CLUB HUMAN

Club Human is a consistent and reliable space and time for being human in a world that increasingly encroaches upon this.

A once-a-week, drop-in. In Abbotsford 2046, by the wharf.
I am flexible on arranging a time with whoever is interested.

“Human beings are not machines; we are something more. We have feeling and experience. Material comforts are not sufficient to satisfy us. We need something deeper — human affection,” -Dalai Lama

At the club, we move through five experiences. Borne out of the legacy of Joanna Macy, 'environmental activist, author and scholar of Buddhism, general systems theory and deep ecology'.

The first is to re-member our wider body (10mins)
Asking questions like, Where do I land? What carried me here? Where am I at home? Where do I feel myself held? Where do I feel connected? A part?

• To ground.
• To counter anthropocentrism by reminding us of our sense of belonging and interconnectedness.
• To address the loneliness epidemic.

The second, is to honour our pain (10 mins)
This experience permits us to express our deepest and darkest feelings about what’s happening. Permission to be free to go against culturally accepted norms of "pushing away bad feelings", "always putting on a happy face, "and "not giving into negativity". Resulting in an epidemic of sickness, disempowerment and apathy. We honour our pain...

• To counter the loss of how to be with each other in a world of technology.
• To counter the pathologization of human experience.
• To counter the medicalisation of human experience.
• To counter the stigma of distress.
• To accept and embrace that which we would reject, repress, compartmentalise, numb through psych drugs...etc
• To re-associate with what it is to be human, to feel.
• To remember how to be real with each other.
• To re-discover trust and faith that no harm will come from expressing ourselves fully. To address the fear of vulnerability.
• To re-discover trust and faith that no harm will come from supporting each other sincerely. To address the loss of trust in each other.
• Whilst holding the truth that harm does happen. Whilst learning how to be safe with each other, reducing harm, and, when we inevitably make mistakes, learning how to repair.
• To make space for experiencing community to come out of isolation.
• To do so without so-called 'experts' to recognise each other's wisdom.

The third is to cultivate mutual care (10mins)
This experience welcomes silence and gives us a break from the usual way of engaging in things. Talking. It is a practice called 'Metta' meditation. So what's the big deal about Metta? For me, the heart of compassion is being able to respond to pain with love. And in my experience just like anything. Loving kindness is a muscle. If we don’t tend to it. We don’t know what to do with pain. We don’t know how to care.
In this session we will take turns in guiding the meditation. All playing the role of teacher and student. Developing and maintaining our practice as we support others. Or vice versa developing and maintaining our support of others as well practice.

• To listen to our needs and respond with care.
• To extend this care beyond ourselves.

The fourth, is to see with new eyes, and/or go forth (10mins)
This is an opportunity to acknowledge power. Recognise our own capacity to participate in what Joanna Macy called the "Great Turning," a shift from a life-destroying society to a life-sustaining one.

• To re-evaluate our capacity and agency.
• To see how we feel about this now, and what this gives rise to.
• To support being engaged.

The fifth, is to rejoice in others' welfare/ wellbeing (10mins)
I learnt from Ajahn Nisabho, that the Buddha defined 'Mudita' as 'the cure for discontent'. I have erred toward altruistic joy as an English translation. If you'd asked me ten years ago if I could delight in another's well-being. Delight in another's welfare. Perhaps I would have replied, 'What are you talking about?!. Life's a lot brighter when happiness isn't based on getting something in a world that isn't mine. A lot brighter when rejoicing isn't based on someone's or some being's expense. I feel like mudita is direct frontline activism, an antidote to inequality.

1. To uplift the mind.
2. To counter misery, melancholy, desolation, etc., what has become an 'Depression' epidemic.
3. To counter hyper-individualism, competitiveness, greed, and conceit.
4. And to grow communities of mutualism.

Social at Sydney Rowers Club
Some folks have expressed a wish for social time before or after. Especially those that wish to travel some way. Sydney Rowers Club is across the road and will be open. For any sensory stimulation, sensitive folks like myself, it can be noisy and busy. Perhaps a walk is something more preferred. There's great bush in this area.

CLUB HUMAN is given freely. I am not requiring anyone to pay to attend. Instead, I’m inviting us to remember what it was like before everything became commodified. To remember what it was, to be in a reciprocal relationship that creates sustainability for all. To be part of a natural ecosystem of generosity. So donation is optional. You don’t need to make this decision now. You are welcome to have the experience and sense into what feels right. I practice financial transparency on Patreon. The venue I'm hiring costs $50/hr to use. If you wish to ask for more financial transparency, go right ahead! Thank you!

ACCESSIBILITY AND SAFETY:

I am trained in numerous alternative mental health modalities. Alt2su, Emotional CPR, and Spiritual Care ('Mental Health Ministry' intro and CPE1). I am a psychiatric abolitionist. Everything I offer is free of coercive carcarel so-called 'help'. Whilst I have some training, this event is about skill share and building communities of care. And so I welcome all others' wisdom in supporting each other's distress. And will promote shared facilitation.

The venue entrance is wheelchair accessible. And the toilet is wheelchair accessible too!

And in regard to lighting, I have a few candles. I'm thinking no electricity, and by candlelight, will be best if at night.

There is a bus stop with the bus no. 438x coming to and from the city regularly.

There is also the Abbotsford Ferry Wharf with the F3 Circular Quay to Parramatta service directly opposite the venue.

Email [mudita4all@proton.me](mailto:mudita4all@proton.me) for any further access needs, and I will do my best to accommodate.

This offering will only go ahead with a minimum of 5 people confirmed/attending. Thank you.