Dates: 25th to 29th March 2011 Cost: $1500.00 Pickup: The Outback Pioneer Motel, Yulara. Tel: (08) 8957 7888 Deposit: $500 by 31st January, 2011
Balance: $1000 by 28th February, 2011

SORRY NO REFUNDS AFTER 28th FEBRUARY
Fee covers transport to and from Yulara (also there is a free shuttle bus from Yulara Airport to the Outback Pioneer), all meals, swag and cultural fees.

DETAILS:
We are travelling to very powerful land and we are asked to come with deep respect for the law and culture of this area bringing only an open attitude and willingness to be guided by the elders.
• We meet at the Outback Pioneer at around 12 noon on 25th March, please be ready to load up into the Troopies by then so that we can reach our destination early. We will return to the Yulara Ceremonial site as usual for rest and integration of our experience at Umutja and then return to the Outback Pioneer around Noon on 29th March but earlier times can be arranged for flights if necessary.
• We travel in 4 x 4 Troopies and space is very limited so luggage must be kept to an absolute minimum (additional items for before and after the event can be stored at the Outback)
• You will need to bring 10 litres water for personal use – can be purchased at Yulara when you arrive.
• We provide swags but please let us know if you are bringing your own so that we do not double up

WHAT TO BRING:
• warm sleeping bag, small pillow and sheet
• large tarp for over and under swag – approx 3 metre x 4 metre
• soft bag for clothes etc – keep it very small for transport
• water and drinking bottle
• torch – headlights are easier and best
• black skirt, knee length or longer. You will spend most of your time in this and will need very little additional clothing for the site other than some warm covering clothes for the evenings and early mornings and maybe socks and beanie for bed if nights get cool. A sarong or two comes in handy too.
• wipes like wet-ones, for washing
• toilet paper and small trowel
• zip lock bags for your own rubbish (incl. used toilet paper!!)
• small towel
• sunscreen and hat
• insect repellent
• Gastrolyte or other electrolyte drink
• additional food for snacking on if you need it. MEALS ARE SIMPLE VEGETARIAN AND

NUTRICIOUS. (Let us know if you have special dietary needs and we will see what we can do, e.g. gluten free).
• willingness to assist in the kitchen for preparation & clean-up at meal times (a roster will be available for you to sign up on)
• willingness to assist with serving our Aboriginal sisters at meal times.
• we are asked not to bring any recreational drugs, alcohol, drums and other instruments, jewellery, healing items like crystals, etc. as they interfere with the way the women work with the land in ceremony. Photography is not allowed and we are asked to keep our writing, artwork for later.
• it is important for you to know that you will be responsible for yourself and your experience at this event as it is not covered by insurance.

ADDITIONAL ITEMS AS GIVE-AWAYS IF YOU WANT:
• the ladies love and need back skirts – mostly large size
• wool – red, white, black and yellow
• white feathers
• paints, brushes
• canvas
Please email Lorraine at lorrainemoses1@bigpond.com to book, also for more information.

Please send deposit or full fee to:
St George Bank
Account Name: Lorraine Moses
BSB: 112-879
Acct No. 473807023

Or: Mail a cheque/money order to:
Lorraine Moses
PO Box 88,
Alice Springs NT 0871

Frank Ansell, aboriginal Nungkari or traditional healer, and I are now offering experiences for CEO’s,  teams and individuals, to take time out to discover the effortless flow of well being that nestles in the quiet waterholes. It is a chance  to let go of fatigue, busyness and cluttered living for a few days and experience the power of the desert environment and aboriginal healing to recharge, and refresh the wisdom of the mind and the soul. It is an opportunity to look deeply and rediscover the things that really matter to the heart – family, joy, and a sense of well being. The experience of learning from the aboriginal culture has been life changing for me personally. and together with Frank, we  hope that you can join us on one of our retreats to experience it for yourself.

http://www.healthyoutlook.com.au/UpcomingEvents-AboriginalHealing.html

Childre & Martin (2000) found that an intentional shift from anger or frustration to a centred state of stillness, care & appreciation affects the heart rate frequency and the frequencies of all the body’s cells. This change, as a result of having a different intention and thought is profound. And what’s even more interesting is they found when one person changed their intent, it affected the heart rate variability of someone else up to 10 feet away. Therapeutic Touch, developed for use in hospitals and health care by Dolores Krieger PHD, and Dora Kunz, natural healer, also uses the intention. The intention of compassion combined with a still state of mind to facilitate well being through the consciously directed process of energy exchange.

