Green Heart Ecotherapy

27/09/2025

There's a podcast called 'the guilty feminist' which always starts with 'I'm a feminist, but...', trying to normalise the imperfect efforts we make towards what we value most. This comes to mind as I'm feeling similarly around my hope of bringing community, ritual and nature into all aspects of my life. Of trying to walk the walk.

I had hoped that a year of maternity leave might pivot me fully into these values - and in some ways it has - bumping into fellow parents or neighbours as I walk around the local lake, showing my son the minutia of nature's joys, and feeling my heart explode when he gets excited to be shown a new tree trunk that he can excitedly touch. But in other ways, I am not doing as much as I'd like or maybe had expected.

My marking of the equinoxes is most where I like to pour into these values. So with the same intention as that podcast, I will say... I'm a creature of the earth, but... I am taking a moment to mark the Spring Equinox almost a week late (it was on tuesday) by showcasing the blooming flowers in my little townhouse courtyard - rather than from some wild exploring. And by acknowledging the blooming in my now 7 month old son, who in turn has allowed me to boom into the role of mother.

Have you been noticing Spring in full fling? Have you been noticing what is wanting to bust forth in you, as the flowers bloom?

Comment below a photo from your spring wanderings, or what is blooming for you right now and help me mark this turning of the seasons.

06/08/2025

Firekeepers is the playground I've been able to deepen into both nature connection and belonging. If you're craving more of both, and want to share this craving with others - you're not alone. It might be just what the world needs. If you want to join them, there's still some places in their upcoming mentor immersion training! Also, follow the link below to find out more about the next Village Camp, this spring school holidays. https://www.firekeepers.com.au/event/spring-village-camp-2025/

21/03/2025

Yesterday was the autumn equinox, the point of balance between the light and dark. I've not been getting out into nature much recently with the birth of my son 6 weeks ago, life stripping back to the basics of making sure we are fed, one or two chores and lots of time nursing and connecting with this fresh little being. As he gets a little older, and I am getting more confident with this mothering business, we're starting to venture out more.

Today we made it to our local creek and I marked the equinox as I like to do, with a nature mandala. This practice connects me to deeper parts of myself and also to the turning of the seasons. Did my son wake up and want to get out of the carrier straight afterwards, just as we began to get rained on? Of course. I did my best to stay connected to the wildness of the raindrops on my face as I covered my little one and dashed home.

Last year I held a picnic on 'stories of summer' and I was happy that everyone that attended were dear friends, even though I made it a public event. The more the years roll by, one equinox or solstice after the next, I am grateful for this page that was born out of the pandemic and never quite reached real 'business ' status. I see it more these days as a way to offer these practices and connect with others who feel called to bring ritual, community and nature into their lives. When I run a workshop, it's as much for me as for those who attend.

As the year dips towards cooler weather and longer nights, I hope to reconnect with these parts of myself also. Thank you for being a kindred spirit in this. It gives me hope for the world.

🍂

21/12/2024

Happy Summer Solstice for yesterday to all of you. I watched the sun dip below the horizon as the day came to a close and noticed the beautiful pause of breath that is the Solstice before the breath out begins again.

Thanks to Eva for holding our Summer Solstice ritual this year. I'm enjoying the fullness of being 8 months pregnant this Solstice, listening to my body to slow down. I'm so happy this could continue in my absence. It gives me a lot of joy.

I wish you all joy in your own ways as we travel into the breath out, together.

21/06/2024

We are looking forward to our day in nature, with spaciousness and self to mark the the Winter Solstice. Come and join us.

https://events.humanitix.com/winter-soltice-forest-immersion-and-art-for-wellbeing

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13/06/2024

Come and join us...

The days are getting colder and the darkness is getting earlier. I know I've been feeling the call to slow down and create spaciousness for myself as the Winter Solstice approaches. I'm happy to have the chance to do so in good company - both human and non-human in the beautiful Organ Pipes National Park next weekend.

