INTRODUCING GRIEF & GRATITUDE CIRCLES
hosted by Ella Rose Goninan

HHUG is offering this free online series of focused Grief & Gratitude Circles throughout June & July to accompany Renew Fest's Vigil for Grief this year, 29-30 July.

We acknowledge the long tail journey of all the many and varied layers of stress and trauma that have come from the impacts of the recent floods, from personal to societal. We recognise that sharing your story to people interested to listen, is an integral part of the healing process. This series of online Grief & Gratitude Circles are to give participants an opportunity to share their stories… stories of grief, of loss, of terror, of hurt, of frustration, of relief, of gratitude, of care, of whatever is needing to be shared... to simply connect and be heard.

These circles will be held in the format of a listening circle. Listening circles are a simple world wide adopted format that offer people the opportunity in a safe space to have their feelings and thoughts heard. Circles like this can really help to engender empathy, mutual understanding and support among people in stressful times. It is as the name suggests simply a listening circle. Those who attend sit in a circle and pass a talking stick around and take turns sharing. We will create this circle and listening stick virtually. The one with the talking stick is the only one permitted to speak, and the only requirement when its your turn is that you simply speak of your own story, not comment on anyone else’s or respond to anyone else’s. And otherwise it is required that whatever is shared in the circle stays in the circle, meaning is not talked about outside of the circle to anyone.

If this is something you feel would be supportive for you and you would like to participate you are warmly welcome to attend.

Ella has chosen to host these circles online to support ease of attendance across the Bundjalung region.

Dates: 5th, 12th, 28th June and 3rd, 10th, 17th July
Venue: Zoom
Time: 5th, 12th June and 3rd, 10th July 6pm-8pm. 28th June 7pm-9pm. 17th July 10am-12pm

RSVP: Booking is essential as numbers for each circle are limited to ensure maximum opportunity for attendees to share. Zoom details will be shared via email one day before the date of the circle you register for.

ABOUT THE HOST

Ella is a proud single mother of a 24 year old daughter and she loves her daughter to the moon and back. She has been living in the Bundjalung region for 25 years and has been a resident of Mullumbimby, on Arakwal and Minjungbal Country for 15 years. She has Italian, German and English known heritage in her blood and she is a second generation Australian, born in Booderee Country and raised in Dharawal Country, south of Sydney. Ella pays her respect to her known and unknown ancestry and acknowledges that she is living on stolen land, that sovereignty has never been ceded, and that it always was and always will be Aboriginal land.

Ella has been immersed in community work over the last 10 years largely within COREM, First Light Mental Health Peer Support Network and Renew Fest. She played a significant leadership role in coordinating the vital community-led 2022 flood response and recovery for Mullumbimby and surrounding ridges and valleys. Ella is trained in Biodynamic Craniosacral, Dynamic Governance Fundamentals, Contemporary Dance and Japanese Sword Arts. She experienced an extreme mental health breakdown in 2013, which felt as an internal and external full system emergency. Her healing journey from this time is what has led to her dedication, over the last 10 years, to focusing her time and care on supporting the plight of full system wide and deep regenerative change. Participating in the Bentley Protectors Camp in 2014 and getting to witness and be inspired by how many of the long term incredible activists of this region go about creating great change, had a huge positive affect on her and called her spirit forward.

Ella sees herself as a student of life and is deeply interested in what it is to truly care.

Having facilitated many listening circles and many a meeting and gathering, circles like this are one of her favourite ways to connect.

KINDLY FUNDED BY THE FOUNDATION FOR RURAL & REGIONAL RENEWAL

We extend our sincere gratitude to FRRR for funding both the Vigil for Grief and this series of Grief and Gratitude Circles and enabling these events to be free for all communities of all backgrounds in the Bundjalung Nation.

These offerings are designed to assist with collective healing & shared mental health support, to help acknowledge & process the many layers of grief, loss, trauma & fragmentation that has occurred in the wake of the Northern Rivers 2022 Flood Crisis. They are also thoughtfully designed to offer safe, welcoming, collective spaces to connect with grief & gratitude & to honour & give respect to all personal & collective grief of any kind.