Discovering Your Own Patron Saints

Discovering Your Own Patron Saints
A Guided Workshop with Nathalie Folkerts
June 23rd - August 25th
6 - 8 pm ET

“We read books to find out who we are. What other people, real or imaginary, do and think and feel... is an essential guide to our understanding of what we ourselves are and may become.”

- Ursula Le Guin

Course description

It’s no secret that Not Sorry treats secular texts as sacred, but did you know that includes treating characters as spiritual guides?

Starting June 23rd, you’re invited to join Nathalie Folkerts for six evenings dedicated to discovering your very own patron saints.

The first week, we'll explore together what we mean by "patron saints" and discuss how characters might support us in living into our values. Then, each subsequent week will be devoted to a different value: wonder, imagination, grief, and courage. We will spend the first half of each class reflecting on the week's value and the beloved characters in our own lives who embody them. In this way, we'll make space to discover the characters who have jumped off the page and made their way into the moral fabric of our lives. Then, during the second half of each class, Nathalie will offer participants a range of spiritual practices to engage their chosen patron saints, from chanting, to sacred reading practices, to guided visualizations, to ritual design.

If you are moved to choose a different type of patron saint — perhaps an ancestor, a part of nature, another being or creature — you’ll be more than welcome to bring that offering to the class, as well.

This class is for you if:

• You’re seeking spiritual guidance outside the constraints of formal religious institutions.

• You’re someone who finishes a novel and feels like you’ve said goodbye to new friends.

• You’re someone invested in the question of how literature can inspire, challenge, and bolster your spiritual life.

• You’re looking for mentorship or guidance, but you don’t know where to begin.

• You’re drawn to deep conversation, close reading practices and community-building through literature.

The overview

• Tuition:

  • full price: $120

  • can’t quite afford full price: $80

• Registration Details: As soon as you buy your ticket, you will receive an email from programs@notsorryproductions.com confirming your spot and sharing the Zoom link for the class.

  • Please note that this email address could become lost in your spam folder, so it would be helpful if you add it to your address book.

• Dates: Every other Sunday from 6-8 pm ET, from June 23rd to August 25th, 2024.

• Recording: Classes will be recorded for later viewing, but the course is best experienced if you attend each session live.

• Questions? Email Courtney at programs@notsorryproductions.com with any questions!

More Info

When you sign up for this class, you’ll receive a workbook that has a series of journaling, reflection, and activity prompts to help you explore your own relationship to each class’s theme. You’ll be invited to identify a Patron Saint you’d like to focus on, and through community, rigor and ritual, you’ll delve into learning from your Patron Saint over the course of six weeks.

Here’s a basic breakdown of our week-to-week focus:

Week 1: Introduction to Patron Saints (June 23)
Week 2: Wonder (July 7)
Week 3: Imagination (July 21)
Week 4: Grief (August 4)
Week 5: Courage (August 18)
Week 6: Final Reflections (August 25)

*Classes are held every other Sunday from June 23rd-August 18th. The final class does not skip a week in between the fifth and sixth session.