takayna Deep Ecology Immersion
Event description
A three day experiential immersion in the precious and ancient forest of takayna / Tarkine. Based on Deep Ecology / Work that Reconnects, this long weekend will explore practices that reconnect us to the living web of life in a way that fosters resilience and reinvigorates our soul. Deep process work will be facilitated through a combination of meditative and ecological forest walks, group practices and embodied creative expression.
This workshop takes place on the stolen lands of the palawa/pakana peoples in lutruwita/truwanna. We acknowledge that genocide is ongoing and sovereignty has never been ceded. We pay deep respects to the past, present, and emerging custodians of these lands and waters.We recognise the ongoing Aboriginal practices of deep connection, and acknowledge that much of deep ecology's practices are white/colonial, designed to (re)connect white/colonial culture with Earth. We hold ourselves accountable to the ongoing practice of embodying de-colonisation and anti-racism.
** About the Work that Reconnects **
Many of us are expressing a longing to come into a deeper connection with each other, to live meaningful lives and to feel ourselves returned to the circle of belonging within the wider Earth community. There is also a growing desire to participate in a collective shift towards a regenerative and sustainable culture. This is what Joanna Macy calls 'The Great Turning'.
In this work, we see the root cause of our current climate and ecological crisis to be the pervasive illusion of separation between humans and the rest of the natural world. By learning to recognise our interconnectedness with all of life, we invite the spontaneous healing of the psyche and by extension, of the systems that were born from the deep split within us. We also come to understand the inseparability of personal, cultural, and ecological healing.
Engaging the transformative power of communal ritual, process, dialogue, poetry and music, we will create a foundation of radical gratitude, to honour and transmute the grief we are carrying for the Earth and our global family, explore new ways of navigating these difficult times, and seek meaningful ways to respond.
This deep work is about acknowledging and metabolising our fears and sorrows into inspiration, strength, and deeper purpose. In going forth, we are empowered to bring forward our unique gifts, and step with greater confidence and trust into our unique role in the Great Turning.
About your facilitators **
As a SPECIAL GUEST we are excited to be able to invite John Seed (via the wonders of Zoom in the forest) to contribute some songs/yarns/poetry on one of the days! John established the Rainforest Information Centre in 1979 after Australia's first-ever successful forest blockade at Terania Creek. This kicked off decades of grassroots forest activism around Australia (including the Franklin and the Daintree). For more info visit: https://www.rainforestinformationcentre.org/
- Liz Downes is an activist, writer and community development worker with a background in psychology and over ten years of experience in facilitating the Work that Reconnects and Deep Ecology practices of Joanna Macy and John Seed.She is currently co-director of The Rainforest Information Centre, which has supported grassroots forest activism in Australia and all around the world for over four decades.
- Moran Wiesel is a harpist, flautist, environmental facilitator, musical educator and intersectional activist. They are passionate about the potential of creative/musical/embodiment in (re-)envisioning how we connect, and are excited about offering deep transformational spaces.
Most recently, Moran partnered with Kickstart Arts to co-facilitate “Embodied Earth, Embodied Arts: Work that Reconnects”, a creative somatic workshop series. Moran plays with several ensembles that share the joy of earth-based connection, and regularly guide immersive environmental music performances.
With a Bachelor of Arts, Honours in Geography, Moran is also a creative and academic writer, and co-edit Friends of the Earth’s magazine, Chain Reaction. They are currently studying to become a certified Ecotherapist, and are learning from different embodied lineages of earth-based listening and facilitation.
- Jarrah Keenan is an experienced wilderness guide and fountain of knowledge about the history and natural history of the West Coast.