Florescence - the time and process of budding and unfolding of blossoms.
About the experience:
Back from the tropics after a mythical wedding celebration in her motherland Malaysia, Emina Ashman has another lyrical offering for our community. She’s decided to share the launch of her new poetry single: ‘Sentosa (Tranquility)’ at COY. Our mermaid in residence has been through an incredibly life-changing year and would love to share with us the essence of her journey through the beauty of spoken word performance and poetic meditation. Apart from sharing the track with us, she’s performing a live poetry reading that touches upon moments from a deep, dazzling and at times dark landscape of vulnerability and rebirth. Within the space of magical realism, she calls on her evolving creative expression to keep inviting her to let love transform.
It truly has been a voyage of land and sea for her. To make this journey a little sweeter, we will be accompanied by her husband Patty McDonald who will be sharing Mama Cacao with us all, and another beloved mermaid sister of hers on the night (to be announced soon) will also be sharing tender parts of her own siren song. This is another night to listen to the voice of the Divine Feminine, in all her light and shadow, and many loving colours in between. It’s an invitation to honour what our hearts wish to grow and to let go of what has been.
About Emina Ashman - @eminaashman
Emina is a poet, priestess and devotional bodyworker based in Naarm. For her, art is a channel for ritual and for romancing with life. Her words lend to perspectives on love, beauty and relational expression. She draws upon her background in acting and performance, creative-writing, connection to Lemuria, and a deep reverence for water and crystals. Her work undulates from spoken word features at open-mic nights, to co-created performance art pieces at conscious wellbeing festivals. She has enjoyed many collaborations with theatre companies, music producers, sound healers, embodiment practitioners and poets alike.
Things to note:
Centre of You has plenty of bolsters, blankets, and cushions for you to get cosy with. We recommend wearing comfortable, loose clothes to enable deep breathing and sitting/laying upon the floor with ease. A journal is recommended as are any familiar personal items that will aid you in feeling grounded (crystal, teddy, scarf, etc).
Personal responsibility: P lease make an assessment on whether you are feeling stable and resourced enough to explore the practices on offer in this event.
Arrival: Endeavour to arrive between 6:45pm - 7:00pm. To preserve the experience for all involved, doors will close at 7:15pm. Truly, it breaks our heart to have to turn latecomers away yet the disruption to the whole group experience by virtue of lateness does require management. We ask that you find understanding and consideration for the timebound nature of the container and make every effort to arrive on time.
Driving: Know Centre of You is on Chapel St and ample time to find a car spot is best to be factored into your plans. Park direct on Chapel St (spots unmetered after 5pm) or in Anchor Place, the open-air parking lot in the side street that runs opposite Centre of You (unmetered after 4pm).
Public transport - tram: Both the number 6 tram & 78 tram stop on the corner of High St/Chapel St. This is stop 31 on the number 6 tram (Moreland/Glen Iris) & stop 45 on the number 78 tram (North Richmond/Balaclava).
Public transport - train: Both Prahran & Windsor stations along the Sandringham Line will get you walking distance to Centre of You.
Finding Centre of You: Centre of You is nestled within the arcade that Chapel St Bazaar is in (217 Chapel St). It is up a flight of stairs with a wide landing at the half-way-point. Unfortunately, this current version of Centre of You does not have a wheelchair accessible lift. If you could use support in getting up the stairs or would like to discuss ways to make your experience at Centre of You more comfortable, please reach out via grace@centreofyou.com.au or via DM over on Centre of You Instagram.
Accessibility: At COY we aim to ensure our community and events are inclusive and accessible while alongside upholding the needs and responsibilities of our business and the businesses of our collaborating facilitators. Should you be in a time of financial challenge and unable to pay the full ticket price comfortably, please reach out via grace@centreofyou.com.au or via DM over on Centre of You Instagram
Ticketing T&Cs: We get it, life happens, therefore we will gladly refund you up until 24hrs before the event start time. After that, we have a strict no refund/no transfer to future events policy.
If you are no longer able to attend and wish to pay forward your ticket to someone within the community, be in touch via grace@centreofyou.com.au or via DM over on Centre of You Instagram.
There will be limited tickets at the door available for $50
Questions? Email grace@centreofyou.com.au or reach out via Instagram DM.
Tickets: $33.00 early bird (until 9 January), $44.00 general exchange.