The postcard you will never send (Wisefour-04-EN)

The postcard you will never send

Group work, discussion, tutoring

• A paper  blank postcard template.
• Decorating supplies (sequins, paint, pencils, markers, sharpies, glitter, buttons, etc.)

Copies of a paper blank postcard have to be available for participants to use. Additionally, decorating supplies are necessary for the implementation of step 3 (check description below).

Less than 10 minutes are needed on behalf of the trainer, to organize the sitting and the necessary material.

The trainer can ask participants to explore a broader scope when the conflict exists beyond another human being. One variation is modelled after the seven different types of narrative conflict found in literature:

• Individual vs. Fate/God.
• Individual vs. Self.
• Individual vs. Person.
• Individual vs. Society.
• Individual vs. Nature.
• Individual vs. Supernatural.
• Individual vs. Technology.

Moreover, there are many variations to “The Postcard You Will Never Send” (eg. Postcard From Your Future Self) that allows the trainer to adjust the exercise in different environments and uncover new insights from  the participants. Similarly, participants gain a new way to express their feelings toward conflict and are given an opportunity to heal from past and present trauma.

 https://www.dailywritingtips.com/7-types-of-narrative-conflict/

Through this method/action, these benefits are achieved:

• Fostering of self-awareness
• Cultivation of emotional resilience
• Expression of emotions
• Addressing unresolved conflict or trauma

Step 1: The trainer asks the participants to reflect on a situation or person where conflict coexists. Emotions may range from frustration, anger, disappointment, loss, or sadness. People need to consider their past or current state to determine what they want to share about how the experience made them feel.

Step 2: The trainer gives the participants a blank postcard and asks them to write a message on the back, to express what they would say to the situation or individual who caused the conflict.

Step 3: Once this is complete, participants draw or create a visual representation of how they feel about the experience on the blank side of the postcard.

Step 4: To conclude, with the guidance of the trainer, participants are asked to explore their emotions further and discuss how they can begin to work towards a healing resolution.

Spyros Karras

https://www.artoopaspartoo.gr/

artsoot@gmail.com

Spyros Karras was born in Athens, Greece. He is a graduate of the Faculty of Philosophy of the University of Ioannina. He has worked for many years in private education as a philologist. He has a degree in music and a degree in piano solo. He has worked as a piano teacher while in collaboration with ensembles, he has given many concerts in Athens.

Puppetry has been his dream and goal since his childhood. He has been making handmade puppets and puppet shows since he was very young. He was taught puppet making and animation by professional puppetry teachers, as he participated in seminars and workshops on special puppet making techniques, face and figure painting, theatrical mask making, storytelling, while he received theoretical training in puppetry.

For over a decade, he has been exclusively and professionally involved in the creation and presentation of puppet shows, while since 2009 he is a founding member of the ArtooPaspartoo group, and together with Stavriana Kouskouvelakou, they create and present puppet shows in educational institutions, theatre, cultural events, etc.

The artist offers the workshop by request, and those who are interested please contact the artist.

Performing Arts, Music, Creative writing

Greek