mind, ready to connect with yourself and others through the art of writing. Whether you’re new to creative writing or have experience, this workshop offers a space for everyone to reflect, create, and express. For those who want to take their experience further and perform, we invite you to join Saturday Mingling on April 26, a lively evening of artistic sharing where community members and artists come together to celebrate the creative journey.
This workshop is free to attend, but spaces are limited, so be sure to register today!
This Creative Writing workshop is part of Jamii's April cycle, guided by lead artist Carolina Rojas, and centred around the theme of the Chakana—an ancestral Andean symbol representing the connection between the spiritual, earthly, and inner realms. Through these workshops in dancing, painting, crafting, sewing,singing and creative writing, we’ll reflect on how these ancient teachings resonate with our modern lives, connecting us to nature, the cycles of life, and our community. “This is an invitation to reinterpret the meaning of the Chakana, connecting its ancient wisdom with our modern experiences.” – Carolina Rojas.
Photos by Shaimaa Yakout, Hadeal Karrar
Paulina Muñoz
Paulina Muñoz is a Visiting Researcher at CERLAC, York University, and the creator of the "Mi Historia en Palabras" methodology, a structured yet flexible approach to autobiographical creative writing. Rooted in Paulo Freire’s pedagogy of liberation and narrative therapy, her methodology helps individuals organize their memories, thoughts, and emotions into meaningful written narratives.
Throughout 2024, Paulina has facilitated workshops in Toronto, working with diverse groups, including Latin American senior women, Chilean exile survivors, Latin American women who have experienced domestic violence, and LGBTQ+ asylum seekers. Her workshops provide a safe and empowering space for participants to reflect, heal, and reclaim their personal histories through writing.
With a deep understanding of Andean culture, Paulina integrates Indigenous worldviews into her approach to writing and identity exploration. She is currently developing a creative writing workshop in English for anglophone participants, offering a unique one-session experience where individuals will explore the SELF through Andean philosophical principles. This workshop invites participants to reflect on their personal journeys using Andean concepts of balance, reciprocity, and interconnectedness as guiding themes.
Photo Credit: Unknown