The Joining is three wonderful days of exploring the balance between the masculine and the feminine, through workshops, ceremony, fun, music, dance, great food, learning and laughter.  Join about 150 men and women of all ages, both couples and singles for an opportunity to connect with conscious, like-hearted people intent on re-connecting with ourselves, each other and the natural world.

The Joining is the annual gathering of a community that works throughout the year to promote our health, spiritual growth and a balance between humanity and the ecosystems that sustain us.  The Joining aims to reinvigorate our sense of joy, connection, gratitude and faith in ourselves, in our relationships and in a world on the verge of a new beginning.

Each year, a new committee holds a ‘dreaming’ for the theme of the next gathering.  Our dreaming was enriched by this being our eighth year, marking a rite of passage into a new level of evolution for our community.

The 2010 theme is:

‘Expand your essence – Extend into infinite freedom’

This theme encapsulates the powerful forces of the Feminine and Masculine energies joined harmoniously together in balance.  In a world where the solution is often promoted as being outside oneself, this theme encourages the community everywhere to reach inward for the real solution.  Our connection and relationship with self is the core of all connections and relationships with others and the environment.  Some of the members statements about this theme:

“The words are so powerful. My heart just flies open as soon as I read the words and I fully feel what they mean. I get a picture in my mind, of a woman standing on one foot reaching out to the world, ready to leap off a mountain top, it just takes my breath away.”

“I feel the Feminine/Masculine energy in it, the ever expanding consciousness into Infinity and BEYOND!!! – beginning with who we really are (Essence) and expanding and extending to our ultimate potential (Infinite Freedom).  This theme is BIG, real Big!!!”

“Conscience connection to ourselves allows us access the infinite connection. There is no separation….”

“The time has come… to join together ….have fun, explore, connect, enjoy”

As one member beautifully stated, it is time to bridge the gap between the conscious and the unconscious, to provide pathways for people to expand in simple ways so that no-one is left behind.  This inclusive theme allows everyone to start growing their mind, heart and spirit from exactly where they are currently at!  I invite you all to think of someone in your life to whom this gathering could assist to open up new pathways of life, love, relationships and freedom.

We intend that through our dreaming theme, every man and woman who attends will find our common_unity.

The Joining Committee Members

Les Pickup – Masculine Energy Holder, 2010

Originally from Sydney, moved to Brisbane in 1991 proud dad of three beautiful young women, even more proud grandpa of first grandchild Benjamin William born 22^nd June 2009.

2009  was my first “Joining” experience, the TRUST, the LOVE,  the HONOURING of the FEMININE and the MASCULINE, the ENERGY and the PASSION  for CHANGE was an awakening to my own consciousness and the presence of the conscious community I was invited to share. I was drawn in deeper, the ENERGY around and inside me was urging me to “GIVE BACK”.

My  journey to grow and be who I truly am has been an ongoing process over many years, with breathwork retreats, family constellations, voice dialogue and many other modules of inner work which continue to bear fruit.

Stepping forward as Holder of the MASCULINE ENERGY for 2010 is much bigger than ME alone, the ripple throughout the community is to create the space and expand that space for ALL of US to grow spiritually and reconnect with our conscious selves and conscious community. To grow and HONOUR our Masculine and Feminine with Integrity and balance.

The ongoing challenges to learn more about who I AM from within, the guidance from our ELDERS, the knowledge and the support within the whole “joining community” is such a wonderful rewarding GIFT.

I am very proud to have been chosen by the Elders to be the MASCULINE Energy Holder for the coming “Joining Gathering 2010”, also excited and anxious to be part of a very select and talented committee to make the next gathering another GREAT SUCCESS .

LET THE FUN,  THE LAUGHTER,  THE SHARING and TEARS OF JOY BEGIN.

Rose Ward – Feminine Energy Holder, 2010

My journey with The Joining began at the beginning when Rudran first started to create the concept, when we were both living in a community near Maleny. It was such a rich and fulfilling idea that it touched me at a soul level and I knew I wanted to be a part of it. I was about to set out on a journey in my campervan for the next year and just before I left the committee set the date for The First Joining, I bought the first ticket, said I would be back for it, and I was. I was present for the first 2 Joinings but then started working in New Zealand for 4 years and missed 3 Joinings but always stayed connected with emails and loved reading  about what was happening back home.

Since December last year I have been living in a community at Belli Park, inland from Eumundi. We are a Sustainable Community and there are 16 of us at the moment living the workshop of life. I have lived and worked in community for the past 10 years, in Australia and New Zealand and loving every glorious moment. In that time I have been on a journey of discovery about myself,  and unfolding my purpose here at this time on our beautiful Gaia. I am the proud mother of two strong men and one beautiful woman, and the grandmother of 3 boys who are the reason I settled down and sold my campervan. The Universe called me every day for about 4 weeks before the Joining to step forward to be the Feminine Energy Holder, I must admit I wasn’t completely happy with the idea in the beginning because I knew the “job description” and what it would involve!  But here I am!  Very happy to be the HOTFE10 and to hold a safe and loving space for all our family and to co-create the Joining of OUR DREAMS!

Joy Porter – Secretary

Community, Heart Connection and Real Relating are qualities important to me and what I found at my first (of four) Joining Events.    Any wonder I stepped up to be on the Committee this year to give something back…..

I have dabbled in spiritual growth since 1989 but my inner work went up a notch when I moved to Byron Bay in 2002 for 3 years, there I participated in many workshops and retreats Vipassana, Path of Love, Family Constellations to name a few.  I loved connecting with the community and made lifelong friends.

In 2005  life lead me back to Brisbane and the Joining Community where I continued my spiritual journey.

