The Strange [Healesville-Melbourne]

Nestled against the forest of the Yarra valley on the outskirts of Healesville is the historic Old School, creating a sanctuary for the work of community on this fine Saturday—If you are coming, it would be great to see you on the Friday night, (or Wednesday or Thursday) any of which will provide a good introduction for the day.

See also:
Wed Eve: Branches & Vine Centre Melbourne
Thur Eve: Second Story Melbourne
Fri Eve: Badger Old School Healesville

Nestled against the forest of the Yarra valley on the outskirts of Healesville is the historic Old School, creating a sanctuary for the work of community at this full day gathering.

See also:
Wed Eve: Branches & Vine Centre Melbourne
Thur Eve: Second Story Melbourne
Fri Eve: Badger School Healesville

The mis-shapen appears monstrous to the lens of a modernity that strives for standardization and worships the large and the "great." But the marginal energies and other-than-human- members of the Earth community, from platypus to octopus, from kangaroo to elephant, have something wondrous to contribute, their little "out of place" details. No less so in the human realm, and in the realm of imagination and myth—what some tribal peoples called the "Other World."

The indigenous perspective teaches: "What is ill in This World, can only be healed in the Other World, and what is ill in the Other World can only be healed in This World." A universal (though largely forgotten) language to bridge between the mundane and the sacred has bee the language of ritual.

Dagara Elders (ancestors) Malidoma and Sobonfu Somé brought the sophisticated ritual knowledge of the Dagara tribe from Burkina Fasso (West Africa) to share. Elders believed that the modern world would steamroller the tribal knowledge if it was not recognised that the tribal wisdom was worth keeping alive. Malidoma came to understand (as other indigenous teachers have as well), that every person can be said to have an "indigenous soul" inside.

Our journey on this day will be to construct the kind of ritual meant to affirm this innate indigenousity alongside teachings about the Elements, a story, and a good deal of community meeting time. (Bring your Own Lunch, Tea breaks provided for).

Bring with you an "intention" for the day. In this way of working with myth (which can be called “story carrying”), an intention might be in the following format:

"IF I could hear some wisdom from the story about this issue, or challenge, or desire, in my life, I would be willing to hear it."

There is no “belief system” that you must adopt. It simply means showing up with an open mind and heart and participating to the best of your ability. You are already qualified simply by being human. That is our agreement together. There is a chance on this day to rediscover something of the old tribal and ancestral wisdom that is carried within all of us

In the evening we will have a community meal, bring your contributions, and please label ingredients for allergies. It is a guarantee that the people attending will be good, the story will be good, and the food will be good, and the location will be good. You are welcome, just as you are, be yourself.

Attending a story evening before the full day is recommended (but not required).

Guide for the evening is Randy Jones, author of "Medicine Without an Expiry Date: Indigenous Remedy for Modern Trouble," introduction by {Ancestor] Elder and Diviner, Malidoma Somé, PhD. Find full information at https://wildgenius.guide