Ted Bowman - Spreading the Good Words

Jon C. and Ted Bowman at Autumn Cottage

I had the pleasure of the company of Ted Bowman, Author, Educator and a  member of the American National Association for Poetry Therapy yesterday afternoon - and what a pleasure it was for me and my colleague at Cruse Bereavement Care, Jon C.

Ted is in the UK for his annual visit to travel all over the country, giving talks and leading inspirational workshops, focused chiefly in the area of loss, hope and transition. Today, he is here in Newbury, talking to other local educators, and this evening working with us at Cruse to discover how we can practice self-care in the caring professions.

Already familiar with Ted's spoken and written work, I can be sure that there will be emphasis on deep listening and witnessing of our own stories, those of our clients and within our own communities - and the use of poetry and writing as a resource for us, both at times of "Loss of Dreams" and to help in "Finding Hope When Dreams Have Shattered" - the titles of Ted's first two books.

His third book, just recently published, and entitled "Crossroads - Stories at the Intersections" is a collection of musings and reflections on different life issues - birth, marriage, divorce, growing old, dementia, bereavement, lamentation, reconciliation and rejoicing, personal observations in poetry and prose of how Ted has experienced these events and feelings, and  interlaced with  other authors poems which have struck a particular chord with him.

The wonderful poem entitled "The Archbishop Chairs the First Session" (click link then scroll down) by Ingrid de Kok, about Archbishop Desmond Tutu and the Truth and Reconciliation Commission in South Africa pierced me to the core - and there are many other pages that I know  will give readers considerable pause for their own thoughts and reflections.

"Crossroads" is a marvellous resource for anyone who is interested in their own or other's life writing in any form - when Ted arrived yesterday, I already had practically every other page flagged up with sticky markers to ask about various thoughts and reflections of my own! Such rich pickings can be gleaned from all three (very inexpensive) books, which I would suggest should be on the bookshelves of anyone interested in the arts of living and communication. (No affiliation, just enthusiasm!)

Jon and I share a mutual enthusiasm for creative ways of working with clients as fellow human beings, including the use of poetry and  therapeutic writing. It's such  a pleasure to see these ways of seeing and sharing now becoming more incorporated in mainstream therapeutic work here in the UK - and it is thanks to the advocacy of  people like Jon and Ted, two true gentle-men, that information about  the creative therapies is being disseminated and  integrated.
Long may it continue!

(Details of Ted's books and workshops are available from him at
[email protected].)

Comments

[darla]

How great that you were able to play hostess to these gentlemen in your home Roz. I'm going to look up the books you mention.

Coincidently, my blog post today is about a book you and others who keep diaries or journals might enjoy.

Darla

[Sheila Joyce Gibbs]

What a delightful web site you have !
Very warming indeed !!
If possible, I'd like to share my story, of the loss of my best-friend/husband only 17 mos 10 days ago. It has been one of the most difficult journey's of my life, but with the Grace of God, I've made it so far.
Many thanks.

[Leslie Garcia]

Dear Roz,
First of all...THANK YOU for the link to the interview with Oprah on The Book "Simple Abundance" and the Author..it was wonderful!

I will look up the books that you have just mentioned in your post...just what I need I think!

I would love to hear Sheila's story too.
Best regards,
Leslie

[annieelf]

I am intrigued by the possibilities of the book. I'm adding to my Good Reads list. Thank you for the lead.

[annieelf]

P.S. Just went looking for Crossroads. Not on Amazon. Not listed through Good Reads either. Disappointing. I'll keep looking.