The therapeutic use of self is fundamental to allied health professionals. In the case of therapeutic touch, the intentional use of self through the ability to centre the mind, become still and intentionally focus and direct energy to facilitate the body’s own natural healing processes has been shown, through extensive evidence based research to help reduce pain or anxiety reduction, increase range of movement, speed wound healing and settle agitated behaviour.

Allied health professionals from Western Canada attended a Therapeutic Touch workshop co-facilitated by Sue Gregory, Occupational Therapist and Qualified Therapeutic Touch Teacher Australia www.healthyoutlook.com.au and Cheryl Larden RN, www.myhealingconnection.com President of British Columbia Therapeutic Touch Network, and organised by occupational therapist Dianna Mah-Jones www.dmjot.com. The workshop focused on the application of Therapeutic Touch in rehabilitation to facilitate health and healing. Therapists developed the skills to utilise Therapeutic Touch in home care, long-term care, hospital settings and private practice, as an adjunct to enhance the effectiveness of their rehabilitation programs.

Research relevant to rehabilitation has found Therapeutic Touch benefits to include improved mobility and hand function, settling of behaviours associated with dementia, alleviation of grief and anxiety, reduction of phantom pain, muscle relaxation and changes in levels of haemoglobin,

Sue described the use of Therapeutic Touch in her occupational therapy practice for reducing muscle tension in preparation for splinting in rheumatoid arthritis, relieving pain associated with severe burns and amputee stumps, settling children with ADHD, alleviating sun downing activity in dementia clients (take a look at the ebook Sliver Energy by myself and Chery Ann Hoffmeyer www.healthyoutllook.com.au/products ), improving sleep in the elderly, and reducing anxiety in clients related to return to work or home visits.

Cheryl emphasised the value of Therapeutic Touch as a self-care tool. The skill of centering used in Therapeutic Touch elicits the relaxation response. Its use at work in a professional setting on a daily basis benefits the patients, and, at the same time reduces professional burnout out and improves well-being for the therapist. It is as though the therapist receives a treatment whilst giving a treatment.

The occupational therapists, physiotherapists and rehabilitation professionals attending the workshop described the calmness they experienced whilst giving Therapeutic Touch and were enthused by Dianna’s examples of the use of Therapeutic Touch in spinal cord injury. Participants were keen to progress to the next level of training and further workshops are planned for rehabilitation professionals in Canada in the future. Please contact Dianna Mah Jones www.dmjot.com. For general information about therapeutic touch there are some free downloads on my website www.healthyoutlook.com.au/therapeutictouch, contact the British Columbia Network at www.bctherapeutictouch.com or the Therapeutic Touch Association of Australasia www.therapeutictouch.org.au. And if you are interested in the CD  Being on Centre,  DVD’s about Therapeutic Touch in Aged Care, or  Silver Energy – the ebook about the use of Therapeutic  Touch for the Elderly by Dr Chery Ann Hoomeyer and myself, Go to www.healthyoutllook.com.au/products

How could “Wisdom” – an old world term help us in dealing with situations that are entirely new – globalisation, climate change, the internet, mobile technologies? This conference will explore the emergence of new ideas and approaches to complex issues which modern business face.

A post conference retreat will be held in Central Australia with Frank Ansell . Frank is a traditional Nungkari, or healer, who has been chosen by the elders of his community to share their traditional culture and healing practices with others. The retreat will explore what indigenous culture and its wisdom may have to offer the modern world and its leaders who are seeking different ways to explore answers to the issues our society and workplaces are facing.

The retreat will be supported by Gisela Wendling and Sue Gregory.

Gisela brings a longstanding interest in building bridges of understanding and cultural exchanges between indigenous people and westerners, specifically as it relates to westerners becoming introduced to indigenous spiritual healing traditions. Gisela is a humanistic and transpersonal oriented psychologist, organisation development practitioner working with and in organizations and former university professor. Gisela explores the topic of creating transformative pathways in the Aboriginal culture in her blog: Limina Songlines

Sue has been coaching indigenous leaders and organizations as well as introducing the corporate world to the value of listening to ancient culture for innovative ideas to vexing business problems. Sue is an executive leadership coach and organization transformation specialist. Together, she and Frank provide retreats and programs for leaders to reflect on their practice and gain insights from several days in the desert as they receive healing and coaching. Sue’s coaching and facilitation business operates throughout Australia, and she delivers workshops internationally. Sue provides a context for people to suspend belief and learn from ancient traditions in a way that can lead to new insights for leaders and workplace issues.

