Who is GAIA and what do we do?

GAIA vision

"GAIA Inc. celebrates the Goddess in Australia through ritual, leadership, scholarship and activism that honours the Divine Feminine and the various expressions of our connection to this land. As a community, we honour the Earth Mother and are motivated by a desire to bring balance, healing and equity to our world through respect for all life."

GAIA achieves this vision by:

Hosting the annual Australian Goddess Conference

Providing networks for members to exchange ideas, learn and find out about the latest Goddess based workshops and events in each state and territory

Hosting the GAIA website

Having a presence in the wider community and providing leadership in Goddess scholarship

 

GAIA membership

GAIA membership is open to women and men and aims to promote networks and provide information to people in our Goddess community.

 

Individual members receive

The GAIA newsboard : A detailed list of Member Events and Classifieds nation wide

A quarterly Seasonal Newsletter

Discounts to the annual conference and some member businesses

GAIA Member Online Forum - participate in GAIA's Online Book Club and other discussions with Members

Current articles and writings from experts in Goddess related fields including Goddess Herstory, Ecology, Magick, Spiritual, Ceremony...

Discounts from various GAIA Member Businesses

Discounted Annual Australian Goddess Conference Ticket Price

The opportunity to be involved in creating awareness of the Goddess Movement in Australia

Information on Local Activist Action

 

Business Members receive

All of the above PLUS :

Full Access to advertise and promote your Events to the entire GAIA Membership Database on a monthly Newsboard
Your business will be listed and linked on the GAIA website
Your business will be linked to the GAIA Facebook page
Business website profiles (eg. business of the month)- (as a part of GAIA's new commitments to Members, we will be actively promoting business through interviews / video attachments, Google maps etc.)
Your business will be seen by Members and Non-Members on the GAIA Website
Access to Banners and quilts upon request for your own events
Stall holder discounts at the Australian Goddess Conference

 

Disclaimer: Business Registration Members do not have voting rights at any GAIA Inc General/Special Meetings. To make your vote count please join as an Individual Member.

 

 

Meet the Committee:::

GAIA Inc. is an incorporated, not-for-profit organisation, run by a dedicated volunteer Committee. This is who we are:

Tricia Szirom : President

Greetings and Merry Meet. I have been on my journey to the Goddess for over thirty five years through the traditional church, feminism, women's liberation, social justice work and community activism. The birth of our daughter 21 years ago sparked the desire to create a spiritual community that would support us as parents and her as an emerging woman in a patriarchal world. Following the sale of my social policy consulting business three years ago I have been able to dedicate time and energy to Gaia's Garden, a sacred space for women in Melbourne and more recently to GAIA Inc. With my co-convener Jenny Cameron and other supporters we conduct regular rituals, study circles and other workshops to introduce women to the Goddess.

Just to be sure that I have plenty to do, I make jewellery, felt and silk Goddess ritual wear and slumped and fuzed glass artifacts which I sell at festivals and online. I have written a published seven books on sexuality, gender, women's rights and group work and am currently completing three books: Seasons of the Goddess: Perspectives from the Southern Hemisphere; Blessed by Lakshmi: Living with Abundance and Integrity and a book on the Goddess community in Australia with Dr Patricia Rose.

I believe that we are at an exciting and critical time in world history when we are required to make a stand as Goddess women in the re-shaping of our society. The challenges will be having clarity about the difference we want to make, from the base of our women identified spirituality and love of the Goddess, and to find the words to give that message to others.

 

Judy Mort : Co-Vice President

I have been exploring my spiritual path for over 30 years, delving into many areas of practice including yoga, meditation, dream work, body therapies and nature Based Spirituality ..to name a few. I have a strong connection to our Mother Earth and delight in immersing myself in the natural environment.

Following a period of international travel I arrived in Britain in 1997 and experienced a profound re-membering, recognition and awakening to the Great Goddess, it felt like a home coming. I realised my previous spiritual exploration was leading back to the Goddess. An intuitive journey through the British Isles lead me to many sacred places in nature and onto to Avalon. So began a deeper reconnection to the Goddesses of the British Isles. I met with Kathy Jones and undertook the inaugural Priestess of Avalon training over two years. As self initiated Priestess of Avalon, I maintain a deep and abiding connection to Goddess in all that I do in my life and honour Her in this sacred land of Australia.

My professional back ground is in health sciences and women’s health. I have been a Midwife since 1996, working in Australia and England. I feel completely blessed that my working life and spiritual path are aligned. I am passionate about all aspects of child birth and bring my work as Priestess and Shamanic Midwife to my holistic Midwifery practice. Currently I am working within the public health system. In the past I have worked in private practice supporting families choosing homebirth.

I am mother to two beautiful water born boys aged 9 and 11 and have a very supportive and encouraging husband.

I am excited to be closely involved with GAIA and am honoured to hold the position of Co-Vice President. I offer my skills and experience in service to Goddess, for the highest good of all.

