Join Leon Cossar and Asher Packman for a special one-day retreat at Vine & Branches by the Yarra River (Birrarung) on Wurundjeri country.

The centrepiece of the day will be Leon’s telling of Iron John—the beloved tale that became a cornerstone of mythopoetic understanding.

While traditionally a tale for men, at its core, Iron John is a story of initiation that calls each of us, regardless of gender, to uncover what has been exiled, buried or forgotten in the deep forest of the unconscious self. It speaks to the archetypal journey of descent and transformation - the rewilding of the soul. It is a homecoming.

As such, all are welcome—people of all genders, faiths, backgrounds, orientations, ages and abilities.

Throughout the day, we will gather not only around the fire of story, but also in shared practices such as meditation, breathwork and reconnection with the living presence of the land. These embodied invitations deepen the work of remembering and restore the rhythm between inner and outer worlds.

This retreat is for anyone drawn to myth as a map for meaning. In a world hungry for depth and connection, we gather together to remember the old ways of soul-making.

About Leon Cossar
Leon Cossar M.A, is an Australian poet, mythologist and leader in the field of initiation and Rites of Passage. Culminating over a decade’s experience in wilderness expeditions and guiding men through various initiatory stages through a mythopoetic lens - his work seeks to be a counter weight to the general cultural malaise and amnesia of our times. He is the author of DUST, a collection of poetry capturing the Australian colloquial and country spirit and founder of RITE WISDOM, the centre for his online and in-person courses and events.

About Asher Packman
Asher Packman is a depth teacher, writer, storyteller and founder of The Fifth Direction. With qualifications in leadership, coaching and mentoring, Asher is also an IFS-informed, clinical psychedelic-assisted therapist (CPAT) and certified instructor in Kundalini Yoga, HeartMath and the Wim Hof Method. His diverse studies span depth psychology, epigenetics, geobiology and the social psychology of sport. Additionally, he is a published poet, a former editor at The Good Men Project and a TEDx speaker. He previously served as Meditation Australia’s longest-running president.

About the Fifth Direction
The Fifth Direction is a global mythopoetic community that gathers to discuss, share, learn and practice the way that leads to the deep self. Through ritual, breath, meditation, poetry and storytelling, we reclaim our mythic imagination and celebrate a return to soul.

Art by Matt Faulkner.