Indrani Perera

poet, publisher & mentor

Tag: Jon Young

  • Nature Connection Cards

    IP - Nature Connection Cards 1

    IP - Nature Connection Cards 2

    IP - Nature Connection Cards 3

    IP - Nature Connection Cards 4

    I started these cards on Sunday to encourage us to venture out into nature each day. They are designed to be gentle invitations or a way to set an intention. It's all too easy to get stuck in the house and forget all the plants, trees, birds and insects out there. 

    It's been wonderful have a pencil in my hand and sketch little pictures. Inspired by my 13 year old daughter, I tried to draw the pictures from memory. She draws the most incredible portraits without copying anything. However when it came to the fox, kangaroo and owl I had to resort to copying images I found online. My original fox looked like a daschund zebra (wish I had taken a photo of it!) and the kangaroo looked more like a rabbit wth a pouch!  

    IP - Nature Connection Cards 5

    IP - Nature Connection Cards 6

    IP - Nature Connection Cards 7

    I based the cards on the core nature connection routines described by Jon Young of the 8 Shields Institute. Jon visited Australia last year to run two workshops and I attended the Music, Nature and Storytelling event held in Hawks Nest, New Soul Wales. Something as simple as a daily sit spot is a powerful way to connect to nature and the land around us.

    Like most of my projects, I started with heaps of enthusiasm and energy and got lots done in the first couple of days. Then my energy waned and the cards dragged on. I know we need to take time to rest and refresh but wouldn't it be great if we could keep the same joy for the whole of a project?

     

  • Music, Nature and Storytelling

    IP - Jon Young 1

    IP - Jon Young 2

    IP - Jon Young 3

    I spent last week camping in the bush at Hawks Nest in New South Wales. I was there with my daughters to attend the Jon Young Music, Nature and Storytelling Workshop. Jon Young is a naturalist, tracker and mentor from North America. He's also an author (What the Robin Knows and Coyote's Guide to Connecting With Nature), musician and gifted storyteller who held us enthralled with his tales of tracking and connecting to nature.

    We were surrounded by gums and banksias, beautiful wildflowers and birds swooping in and out of the trees. Goannas foraged in the compost heap and dingo tracks headed south along beach which was a ten minute walk from the camp along a sandy path.

    It was an incredible five days of sharing story, singing songs and walking barefoot on the land. The incredible team in the kitchen, led by Nicki and assisted by Meat Master Fuzz kept us all fed with three delicious meals a day. There was a program for kids running alongside the program for adults. And in the evenings we sang and danced around the campfire held by the majesty of the stars.

     

    My head is full of songs and words.

    My heart is full of gladness and gratitude.

    My soul is filled with friendship and connection.