Earning a living takes me into the corporate arena where I conduct software training workshops but I delight in nature and my passion is connecting with like minded beautiful friends. I have been blessed with a son who has grown into is wise, humourous and open hearted man.  My wish is to let my spirit fly, be playful, dance and be my name – JOY.

Robey Clark – Graphic Design/Marketing

I feel passionately about living from a true heart of Love, with awareness of how I effect the world around me. To remain conscious of who I truly am as I walk the often challenging paths of this wonderful wonderful life.

I love and strive to live by these words of Ghandi:“I am here to serve myself.  To find my own self realisation through the service of others”

This path of following my heart has lead me to the Joining Community. It feels so good to finally be, as I love to say, at home, with such beautiful kindred hearts, each committed to growing and expanding in Love through this magical dance of Masculine and Feminine.

I invite you to come experience Unconditional Love in Community, The Joining, to me it is “A place beyond right and wrong….. I’ll meet you there” (Rumi)

Georgia Railton-Stewart – President Joining Committee (Retired)

I stepped up for committee this year as The Joining community is like extended family to me. I’m very community focused and want to live in community on the land with my family and my Joining Family. I’ve been to the past 5 Joining  Gatherings and was Holder of the Feminine Energy in 2007. That role taught me a lot and the year long workshop of being on committee helped me grow and learn lots in a short time.  My motivation for taking on the role as President was to help me further develop my leadership skills and to share my knowledge as an experienced member of this community.

I am a mother to two beautiful young souls, Malakai and Bhala, and I run an organic fruit and veg delivery business in Brisbane with my friend and business partner Mandy. I’m also a yoga teacher and have a strong background in health and raw food nutrition and this year I will begin running Cleansing retreats with Rudran Brannock, founder of The Joining.

Annie O’Moon-Browning

My life’s journey since I was 14 years old has been one service to humanity. I set foot on the path of self discovery & transformation in my early 20’s. I am deeply committed to my integrity to my truth & to walking it every day in every way. My way to truth is through the attunement to my higher self. To taking the time to stop and listen to the gentle calling of my inner voice. And to heed its wisdom intuition & the voice of spirit.

I have spent the last 30 years immersed in many transformative paths. I meditate daily & seek the spiritual guidance of The Inner Energy centre weekly. I regularly attend Intensive weekends with Mary Ann Madden as a bridge for me between my personality & my spirituality.

I bring my gifts of perception insight & wisdom to the Joining Committee. I also share the more practical aspects of developing the Joining weekend through 30 years of successfully running my own business as a Natural Health Care Practitioner. I regularly conduct health retreats where all aspects of mind body & spirit are an integral part of the process.

I share ‘Dancing into Ecstasy’, a transformative open hearted path of authentic dance & meditation in motion throughout S-E Qld & the Northern Rivers. Through this I have found my truest inner dancer in joy fun play & sacred ritual.

I am mother to Miki, a creative talented 18 year old son whose skills embrace music & movie production. I am an individual in a committed monogamous relationship with Conrad whose passion & skills with me in Tango weave the sacred intimacy between us of the truest form of the masculine & feminine.

Brett Townsend – Treasurer

Hi,  I moved up to the Sunshine Coast from Katoomba in the Blue Mountains, NSW in February 2008.
In retrospect I feel I was drawn to the wonderful community here, the beach & warmer weather, as well as all the awesome workshops, festivals & gatherings, such as The Joining.

I feel inspired by the community’s willingness to grow, change & be who they truly are. That is what I want for myself, & why I stepped up to be on this Committee – to put my energy into helping The Joining to grow, deepen & offer positive change for those ready to do so. See you at The Joining 2010!

 

 

Peter Kroll – President Joining Committee 2010 and Mildly Erratic Human

I  joined this committee in April, feeling that I had something to offer. It remains to be seen what that is.  I have been an artist for most of my life (music and then verse), and now I’m applying that artistic sensibility as I move more into working with men.

I’m very happy to be on the Committee, and to be involved in the energetics of the Joining yet again, as I was when I was President in the past. The Joining is a creature of great beauty, and I’m glad to be offering service to it again.

 

 

Nivannii – Inquiries, Bookings & ‘Clayton’s committee member’

I have been involved with The Joining since its inception and it’s very close to my heart ♥.

In 2003 – the first Joining – I stepped forward to be the first ‘official’ Holder of the Feminine Energy (HOTFE04). I’ve been on several committees since then. Although I am not on the committee this year, I have for many years taken the bookings and enquiries for The Joining and Being Woman … I think I’m finally getting the ‘hang’ of it!! It is my endeavour to serve you to the best of my ability which I hope leads to your ease and pleasure.

I am passionate about real relating from the deepest most expanded places I can go. Through Marshall Rosenberg’s Nonviolent Communication I have learnt there are no monsters in this world. This belief has given me so much freedom, so much Love and so much Heart – we are all doing our best in this multi-varied world.

I am a mother of 3 beautiful daughters, two of which are grown with families of their own. I have 4 lovely delightful grandchildren with another one due in October!! I’m way too young for this – as Arcadia (HOTFE06) said “It’s hard to believe you have adult children yet alone being a grandmother!!” I’m also an Elder with The Joining Village – Heather Price facilitated my initiation into ‘crone-hood’.

I have recently starting facilitating monthly cuddle nights after training with Andrew Barnes. www.cuddlenights.com.au (Psst: I am available for some paid work! I’m a fantastic Admin/Manager/Events Coordinator/Accounts/Trainer/Facilitator Woman – 07 5494 3969 – nivannii.rose@gmail.com)