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Allowing Nature to Nurture in the Midst of a Changing Climate

Centre

Mary MacKillop Spirituality Centre, Central Coast

Date

07/03/26 - 08/03/26

Facilitator

Mandy Cox

Price

$450 excl. GST | $495 incl. GST

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Using grief as a doorway to find new hope in the midst of climate despair, this retreat will provide a space to reflect, listen and come together as a community in order to express some of the impacts that our changing climate is having on us on a day-to-day basis.
Over the two days there will be opportunities to reconnect with nature through the serene and beautiful surrounds of the Retreat Centre; to stop and listen to some of the deeper feelings and expressions that form the grief that you may be experiencing; and to allow the transformative nature of grief to move you into a place of hope and action as you re-enter your world.
“When we look (at our grief), when we take it in our hands… then it turns. It turns to reveal its other face, and the other face of our pain for the world is our love for the world, our absolutely inseparable connectedness with all life.” (Joanne Macy, in an interview with Krista Tippett).
“Is sorrow the true wild? And if it is — and if we join them — your wild to mine — what’s that? For joining, too, is a kind of annihilation. What if we joined our sorrows, I’m saying. I’m saying: What if that is joy?” Ross Gay (taken from The Book of Delights)

Details:
Start: Saturday, March 7 at 4pm
Finish: Sunday, March 8 at 2pm
Silent Retreat: No
Price: AU$495 ($450+GST) includes facilitation, accommodation and catering

Facilitator: Mandy Cox

Growing up in Melbourne, my adult life has taken me to many parts of Australia, working in ministry with my husband whilst raising our three children. Settling in Newcastle NSW in 2019, I now work in private practice as a Counsellor, Supervisor and Spiritual Director.
My professional life has evolved from working in administration, church planting and church ministry to specialising in grief, loss and change through counselling and spiritual direction. I have worked in a range of organisations in Darwin, Canberra and Newcastle, including Palliative Care (NT), SIDS and Kids (ACT), ACT Coronial Counselling, Canberra Grief Centre (Co-Founder), MacKillop Seasons (trainer in Seasons for Healing program) and as part of the Listen into Life Spiritual Formation team (NSW).

More recently I have focussed on my own business, Urban Sparrow Counselling & Supervision Services, which allows me to provide counselling, supervision and Spiritual Direction as well as facilitate workshops and retreats, with a focus on grief, loss and transformation.

Moving around Australia has afforded me the thrill (and challenge!) of experiencing life in many contexts. Settling in Newcastle brings with it new opportunities to connect with family, community and the landscape, which is both rich and at times exhilarating.

Qualifications: Dip Missiology, Bachelor of Ministry, Spiritual Director (WellSpring Vic.), Master of Arts in Counselling, Grad Cert in Supervision.

Registrations:
PACFA registered Counsellor and Supervisor. Registration no: 23451
Climate Aware Practitioner (Psychology for Safe Climate)
Member of NALAG (National Association for Loss and Grief)
Victims Services NSW Counsellor