What I Did in 2017

Although time ‘appears’ to go faster as we advance in years, 2017 ‘seemed’ to go at top speed with added intensity. For me, it was a year of challenging transitions and adjustments, especially mentally and emotionally. Like persistent stains that needed removing once and for all, the process often left me feeling anxious and depleted. It was as if I was merely surviving.

At the same time, it was an opportunity to unravel, cultivate true patience and increase my self-awareness. After letting go of a lot (and I mean a lot), it saw me plant seeds of purposeful beginnings.

Overall, 2017 was progression in the sense of non-action and immense trust, rather than action alone.

I also experienced many new things. And while some might regard them as a bit ‘out-there’, each one has helped enhance my self-healing and improved my self-worth.

Here’s to the new things I did in 2017.

Honoured the self and the sacred

After taking somewhat of a grown-up gap year in 2016, and rehabilitating a shoulder injury, I kicked off 2017 with the intention of being deeply present and opening myself to receive authentic soul nourishment. New Year’s Day had barely passed when I gifted myself a long, profound bodywork session with Tikal Sermet from Anantaboga.

Even better, was experiencing Tikal’s remarkably intuitive, nurturing and ancient Javanese technique in a yurt at Emerald. It was in the yurt’s peaceful, commodious and rich red interior, more specifically under the ornately carved tono (centrepiece), I surrendered to transcendence.

Once grounded, and within 10 minutes of leaving, my heart cracked wide open with tears of joy. I felt overwhelming self-love and acceptance, as well as expressing love for others. A deep unspoken part of me was stirring. I was waking up.

Tuned in to the primal essence

In mid-January, I attended a two-day Power of the Sacred Feminine workshop with Australian-born and now Russian-based singer Peruquois. A powerhouse of wisdom, this warm, playful goddess, who incorporates some tantric practices, invited us to heal through singing, vocalisation, breathwork and dancing. It was potent, to say the least.

For me, there was a purging. In fact, I almost had to run out of the building, given I was about to throw up. From reconnecting to my womb, heart and throat, it was the beginning of tuning in to my deep primal essence — my authentic voice. Speaking of voices, Peruquois’ is like having Mother Earth sing directly to your ancient self.

Dated for a cause

At the beginning of 2017, I created my own dating for a cause event. Known as Seven Dates in Seven Weeks for Charity, I raised almost $500 for The Good Life Farm, which offers ‘grassroots healing’ programs for at-risk youth.

After writing an article about the founder, Lesley Porter, and The Good Life Farm’s remarkably effective animal-based therapy, permaculture and nature oriented programs, I wondered how I could help make more of a meaningful difference.

While the fundraiser didn’t exactly go to plan, I’m grateful for all those who supported this worthwhile cause, including two slightly nerve-racking but mostly fun radio interviews. Even though most of the dates were complete strangers to me, they were all enjoyable and incredibly generous.

Experienced cellular healing

Despite my love for yoga, TRE, or tension-trauma release exercises, is probably one of the simplest yet most profound ways I have found to help relieve stress at a cellular level and restore balance in my body. My first official experience of TRE (pronounced by the individual letters, not as ‘tray’) was at a half-day workshop with Kali Foster. Given Kali’s background in acupuncture, TCM and yoga teaching, she has created a unique fusion of qi gong, yoga and TRE.

As for what TRE is, it includes the creation of intentional tremors, or neurogenic shakes and trembling, which are mostly focused on the pelvis, specifically the psoas muscle. With practice, these tremors can eventually extend throughout the body. The best part: it releases tension or trauma without recalling any past events. I was also fortunate to learn the ‘quick-start’ version of TRE through my physio and Feldenkrais practitioner, Paul Watt, who had been assisting me with rehabilitating my shoulder.

In addition to being an avid meditator, I’ve noticed that TRE is particularly good for calming my nervous system, including anxiety. I also find it best to do in the evenings, especially after any exercise, such as walking up hills or Pilates. Even though there are a lot of YouTube clips online, it’s best learnt with a TRE practitioner.

