On the first and third Saturdays of the month, I visit Welcome House, an addiction recovery program, and work with the residents. In a Guardian Monster workshop, we examine the idea of traditional totems: wishbones, Dumbo's feather, worry stones, a rabbit's foot, etc. I ask participants to think about the physical characteristics of monsters. Then we talk about what job those characteristics help the monster perform. A claw or a horn may be described as a tool of destruction in some way. Next, we shift our perspective to the monster's mindset, imagining if the monster, a living thing, had the same needs as we do. In that frame of mind, the horn and the claw become tools to secure sustenance or to defend a home. At this point I put the question to them, "If you were going to conjure a Guardian Monster, one who protects and serves you, one who reminds you to be your best self when things are hard, exactly what would that look like? We are going to spend a few moments journaling or contemplating what job your Guardian Monster will perform for you." Next, "Now that you have an intention, what physical characteristics will your monster need to have in order to carry out the job?" Addiction recovery and Guardian-Monster-making are both about pulling "stuff" out of shame-filled shadows into the light of day.

If you are interested in hosting a Guardian Monster workshop at your organization, contact Jill Foote-Hutton: jill@whistlepigtales.com