Kind words & gratitude

  • I didn’t realise that learning to write could be learning to heal. I’ve fallen in love with the process of writing and the person I am when I write. Dal created a space to create and a space to be heard, and in a very short time words just started spilling out of me. It was an immense privilege to go through this journey with other women of colour. It is something that will stay with me for a long, long time.

    Hafsah

  • Commission of three bespoke nature-allied writing workshops ‘Our Wild Cemetery’

    The workshops themselves exceeded my expectations. Dal’s expert facilitation enabled participants to deeply connect with their surroundings which for many meant talking and writing about grief. Rooting the sessions in nature and using writings and poetry from people of colour, offered an opportunity for existing visitors to view the Cemetery through a new lens as well as introduce new visitors to the site.

    I experienced first-hand, the safe environment the sessions created for women and those from the LGBTQ+ community which allowed for collaboration, connection and the sharing of emotional experiences through writing. All participants left having acquired something new: a perspective, a writing tool, a connection with a fellow participant; a piece of writing to be proud of.

    Dal is professional, knowledgeable in her field, and a calm, empowering presence, I would not hesitate to recommend her.

    Meghan Tipping, Activity and Engagement Officer at Sheffield General Cemetery.

  • Anti-racist mentoring training: design & facilitation.

    As a new Centre for Equity & Inclusion at the University of Sheffield, we wanted to develop a training programme for our mentoring scheme that would represent and enact our commitment to anti-racist politics. Dalbinder was the perfect person to realise our vision. Not only is she a vastly experienced mentor, she is a staunch advocate for social justice in all of her professional roles. Despite facing a challenging set of circumstances (tight deadlines) Dalbinder took on her role with great enthusiasm, dedication, and care. I greatly admired and learned much from her passion for mentoring and its transformational potential. And I was particularly impressed by Dalbinder’s ability to infuse this passion with critical insights into the function of racial and gendered power in mentoring relationships. The end result was a robust yet dynamic, engaging and accessible training workshop which all of our mentors and mentees will have benefited from. It was certainly one of the best I have been part of. Thank you Dalbinder.

    – Dr Alex Rajinder Mason, University of Sheffield.

  • Working with and alongside Dal feels like the comforting embrace of a familial hug - I don't know how else to describe it. In her writing workshops, she both holds you and sets you free, to explore your craft in a space where it is supported and celebrated. Our True Nature really is the safe space I have been looking for as a woman of colour and a writer for so long and I'm so grateful to have found it!

    Evie Muir, Author & founder of Peaks of Colour.

  • Dal’s writing circle is sacred space for me. The words flow and writing life is resourced and supportive in her presence. Dal’s superlative talent for holding space and irreverent, wild and loving approach to therapeutic writing are a potent combination. I’ve written work in her circles that went on to be published in national publications and I know the energy of the wonder wolves was part of that. If you have the opportunity and invitation to study or write with Dal, I urge you to sink into it. Your future readers (and writer’s soul) are thanking you.

    Grace Quantock, writer, psychotherapeutic counsellor

  • Feral Words: Remix Your Research (zine-making workshop)

    Dalbinder Kular provided a wonderful workshop for early career scientists at the University of Sheffield's School of Biosciences. She created a creative, fun, and surprisingly therapeutic space – a rare treat within the often intense academic environment we are used to. Participants enjoyed the opportunity to look at their research from a different perspective, and the strong emphasis on 'making' made us feel productive in a satisfyingly different way! Participants commented that the workshop was "unique", "relaxing and mindful", and "a great break from my PhD", and they left feeling "inspired and productive". One participant noted that "the mental health benefits from this workshop were so important". Thank you, Dalbinder, for such an inspiring morning!

    Dr Nicola Hemmings, Research Fellow, School of Biosciences, University of Sheffield

  • I had a great time on the True Nature workshop, it had a postive lasting impact. Dal is enthusiastic about nature writing and BAME women’s empowerment and it’s infectious. She’s authentic- You can tell that she lives what she speaks and I felt inspired and empowered by her facilitation.

    Salma

  • Dalbinder Kular brings courageous creativity and an astute gaze to diverse landscapes of experience. She is bold, inventive and unafraid to say it like it is. At the same time she has the sensitivity to write tenderly about love, loss, change, challenge and the politics of identity. Her Masters dissertation on zine-making is far more than an academic paper – it is a cry from the heart by a woman of colour, a funny, playful, zesty experiment in words and pictures, and a powerful reply to dominant narratives of oppression and denial. She is also an accomplished facilitator trained in Creative Writing for Therapeutic Purposes.

    Fiona Hamilton, Course Director, MSc Creative Writing for Therapeutic Purposes

  • “I make sense of my own feelings through your words." Nichola, Scotland

    Nichola, Scotland

  • Quick note to say thank you for the latest Field Notes Dal - it came at the right time, where I've found myself: comparing unfairly, battling imposter syndrome and asking myself whether I'm kidding myself especially 'at my age'. For now, going to borrow some of your enthusiasm x

    Khadija (newsletter response)

  • Dal is a woman of color leading the way by doing. I find this so meaningful. Seeing Dal and hearing her lead this group is a powerful kind of medicine that reminded me of what I should really be, which is myself. The last couple of years of my life has been a process of undoing those coping mechanisms, and I think that's why I found Dal and She Howls, as a way of unraveling that knot and getting down to the good stuff.

    Teri, USA

  • "Such beautiful, powerful writing, made all the more powerful by hearing your voice."

