Review: Winter Solstice Arts Based Reflection
In December, I was so fortunate to end my work season by attending a fabulously introspective and creative professional development session led by Dr. Gladys Rowe of the Indigenous Insights Collective.
Screenshot of the event registration page.
About
This workshop was described as:
A restorative Winter Solstice workshop for leaders to reflect, create, and set intentions through arts-based, community-rooted practice.
The winter solstice is a time of transition - a time to honor stillness and darkness, disrupting the colonial expectation to rush and produce. This unique gathering is thoughtfully curated to provide leaders a sacred space for deep contemplation on the teachings and lessons harvested from the past season and to articulate the values and intentions to nurture and carry forward into the next cycle of growth.
This 3-hour interactive, arts-based workshop offers an opportunity to connect with community, share stories in a safe and supportive environment, and engage your creativity. Through this collective experience, you will leave with a clearer vision, renewed purpose, and a piece of art that anchors your intentions for the season ahead.
Supplies needed:
Art supplies of your choice - paper, markers, stickers, paint, collage images, scissors, glue, craft items, etc.
Warm beverage
Cozy clothes
The meeting was an online event hosted through Zoom.
Having crossed paths with Gladys in numerous ways, I knew this was going to be an afternoon of deep thinking, presence, and contentment!
There was no homework required leading up to this session, which I appreciated. I am a bit of a keener so I am usually very excited to do prep work, but 2025 was a busy year right up to the end. I had no idea where to start unpacking my thoughts around the past 12 months. Thankfully Gladys had a plan for us!
The session
We began with a warm and welcoming circle to open our time together. After a round of introductions, Gladys used her soft, silky voice to lead us through a meditation and helped us ground ourselves in the current moment. She prepared three rounds of strategic questions to help us probe deeply into our perceptions of the year gone by, and what we think it might mean for us in 2026.
As someone who practices reflexivity quite a bit, I found her questions very valuable. She invites us to re-engage with worn-out thoughts using different entry points, and that helps us reach new understandings. If you practice critical reflexivity, you know that the “critical” part wears off as soon as we slip into a routine, and I find Gladys’ way of framing thoughts to be powerful in jostling my mindset in just the right way.
Next, we were invited to create something to represent some of the ideas we were mulling over. This was camera-off, mic-off, independent time to use our hands for playful thinking. You can bet I had Charlie Brown Christmas playing in the background while I dug through my collage supplies!
My art ended up being more like a scrapbooking page. I had this huge artist sketchpad that I haven’t had the nerve to use until this workshop… and it was just the right size!
The collage I made at Gladys’ Winter Solstice Reflection session.
We ended our time with another circle where participants were invited to share whatever felt right, if at all. I always love seeing the different creations people come up with! I think the loose invitation was to collage, however all art was welcome. Folks made digital art, word trees, modelling clay sculptures, and more! As they spoke about their process, it was interesting how we all took different pathways after listening to the same prompts. I think it is a testament to how Gladys' workshops create space that can hold many different experiences at once.
Try it yourself!
I wholeheartedly recommend PD with Gladys. Her offerings are relevant across disciplines and roles, and if you are new to arts or Indigenous ways of thinking, she is a wonderful person to help you enter this space.
Gladys offers PD sessions throughout the year, so if this sounds like an experience you would enjoy, sign up for her newsletter!
