Uncover hidden guidance through communal storytelling, informed by echoes of the ancestors, at this cosy night of ancient wisdom sharing.
This evening is a journey into Indigenous wisdom through the lens of an old myth, told to the people while the rhythm of the drum calls to the elements.
For millennia, humans have gathered to receive the guidance of ancestral intelligence, passed down to help us navigate the present. With this unique style of facilitation, we will travel together to uncover a valuable treasure trove, "a moment of community", the renewable wealth of nature brought into the human realm.
We seem to be living in a time of giants, as if the old stories of terror have come to life. Large forces threaten humanity and nature, creating a tidal wave of grief that builds behind the scenes and spills onto the daily news.
The old myths hold wisdom about giants, and like all ancient knowledge from cultures worldwide, they offer a way to decode subtle truths. These evenings and events do not provide a simple "moral of the story"; instead, they reveal a hidden doorway into the vast "storehouse" of the tale, personal to each listener yet magnified through the shared ritual of "two-way listening" around the hearth with good people.
Bring an "intention" for this evening. In this practice, that means asking yourself, If I could hear some wisdom from this story about an issue, challenge, or desire in my life, I would be open to receiving it.
It is simply an agreement to show up with an open mind and heart. If we resist the modern urge to rush and "get it all" for just one evening, we may discover the wealth hidden within the tale together.
This ancient way of engaging with a story is known as "story-carrying." If we approach it with honesty, we may find that the myth is generous enough to offer each of us a "next-best step."
About you facilitator - Randy Jones @WildGenius.guide
In a time when everything Indigenous is at risk of destruction, Jones has become an advocate for reviving the conversation between the modern world and the wisdom of Indigenous cultures. Sorrowed by the loss of the wild in modernity, he has dedicated much of his life to re-establishing an alliance between the two.
Over the last 35 years, Jones has trained with renowned teachers such as Malidoma Somé, Michael Meade, Daniel Deardorff, Sobonfu Somé, David MacMurray Smith, Linda Galloway, Francis Weller, Stephen Jenkinson, Martín Prechtel, Marion Woodman, and Robert Bly. Daniel Deardorff called him "a ritual genius."
Through his dynamic studies in mythology, ritual, rhythm, dance, counseling, and storytelling, he has developed a unique style of facilitating what has become an increasingly necessary experiential discourse between humans, nature, and the spirit world.
He is the author of Medicine Without an Expiry Date: Indigenous Remedy for Modern Trouble.
Free chapters in PDF format - No Sign up Required.
Testimonial Videos and Quotes.
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. Something to cover your eyes, if you wish to do so (eg. eye mask, scarf). A journal is recommended as are any familiar personal items that will aid you in feeling grounded (crystal, teddy, scarf, etc).
Personal responsibility: Please make an assessment on whether you are feeling stable and resourced enough to explore the practices on offer in this event.
No Photo/Video Content Will Be Captured: We recognise that being at an event where content is being captured can impact the personal comfort and nervous system regulation of our community. As such, it should be known upfront that this event is a photo and video free space. No content will be captured. We ask all participants to honor this agreement in respect of the shared experience by placing any recording devices away on arrival.
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 hello@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 hello@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 hello@centreofyou.com.au or via DM over on Centre of You Instagram.
Questions? Email hello@centreofyou.com.au or reach out via Instagram DM.
Tickets: $45.00 early bird, $60.00 general exchange.