Energy trained — the shamanic way

After doing a couple of taster classes with Shamanic Energy Training, as taught by highly attuned and down-to-earth Sharon Bolt and Joseph Callender, I participated in the unique Elemental Warrior series over winter. With each week focusing on the different elements, namely earth, fire, water and air, these powerful classes combine body tapping from head-to-toe, Chinese and Korean qi gong, holding and breathing postures, releasing techniques, meditation, smudging and tea ceremony, with the last class incorporating a shamanic drum journey.

The focus of this training is on the Dan Tien and lower energy centres, so as to provide a strong, healthy foundation as well as more flow — a theme I will carry through 2018 and beyond.

Experienced more presence with tea meditation

Tea ceremony is something I have experienced before, both here and overseas. But when the opportunity came to participate in a tea meditation at the Buddha’s Day & Multicultural Festival, I was intrigued. Led by Taiwanese tea master April Jin (one of only a handful of tea masters remaining in the world), I soon discovered how graceful this unique blend of tea ceremony and moving meditation is. However, that was only after the accidently triggered and deafening security alarm at Federation Square was shut off.

Using High Mountain Oolong tea, the almost hour-long tea meditation included a slow and considered demonstration on how to cultivate mindfulness through the act of making tea, sharing it with guests to create more meaningful connections, and tea tasting, which is done in three sips with each serve. Known as Cha Chan Yi Wei, it literally means ‘tea and Chan are one taste’.

Gained insights through a combined tarot and numerology reading

During the year, I was fortunate to receive a combined numerology and tarot reading with French-born and Sydney-based Fred Canis. Fred utilises the traditional French tarot, with his belief being that the tarot is a reflection of our thoughts and subconscious at the time the reading is done. As a result, it brings awareness to matters we are dealing with, hence they can be used as a spiritual and self-development guide, while still being able to make our decisions and actions.

Although I was already aware of my life path number, namely three, apparently my tarot life symbol is The Hanged Man. Symbolically and somewhat interestingly, I learned that it represents the need to let go, to break old patterns and go much deeper. With that also comes a deep sense of self-sacrifice, something I have been able to relate to all of my life.

However, through learning and releasing, I create a higher perspective and purpose, ultimately reaching enlightenment. The Hanged Man also represents patience and the ability to see all sides. It’s a symbol of balance, requiring the need for solitude and connection, particularly with nature, and of life.

Expressed myself

By far, the most liberating experience I had last year was attending sound healer Tikal Sermet’s Sabda Experience. Now known as L.I.V.E. (Liberate Intuitive Voice Expression), it’s a divine continuation of Tikal’s honouring of ancestral wisdom and a reminder of the body’s ability to heal through vocalising. With that in mind, this isn’t about singing, it’s about tuning in to your own song; your individual expression.

Despite my life-long love of writing, I’ve been shit-scared of singing solo in front of others. These intimate L.I.V.E. gatherings, however, create a sublimely nurturing space of giving and receiving, connection and healing. Not only are they “like diving into an ocean of pure organic sound”, they have given me the confidence to grow up and show up. You can be seen and heard without any judgement, particularly towards yourself. And having experienced Tikal’s phenomenal “ancient temple voice”, I look forward to the launch of her debut CD, Shapeshifter, due for release in January 2018.

Got wrapped-up in eco-friendly alternatives

Although I have a predominantly clean eating approach, which also means I mostly create things from scratch, I’m not much of a baker. That said, I started using the ingenious Agreena three-in-one eco-food wraps for baking, wrapping and sealing. Created by Mel Scott in the upper Yarra Valley, they reduce the need for single-use plastics as well as the use of harmful food wraps, like aluminum foil and baking paper that release toxins when used for cooking in higher temperatures.

While beeswax wraps are terrific for sealing food, to me the Agreena wraps are far more diverse, have greater longevity and are easier to maintain. They’re also easier to clean than any gunky baking dish, which usually requires vigorous, time-consuming scrubbing. And once the Agreena wraps have completed their life cycle, they can be repurposed as other products so they don’t end up in landfill.