Wendy’s voice is full of love and laughter, honest and deep, daring to go to places many others avoid. Her voice shares the beauty in nature, people and life in all its imperfection and purity. Her intelligence, wisdom and kindness are revealed with her words, a joy to those blessed to read or hear them. Dr Georgina Gibson
Image: Doris Zagdanski and Wendy Haynes
Community Conversations about Living and Dying
There’s something deeply grounding about walking through Bilkbilkmi Gorge, the quiet, the steady presence of the land, the trees, the plants, the rocks. We are offering this retreat not in the form of long formal practices or sitting in a meditation hall. The land itself will be our guide. We’ll…
Read BlogDear Peter, We talked about this moment, and now you have gone before us. I have no doubt that you are well and at peace, maybe even documenting the journey along the way, though I suspect that there is no need to take pictures anymore. My tears are for Willa,…
Read BlogI’d like to extend an invitation to join a small group of us for something deeply personal and quietly radical: an in-person Ongo retreat—the first in 14 years. It is to be held in Bali near where the authors of Ongo, Catherine and Jesse, have been living these past few…
Read BlogDon’t meditate to fix yourself, to heal yourself, to improve yourself, to redeem yourself; rather, do it as an act of love, of deep warm friendship to yourself. In this way there is no longer any need for the subtle aggression of self-improvement, for the endless guilt of not doing…
Read BlogWhen a family chooses to honour a loved one, every decision becomes a thread in the fabric of their remembrance. For Jacqui’s family, each detail of her ceremony was thoughtfully chosen — from the music to the flowers, to the setting itself. They took care of every arrangement, crafting a…
Read BlogOn Monday 2nd June at 7pm, we begin A Taste of Ongo — a three-week ONLINE journey of connection, care, and grounding. (Or, in three days you can join us in person in Bellingen) This THREE SESSION program offers a rich immersion into mindful practice, deep listening, empathy, and self-empathy…
Read BlogDo you long for space to walk in silence, sleep under stars, and reconnect with what truly matters? Do you yearn for companions on that journey — people who savour poetry, meaningful connection, and the wild beauty of untouched places? This mindfulness walking retreat isn’t hours of seated meditation or…
Read BlogThis too is Sacred An Ongo: Everyday Nonviolence Retreat to Embody: Compassion in Action – For Whatever Arises “This Too Is Sacred” reminds us that we were made for these times—not by accident, but by design. In moments of chaos, struggle, or uncertainty, this phrase can become an anchor, gently…
Read BlogIn the quiet beauty of autumn, we gathered to listen deeply, write bravely, and share the gift of language in a landscape that stirs the soul. A week of warmth, creativity, and connection with poet, Mark Tredinnick and friends sung to by the Snowy River and held by mountains, stories,…
Read Blog“Love recognizes no barriers. It jumps hurdles, leaps fences, penetrates walls to arrive at its destination full of hope.” Maya Angelou
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