BROUGHT TO YOU BY
PERMISSION TO BE(E)
A WORKSHOP SERIES FOR WOMEN
EXPLORING THE POWER OF
CREATIVITY, HEALING + CONNECTION
THURSDAY, DECEMBER 5TH - SATURDAY, DECEMBER 7TH, 2024
LOCATION: THE BEE SHOP
1340 Bloor Street West, Toronto, Canada
THIS IS YOUR
PERMISSION TO BE(E)
Join us in a unique setting at The Bee Shop for Permission to Be(e)—an originative and nurturing workshop series designed to help you reconnect with your authentic self.
Over five distinct offerings, you’ll explore meditation, mask-making, movement, uninhabited creativity, and more in a peaceful and inspiring environment.
This series will take place over the National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women, which commemorates the tragic anniversary of the École Polytechnique massacre in 1989. In our sacred container, we’ll honor the memory of the women whose lives were taken, as well as the heart of every woman who is a victim of physical, psychological, emotional, sexual, and/or spiritual abuse.
Permission to Be(e) is designed with a deep intention of healing, reflection, and reclaiming the latitude for women to express themselves freely.
Together, we’ll explore how to find strength in community and in personal proclamation, fostering a safe, supportive space where participants can reconnect with their inner voices while paying tribute to the resilience of women everywhere.
Whether you join for a single session or immerse yourself in the entire series, each workshop offers a chance to slow down, restore, and rediscover the joy of simply be(e)-ing.
THE WORKSHOPS
Thursday, December 5, 2024
7pm - 9pm
Hosted by Lindsey Meyers + Mareika Muller
$40 CAD in advance/$45 CAD at the door
PERMISSION TO OPEN
Opening Hour: Meditation and Grounding
Give yourself permission to call in calm, creative curiosity and clarity and immerse yourself in the power and beauty of ceremony and togetherness.
We are honored to welcome you into our Permission to Be(e) world and to have you as part of our journey. Please join Geshe Kalsang Damdul for a meditation and prayer session that cultivates and extends grace to ourselves and to all others. He’ll share his joyful energy and wisdom and guide us through stillness, opening and expanding our hearts and creative centers.
Geshe la is part of the The Institute of Buddhist Dialectics (IBD) in Dharamsala. $15.00 from each ticket purchase will be donated to Geshe la for his participation.
Second Hour: Engage in Ouroboros
Ouroboros is an art installation traveling from Chicago to Toronto. Created by multi-disciplinary artist Lindsey Meyers, Ouroboros is an exercise in alchemization- an homage to self-actualization, healing, and vulnerability. Standing in the belief that everything is rooted in eternal cyclical renewal, the work is meant to take on its initial shape and then transmute through the power of belief and manifestation.
Its organic evolution and reconstruction asserts that no longing and no one need suffer in isolation or silence. Ouroboros affirms that the better, safer and closer we feel, the more love and compassion we can offer to ourselves and to others.
Join us in offering up and releasing your wishes, longings, hauntings, and heartaches. Place these sentiments into our golden yellow toolbox, and Be(e)come a part of a reimagined artwork that turns paper treasures into poetry.
Friday, December 6, 2024
2pm - 4pm
Hosted by Judy Reynolds
$40 CAD in advance/$45 CAD at the door
PERMISSION TO PLAY
Goodbye self-conscious body sabotage!
In this workshop, acclaimed multi-disciplinary arts professional Judy Reynolds leads us through movements and exercises that fully embody what it means to PLAY and to be(e) in your own body. Through the focused release of tension, self-consciousness and negative self-awareness, we’ll give ourselves permission to take up space and to celebrate the exquisite sensuality of our unique forms.
Get ready to move and to unfurl your way through an afternoon of somatic joyousness, jubilation and belly dancing. Come dressed comfy and unconfined.
PERMISSION TO REVEAL
Friday, December 6, 2024
6pm - 8pm
Hosted by Lindsey Meyers
$40 CAD in advance/$45 CAD at the door
In this workshop, multidisciplinary artist and creator Lindsey Meyers will lead an intimate discussion on the masks we wear, especially those telling us we can’t prioritize the self-care of play or our own creative exploration. Together, we’ll reflect on why we create masks, their purpose, when we put them on, and when we take them off.
We’ll create physical masks that give reverence to the revealing of our best and most authentic self. And in the spirit of safety and community, we’ll share the experiences that have led to the accumulation of these armor objects from families and roles, to inherited beliefs and coping mechanisms and everything in between.
