Jacky's Story

Once upon a time, not so long ago, there was life before the fires and life since the fires.
Before the fires I ran a business, rode my horse, did tai chi once a week and did qigong once a week.
My experience of Black Saturday was just a different version of every other one. I lost stuff, felt down, had frustrations rebuilding, felt worst, spiralled into depression, got angry etc,etc etc. Post traumatic stress comes in many different forms, but everyone affected by that day had, or still has some form of it.
I received help in many different forms from many different people and agencies and my heartfelt thanks and gratitude go out to all of them. But if I had to name the one thing that made the biggest difference, it would be qigong, particularly the forms taught by Open Sky. I know with absolute certainty that without it I would still be a mess and the irony is, I did most of the work myself. Open Sky just gave me the techniques and the support.
I enrolled in a level 1 workshop with Open Sky when the group I practiced with were disbanding. Qigong has several thousand different styles, I knew 5 of them really well and had played around with 10 or 15 others. The Open Sky program made an instant and profound difference to my entire way of thinking and moving. It was the start of a transformational and healing journey, not always an easy journey, but well worth the effort. I hit many difficult patches along the way and had trouble finding the motivation to practice at those times, just the times I needed it most.
Why did Open Sky make such a difference, when I was practicing qigong anyway? Open Sky provides a very supportive and safe environment by ensuring there are a large number of assistants present to hold space, both physically and energetically. Participants are given the opportunity to discuss what they are feeling and experiencing, but they don't have to if they don't want to. It goes way beyond learning some movements and performing them. I found deep trauma spontaneously erupting to the surface and leaving me. It was shocking and confronting, but it also felt very safe and right.
My case worker visited the day after that workshop and asked "what is this qigong stuff" because she could see such a difference in me.
After my own experiences I was overwhelmed by the desire to take this knowledge out to the people affected by Black Saturday and allow them to heal and move forward as I had done. I am humbled and honoured to play in integral part in offering this Toolangi workshop to anyone who needs or wants it. You may not even have personally lost anything yourself, but still be in need, you are just as welcome to attend.
And how do I see life now? Its pretty good actually. Writing this has made me realise it is almost as if that fire never affected me. At the same time I have an infinite empathy for those that are still struggling, still feeling down, broken and wounded.
I no longer do tai chi and I no longer ride. I still run a business, hang out with my horse a lot, practice qigong daily and have discovered an artistic side. I smile a lot, feel settled and at peace, I am strong like a tree, flowing like water. Well maybe not all the time, but I try.