If you're thinking of joining Eva Vani and I (Evani Art Therapy & Counselling and Green Heart Ecotherapy ) at this upcoming event, you'll be pleased to know there are still a few places left. It's time - return to nature, creativity and self as we let go of the old and embrace the seeds of the new.

See you next week!

In solidarity
Amy x

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02/06/2024

Winter is upon us, the mornings are crisp and the nights are getting longer. Come and join us in marking the Winter Solstice at Organ Pipes National Park, just 30 minutes from Melbourne.

The Winter Solstice is a time to slow down and turn inward, to help release what is ready to be released and make way for the seeds of change that might come as the flowers of spring emerge. We will be exploring nature connection practices and playing with nature art to help us mark the shortest day and longest night.

This event has been running since 2020 and Eva from Evani Art Therapy & Counselling and I are excited to be back with this half day event to mark the cycles of the year at this beautiful spot together.

We hope to see you there.

Amy 🌿

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24/03/2024

Thanks to those that came to our autumn equinox picnic. It was a spacious and relaxing afternoon that felt truly nourishing. Stories of gardens, summer nature adventures and our lives flowed easily as we ate food made with love.

We reflected our nature mandala reminded us of balance and the four directions. We had the sounds of Persian new years as we gathered, another type of equinox celebration. As the world continues it's turbulence, I hope you are able to find some time to mark the balance in your life, as nights lengthen and we begin to turn inward.

The Kulin people call this season Monomeeth, where mornings become cooler and rain comes to re-enliven the parched earth. Enjoy this season and what it brings

24/12/2023

Thanks to all those who came and celebrated the Solstice with us on Friday! It was wonderful to be amongst the trees as the sun dipped below the horizon, with others keen to tune into the cycle of the Sun. Thanks as always to the wonderful Evani Creative Therapies for co-facilitating and bringing all her summer energy to lead us in art and reflection together.
Happy Solstice and happy holidays to everyone.
x

22/09/2022

Tomorrow is the Spring Equinox here in the southern hemisphere. Again, we are invited to celebrate the equal balance of day and night. I'm here on a nature connection camp with the Firekeepers Community and made a beautiful nature mandala with some of the children here this morning. I invite you and your family to do the same between now and Sunday evening, and post in the comments here. Happy Spring equinox to you all.

31/08/2022

Welcome to Spring everyone!

PAREIP (Spring) is here 🙂 and flowers are opening everywhere. Keep your eyes out for the BARROWORN ( Magpie), they are protecting their young now, as it is the season of the nesting birds.
The GARRONG (Black Wattle) slowly begin to flower, dropping their flowers in the CORINELLA (Running Water) to let the Bunurong who are now down in the low lands know that the KOON-WARRA (Swan) eggs are ready to collect. It is the return of the EOKE (EEL) which brings much celebration and YAIN YANG ( Dance). The BAGGAROOK ( Women) decorate their hair with the flowers of the murnong and the kangaroo apple, the Murnong and yams are beginning to flower indicating the tubers are nearly ready to eat. MURNALONGS ( Bees) are swarming and the BEEK(Country) is filled with the sound of movement as the birds and animals awake with the return of the NOWEENTH ( Sun). As the days warm up the beautiful BOLLAM BOLLAM ( Butterfly) emerge and the Bunurong begin to set up WILLAM ( Camp) closer to the WARRAIN ( Ocean), here they can enjoy fishing from the rocks and eat an abundance of green leafy foods that are now available. It is now time where day and night are equal and colour to the land has returned. PAREIP my favourite time of the year. All of the seasonal stories are available in my book https://danceoftheplants.org/books… stunning artwork by Judy Prosser

19/06/2022

Thanks to all those who attended the Winter Solstice Forest Immersion yesterday in the sunshine. Eva and I had a great day. The Winter Solstice itself is this Tuesday and we hope you all have a beautiful day marking it in your own way. Fire, darkness, release... Fertile soil for planting the seeds for what's to come.

Thanks to Eva Vani Art Therapy for co-creating the day. Check out her Page and give her a like to see what she's dreaming up next.

https://www.facebook.com/search/top?q=eva%20vani%20art%20therapy