    Greta, Norway

  • A friend of mine recommended the Poetry Therapy sessions and I was curious. The concept excited me and the reality gave me more than accepted. At a time when I was convinced my creativity was a dried-up well, the sessions enabled me to pour poetry out with ease. Dal is a fantastic facilitator of these sessions and was able to give me room to express myself. I think at this point I was able to set the editor in me aside and give myself completely to the muse. Thank you Dal for everything!

    Annika Spalding. Author, Coach. UK

  • We asked Dal to be a panelist and give a short talk about her career path for our 2022 faculty professional services conference, Career Paths, Diversions and Detours session. Dal was lovely to work with, keeping in contact before and after the event. Her talk was passionate, inspiring, practical and grounded in her own lived experience. The audience loved her as shown by their spontaneous applause! We would love to work with Dal in the future if another opportunity arises.

    Rebecca Walton, University of Sheffield

  • Your beautiful presence and collaborative leadership has allowed me to go deeper as a writer and find a wild reserve I did not know was lurking quietly and patiently in the shadows. You have helped me connect with my wild women voice You are on a path that opens doors for women writers.

    Shuki, UK

  • A little note to say a massive thank you for bringing such a lovely group of women together - it was such a generous gift from you to us. Your gentle facilitation was uplifting and quietly inspiring. No mean feat that, facilitating such a large group - it felt seamless and lovely.

    Anne-Marie (Quiet Unstoppability online event)

  • “...poetry, a cultural guide, a raw personal narrative AND the sound of the sea. Keep at it. Keep at it, This is the stuff of soul nourishment."

    Claire, England

  • Dalbinder has an infectious enthusiasm for unleashing creativity in other people. She has a strong empathy for people who feel held back or anxious or not good enough and manages to rally people round and give people faith in the power of just trying your best.

    Jenny Gaskell, Manchester Sunday Assembly

  • She Howls sessions are soul food, whether it’s a writing circle or an open mic. Since the inaugural writing circle in June 2018, I have tried not to miss a single event. The most important thing that Dal and She Howls offer is space to honour what is. The community is a gift, there is an incredible closeness, even in spite of physical distance. For me, the online format removes questions of accessibility and allows me to sit back and enjoy the comforting, healing atmosphere of the groups. She Howls is an opportunity to meet yourself where you are, and lean into grace.

    Casey Bottono, UK.

  • I cannot thank you enough for your guidance these last few months- guiding me to a space for myself. I didn’t know how much I needed it until I got it, and it’s changing me for the better each and every time.

    Bridget (Co-writing Space)

  • Before my session with Dal I was dealing with writer’s block. When she said we’d play with poetry, I felt intimidated at first. I wasn’t sure I’d come up with anything “good”. But she led me through a process that bypassed my critical mind and I was surprised by what I wrote. We also came up with ideas that made writing fun again! After our session I felt empowered, motivated and creative. Best of all, Dal brings fun and playfulness into her sessions, while holding space for the vulnerability that arises when that inner critic shows up to say that your writing isn’t worth anything. If you need to get your writing mojo back, I highly recommend a session with Dal.

    Judy Anne, USA. www.peacefulhearthealing.com

  • Dal has a way of entering your heart space, where all great poetry starts from, with exquisite dignity and respect. During her sessions, I find the threads of my life that I had forgotten I abandoned. She gives me the courage to write about the stories, issues and feelings I have while holding sacred space. She asks questions and nudges me to go to the center of what I am experiencing and give it words and air to breathe. I often leave her sessions uplifted and energized to write more. Any time spent writing in her presence is a gift to yourself and a place for self-expression to gain wings and fly.

    Tanya Levy, Canada

  • "You write with such a force of in-this-life, with a sweep along pace that envelopes, moving me this way and that..." Tori, UK

    Tori, UK

  • Dal held a safe space for me to express myself, and I could put words to these feelings and release them literally and figuratively. I found myself giving myself permission to be, to create. All through this process, I had Dal's calm intuitive presence holding my hand; I felt heard, and appreciated. And oh, the poems she chose for the sessions - beautiful! So rich and tailored to what I was feeling - mirroring my inner life at the time. I have learnt so much- about the art, the process, and indeed myself, I would strongly recommend anyone sitting on the fence about signing up, to take the leap and trust themselves and Dal to help them grow.”

    Prerna, London

  • It was a wonderful zine making workshop; on the theme of creativity, identity and wildness. I explored free writing, collage and 'play-giarism' from other peoples words and images in magazines. I felt inspired and happy with the zine that I created. The day was therapeutic and beautifully held by Dal, who guided and encouraged us, and openly shared her zines, poetry and words to inspire us.

    Jenny, Wales. Zine-making workshop

  • Dal is a versatile artist, writer and mental health practitioner. I've been lucky enough to attend several of her writing workshops in Sheffield. In addition to her exceptional writing ability, Dal is a gifted communicator and healer concerning female identity, nature and trauma with a unique perspective on trauma and therapy. Dal is a gifted teacher. She has huge presence and charisma and able to command the attention of her audience with ease. Her unique skillset means that she has an enormous amount to contribute. I intend to commission her to work with the Lit Collective, a joint project with the University of Sheffield.

    Beverley Thomas, writer & film-maker. Sheffield.

  • Zine-Making Workshop at Melin Pant yr Ynn: Dal generously shared with us her process of zine making that she developed for her masters dissertation. Using three prompts, creativity, identity and belonging we wrote for a short time on each subject, then searched in magazines for images and words. This was such a fun and engaging and freeing process, that we couldn't stop! To draw the day to a close we each shared what we had done. And took home our treasured books. Thank you Dal for a special day beautifully held and enabling us all to work freely and creatively, with a pocket full of new skills and ideas to make more zinebooks.

    Carole Shearman, multi-media artist & teacher. Bethania, Wales.