ESEA Sisters in Nature: Creative Contemplation with Mythological Creatures

Do you have a story, memory, or dreams about mythological creatures? Want to make time for a little bit of creativity in the woods?

Join us for an autumnal 5-mile community walk, as Queer trans Asian, Epping-born sea creature, known as The Mollusc Dimension (TMD), invites you for a creative contemplation with mythological creatures in Epping Forest!

Bring a mythological creature, memory, story and/or a sense of curiosity to imagine, contemplate upon and converse with friendly creatures in the surroundings through reflecting, drawing and creative writing. Some materials will be provided. TMD will be sharing how he navigated struggles with mental health, grief, discrimination and other outsider challenges and transformed them into creative pieces. You'll be invited to take in your surroundings and start to imagine your creature. Colourful paper bubbles will be offered to you.

No previous experience with drawing and creative writing needed!

Don’t worry if you don’t usually draw / write creatively. The workshop is explorative and our activities are carried with the intention of gently exploring our imaginations, curiosity and perhaps our heritage/s for wellbeing. All participation and sharing is optional. Please join us in a way that feels comfortable to you :)

With gratitude to Tara Singh and PJ Samuels (Shaded Writers) and others for workshop facilitation vibes.

What to bring with you and keep in mind

• As always, terrain may get muddy due to weather, so please ensure you have appropriate footwear that you won’t mind getting dirty, and waterproof layers of clothing – just in case

• Please also ensure you bring snacks and water to stay nourished and hydrated, as well as a mat (preferably waterproof) to sit on

• For the activity, please bring the following with you too:

  • Notebook / sketchbook

  • Pen/pencil/s with which to draw/write

  • Item to lean on while sketching and writing

  • A sense of curiosity :)

  • An image of your mythological creature (optional)

How we keep our walks safe

• For each of our walks, we have routes mapped out with designated group leaders guiding the path ahead. We communicate via WhatsApp group chat to ensure the group is together and that everyone is okay

• We do not share details of the route on Instagram for safety reasons. Further information of the route and where/when we meet will be shared directly with you closer to the date of the walk

• By booking this event, you agree to your contact details being shared with ESEA Sisters for organising purposes

• At the beginning of our walk, we will be doing a short intro and check-in with the group, confirming the pace of the walk and frequency of breaks

• Remember this event is for East and South East Asian (ESEA) women, trans, non-binary, and queer folks only

Photography and videos will be taken at this event. These may be used for future ESEA Sisters marketing, publicity, and fundraising, including but not limited to social media. We will be asking all attendees for their consent prior to the start of the walk, and there will be an opportunity to opt-out from this.

About the organisers & collaborator of this gathering

ESEA Sisters is a volunteer-led collective of women, trans, non-binary and genderqueer folk of East and South East Asian (ESEA) heritage. Initially formed in 2021, ESEA Sisters in Nature organises monthly gatherings in nature for our community members to connect and reflect on the importance of solidarity, making connections between community care, climate justice, and collective liberation. As folks with lived experience of racial and gender-based violence, we are learning to reconnect with nature, our bodies and each other by practising trauma-informed healing practices, while exploring different corners of the UK together.

The Mollusc Dimension (he/him) is a neurodivergent, queer, trans-masculine, non binary, British-Chinese multidisciplinary artist. His colourful graphic memoir "The Weird & Wonderful Surviveries of Squid Horse" explores mental health, grief and growing. Supported by Arts Council England, it was shortlisted by The Selfies Book Awards for non-fiction. TMD has performed original music at venues in London, Brighton, Bristol, and his music has appeared in short DIY films. If you’re Asian (or even if you’re not!) you might enjoy his music video "Asians Have Feelings Too". His works have been published or are forthcoming in Covert, Ink Sweat & Tears, Page Gallery, Present Tense Zine, Queer Out Here and others. He loves sketching and sourdough baking. Learn more about how his work has inspired and supported others so far. Follow him on IG/FB: @SquidHorseComics