If you would like more information on the conference:

http://slamconference.org.au/post-conference-event

The man’s face had visibly relaxed and the tension of pain had left his face. The Nungkari (aboriginal healer) had held his hand over the knee and with a palpable serenity, had begun singing to that knee. The feeling of letting go and relaxing affected those of us around the expo booth who were watching the event.

As an occupational therapist and qualified therapeutic touch teacher I have been teaching energy healing practises for health and aged care industries (Gregory, 2003, 2004, 2005). The effects of therapeutic touch, complementary energy therapy, are known to include relief of pain, reduction in anxiety and settling of agitation associated with dementia. Over the years I have combined therapeutic touch with occupational therapy in the treatment of clients with burns, arthritis, amputation, depression, dementia, to name a few, and taught the technique to nurses, doctors and health care workers.

Thus I was interested in the expertise of aboriginal healing practices that are 40,000 years or more old. I decided to experience them for myself by receiving regular treatments to gauge the effect. The experience of a one hour treatment left me in a deep state of peace that I have only ever reached towards the end of 3 week long mindfulness retreats. This profundity led to deeper questioning.

Occupational therapy philosophy takes into account the power of social and spiritual beliefs and values to influence recovery, healing, and wellness. So the question that arose for me was “How can occupational therapy work together with traditional aboriginal healing practices to better assist indigenous people? And how could non-indigenous people who appreciate a more holistic view to their health care have the opportunity to benefit as well?”

How could I as an occupational therapist support in some small way the acceptance of these ancient healing skills as a powerful ally that can contribute to modern health care practice? And in doing so support the sustainability of these practices in a culture that is fast losing their traditions?

Working in the capacity of occupational therapist, and an executive leadership and life coach in the NT, I have observed the impact of the western medical system upon on an ancient culture whose views of health and illness are steeped in an interconnectedness of dreamtime, spirituality, aboriginal law and belonging to country, These people have a resilience that has survived since millennia as the longest continuing culture in the world. Their knowledge of bush medicine and ancient healing practices has given them resilience to survive in intense heat, drought and extreme desert conditions. They have developed powers of the mind that western medicine is only beginning to explore.

To a degree, at least in the Northern Territory, Nungkari’s are employed in health clinics to provide healing support for indigenous clients. To a large degree, they work unpaid in their communities and hence have to seek others means of employment. And, thus, an ancient tradition is at risk of being lost. If there were sufficient interest and recognition, could nungkaris to continue their healing practices? Could more for employment be created?

With these questions the idea was born to pilot a service combining life coaching with traditional indigenous healing. Sue Gregory and Frank Ansell have created a unique program of modern occupational therapy stress management and life coaching methodologies complemented by ancient traditions of hands on healing, bush medicines made of local herbs, smoking ceremonies and visits into country of places of stillness and peace.

Our offerings so far have included people coming to Alice Springs for a week of individual coaching and healing sessions; healing and leadership retreats where people camp out on the land; and conference workshops such as the International Coaches Federation Australasia conference.

Our experience has been a closing of the gap. Our clients have responded to this unique approach. They express a greater depth of happiness and inner strength. They feel equipped with powerful self-healing strategies that give them know how to care for their body, mind and their spirit. They describe themselves as more well rounded human “beings’ (not “doings”) who have gained a peaceful approach to life and work that has been transformative as well as life changing.

As two human beings Frank and Sue have both developed a greater understanding of each other’s culture and are continuing to learn. As an occupational therapist and life coach I am humbled by the wisdom and compassion indigenous culture has to offer to modern health care.

This is a journey that we have just begun and one we hope will lead to involving many others – both indigenous and non-indigenous to promote healing on many levels. If you would like to learn more or be a part of what is evolving we are happy to send you a free e-report with more information at

http://www.healthyoutlook.com.au/TThealinglist.html

References
Gregory S & Verdouw J 2005 Therapeutic Touch: Its application for residents of aged care Australian Nurses Journal 12:7 23-25 .
Gregory S 2003 Therapeutic Touch in Aged care (DVD), www.healthyoutlook.com.au/products
Gregory S 2004 Power in your hands (DVD) www.healthyoutlook.com.au/products

Thus, in the still moments, arose a feeling to head up a dry, white sandy creek bed columned by miles of river red gums. As we rounded a bend of high cliffs of red granite a strong tingling sensation arose. Looking up, there, glistening in the sun was the diamond spray of fresh spring water hurtling 100 meters over a cliff in the midst of this dry, rocky terrain. We tracked through the scrub to its base, at which was a pool of clear, permanent water.

