Booking link for September 2108
Weavery, culture and consciousness.
You’re sitting in a space where clarity pervades, a space where you feel free and safe and nurtured. Nature surrounds you, from the scattered pieces of stripped and soaked fibre to the dappled shade of the patient tree under which you are sitting. You are aware of what your fingers are doing but at the same time, they are off on travels of their own as they twirl and twist away, immersed in a game of their own making where the creation of a basket or sculpture is the outcome. Your fingers reflect the movement of others`, and as a circle of nimble fingers do their business, so do the hearts of the weavers, intertwining and connecting with each other through shared stories and smiles and insights. This is sacred work, this is tapping into the divine, into the creative force that flows throughout the universe, that makes the universe come alive as we feel a deep sense of belonging, of knowingness of our place within it. This is a space beyond words, where language and culture can meet and commune through connection to nature and the powerful energy of creative practice. It is a practice of active meditation.
Indigenous cultures throughout the world have a long lineage of this practice of basketry. The wisdom embodied in the weave reflects the warp and weft of life, of cultural and community connection, of heart- based living in tune with the natural environment. This knowledge has been handed down, parent to child, grandparent to grandchild, since time began, and tapping into this practice reignites memories that bring us back to these times of our forefathers (and mothers). When we connect through the practice of basketry with weavers from diverse cultures, especially Indigenous cultures on their traditional soil, we have the opportunity to share and learn from each other through roots that still traverse the earth as they have done for lifetimes.
Through the practice of preparing and weaving with natural fibres straight from the earth, we connect with the deep sentience, healing power and wisdom of the plant kingdom and become aware of how our natural ecology expresses itself with life-enhancing intelligence. As we are opened to new levels of knowledge that are sustainable and interconnected, we become deeply rooted in the growth of our own consciousness – with roots that can sustain the growth of a healthier community and culture.
Rene Bahloo of Weavery leads basketry expeditions to weave consciously with Indigenous people of the earth – in Arnhem Land (Australia) and Southern Africa. She also facilitates local workshops and weekend weaving retreats.
Search #arnhemweavingjourney for feed and photos of previous journeys
I’m so excited to be taking people out to spend time with my precious adopted family in Gunbalanya, Arnhem Land, Northern Territory. It is a total privilege to be accepted into their lives and homes as a true sister, daughter, and aunty. Ngalbangardi, they call me. I share my life back, in return, I support and connect, share and learn and teach – they come to my home on the Sunshine Coast to connect with my friends and family, to see new horizons filled with the similarity of beautiful hearts. Twenty years this has been in the pipeline – since my first stay on community. Finally, after much consultation (and back and forth travel), earning respect (and giving love) by being patient, open and honest, I have created the space to be able to share this gift with the world of weavers and non-weavers alike, Indigenous and non-indigenous, to come and experience, first hand, the joy of family, earth connection, and Indigenous cultural ways, all part of a much ‘bigger picture’ relationship of mutual respect and cultural exchange feeding back into itself to ensure long-term sustainability.
Come on an amazing journey deep into the heart of remote Indigenous Australia. Share special times, weaving with family and new friends, experience the ancient art of basket weaving through cultural immersion. Learn about traditional culture as you walk the land, collecting pandanus and natural bush dyes. Sit with mother earth as you learn to split and prepare premium fibre which is exclusive to this beautiful place on our planet. Be in a space of nurture and allow the strong spirit of the land soothe and heal you, to reset your compass. Come with me, and you will see the precious gift of weaving our lives together, through an ancient cultural lineage, in a way that you will change you forever.
This is the trip for you if:
It makes your heart sing to think of experiencing such a unique opportunity.
You are loving, open minded and willing to learn in ways that you never expected.
You are a happy, adventirous spirit, or practicing to be one.
You are open to personal growth and self-development.
You are open to the healing that this experience could bring to you.
You trust in your ability to manifest this journey as a gift to honour yourself, and to allow the magic you receive to flow outwards and spread as a gift to those you love.
This is not the trip for you if:
You have preconceived ideas about the nature of your experience.
You have any fixed judgements, racial or otherwise.
You want to meet some remote-living Indigenous women so that you can start up trips of your own.
You are disrespectful of the relationship that I share with the weavers, as they are my family, or you are disrespectful to them.
You sport an attitude of exclusion rather than inclusion.
