WHOLEHEARTED

How can we live differently, resist being reduced to defining ourselves only as individuals, measuring our worth only by what we can do or get done, exhausting ourselves with the daily grind of keeping all the necessary plates spinning? We can stop, come together, create a sanctuary of colour, rest and connectedness, remember who we are and how we are. We can re-discover how to live together wholeheartedly.

So, on an ordinary day last November, the Orts collective made space for extraordinary. Under endless bunting and beautiful sari drapes in St Matthews Parish Hall, fuelled by exotic scents and a generous table of amazing food, we ditched shop-bought “self-care” and opted instead for a mini festival of wholeheartedness. Key elements included: creativity with sari-lamp making (thanks Liz), crochet (thanks Jodie) and bag-making (thanks Kate) resting with stillness and a sound-bath (thanks Ana & Lauren); dancing (thanks Irene); wondering together in a Deep Talk story (thanks Liane) and feasting (thanks to everyone’s loving and generous contributions).

I think the wording on the cape that Kate wore - Love is the answer - was so powerful. It spoke of what the space was about, women coming together and being able to be in a space free from their burdens or to un-burden themselves for a time while they were there. I loved dancing together, it felt so good to dance freely with other women, to smile and laugh and move our bodies, so good for our wellbeing. I heard someone say, “when was the last time that this many women took this much time out for themselves?!” And “It was so important to have this opportunity, to nourish one another with good food and good conversation, with love and to allow some level of healing and restoration to take place before we had to take up our burdens again.

Anna Hembury

EofUs supported the Orts love-in with a bag and patch making workshop. Our “IwHU3” bags inspired many to create their own. Working with Orts beautiful fabrics women decided on a shape and saying that suited before taking to sewing machines, hand stitch and embellishment to complete mighty fine shoppers.

JOIN