Send message to Author

Paper short abstract

Nature(s) in Narrative is a participatory workshop by Anastazie Toros exploring memory, home, and environment through storytelling and embodied practice. Using imaginative exercises, participants connect personal stories with ecological themes of belonging, resilience, and responsibility.

Paper long abstract

Nature(s) in Narrative is a participatory workshop that explores the intersections of memory, home, and environment through storytelling and embodied practice. The workshop is designed to create a safe, accessible, and reflective space in which participants can engage at their own pace, with an emphasis on care and inclusivity.

The session begins with shared guidelines and an opening reflection on personal stories and early memories of home. Through short introductions, participants locate themselves in relation to home and place, before being guided through an imaginative meditation inspired by Michael Chekhov’s method. This exercise invites participants to recall sensory details of childhood homes, neighbourhood landscapes, and early encounters with nature, situating memory as a bridge between personal identity and ecological awareness.

Building on these reflections, participants work in pairs and small groups to exchange stories of their first experiences with nature, favourite places, and objects tied to belonging. Through storytelling, drawing, and embodied exploration, individual memories are reimagined as shared narratives, highlighting recurring themes such as wonder, freedom, fragility, and resilience. Participants are then invited to connect these themes to broader ecological concerns, including sustainability, biodiversity, and responsibility toward future generations.

The workshop concludes with collective reflection, as participants articulate insights gained and identify one action they might carry forward. By linking intimate memories to environmental awareness, Nature(s) in Narrative demonstrates how personal storytelling can nurture belonging, strengthen ecological consciousness, and inspire meaningful action in the face of environmental challenges.