Friday, October 31, 2025 | 10 am-12 pm PDT
Cost:
$50 early registration by October 17 and grads anytime
$55 after October 17
Questions or Concerns: Email Workshops at Tamalpa
Step into a sacred space of remembrance and celebration with this embodied ritual, ALTARES. This unique gathering invites you to honor the life and memory of a loved one—be it a cherished person, a beloved pet, or even someone you never met but wish to appreciate. Through the gentle power of embodied creativity, we will come together to create meaningful Life/Art offerings that pay tribute to those who have touched our hearts.
Inspired by the rich Mexican tradition of Dia de Muertos, ALTARES weaves together somatic movement, gesture, dance, drawing, and the writing of calaveritas (short, poetic tributes). Each activity is designed to help you connect with the imprint your loved one has left on your life, express gratitude, and to celebrate the qualities and memories that will always keep them close.
Marialuisa was born in Mexico and, as a young girl, she used to accompany her abuelita to the cemetery to take part in creating altars for Dia de Muertos each year. This tradition is rooted in prehispanic indigenous traditions that survived the conquista. According to this ancient tradition, the veil that separates the world of the living from the world of the dead thins out at this time each year allowing the spirits to leave Mictlán (the otherworld) and join their living family and friends. The ofrendas placed in personalized altars such as the ‘day of the dead bread’ and the smell of the marigold flowers used to decorate them help orient spirits so they can find their families and loved ones who are waiting for them to celebrate and remember the loving memories that connect them.
Please note: This workshop is a gentle, heartfelt, and uplifting ritual inspired by the imagery and spirit of Mexican altares. While it may offer creative support for those navigating grief, our focus is on honoring, remembering, and celebrating the lives of those who have crossed over. If you have any questions about this, please contact Marialuisa at mythiclifecenter@gmail.com before signing up.
No previous art experience is necessary. Workshops are for ages 18+ only and disability access is not provided.
Please note: Tamalpa does not record nor permit the recording of any classes or workshops due to the sensitive and sometimes vulnerable nature of the work, and to protect participant privacy.
Marialuisa Diaz de Leon, MA, REAT, MSME/T : Therapist, movement specialist, mythologist, educator, researcher, and performer born in Guadalajara, Mexico. Marialuisa’s professional experience in psychology, somatics, and the arts spans over twenty years and includes work in education, private practice, and community intervention. She is on faculty at Tamalpa Institute and at Southwestern College. Marialuisa is the creator of Mythic Life: Embodying Wisdom, Beauty and Courage where she brings her expertise to work with women empowerment through a forward thinking integration of myth, arts, somatic movement and archetypal psychology (mythiclife.net).
Payment
NOTE: Registration will be conducted through Eventbrite. Upon payment, you will receive a confirmation email from them with information on how to register for your Zoom link. If you do not receive an email from Eventbrite, please email Workshops at Tamalpa immediately.
$50 early registration by October 17 and grads anytime
$55 after October 17
REFUND POLICY:
Refunds will only be given if cancellation is received at least 48 hours before the start. Eventbrite registration and processing fees are non-refundable. Tamalpa Institute does not allow registration transfers between class series or workshops. No refunds or pro-rated refunds once the class has started.
RECORDING POLICY:
Tamalpa does not record nor permit the recording of any classes or workshops due to the sensitive and sometimes vulnerable nature of the work, and to protect student privacy.