Put it on a shelf or hang it in a window to remind you of who you are now, once were and perhaps be(e)coming. Masks will be made using supplies from our youth: balloons, strips of newspaper, etc. Dress for a mess.
Join us for a special evening walk through the Junction/Wallace Emerson neighborhood in honor of the National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women. Together we’ll gather peacefully and powerfully. We’ll saunter in solidarity - for our sovereignty, our safety and our recognition as women, who while enduring and overcoming, are also flourishing and prospering. Put on your well-worn boots and warmest mittens and bring your friends and neighbors.
Additional details about the walk and a post-walk gathering forthcoming!
Friday, December 6, 2024
8pm - TBD
No tickets necessary. All are welcome and encouraged to attend!
WILKA WALK
PERMISSION TO CONNECT
Saturday, December 7, 2024
11am - 1pm
Hosted by Delane Cooper
$40 CAD in advance/$45 CAD at the door
Wander into the realm of Connection with yourself, friends or a loved one who has crossed over. In this workshop, artist, author and storyteller, Delane Cooper will guide us through the creation of Connection Wands to use when in meditation or in ceremony on one’s own.
We’ll fashion these unique tangible touchpoints to serve as a physical conduit to the souls and spirits of those we love, and for ourselves to support our spirit journeys. Delane will teach us to be(e)lieve more fully in the unseen realms of connection and in our own “spiritual scaffolding” built to help us sustain the joy and the bonds in our lives.
A selection of wands from Mother Earth will be ready for you to adorn from paint to beads.
Saturday, December 7, 2024
3pm - 5pm
Hosted by Lindsey Meyers
$40 CAD in advance/$45 CAD at the door
PERMISSION TO IGNITE
To feel fulfilled is to pursue the creative roads that call and whisper to us from within ourselves. But we are repeatedly told not to stoke our own fires.
In this workshop, multidisciplinary artist and creator Lindsey Meyers teaches us to shatter the belief that you must limit your creative expression and confine yourself to a solitary discipline or artistic medium. Everyone is creative, but we frequently limit our play and creative modes of input and output. “I’m a painter, which means I can’t be a writer.” We must “stay in a lane” and not break out too much. Otherwise, we may challenge our firmly-held identities and others’ ideas of the box we must exist in.
She’ll soulfully spin a web of self-analysis, lead a collective poetry exercise, and finish with a community art project, all intended to “break the lane” once and for all.
PERMISSION TO BE(E)
CLOSING WORKSHOP RECEPTION
Saturday, December 7, 2024
5pm - 6 pm
Hosted by all facilitators
Free: All are welcome to attend!
Join us as we wind down the in-take and toast to the out-put.
As a token of our collective gratitude and appreciation, we are inviting you to spend an hour sharing, reflecting and meeting new friends. We would be(e) delighted to share light snacks + refreshments served from locally owned female businesses.
Additional details about a post-reception gathering forthcoming!
ALL ACCESS PASS
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ALL ACCESS PASS *
GET ACCESS TO ALL THE EVENTS IN THE SERIES WITH AN ALL-INCLUSIVE PASS!
THE LOCATION:
THE BEE SHOP
The Bee Shop is a vibrant, Toronto-based store that specializes in all things honey and bee-related. With over 22 years of beekeeping experience, the shop is run by Oliver Couto, a respected beekeeper and educator. The location offers both adult and youth programs focused on urban beekeeping and the healing powers of bee products, known as Apitherapy.
In addition to supplying high-quality bee products and honey, The Bee Shop hosts regular workshops. With a rooftop apiary and a commitment to promoting sustainable beekeeping, the shop plays an active role in supporting Toronto’s pollinators and urban agriculture.
The Bee Shop offers the perfect backdrop—an inspiring space where nature, creativity, and community come together.
READY TO ATTEND?
ALL ACCESS PASS |
ALL ACCESS PASS |
EACH PASS INCLUDES:
Access to all events
Gift bag with items from local businesses + creators
Small artwork surprise
Complimentary tea and honey at every event
SINGLE PASS: $190 (save $10)
DOUBLE PASS: $375 (save $15)
When you let yourself be(e)…
Burnout and overwhelm melt away. The heaviness and stress of life take a backseat.
Balance and lightness sneak in.
The inner child gets an opportunity to shine, and the responsible “Caretaker” in us takes a breather.
Connections to friends, family, and community deepen.
Creative instincts and ideas blossom.
MEET THE TEAM
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Mareika Muller is a practicing Tibetan Buddhist steeped deep in her constant study of the Mind, Compassion and Wisdom. She has twenty years' experience working in communications, advocacy, project administration and event planning and over twelve years’ experience in the travel sector.