The adventure includes transport from Darwin and back, accommodation in shared comfortable bungalows in Jabiru (with a pool), transport in and out of the community, all permits to enter aboriginal land, special fibre for a small basket, all tuition and the most amazing trip to Injalak hill (world heritage rock art site).
Each room has a fridge, sink and tea/coffee making place, please note that these awesome bush bungalow rooms are 3 person share. ($50 extra to shotgun the double bed).
Due to booking demands and factors outside our control, alternative accommodation may be substituted. Some of these alternative accommodation configurations include 5 person-share rooms. If this is not to your liking, more private accommodations can be arranged, at extra cost.
(Catered) Meals are catered for: self-cook breakfast, picnic lunches, evening meals. Tea and coffee is included, other drinks are BYO.
Catered trips – your investment is $2450.
Self- catered trips – $2050.
To book your place, a non-refundable deposit of $400 is required.
Booking link for all Weavery events
Booking link for Arnhem Journey September 2108
Booking link for Arnhem Journey May 2019
Booking link for Arnhem Journey July 2019
If you have a group of people that you would like to share the trip with exclusively – I am happy to guide the journey in terms of transport (I have appropriate legal licencing requirements), resources, permissions (from a variety of sources), logistics and organisational requirements, and allow you to experience the trip with the degree of facilitation that suits your needs. In thse situations, I will quote a fixed price for the trip. This ends up being much more economical for the individual as part of a group situation. Please email or message me for further details or a quote.
Testimonials 2018
I did the last trip with Rene in July 2018. I didn’t really know what to expect but I was drawn to the idea of “A meaningful travel experience filled with the richness and joy of connection, healing and personal growth”. And I could get this while doing the thing I love best- weaving?
The trip was about a lot more than weaving. To actually witness and participate in the stunning process of going on country, gathering pandanus with women connected to this country, foraging for the natural dyes to use, being shown how to strip the pandanus and then preparing the dyes and then dying the stripped pieces was a truly amazing process. I had no idea, and can attest that my imagination could not have taken me close to the experience. You actually have to be there, as the saying goes. Those bundles of dyed pandanus at the end of the day was truly remarkable as are my memories of it.
But the trip is about much more than that. It is to also be in the presence of the amazing Rene who ‘held’ this process in an incredible allowing way. This was new to behold and I really valued everything that Rene bought to the trip, including her incredible and tireless strength in loading up the troopee everyday and always making sure that we had everything we needed, including nourishing food and an amazing person to prepare our food for us. This was a real treat.
What Rene offers you on this trip cannot be bought through any kind of ‘commercial’ exercise or tour. Not even close. A number of women on this July trip were there for a second time and I can see why you would return because there is no where else, I know, where you can go and get this wide ranging, unique cultural participation in as I have said a ‘stunning process’ steered by a stunning women committed to her real and substantial relationships with Aboriginal women and other community members of the Gunbalanya Aboriginal community in west Arnhem Land in the Northern Territory of Australia.
You will indeed experience connection, healing and personal growth. Oh, and by the way, I also learnt new techniques in weaving using the beautiful pandanus, saw amazing rock art, and purchased some amazing art pieces from the Injalak Arts Centre which sells amazing artistic works from a variety artists from the Gunbalanya community and surrounding outstations. Should you wish to ask me any questions about my experience I am happy to be contacted on 0413966938.
Liz, Sydney, NSW
I was mildly skeptical about the uniqueness of the experience and the value for money that this pretty expensive journey would deliver when I booked; but it was an experience as a fibre artist that I had been longing for for many years.
Given that my expectations were low, I was more than blown away by the joys and rewards that this trip delivered.
Renee is a remarkable, inspiring, knowledgeable and capable Amazonian woman whose relationship with the Gunbalanya weavers is one of genuine friendship and authenticity; it’s obvious that this working relationship has been patiently built over many years and it is this relationship which enables such a unique and non-touristy experience.
The daily drive from Jabiru into Arnhem land and across the East Alligator river to the Gunbalanya community was action packed with some awesome crocodile antics in the river, great bird watching moments and stunning stone country scenery.
Driving around the community to pick up the weaving ladies and run errands for the locals was an education and we gained much insight into aboriginal community life from both Rene and the ladies; Christine, Priscilla and Lyn.
The process of picking the pandanus was fun and strangely addictive. Wandering through the grasslands identifying and collecting dye materials was a revelation.
