Barefoot Dance Wu Tao

Spoiler alert... you can still donate until the end of the week 💙💙💙 Thank you! Thank you! Thank you to everyone who has supported 20Talk.com.au through my 20Hours-no-talk fundraising challenge. I'm absolutely in awe of the generosity of people - many young university students (thanks Grace Skeggs), many who know a bit of my story and have supported me, and many who have remained anonymous. I am surprised, delighted and proud to have raised over $1000 for this organisation that offers free mental health workshops for young people, by young people. Workshops at their Fremantle office, at TAFEs and Universities. Here are some pictures of us in a shed at the Claremont Showgrounds. It was a brilliant event! (No clocks, watches, books, craft, or activities were allowed, just a journal and some pens). I have a nasty picture of the short hour of sleep I might have had... I'll post it if I get any more donations for the genius young people at 20Talk :)
https://www.20hoursfor20talk.com.au/fundraisers/gillianskeggs

Thank you to my most recent anonymous supporter 🙏 intrigued and so grateful 💙

Gillian Skeggs Gillian is taking on the 20-hour challenge to support youth mental health and raise awareness about the importance of prevention.

https://www.20hoursfor20talk.com.au/fundraisers/gillianskeggs

20TALK - supporting youth mental health. I'm a little way off my fundraising goal, so if you can spare a few dollars it would all help. This cause is very close to my heart - it was started by 2 amazing young men who lost two of their best mates to su***de in their early 20s. Their work is highly regarded and is delivered through courses at their Fremantle office, Tafes and Universities. The link to my fundraising page is https://www.20hoursfor20talk.com.au/fundrai.../gillianskeggs and their is so much information about their work on their website.
Thank you for your support ... and you may notice my FB reach is tiny, so if you feel moved to share this post on your FB page I'd be so delighted 🙏🥰 x

I am raising funds and awareness in support of 20TALK - a charitable organisation providing relatable mental health support for young people, run by young people. 20Talk provides young adults aged 18-30 with the tools and skills to tackle life's challenges. 20talk.com.au
Please support 20Talk however you can - a tax deductible donation to my fundraising page would be a great start, and much appreciated. Big love to everyone who has donated so far # # #
https://www.20hoursfor20talk.com.au/fundra.../gillianskeggs/

20Talk in support of good mental health ... especially in young people. Their passion and purpose are so important. That's why I'm sharing this info about their documentary, and taking part in raising money and awareness for their charity. I'll be sitting quietly for 20 hours at the end of March. Please share the message and follow the link to sponsor me if you can 💙 https://www.20hoursfor20talk.com.au/fundra.../gillianskeggs/

In the spirit of trying new things in 2026, and in support of good mental health, I am committed to raise awareness and raise funds for 20Talk through this 20 Hours for 20Talk Challenge.
If you feel called to support this dynamic charity, you can find out more about them and sponsor my silence here - https://www.20hoursfor20talk.com.au/fundra.../gillianskeggs/
Please share the link with anyone you think might be able to sponsor the event - or anyone who might like to take part, I believe they are still accepting participants.
with thanks and lots of love, gillie
https://www.20hoursfor20talk.com.au/fundra.../gillianskeggs/

Do you know the phrase 'The Earth laughs in flowers'?
It's a line famously attributed to Ralph Waldo Emerson. It sounds so lovely, flowers and laughing. The phrase is actually only 'Earth laughs in flowers' and it is written in his poem 'Hamatreya'.
I have been guilty of misappropriating this line in the past with glorious pictures of flowers, totally unaware of the context of the phrase in the poem.

The third line of the second stanza of Hamatreya begins -
"Earth laughs in flowers, to see her boastful boys
Earth-proud, proud of the earth which is not theirs;
Who steer the plough, but cannot steer their feet
Clear of the grave".

Enjoy this glorious picture of flowers taken during a recent trip to Vienna and, perhaps, enjoy adding a new layer of meaning to the the phrase, celebrating the awareness of earth's living relationship to each of us and our essential relationship to nature.

You can read the whole poem here https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/52341/hamatreya

reminded of this favourite quote today & noticed I seem to have somehow deleted it from my earlier posts x
reposting today in honour of one of my favourite people x

Welcome 🌱

The Winter Solstice was marked here a couple of nights ago with a ferocious storm. The rain was torrential, lightning electrified the sky and thunder was so intense that a piece fell from one of our light fittings. The dog cowered under the bed. This exquisite expression of winter weather lasted only the night and by morning the sky was blue again and weather mild.

Wu Tao, as a dance therapy, was created in the philosophy of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). in TCM, the season of Winter relates to the Water element, where Water is an aspect of the Great Mother. Winter is the time to build, strengthen and store our energy.

In the Wu Tao Water Dance we imagine ourselves as a tiny seed, burrowed into the sand, in the depths of the ocean. We are protected, safely nestled in the womb of the Great Mother. Within the seed is our pure potential and we receive from Mother Nature everything we need to grow and flourish. The Great Mother nourishes and nurtures us. While the ocean may be stormy around us, we are firmly anchored safely in the embrace of the Great Mother. We are safe and we are cared for.

Whenever we experience fear, lack energy, or feel like we are holding on too tightly to control, the Wu Tao Water Dance can bring us gently back to centre, to reconnect with our inner strength and inner knowing, to trust in the impeccable process of Life 🌊