‘Small children were free to create a hexagon or two, then dash, perhaps, pell mell through the Meeting house with sheer exuberance.'
Eye - 14 April 2023
Joyful creativity
Friends of all ages in Reading Meeting created a ‘Quaker quilt of joy’ in February.
Julia Dover, the youth children and families development worker for Thames Valley, told Eye what inspired the idea: ‘It was noted among Reading Friends that despite attending Meeting for many years – decades in some cases – they did not know each other as well as they wished, and so I suggested we invite everyone to a fun creative activity. Sarah Griffin mentioned the long tradition of Quaker quilts, which sparked my idea of making a Quaker quilt of joy, using multi-coloured paper hexagons and Friends’ joyful impulses instead of scraps of cloth.’
The session, which included toddlers to octogenarians, began with an invitation – ‘to reflect about joy, what is it, how do we show it?’
Julia writes: ‘I asked children amongst us to show with their bodies and facial expressions what they look like when they are filled with joy. In small groups, Friends shared experiences of joy with each other. I offered the following definition… “Joy is an essential spiritual practice, growing out of faith, grace, gratitude, hope and love. It is the pure and simple delight in being alive.”
‘During the craft activity Friends wrote and also drew their joys on paper hexagons. Once finished, they added their hexagons to the growing quilt of joys until the black background was filled, literally, with colourful joys… I chose hexagons as the shape for the quilt as they reminded me of bees! Indeed, I was reminded of the sweetness, industry and nurture of the hive as the quilt of joy came into being.’
Julia described the feeling in the room: ‘Wonderful – soft, warm and light: adults and children alike were focussed on writing, sketching, drawing and sharing.
‘Small children were free to create a hexagon or two, then dash, perhaps, pell mell through the Meeting house with sheer exuberance and return to the table to create some more. In a way, children were teachers of the adults about free-flowing joyful expression. Throughout the session, all ages were totally at ease with each other; in fact, any difference between ages seemed to melt away.’
She reflected: ‘Joy brings its own vital kind of knowing that cuts through old stories, fears, perceived differences.’
