Nita Penfold
SpiritArts
“There are only two
ways to live your life.  
One is as though
nothing is a miracle.  
The other is as though
everything is a
miracle.”  
Albert Einstein
NEW
Spirit Play
Montessori-Based Religious
Education Program
"Ask not what the world needs.
Ask what makes you come
alive...then go do it.
Because what the world needs is
people who have come alive."
Howard Thurman
Tree of Life Tapate
Hunger Enough
Breast Cancer Prayer Beads

Spirituality and Arts Workshops

“Spirituality concerns an ancient and primal search for meaning
that is as old as humanity itself and, ...belongs--as an inherent
energy—to the evolutionary unfolding of creation itself.”
Diarmuid O’Murchu

Combine Workshops
in Art and Ritual:

Mask-Making, Shrine-Making,
Tapate (Brazilian Sawdust Carpet),
Mandala, Altered Books,
Prayer Beads, Writing,
Creative Movement and Drama

Goddess and Women’s Spirituality

Creating Group Ritual for any Event
Combined with art form

Will work with Intergenerational groups, with specific age
or interest groups, or individually.


Our spirituality, the essence of who we are, is deeply
connected with our creativity, the expression of that essence
into the world.  I see these connections as the inner and outer,
the yin and yang, the being and doing of life. The passion I find
in my creative work opens me up to a greater reality, a
presence whole and holy, that gives me a glimpse of divinity,
and what that can mean in the world.  I see my work as a
ministry of empowering others to find their spirit and express it
openly in their lives, to guide them to an awareness of their
own deep core. Giving adults, youth, and children permission
to take their spirit life seriously as a foundation for their active
life is important, along with creating worship or ritual that gives
them a touchstone for their spiritual experiences. Giving them
permission to play is equally important, allowing them to
rediscover the creativity of their childhood.  Creativity may then
be expressed through the arts, through relationship, through
an attitude of self-caring and a generosity of spirit.  As Charles
Simic says in his book about the work of Joseph Cornell:
“Making art in America is about saving one’s soul.”  
Nita Penfold, D. Min



Endorsements for Nita Penfold's Workshops

“Writing from the Soul not only plugged right into the muse for me but
took me deeper into a more reflective place. I am still feeling the effects of
that on my writing and imagine I will for a long time to come. I have found
myself returning mentally to that place at times during my day and I am
still uncovering layers of inspiration and depth in my approach to writing
that were seeded by Nita’s workshop and even more by her influence. I
have taken many writing classes and workshops. Some have been
helpful, others almost harmful, Nita’s was truly a gift in that it lifted me to
a higher place, took me to the next level in a way.”
Janine Torsiello, newspaper editor, NJ

“I've taken numerous workshops all over the country, and Nita's was
among the very best.  She creates a spiritual, supportive environment in
which students of a wide range of experience can participate fully,
producing work that they are able to share with others in the class.”  
Ellie Mamber, Newton, MA

“Nita is one of those rare individuals who can not only write wonderfully,
but also teach and inspire.  Thanks to her I can say ‘I am a writer!’”
Stephanie Wells, Peterborough, NH

“It felt as though we entered a sacred space each morning. In the
accepting and inspiring setting Nita created, we learned to examine the
ordinary in a deeper way.”
Cynthia Wright Swaine, Norfolk, VA

“Nita Penfold relaxes your inner critic and pushes you to find your true
inner voice.”
Paul Bennett, Brooklyn, NY

Create a Shrine
Human beings have been celebrating and honoring their idea
of the Divine Mystery for thousands of years.  In addition, more
contemporary shrines honor ancestors, or qualities we seek
such as peace or justice, or images of the goddess.  Come and
make a simple shrine from unlikely materials such as CD cases
or cardboard templates, rubber stamps, tissue paper, and
paint.  All materials provided, but bring any special images you
want to incorporate into your shrine.   1 to 4 pm.   $60

Women’s Spirituality Workshops
Explore women’s spirituality through the arts, discussion, and
ritual.  Topics will include spirituality and identity, roles and self-
esteem, goddess mythology, and reclaiming our bodies.  We
will dance, make collages and shrines, and write our way into
an understanding of our unique spirituality.  

Make Your Own Prayer Beads
Prayer beads have been used for thousands of years in many
spiritual traditions for focusing attention and energy on a
connection with something greater than ourselves.  Assembling
your own set of prayer beads is a prayer in itself; you can set
an intention, make a general wish, or use specific beads for
specific prayers.  Examples of prayer beads made: breast
cancer beads, family beads, celebration beads for a special
occasion.  Wear them as a necklace or shawl piece, or hang
them in your home. Bring some pendants or symbols you wish
to add to the beads, such as a flaming chalice, goddess, or
celtic cross.  You can also add any old necklaces whose beads
or pendant you love, but don’t wear.
Gift your spirit with the chance to play, create, and renew.
All levels of ability welcome, teen to adult.
Workshops can be combined to accommodate time available.

SpiritArts Collage Workshop                
Playing with magazine images, rubber stamps, paint and more,
create at least one collage that speaks to your spirit, helping
you to find sustenance in the creative act.  A fun morning of art
making.   All materials provided; bring any images you would
like to add.

SpiritArts Altered Book Day  
Take an old book and create it anew pouring yourself and your
spirit into it.  Use paint, rubber stamps, special papers, transfer
techniques, niches, and beads to transform the pages into a
personal work of art.  Bring any images, special quotes, beads,
charms, fibers, etc. that you wish to include plus an old book
although there will be enough materials provided—including a
number of old books to choose from.

Writing From the Soul           
Each creative act transforms us by opening us up to a new way
of looking at the world and the spirit.  This workshop will help
you to reach deeply into your soul and practice language as a
transformative medium.  Pray by diving into the spirit and
playing with words using images, wordbowl cards, body prayer,
and writing from the famous and not so famous.  All levels of
writing experience will be engaged.  

Worship Services:
Interactive and participatory worship with the possibility of body
prayer, dance, writing, singing, and art.  Celebrate the spirit of
the divine in the human!  Come alive with creativity in worship.


Email for current workshop fees.   

nitapenfold@aol.com       
Nita Penfold

Nita Penfold is a spiritual educator, poet, and artist who brings
spirituality and the arts together for adults and children.  She received
the Doctor of Ministry Degree in Creation Spirituality at University of
Creation Spirituality (with Matthew Fox, now wisdom University) ) in 2002
and her Masters in Writing at Lesley College in 1986.  She regularly
exhibits her art.  Over 400 of her poems and several short stories have
been published in the past 25 years and have appeared in over 22
anthologies including Beacon Press books, Cries of the Spirit, and
Claiming the Spirit Within and June Cotner’s books, Family Blessings,
and Mothers and Daughters.  Pudding House Publications published her
chapbooks, The Woman With the Wild-Grown Hair in 1998 and Mile-High
Blue Sky Pie in 2002.  She also edited the anthology, Hunger Enough:
Living Spiritually in a Consumer Society, published in 2004 by Pudding
House.  Her new book is They Stand Up in Broken Shells.  She is adjunct
faculty and has been an artist-in-residence at Andover Newton
Theological School in Newton, MA.
Gift your
spirit with
the chance
to play,
create, and
renew.
All levels of
ability
welcome,
teen to adult.