A seven-week poetry circle for mothers
Rooted &
Rising
Finding our voices, nurturing our creativity, and growing alongside our children.
01 The circle
Make room
for poetry.
Amid the daily rhythms of caring for little ones, it can be difficult to find space to listen to our own inner voices. Rooted & Rising is a place to reconnect with your creativity and discover the joy of writing in community with other mothers.
Over seven weeks, we’ll move from the root chakra to the crown, using these energy centres as a framework for reflection. Through poetry, art, conversation and gentle writing invitations, we’ll explore who we are as mothers, women and creative people whose stories are still unfolding.
No poetry-writing experience needed. Come as you are.
02 The seven weeks
From root to crown.
One chakra, one theme, one invitation to write each week. Open a week to see what we’ll explore.
01Finding Our GroundRoot chakra
Belonging, safety, stability and home
Where do we find our roots? What makes us feel grounded amid the changes of motherhood? We’ll write about the places, people and memories that give us a sense of belonging.
02Awakening CreativitySacral chakra
Emotion, pleasure, playfulness and creative flow
Motherhood asks us to create and nurture in countless ways. We’ll reconnect with our own capacity for joy, imagination and creative expression.
03Reclaiming Our PowerSolar plexus chakra
Identity, confidence, independence and personal strength
Who are we beyond the roles we fill for others? We’ll explore our evolving identities, celebrate our resilience and give poetic expression to our personal strengths.
04The Many Shapes of LoveHeart chakra
Love, compassion, connection and self-acceptance
From the tenderness of holding a newborn to the complexities of loving ourselves, we’ll reflect on the many ways love shapes our lives and relationships.
05Finding Our VoicesThroat chakra
Communication, authenticity, truth and self-expression
What stories have we been longing to tell? What parts of ourselves are waiting to be heard? We’ll explore the power of giving voice to our experiences through poetry.
06Trusting Our Inner WisdomThird eye chakra
Intuition, imagination, insight and possibility
Motherhood often invites us to trust what we cannot fully explain. Through poetry, we’ll explore our intuition, dreams and the possibilities we envision for ourselves.
07Growing Toward the LightCrown chakra
Meaning, gratitude, connection and transformation
In our final gathering, we’ll reflect on the journey we’ve taken together, celebrate the voices we’ve discovered and write poems honouring our growth and the futures we are creating.
03 A session in the circle
A little time
for your voice.
There are no grades and no pressure to share. Our purpose is simply to explore, create, listen and grow together.
Arrive & settle in
We begin with a warm welcome and a gentle check-in.
Read & reflect
We explore a quotation or artwork, then read and discuss two poems by established poets.
Follow a writing invitation
A guided prompt gives you time to write freely and without judgment.
Share or listen
Read your work aloud if you’d like, or simply listen. Every voice is valued.
Little ones welcome
Bring your
little ones, too.
Babies and toddlers are welcome at no extra cost. Hold, feed or soothe your baby as you write. Older babies and toddlers can use the play area within sight, and mothers stay responsible for supervising their children.
There’s complimentary coffee, room at the table for writing, and a place to check in strollers and baby gear. Cuddles, snack breaks and moments of play are part of the circle.
04 Meet your facilitator
Elizabeth Bolton
I’m a poet, educator and mother of three daughters in Richmond Hill, Ontario. I grew up in Menlo Park, California, and have called Ontario home since 2014.
I hold a master’s degree and PhD in Literacy Education from OISE at the University of Toronto. In my dissertation, The Poetics of Postpartum, I used poetic writing to explore the postpartum experience and how poetry can support new mothers. I’m certified as a facilitator of poetry as a tool for wellness by the Institute for Poetic Medicine.
I wrote my full-length poetry collection, Coronation of the Cosmic Orphan, during my second postpartum period, often with my baby sleeping beside me or nestled in my other arm. My writing has appeared in literary magazines and publications including The Conversation Canada. I’ve served on the editorial board of Hart House Review and now teach academic and creative writing to children in Markham.
“I believe that becoming a mother need not mean leaving our creative identities behind.”
05 Registration
There’s room
for you here.
Bring your little ones, your unfinished thoughts and your stories. Let’s make room for poetry together.
The complete seven-week circle
$200 per participant
Includes all seven guided workshops, readings and discussion, writing prompts, and opportunities to share. Babies and toddlers come along free.
Email Elizabeth to registerEmail drboltonwriting@gmail.com with the subject “Rooted & Rising Registration.” Include your name and whether you’ll bring any little ones. Elizabeth will follow up with the details.