Grief Circle - Autumn Equinox 2025

You’re invited to an intimate gathering of care and intention, where we can delve into the grief that we all hold. And maybe allow some of it to shift. It will be held just after the Autumn Equinox - the Equinox is the point of balance - where day and night lengths are equal. Autumn is about allowing the release and letting go of what is no longer serving you, readying for the decent into the Wintery darkness.

As Francis Weller shares with us in The Wild Edge of Sorrow - I could feel this was the invitation that was nested inside this despair. I, or rather we are being asked to cultivate outrageous courage in the face of outrageous loss.

We all experience personal losses in life, and with the current changes in the world there are many shared losses and events that we collectively experience. Environmental degradation, extinction, injustice, war, ongoing atrocities on this land and elsewhere, loss of individuals, separation, work, identity... we hold so much loss. This time together will provide space to process some of our losses and to be together in the space of grieving. Opportunities such as this can help us to meet and move grief and regain energy.

The afternoon will consist of guided solo, half group and whole group practices. All offerings are trauma-informed and optional. It will be collaboratively led by Mandi Byrom of Ink and Insight - Art Therapy and Counselling as well as Sam Hawker of Garden Kitchen Witch*n. 

If this is calling to you, we really hope you can make it, Sunday 22nd March, from 1pm. Finishing around 5pm, with the option to arrive from midday and share a potluck meal. We hope to be outside, on land, with the sunshine and blossoms, surrounded our tree, cicada and funghi neighbours, on Ngambri, Ngunnawal, Ngarigu land - Wamboin, just off Macs Reef Road.

Any questions, please contact Sam on (0411) 528 931.

This is an inclusive, all genders event and safer place.

Groupwork like this is not a replacement for one on one therapy. It can be a useful complement to one on one therapy and a maintenance tool.

We recognise that financial situations can vary greatly, and we want this circle to be accessible to all who feel called to participate. That's why we are offering sliding-scale payment options. If you are truly struggling, please feel no hesitation or shame in selecting the lowest payment tier. Your presence is what's most important to us.

For those who have the means, we encourage you to choose a higher tier. These contributions help us sustain this critical work, making it possible for us to continue offering a compassionate, inclusive environment where we can all heal together. Your generosity ensures that others can also have access to this circle, regardless of their financial situation.

In this community, we practice non-judgment and vulnerability. We trust that each of you will choose the option that feels right and honest for you, honoring both your needs and the collective well-being of our group.

Sliding scale tickets, suggested pricing as follows :

Unwaged $15

Low income $35 

Medium income $55

Income of over $100k, $80 +

Pricing is an honour system, and no questions will be asked about how much you paid or why.

By purchasing a ticket, you are committing to the following guidelines of being in space together.

• Here to feel our feelings - this includes witnessing each other in all the feelings without judgement
• Personal autonomy - right to say no - if you need to step back, we ask that you signal to one of us “i’m ok, be back”/”help”
• Respect for all life, while acknowledging the ongoing harm perpetuated by the culture that we all live in. Hate speech will not be tolerated
• Confidentiality - what happens here, stays here.
• A place of non judgement and no comparison and no advice. Here to witness and be witnessed. Encouragement of “I” language
• Reminder of breath and body awareness - take your time, resource yourself - practise, practise, practise
• Reminder of being conscious of what you are sharing and the consent around that
• Step up, step back - encouragement to step up and take up space, AND to step back and allow everyone the same opportunity
• Phones - ideally off/away - we understand that sometimes there are big things happening and you may need to be contactable - if this is the case, please let us know.
• Photos - it is likely that we will take photos, with great respect to the process and feeling our feelings - You can opt out of photos.