On our first day after the pandanus picking and dye collecting, we set up camp by a beautiful waterfall/billabong where we prepared the dye materials and were shown the intricate process of stripping and preparing the pandanus fibre in preparation for dyeing and weaving. This was one of many profound moments for me on this journey, sitting cross legged on the ground in this stunning setting, listening to the bird calls above and the ladies chattering in language, pounding plant matter on rocks, whilst fires were lit for dye baths and lunch was prepared by the beautiful Ajuna, daughter of Rene.
I experienced such a strong sense of peace and joy in this timeless setting shared with these remarkable women. I experienced many more moments such as these in the following days, rich with visual beauty, new skills learned and stories shared.
I cannot recommend highly enough this experience if you are into indigenous culture and art, weaving, natural dyes, warm weather, stunning landscapes, phenomenal rock art, inspiring art centres, beautiful women and are after a unique and authentic experience.
Lisa White, Balingup Western Australia.
Just a few words about my second weaving and culture trip to Arnhem Land. The opportunity to return this year was a wonderful surprise and I jumped in with both feet, I knew that beautiful place was not finished with me yet.
Once again there were many heart opening, grounding and delightful surprises. My weaving even improved. Sharing stories and learning so much from our most generous hosts on their country are deeply treasured memories.
Travelling with Rene is a lesson in letting go, letting life flow and is a lot of fun. Great food prepared by the beautiful Ajuna, being fed is such a treat.
Being immersed in nature, yarning and laughing lots, incredible rock art, gathering pandanus, collecting dye and weaving. Being with the Ladies on their country and just listening and learning.
So many layers to this experience, it is difficult to describe. I can only say it is one of the most unique, authentic and life affirming experiences I have had.
Meg, Sunshine Coast, Qld
Testimonials 2017
This is the most extraordinary incredible soul warming experience!! If you are even remotely considering it – then I’d recommend taking the leap and going. The friendships I made and the privilege of sitting alongside women who shared their amazing knowledge so graciously has altered my heart forever. It was very cool. The kind of cool you can’t even imagine when you read it on paper! You are a very special ‘guide’ Rene! I’m not sure that is the right word – maybe if we understand ‘guide’ as being a facilitator with heart, human connector, relationship builder, sharer of knowledge, driver / counselor, solver of all problems including swollen river crossings (!!!!) – well maybe that would be a start! Freaking awesome experience!
Renee, Brisbane, Qld
When trying to decide if I should take this journey I read some reviews of previous travellers. One stood out to me, it said something like “ if you are even just considering going on this trip …. do it” So I did and I am so grateful that reviewer took the time. Having said that I have taken an age to write this. I am really struggling to find words that do justice to my experience. It was a journey of so many layers, and so removed from my usual existence that words do not come easily. The feeling of crossing the river at Cahills Crossing for the first time, the feeling of travelling into another world, to describe the ancient and powerful landscape. Then you meet the people. Generous, funny, awesome teachers, who took us to their country, their places, told us their stories. We learnt about, gathered and prepared materials for dyeing. We learnt about gathered and stripped pandanus. We dyed that pandanus and learnt different weaving techniques, some of us more successfully than others, that didn’t matter, you could always go and stir the dye pot. We laughed and talked and listened, learnt some language. Played with the delightful children and looked out for Ginga (crocodile). Returning to our comfy camp at night, with an awesome group of women, we cooked and shared and laughed some more. All the while Rene is facilitating, guiding, teaching and taking care of us. I am so grateful that Rene has this passion for sharing culture, and taking others on these journeys. There were so many moments I would love to share, far too many. In the end this was a very personal journey that for me was very profound. But if the idea excites you even a little bit ……do it.
Megan New, Sunshine Coast, Qld
Testimonial 2016
Have you ever wanted to immerse yourself in indigenous culture? Most tours give you a tourist’s view that separates you from reality; a peep through the window. My five-day journey with Rene introduced me to her family and we spent five days with three indigenous women.As we collected pandanus for fibre and seeds, leaves and roots for dyeing, friendships were flowering. We learnt and experienced culture alongside learning about the processing and weaving of fibre and it was an absolute joy and privilege. I can’t express my gratitude enough to these women and Rene for the depth of connection to culture; stories, places, language, ways of being, relationships, to name but a few aspects. I have returned home with Arnhem vibrating in my body and so much to recall and think about. A life-changing experience not to be missed.
Betsy, Sydney, NSW
Booking link for all Weavery’s events
Booking link for Arnhem Journey September 2108
Booking link for Arnhem Journey May 2019
Booking link for Arnhem Journey July 2019
(0438)162552
