Alexandra Neuman
Workshops
INITIATION INTO THE TAROT [Lily Dale Assembly, NY]
Engage in a day-long initiation into the mystical mirror of the Tarot. Starting with an introduction into the major and minor arcana, we will jump into creative group exercises to fine-tune our intuition and begin interpreting cards for ourselves and for each other. In the second half of the workshop, participants will explore the archetypes from the Tarot by embodying them in a group role-play activity. Gain a holistic view of this visual language and an understanding of how to wield the Tarot for self-knowledge and collective liberation. This class is for individuals at any level of experience with Tarot and oracle card divination.
FULL MOON MENSTRUAL BLOOD PAINT PARTY [Brooklyn, NY]
Many matriarchal lineages and spiritual practices incorporate blood magic with the understanding that menstrual blood possesses sacred power. Together we will harness that power through intention setting and creativity. While this activity might at first seem disgusting, we will encourage everyone to look beyond the values imposed by a ten-thousand year patriarchal paradigm and reimagine menstrual blood as magical fluid. All bodies are welcome to attend the party, but everyone must have some way of making a menstrual blood painting, potentially by sharing the blood of a consenting womb-bodied partner/friend.
HOW TO LOVE THE EARTH: AN ECOSEXUALITY EXPERIENCE [Gaia Nomaya]
We are often conditioned to focus all of our drive for pleasure and love towards other people, yet we have so many opportunities to feel sensual and amorous pleasure in relation to our ecologies. With a slight adjustment of our awareness and perception, we can attune to the satisfaction that can be attained from loving grass, trees, waters, wind, and dirt, which can help us cultivate an everyday feeling of unconditional love and devotion to our planet. This ecosexuality workshop took place inside of a salt cave. We had an intimate discussion about the importance of treating the earth as a lover, a guided sensory interaction with various plants, and some eco-fantasy writing. Warning: it is important to use your discretion and precaution even when making love to the earth.
COLLECTIVE DREAMING: COLLAGE AS DIVINATION [Alchemist’s Kitchen NYC]
This creative workshop explores the collage process as a pathway into collective consciousness. Closely linked to the automatic creativity involved in dreaming, collage bypasses creative blockages and any need to have a ‘good’ idea before starting an artwork, offering instead a playful and spontaneous flow state for art making. The openness of the collage space serves as a tool for idea generation, self inquiry, and connection to source. The workshop includes a short introduction to the medium, some best practices for getting into the creative flow, and a hands-on collage-making session.
BUGS AND MACHINES: A CLOSER LOOK AT EVERYDAY ALIENS [ACUD, Berlin DE]
New technologies are loaded with metaphorical references to insects, many of which are normalized in language such as the concept of a ‘World Wide Web’. Allusions to bees, ants, dragonflies (anything that can fit the non-scientific category of “bug”) reveal our ideals of efficiency as human beings evolving with machines, while hinting at the concept of technology as its own alive and buzzing entity. These ideas were at the core of the Bugs and Machines workshop at School of MA. The event involved group dialogue, a presentation by veterinary parasitologist, Susana Fereira, a drawing activity about bodily fears, and a playful encounter with live madagascar hissing cockroaches.
TAROT PLAY: BEGINNER’S CARD READING WORKSHOP [Brooklyn, NY]
Please join us for a night of initiation into the mystical mirror of the Tarot. Starting with an introduction to the major and minor arcana, we will jump into creative group exercises to fine-tune our intuition and start interpreting cards for ourselves and for each other. Each participant will gain a holistic view of this ocular language and an understanding of how to wield the Tarot for self-knowledge and fluidity in daily life. This class is for individuals at any level of experience with Tarot and oracle card divination.