The Alchemy of Story: Weaving Shadows into Light is a transformative storytelling workshop born from the exploration of lineage, memory, shared humanity, and selfhood. Storytelling is not about “fixing” but about embracing the full spectrum of who we are—transmuting the lead of unresolved emotions into the gold of self-acceptance and sovereignty.

Led by multidisciplinary artist and mystic Vie Darling, this experience gently guides participants on a journey into the cosmic depths of the psyche. You will identify the prima materia of your being and distill it into a coherent, luminous narrative that can be expressed through any medium—whether written word, still image, or sound.

Rooted in the alchemical process of shadow work, this workshop invites you to engage with the shadow as the raw, unprocessed material of our inner world: the fears, insecurities, and untold stories that often lie dormant and forgotten. Through reflective practices like journaling, thought organization tools like storyboarding, and creative ideation techniques like mind mapping, you will uncover hidden strengths, reclaim abandoned parts of yourself, and clarify your personal narrative.

Participants will have the option to share their stories for a collaborative archive between Index Space and Public Assistants (hosted at MoMA PS1), either by telling Vie Darling directly or recording their story themselves. If you’d prefer to keep your story private, that’s absolutely fine too. Join us as we weave shadow and light, crafting stories that honor both our individuality and shared humanity, and creating a resplendent tapestry of meaning and connection, ready to be communicated across creative expressions.

11 AM - 12 PM: Storytelling as Alchemy Presentation by Vie

12 - 12:30 PM: Workshopping

NOTE: You can bring magazines, photos, scrapbook materials, a flash drive, whatever you want for your creative processing during this workshop. We will have journals, writing utensils, scissors, tape, scanners, and printers on hand.

1:00 - 3:45 PM: Story Recording

NOTE: There will be three rooms for recording narratives. Two will be self-facilitated and one will be with Vie who will be holding space on a first come, first serve basis. You will be able to sign up to sit with Vie, whether to talk through your story or simply be heard.

3:45 - 4:00 PM: Wrap - up

Born to Liberian immigrants in Columbia, Maryland in 1994 CE, Vie Darling is an Oracular Aeon and Aethereal Being pioneering Cosmic Wellness, a spiritual practice founded upon a Shadow Work framework called Spiritual Abolition. Vie’s mission is to catalyze a Cosmic Revolution of Love through Sacred Acts of Creation. Vie lives in Brooklyn NY.

Vie has studied and practiced spirituality, mysticism, and magick for over two decades. They’ve been the Resident Astrologer for Sad Girls Club and Texts From Planet. They have led guided meditations for Nike and spirituality workshops for The Wing, Playground Coffee Shop, Ace Hotel New York, POWRPLNT, and more. They have taught their Spiritual Abolition workshop at the University of Oregon. Their spiritual sanctuary is called The Aetherium where they facilitate healing with individuals and groups.

Vie has been published on multiple platforms including The Freque, The Mighty, Afropunk, Polyester Zine as well as in print with Montez Press, appearing in their 2017 Montez x Mathew fellowship publication, The Only Thing That’s New Is Us and the Interjection Calendar 004 as the May 2018 artist with their zine, GODDESS I.

They have also participated as a contributing artist in a group show at Peter Fingesten Gallery (2015, NYC); fellow of Montez Press x Mathew Gallery (2017, NYC); as a curator, event producer, and contributing artist at Powrplnt Gallery with their group show, Death Becomes Her (2018, NYC); as a panelist for ‘Eminent Domain’, an all-woman group show put together by Art 511 Magazine (2018, NYC); as curator, event producer, and contributing artist at In Poor Taste VI at the Ace Hotel New York (2020, NYC); and as a contributing artist to the Haul Gallery group show, TEXTS (2020, NYC) as well as (em)body at The Flex Space (2022), Desire Lines at The Leubsdorf Gallery (2022) .

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