Words from Karl-Heinz Finke
Quite often the aging of our population is seen as a burden. But what are the gifts? What is the meaning of reaching an average of 84 years in first world countries?
Over the last ten years I have been with friends in retirement age. I also accompanied my parents, who had their 60th wedding anniversary in February 2015, on their journey of letting go of our family house and moving into a unit, which allows for autonomous living and different levels of care if necessary.
In her book “Freedom in the Third Life Age” the anthroposophical medical doctor Gudrun Burkhart quotes Peter Laslett, who developed the term Third Age. He states: “The leisure of the ‘third age’ is in no way aristocratic or elitist. It belongs to every individual, … To be free of compulsory labour, and the direction of other people; to live at ease while doing what you choose to do; to develop yourself; to realize yourself, …” Instead of using the term Old Age he diversifies: “After a ‘first age’ of youth, dependency, education and maturation, a ‘second age’ of maturity, earning and responsibility, there now arrives a ‘third age’ of personal achievement and fulfilment – the crown of individual life, … [followed] by a ‘fourth age’ of dependency and decrepitude.”
The workshop gives the opportunity to use the participant’s life stories and life experience to explore the interconnections of the life phase from 43 to 63 with the phase from 64 to 84. Biographical mirroring techniques and creative methods will be applied to envisage the emerging future in our own biography. At the same time, we will be exploring interconnections between earlier and later life phases and the meaning of longevity. In general Life Story Workshops aim to connect the workshop theme with examples from our life. Please be prepared to share parts of your life story in a small group of 3 to 5 people. Please bring CVs you have written; they are helpful as a database for you to use during the Workshop.
Fees: Talks: $20/$15 concession for each talk. Workshop: $260, includes talks
More information about Life Story Work can be found here and here.
Biography:
Karl-Heinz Finke was born in Germany 1955. He studied Social Sciences and Psychology in Berlin. From 1992 to 1997 he attended training in Biography Work, adult education and organisation development led by Gudrun Burkhard (MD), Coenraad van Houten and Helmuth ten Siethoff. He is a Naturopath for Psychotherapy and works as lecturer, teacher, trainer, adult educator and biographical consultant. He views self-reflection and self-guidance as essential individual and interpersonal skills. He currently offers Personal Development- and Biography Trainings in Europe, India, Thailand and Australia.
FACILITATOR: Karl-Heinz Finke, khf@Living-way.com
TALKS AND WORKSHOP IN AUCKLAND
Biography, Karma and Longevity 7pm-9pm, Thursday 5 April, 2018
Life Phases beyond 63 and Fire, Water and Air Trials 7pm-9pm, Friday 6 April, 2018
Workshop: Change needs vision and energy; Don’t wait for circumstances to rule your life 9am-6pm, Saturday 7 April 2018 9am-5pm, Sunday 8 April 2018 Venue: Rudolf Steiner House, 104 Michaels Ave, Ellerslie, Auckland 1051
CONTACT: Deirdre Landon: lifestoryreviews@gmail.com
TALKS AND WORKSHOPS IN MOTUEKA
Biography, Karma and Longevity 7pm-9pm, Thursday 12 April 2018
Life Phases beyond 63 and Fire, Water and Air Trials 7pm-9pm, Friday 13 April 2018
Workshop: Change needs vision and energy; Don’t wait for circumstances to rule your life 9am-6pm, Saturday 14 April 2018 9am-5pm, Sunday 15 April 2018 Venue: To be confirmed
CONTACT: Gundula McKibben: mckibbengundula@gmail.com