Mareika enjoys working alongside artist and peace activist, Emmanuel Jal, as his accounts and communications manager, and oversaw operations for his Jal Gua Cafe in Toronto, which was a beloved hub for activists and artists. Additionally, she has assisted on a variety of projects with a diverse range of businesses and organizations such as: Black Sheep with Ziya Tong (ex-host of Discovery Planet), Beauty & Brawn, Rainmaker, Mario Rigby and Matthew House.
At present, Mareika is on the board of SEE Learning for Toronto Outreach, holds the title of CCO for Cornell Power (a startup in Energy storage in the Clean-tech sector) and is the CCO for ReOsiris, a startup scalable Mining Waste Recovery and Environmental Restoration Solutions.
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Owner of Beauty & Brawn + Beauty & Brawn Art, Inc.
Lindsey is a Chicago-based photographer, mixed-media artist, curator and manifestor. She is the passionate owner of Beauty & Brawn and Beauty & Brawn Art Inc. Canada and was the founder and creator of Beauty & Brawn Art Gallery and Think Space in Logan Square, Chicago. Lindsey has been instrumental in changing the narrative surrounding public-facing art in both rural and urban spaces and wholeheartedly embraces the transformative power that lies in intuitive exploration, spirited collaboration and creative connectivity.
Lindsey attended the Chicago Academy for the Arts (Theater ‘94) and Columbia College and received her Honors Bachelor of Arts Degree in Psychology from The University of Southern California (1999). She has exhibited her personal work in various locations including Chicago, New York, Los Angeles, Alabama and Georgia and is the proud mamabear to two beautiful daughters.
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Judy received her BA in Theatre from York University where she studied playwriting under Carol Bolt. After this, she was selected for the Soulpepper Training Company with a focus on acting for classical theatre.
As an arts professional, Judy has acted, danced, choreographed and written for theatre, television and film. She has performed in English, French and American Sign Language (ASL). Judy founded a dance academy and served as Artistic Director for two performing arts companies. One of Judy’s greatest honours as a performer was belly dancing for Canada’s last WWI veteran.
A lifelong meditator, Judy became one of Deepak Chopra’s certified meditation instructors. She has taught everywhere from suburban living rooms to federal penitentiaries. Judy also developed a unique children’s meditation program for the Toronto District School Board. In addition to The Bee’s Knees, Judy is working on Pilgrimage, a sci-fi novel that takes place in 2134.
Judy is the proud Mom of two amazing daughters. She lives in Toronto with her husband Dave, their blended family and Cleo the border collie.
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Delane is an artist and storyteller who works with metal creating functional, wearable jewelry and sculpture. Through meditation and dreaming, Delane shares the design elements by telling its story. Though her creative spirit is rooted in the healing from childhood trauma, gratitude to her elders, guides and celestial beings is an ongoing ceremony by honouring her gifts through joy.
In 2016, she created a series of talks called Breaking the Silence which led to writing her book, Letters to Eli, My Story, The Story of Many. Since then, she has co-founded and is President for the not-for-profit, The Lotus Hero Project, whose mission is to Improve the mental health of individuals through art and art therapy especially for those who have experienced childhood trauma.
Giving back to the community is a tenet of Delane’s, having served on the following boards: Toronto Art Therapy Institute of Toronto (Board Member), Metal Arts Guild of Canada (President), Toronto International Jewellery Festival (Managing Director).
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Sara Ann Gaines is a business owner, writer, artist, event coordinator, coach, and consultant based in Kansas City, MO. A true jack-of-all-trades, she has worked with hundreds of clients to transform their lives and businesses.
Sara grew up in Kansas City before moving to Chicago in 2005, where she earned her BFA in Film and Video from Columbia College Chicago. After graduating, she dove into the tech start-up world, building and leading teams during the early stages of what would become successful tech and hospitality companies, all while running her own wellness-focused studio.
In 2022, after 17 years in Chicago, Sara returned to her hometown of Kansas City, where she is reconnecting with her community and continuing to inspire creators and business owners to find their flow.
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FAQs
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Permission to Be(e) is for individuals for whom woman is a meaningful identifier or lived experience. This event is for adults, so all participants should be 18 or older.
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You can attend as many or as few of the workshops as you like! The workshops are recommended as a series, but missing an event won't impact your overall experience.
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Due to the nature of the series, all sales are final.
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Awesome! Please contact lindsey@beautyandbrawngallery.com
Permission to Be(e) is lovingly sponsored and supported by
The Bees Knees
Showing November 15th to 24th, 2024
The Theatre Centre - 1115 Queen St. W., Toronto