The stillness was compelling and we sat in silence. We began to reflect on the meaning of wisdom, particularly as Frank and I will be involved in a post conference retreat on aboriginal wisdom for the upcoming Spirituality in Leadership and Management conference “Wisdom at Work.” Download Detailed Program Information: Journey into Aboriginal Wisdom.

Wisdom, (according to water hole philosophy!) is the ability to be totally present in the moment where we are in touch with the multiple energy fields of sensory information of sounds, visual impressions, taste, feeling and touch which are within and around us. If we are unaware of them and stuck in our own thoughts and feelings , we may not be able to pick up on the sensory information around us that is necessary to make a wholesome “common sensory” decision or, put simply, to survive in the desert. When all the senses are alive and awake there is a deep inner knowing – an intuitive body felt sense of what action to take.

Perhaps wisdom indeed is ‘common sense’ – still, clear seeing with all the senses wide open. Rocks, trees and the breeze on dry white sandy riverbeds know about wisdom, and, when we are silent and still, we can learn from them. It is the land that heals us.

As  leaders, facilitatots and coaches, how can we combine the pace of  “being” as we “do” in the world?   How can we heal inner blockages that hold back our personal  potential or hold the the workplace in a frozen, choking grip of stuck beliefs? How can we dissolve tensions  and  bring our minds and hearts to a balanced, compassionate way of being in the midst of life’s hectic activity?

Using ancient practices of song and smoking ceremonies, since the dream time the nungkaris have worked directly with vibration to settle the minds and bodies of people who are stressed or in pain. Their skills helped establish the resilience of the people to survive extremes of desert heat and lack of food in droughts. Frank described the traditional role of the nungkari  in aboriginal communities, who used the skilled art of intention to balance both individual’s health and the wellbeing of the community .

Principles of these practices are very relevant to a stressed modern world marked by extreme busyness, hectic schedules and constant pressure. For example, thoughts and emotions have a vibrational quality that one can learn to feel. If we check in with ourselves regularly we  can sense  whether our human energy field (that is, the space immediately around us) is agitated or calm and flowing. When we are agitated other people may experience this as a sharp, tingling sensation, heat, or anxiousness. When we are more relaxed the quality of the vibration is smoother and more harmonious.People are attracted to this vibrational quality and want to be around us.

This same vibrational quality of vibration or “atmosphere” can be felt when walking in the door of an organisation. The  feeling of a place can give us  hints about the quality of the culture. If the vibrational quality is “sharp ” or “prickly” then there may be a toxic toxic feeling where people’s body’s close  up in protection, shutting down stunting communication or forward strategic direction. When we become skilled in using our intention, we can learn to use our minds to change our own vibration to  a more wholesome state – one  that is calmer, more open to and adaptive change. Not only this, influencing change in our own  vibration will have a ripple effect on  the vibration of others in a process known as entrainment, thereby helping the work place as a whole. This is why the “presence” of leaders, facilitators and coaches is so important.

When we learn the ability to monitor and change our  vibrational state we become more resilient. This gives us more ease  for  leading others and creating organsiations where the cultural feel or vibration is one of flow and cooperation, rather than toxicity and stuckness.

To demonstrate this how this can be done , Frank sang ancient healing songs that supported people to slip into  a vibration of profound stillness.  He also showed the group how he uses bush medicines to  enable to people to change their vibration to being more relaxed and  balanced. Sue provided a modern interpretation which provided participants with skills to take away.

The day session finished with a smoking ceremony. Smoking ceremonies have been used since millenia to “clear the spirit”, enabling people to feel refreshed and renewed through the letting go of stuck thoughts and tired, stagnant energy. In the modern world, nungkaris are asked to offer “smokings” in homes and work places to clear built up, congested energy, leaving the building refreshed and reviatlised.

Some of the attendees chose to have an individual healing session with Frankafter the event to experience for themselves a a traditional aboriginal healing.

The open space session began with a review of self organising systems as a means to create more involvement of staff and stakeholders, as opposed to the traditional top down hierarchical systems often imposed by external regulators.

The CEO group is exploring questions such as “How can social media networks help?  How can we broadly network in the community? What mechanisms can we employ to increase the level of volunteers? How do we instigate change effectively in light of imposed change? How can we enable people to see change as opportunity? “How do we get more staff “connected” and participating? What are the key elements of sustainable organisations?”

