Cringe AoCs, birthing a baby workshop, and a call for cloth blacksmiths
G’day yous mob,
I hope whatever you’re doing, you’re doing it with purpose.
Me? Life’s in a constant cycle of create and deliver. So let’s break it down.
--
Deliver.
Acknowledge This! is going strong.
Since Emma left, I’ve had this unexpected gift: space. Space to trial new content within the content. Because, as you can imagine, running the same workshop for five years can get a little repetitive. The irony? I teach people to get off scripts - and I’d sometimes catch myself becoming the script.
Now I’m playing with a new balance called State vs Script. Yes, I know how to answer your question about “emerging Elders” the polished way... but these days I might just say:
“Stuff it, let’s see what happens if I answer this completely differently.”
Highly recommend.
--
Create.
Did I mention I’ve been building something new for the past six months? I’m sure I have.
It’s called Authentic You - a ceremony disguised as a workshop. My relationship with it is... intense. Kind of how I imagine women must feel knowing they’re about to birth an actual child:
Excited. Nervous. Random sweating. Sometimes I cry at night. Definitely feeling my baby kicking and wanting to get out.
And now, a request:
Can you help me?
Without getting too much into it, all you gotta know is that during the ceremony workshop, participants will be out on Country in a designated safe environmental natural facility. On this walk, they will have an adventurers pack bags. In the bags, there will be items.
One of the items: a pouch. I want to make a snack pouch. Specifically to hold dried fruit (thank you Emma for this suggestion).
Here’s the thing: I could buy generic ones from Temu... but Authentic You is about authenticity. So why not make them? Properly.
I need 100 pouches.
I don’t have the gear, so...
Do you (or someone you know) do a bit of cloth blacksmithing?
I’ve sketched out a design (see below). Open to ideas on materials, styles, whatever. Let’s make it fun. Let’s make it real.
An (almost) rant.
I reckon Acknowledgements of Country are becoming more bureaucratic... and more cringe.
Heard one the other day at a theatre:
7pm, lights up, 700 people finding their seats, pre-show murmur filling the air. Then - out of nowhere - a pre-recorded Welcome to Country blasts through the speakers.
The murmurs stop for 5 seconds (because we think the show’s about to start)... then come right back.
Why? Because there was no life in it.
People think I’m always in the “for” camp when it comes to Acknowledgements. I’m not. It’s not about “should” or “shouldn’t.”
It’s simple:
Do one if you want to. But if you’re going to do it, for the love of Country, put some heart into it.
--
Finally, I'd like to make a mention to someone very important to me. My Business Manager, Kate. Kate (or, as I like to call her - Captain) is integral to the operation of Modern Custodian, but more than that, she embodies what it means to be one. Kate works behind the scenes. She does the contracts, the calendar invites, the money stuff. She stays out of the spotlight, but make no mistake, she shines her own light. A general needs his captain, and Kate leads with precision, high standards and accountability. She keeps me sane.
Thank you Kate.
--
Well dassit from me, mates. As always - Acknowledge This every fortnight on Zoom - and I'll be in Melbourne from Tuesday 9 Sept to Friday 12 Sept, and then Sydney from Tuesday 30 Sept to Friday 3 Oct - so get in touch if you're wanting an in person workshop.
Some really, really cool things coming up with Authentic You (a fitting sentence!). All in good time though.
Wherever you are and whatever you're doing, do it with purpose. Do it with love.
Rhys