 

Ganga Ashworth : Co-Vice President

Hello. I’m Ganga (pronounced Gun-ga) and I have only relatively recently named that I am in service to Goddess and the ways of the Divine Feminine (even though I have really been on this spiritual path for nearly 20 years now) and feel my arrival on the GAIA Inc Committee is in response to this calling. I journeyed to Glastonbury for this years’ Goddess Conference with a number of our GAIA Inc members and it has been transformational.

I am a singer with a passion for voices and personal growth. In my work with individuals and groups I combine these passions with my 20 years of teaching experience empowering others to free their voice and experience it and as a powerful tool for true self-expression, healing and personal transformation.

I look forward to sharing the role of Vice President with the lovely Judy Mort and the exciting new developments being part of the dynamic GAIA Inc committee will bring.

 

Zora Arthur : Membership Officer

Hi I'm Zora, a Priestess & the Creatrix of the Temple of the Morning Star, as well as Co-Weaver of the Awakened Spirit Network. I live dedicated to the Goddess and the Goddess Community at Large. Being a Mother and Wife, helps me to stay grounded in my inner wisdom and reminds me to always be willing to learn from others : My husband and children have taught me so much!

In my work in the Temple of the Morning Star I blend eastern and western shamanism to offer Women a pathway back to their inherent power. I open temple doors for Red Tent New Moon Circles to many Women each Month.

Zora has been on the GAIA Inc Management Committee for nearly 2 years and enjoys bringing the Conference to Life with hard work and dedication to create this magical event for the community.

 

Joanne Pascoe : Newsboard Producer

Hello, my name is Joanne Pascoe and I am the Newsboard Producer for GAIA Inc. This part of my journey began at the Australian Goddess Conference 2010. During the week I am a Primary School teacher bringing my Priestess work into teaching children in a State education system. I am forever seeking knowledge and learning different ways. I honour myself as a Sacred Woman and enjoy sitting in circle and attending the Red Tent. My beautiful husband Dean and I love travelling and journeying this life together, honouring the Earth Mother. Blessings to you all.

 

Jodie Danaan : GAIA Event Promotions & Management

Hi, I'm Jodie; a Priestess and teacher of Earth based Goddess spirituality. I've been practising Earth-based spirituality for over 20 years, and I'm the weaver of the Oakwillow Circle where I run a 13 month online journey into the sacred wheel of the Earth mother. Outside of Oakwillow I also spend time working in the area of health promotion and research, providing education and raising awareness about issues such hepatitis B and C, drug use and sexual health, which takes me from prisons, to remote communities, to GP’s, to the media and to the Torres Strait Islands. I have used theatre as a means for education with young people about HIV/AIDS, drug use and sexual identity. I have a BA in Sociology and Women’s studies and Sociology honours and I have also worked in government conducting research into crime, drug use and models of support for remote Aboriginal communities. This work has blessed me with the opportunity of working with Aboriginal communities in Australia and Canada and acquiring a deeper understanding of the intersections between health, land and spirituality. It has also taught me to be very grounded and evidence based when practising magick. I live my life in service of the the Earth Mother and look forward to the being part of our emerging Goddess community weaving the southern wheel.

 

Kelli Brockman  : Promotions Officer

Hello my name is Kelli. I am a Healer, a Weaver of Magick and a Woman of Goddess. I am deeply connected to Mother Earth and live my life within Her natural cycles. In my professional life, I work with juvenile offenders from varying social and cultural backgrounds to foster opportunities for change within their lives. Through my mystical walking of Sacred Woman’s Lore I journey deeply in order to bridge the connection between spirit and body temple. My immersions assist me to explore my dreaming and my own embodiment in connection with Goddess. I offer healings utilising various modalities which I approach from a place of heart connection to allow vibrational energies to transform physical, emotional & spiritual connectedness to bring in the deep wisdoms within.

I have qualifications in Juvenile Justice, Government, Training & Assessment, Child Psychology, Social Welfare and Website Design. I am a qualified Metaphysical Healer and Practitioner of the following modalities; Intuitive/Spiritual Healing, Rainbow Spirit Healing, Crystal Light Healing™ and Essence of Angels®. To maintain my connection to current modalities and changes within the field of Natural therapies and to offer my clients a healing modality which is best suited to them, I am also currently undertaking Diplomas in Holistic Metaphysical Healing, Meridian Healing and Meridian Psychotherapy. Mid 2012 I will graduate as a Teacher of Metaphysics & Crystal Light Healing™ and will birth my new business which will be offering personal healings, herbal & vibrational essences, group workshops and much more.

 

Hollie B. : GAIA Webweaver

I am a Witch, Indigo Adult and Ceremony Woman with a passion for Conscious Living and the Real World. I love bringing Women together in safe, Sacred Space. I love to See Women blossom in their authenticity, without the 'shoulds' and 'supposed tos' of the mainstream. As Company Director of Lunation my time is divided between facilitating Women's Sacred Space, teaching about WitchCraft and the Cosmic Woman / