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SOLSTICE GLOBAL HEALING event

CATANI GARDENS, ST KILDA

21st December 2014

Wurrung with deep respect, and for their Elders both past and present.

We give thanks for the continuing relationship of the Yalukit Wilam Clan to this land.

attending the presentations as the programme unfolded or passed through the marque and the

immediate area where some received Christmas parcels or had photos taken with event participants.

three years, celebrated the very positive outcome of the occasion.

The Solstice Global Healing Event is a gathering for people mainly from within St Kilda and the

wider City of Port Phillip community. They are community coming from different religions and

faiths, ethnicities, cultures, and socioeconomic and political backgrounds to share and celebrate

their diversity with the community. The event is interfaith as it aims to add to and enhance

ons, at both the

individual and broader level with the aim of deriving a common ground in belief through a 1 Presentations by representatives of different faiths

and community groups, as well as in discussions in and around the marque during the event,

enabled interfaith dialogue to occur.

This year the theme was Healing the Family and was chosen because of the enormous pressure that

families are constantly facing. Families have to deal with economic, social, political and cultural

issues that interweave with their religious and faith beliefs and practices. They are in need of

healing. In addition, the deaths of children and family members in Cairns and in Peshawar in the

week leading up to the event demonstrated the real need of healing for the whole human family as

well.

The Workshop On the 29th of November art therapist and

PHAAA member Lisa Fam facilitated a

workshop for our community. Little by little,

non-artists became artists and produced a

Mandala for the Solstice Global Healing event.

The reason for creating a Mandala was because

a Mandala is a symbol of wholeness, integration

and harmony. It is a tool for personal and

spiritual development and can restore inner and

outer health. Working with mandalas is a loving

way to open our hearts to creativity, intuition

and love.2

Participants in the workshop created an artwork

for Healing the Family. They included people

1 http://www.portphillip.vic.gov.au/print_multifaith_network.htm Accessed on 7 January 2015.

2 Quoted from the Facebook Page of Flavia Zara, Harmony Arts Crafts

http://www.portphillip.vic.gov.au/print_multifaith_network.htmhttps://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100008350751319

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European participants. Together they added diverse colour and perspectives to the finished artwork.

Prayer flags It is believed that Prayer Flags originated in India and spread

to Nepal and Tibet. Traditionally, they are used to promote

peace, compassion, strength, and wisdom. Contrary to a

common misconception, a Prayer Flag does not carry

prayers to gods but carries the thoughts of good will and

compassion of their creator to wherever the wind blows and

to whoever and whatever the wind encounters. Prayer Flags

are considered, therefore, to bring blessings or benefit to all.

As wind passes over the surface of the Flags the air is

purified and sanctified by the prayers. Because the symbols

and prayers on the Flags are sacred, they should be treated

with respect.

This year the Prayer Flags were composed by young

Aboriginal artists from Galiamble Men's Recovery Centre,

with Mark Hammersley and Vivian Parry, and people who

gather for the end of year Christmas lunch at the Winja

tre. PHAAA provided the

materials used for the Flags. The event was also blessed by a

collection of Prayer Flags created by Nala Mai paARenT &

smARTspace artists based in Sydney and Melbourne, that

arrived with their prayers of peace and compassion.

The day of the event Setting Up...

The morning of 21 December began early as men who

erected the main marque arrived before 8:30am and

Mia Jeffries was at Catani Gardens to meet them. They

also brought with them the stage and the chairs. Peter

Millar arrived with two tents and barbecues. One tent

was to be used for preparing and cooking food and the

other for the administration, registration and

information sharing. Matthew Fagan arrived later in the

morning with the sound system and Steve Yarr with

cables and apparel to connect the power safely from the

Rotunda. Some of the presenters arrived to be sound

tested and to be familiarised with the set up. A steady

number of volunteers arrived throughout the morning to help with the work.

This photo shows the marque with the stage, chairs, sound system and the camera that would record

the event. The banner of the Sun, the Solstice symbol, was naturally the backdrop to the stage. And,

as you can see, Catani Gardens provided an ideal setting for the occasion.

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There were 100 chairs in the marque,

just outside it and under some of the

surrounding trees. These chairs were

well utilised throughout the afternoon.

So also was the grass area beyond the

chairs and under close trees, where

people sat or lay in the sun or in the

shade. It truly was a relaxed and

informal setting and this influenced the

flow of the presentations and the

presenters during the event.

The tent where food was prepared and

sold, including vegetarian falafels, was

to the right of the stage. Both vegetarian

and non-vegetarian food was provided with cold drinks to quench the thirst as the heat of the day

took hold. The tent used for administration was to the left of the stage. This was where presenters

came to register before giving their presentations. It was also where volunteers checked in before

going off to their different tasks.

A three hour programme was planned for the event

with a range of presenters from different faiths,

beliefs and community groups participating. An

ambitious schedule had been devised in the hope that

all those who were going to speak could be fitted in

within the timeframe. The programme also included

the unveiling of a Mandala, a visit by Father

Christmas, and the Releasing of Doves as a symbol

of peace and unity. In the event, however, the

programme had to be changed in several places to

accommodate late arrivals, people speaking longer

than their allotted times and to enable Channel 7

News to interview people and to film the Releasing of the Doves.

Mia Jeffries, the President of PHAAA, was the Master of Ceremony and kept the programme on

course. Flexibility was the key factor of the day and Mia did an excellent job doing this. She

graciously negotiated with the presenters and the volunteers on what they would be doing and

when.

Welcoming people The Smoking ceremony Dean Stewart began the Solstice Global

Healing gathering. He welcomed everyone on

behalf of the Yalukit Wilam Clan of the

Boon Wurrung to their land and their place,

and guided all those who had gathered

through the smoke ceremony that purified

and sanctified the space where the event was

being held and all those attending it. The

spirit of the land and the spiritual wellbeing

of all those who gathered was enhanced by

this ceremony. The prayers and thoughts of

life, healing and wholeness that the Solstice

encapsulates were present, confirming that

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this ceremony was the correct way to begin the

occasion.

Councillor Serge Thomann, local City

Councillor and chair of the City of Port Phillip

Multifaith Network, welcomed people to the

event on behalf of the City of Port Phillip that

was the major sponsor of the celebration. We

are grateful that Cr Thomann was able to stay

for most of the whole event. He provided useful

help and advice throughout the event. It was

good to see a Councillor enjoying himself!

Unveiling the Mandala

Fr Bob Maguire addressed the gathering and spoke

of the baptism of a baby that he had just taken. He hoped that the positiveness and hope that he had

just experienced would be experienced in this event as well. Following his presentation, Fr Bob and

Bakta Dasa, from the Hare Krishna Temple, unveiled the Mandala. Fr Bob was interviewed and

appeared later that evening on Channel 7 Network.

The Programme Unfolds - Musical Performers

Matthew Fagan on the guitar and Hal Tropp

playing the didjeridoo provided a gentle and

calming flow of sound as people gathered in the

marque for the event to begin. They set the

atmosphere of peace that pervaded the rest of the

gathering.

Part of the entertainment was provided by a group

of singers and musicians from Harmony Workshop

Arts and Crafts, who sang some Australian folk

songs. Their participation in the event gave

recognition to the thousands of Australian

songwriters, singers and musicians who have

entertained and brought joy to people across the country and internationally. The words of their

songs reflecting the diversity of the cultures, languages and beliefs that exist in Australia.

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Later in the afternoon Jasbir Singh, from the Victoria Sikh Community, brought a prayer and reading from

Sikh sacred writings to the sound of beautiful a

traditional wind instrument played by his daughter,

Amrit Kaur.

Lavinia Edmunds delighted the crowd when she

Ingram and made famous by Linda Ronstadt. The

Lyrics were very apt for the occasion.

Somewhere out there beneath the pale moonlight

Someone's thinking of me and loving me tonight

Somewhere out there someone's saying a prayer

That we'll find one another in that big somewhere out there

And even though I know how very far apart we are

It helps to think we might be wishing

on the same bright star

And when the night wind starts to sing a lonesome lullaby

It helps to think we're sleeping underneath the same big sky

Somewhere out there if love can see us through

Then we'll be together somewhere out there

Out where dreams come true.

The last group to perform musical items was

from the Christ Church St Kilda Anglican Parish

on Acland Street. Some of the parishioners and

clergy sang waiata (songs) and Te Inoi a te Ariki

Aotearoa/New Zealand.

Guest Speakers

Throughout the afternoon there were speakers, singers, and

entertainers who shared their understanding and

appreciation of the opportunity for the community to gather

to celebrate the change of seasons and value of life and

living. Moshim Mohammed, from the Muslim community,

who was accompanied by his two children. quoted from the

t terrorist

attacks carried out by self-proclaimed Muslims and,

specifically, to the hostage siege in Sydney in December

2014, Moshim said that they are not caused by religion but

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the political hijacking of religious groups. The event organisers considered that it was courageous

of Moshim to speak at the event and to bring his wife and family with him. But their presence and

participation exemplified what the event is all about: A celebration of peace, harmony and justice in

a world where there is too much violence, disharmony and injustice.

Other faith speakers brought a similar message, among them was Rabbi Dovid Tsop, who presented

his perspective on being part of the community in Port Phillip and wider Melbourne and the Jewish

presence and participation in the life and wellbeing of the city.

The community groups reinforced the need for family and

relationships. This was poignantly expressed by Les

especially a child who collected all the wrapping paper as she

wanted to preserve the feeling of getting a present, probably

her very first.

Louis Delaney, speaking on behalf of the Ngwala Willambong

Co-op (Galiamble Men's Recovery Centre), is an amazing

young Aboriginal man whose creativity in art was presented in

some of the prayer flags and the Mandala. He read a

composition he had written that talked of his life experiences

and the positive change that his life had undergone in recent

years. The Solstice Global Healing Event is a celebration of

such transitions in life.

Special events

In addition to the programme mentioned

above, there were three highlights that

occurred that exemplify the meaning of global

healing that we celebrate at this time of year.

We had a visit by Father Christmas or Santa

Claus who distributed presents to

participants, children, young people and the

not-so-young people. Here we see him giving

gifts to the children of Moshim Mohammed,

the Muslim speaker, who were a little wary of receiving

a parcel from a strange looking man with his white

beard and hair and dressed in red.

The Sun Goddess graced the event with her presence felt

from her great height, standing high above everyone.

Wearing her crown of authority, bearing her staff of

power, carrying the produce of the harvest, and dressed

in her regale gown, the Sun Goddess announced good

tidings to all she encountered.

http://www.darebin.org/Directory/Agency.aspx?Mkey=241&S3Key=284http://www.darebin.org/Directory/Agency.aspx?Mkey=241&S3Key=284

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The Solstice Global Healing Day could not have passed without making a statement in honour of

the bearers of peace and goodwill. In this troubled world where war, violence, and destruction seem

to be endemic, and the exploitation and pollution of the environment occurs daily, the release of

white doves reminded us that there can be hope and that humanity can rise above the abuse,

oppression and inhumane acts perpetrated against one another.

The Solstice Global Healing afternoon was indeed an event of celebration that was done through

music and entertainment, through serious messages and addresses were given. There certainly was a

joie de vie where new friendships were made and old ones affirmed, where people enjoyed the

companionship of people they knew and also with strangers. The diversity of peoples was evident

not only in the ethnicities and cultures present but also in the religious faiths, philosophies and

ideologies that were expressed by those who participated. The event demonstrated that there is

something valuable and precious that people have in common and should be celebrated, and this is

their humanity.

This report above that was written by Fr Turi Hollis, Vicar at Christ Church St Kilda Anglican

Parish

some of the food supplies to the event, was Santa Claus and also performed in the Maori Choir on

the day.