Creating a culture of trust was seen as a huge contributor to gaining active participation where people embrace change. Setting the scene with clearly defined expectations and constantly working to these was identified as means to moving  through natural resistance and influencing the grapevine positively.

Creating a plan for change and providing leadership – breaking the change  into key components, developing  communication strategies, creating communiques, and involving people on the floor so they own the process and sustain the organisation were noted as important parts of the strategy.

Currently members of the Forum, who are from the aged care care sector and Carers Tasmania, are discussing issues such as the introduction of the Poisons Act , the need or leadership skills at all levels of the organisation as an enabler of change. Each came up with shared actions to support each other and their paths forward, riding the challenges within their industries. These leaders operate in an environment of conflicting requirements of 3 levels of government and the needs of the people they provide services to – all natural chaos theory – the ideal environment for self organisations systems that support sustainability.

Marilyn Cavanagh welcomed participants to the day by “opening the space”. This term describes the way a facilitator engages participants and explains how the forum “works”. Participants were enthralled with Marilyn’s natural grace and presentation skills. Impossible to believe that this was Marilyn’s first time! We were presented with a taste of nature, a reflective moment and a healthy dose of inspiration. Participants breathed in the fragrant odor of Pintye Pintye, a healing herb, which brought a lift to the room – refreshing and energising participants.

Right now some people are moving around in the open space technique of moving from group to group like the natural flow of butterflies and bees… cross pollinating each other’s ideas and actions. Connie on the other hand is being a wonderful “billabong”… still, calm and reflective.

Other participants are busily posting sheets on the action plan wall – planning who is going to do what and when… who is going to meet with whom… what the next steps are for the First Nations Education Advisory Body- all for the purpose of engaging parents in schools – part of a DEEWR iniatitive to help Indigenous parents and community members to get involved with schools and education providers.

The forum has included Joanne Watkins, Jude Macy, Terry Presley, Rayelene Middleton, Connie Craig, Dave Ezard, Marlene Chisholm, Kayleen McDonald, Marilyn Cavanagh, Stan Coombe, NArelle Knox,, Monte Karena, Darren Johnson, Wendy O’Brien, Deanella Mack, Maree Hayes, Emma Kefford, Kahlia Preece, Rochelle Fielding, Diane Impu and Rona Graham.

Participants at this PACE Governance Learning Forum are “firing on all cylinders” and this “passion with responsibility” will touch the future… First Nations families will be empowered to improve student learning through our ideas and actions.

Day one kicked off with an inspirational talk by Darren Johnson who described his experiences as an Indigenous Chairperson of Braitling school council. Then participants set the agenda for the day and got to work debating questions such as:

“How can Aboriginal parents be more engaged in schools?”

“How can parents become more confident to enter schools and engage with school staff in relation to their children’s learning?”

These questions along with a thousand others are being discussed and funnelled down into actions using “Open Space” techniques.

The Open Space process was developed by Harrison Owen who, after a year organising a conference, was told that the coffee breaks were the best part. Now its used by the World Bank, in peace talks in the Middle East, in Australia for corporate business as well in remote desert regions for Indigenous people’s planning actions for care for country.

Owen noticed that when people were able to self organised they accomplished more and were more efficient. He watched this process of natural self organisation during an initiation ceremony of young boys in Africa and adopted the principals for meetings. It has proven so effective that CEO’s use it for strategic planning in Wall Street.

Think of budgerigars flying in and out of a gum tree – they “talk” to who they want to talk to, when they want to, till the conversation is done – then they move on to where their interest and energy takes them. Imagine being able to do this at a meeting and compare that to the last long “Committee” meeting you attended. Open Space creates time for laughter and enjoyment and leaves participants energised, not “energy sapped”.

Back to our Forum… Participants create agenda items based on the topics or issues that they are passionate about. These topics are then discussed in small groups at organised times and fed back into the larger group for action planning.

Right now, the small groups have just joined together and are sharing stories of country, consulting with elders, and how culture can nourish mind and soul in education as well as inform curriculum, attitudes and actions. And in a few minutes this group will turn its attention to what we will do in the next few days and weeks.

Come along and be a part of this exciting event – drop in for the hours you can make it! We are at the Oasis All Seasons Resort on Gap Rd – Wed 24th and Thurs 25th – 9 am till 2:30 and we’ll provide morning tea and lunch.

Stay tuned – the energy, enthusiasm and passion of the attendees is exciting. Be prepared to be surprised!