Our New Year’s conversation with friends near and far inspired a new forum of on-line 90 minute collaborative circles, free for members, to be held every 2 months in the coming year of 2026. We invite you to join us for a theme centered weaving of imagination, inspiration, and intuition in the form of stories, experiences, new ideas, questions, and of course those be-loved puppet beings! In these Collaborative Circles WAPASA members may wish to bring a prepared presentation (5 - 10 minutes in length) or simply join in conversation. Registration is required; members who wish to present to the group must indicate so on the registration form.
Members can register here!
Creative Collaboration Circles for Members 2026
Following is an outline of the topic themes for the upcoming months, with further topics and dates to be designed as the year progresses.
ENSOULMENT OF CREATIVE PRESENCE
Hosted by Janene Ping
Saturday June 20th | 12 PM East Coast Time
(10AM Mountain time/9AM Pacific Time)
It is said that the spirit lives in the detail, and detail reveals devotion. How do we bring our attention and intention to the fore in our storytelling and puppetry arts? How do characters come ALIVE? Are there specific practices which help you connect to children and community through this creative presence? Discover how healing presence can ease the maladies of disconnection and distraction.
Puppetry, Neurodiversity, and the Senses
hosted by Marjorie Rehbach and Hirsch Diamant
Saturday August 8TH | 12 PM East Coast Time
(10AM Mountain time/9AM Pacific Time)
Join us on August 8th, from 9:00–10:30 am PT, for a creative and contemplative circle where we bridge the art of puppetry with the profound landscape of human perception.
In this session, we will explore the traditional five senses and examine the 12 Senses—a framework that Rudolf Steiner described in fascinating details, that offers a more nuanced understanding of how we inhabit our bodies and navigate the world. By bringing puppets to life, we create a "third space" to externalize and observe these sensory experiences, making them visible and tangible.
Our exploration will weave together diverse perspectives, including:
The 12 Senses as a Gateway: Understanding how foundational senses like touch, life, (interoception) balance (vestibular), and movement (proprioception), support our higher cognitive and social capacities.
The Five Phases (Wu Xing): Integrating the wisdom of traditional Chinese culture to view the senses through the lens of organ systems, elemental colors, and vibrational frequencies.
Puppetry as a Bridge: Using the puppet as a tool for neurodiverse expression, allowing us to "play" with sensory processing in a supportive, imaginative environment. We will share stories of how we have worked with and experienced how puppetry has nurtured and awakened our senses as well as demonstrating these ideas with puppet videos and puppets we have with us.
Previous Collaboration Circles
ELEMENTAL INSPIRATION
Hosted by Holly Koteen Soule
Sunday February 1st | 12 PM East Coast Time
(10AM Mountain time/9AM Pacific Time)
The spiritual forces of the elements move within us and surround us - sustaining life, revealing the wisdom of earth and cosmos. These have long been celebrated in living images within story and puppetry. In this session, we invite members to bring their thoughts and experiences of elemental inspiration to the fore… with fairy folk welcome to introduce themselves and dance together at the session’s end.
THE MEANING AND WISDOM OF ARCHETYPES
Hosted by Nancy Mellon
Saturday April 25TH | 12 PM East Coast Time
(10AM Mountain time/9AM Pacific Time)
Universal archetypes within the great wisdom stories of humanity offer portals of insight into what it means to be human - with potential for polar extremes, as well as capacity of transformation. What are the archetypes that have spoken to you and inspired your puppetry work? How can we truly connect with archetype and not fall into stereotype? Are are old wisdom tales still appropriate for this 21st century? We hope your most powerful representations of archetype will join us to reveal their gifts!
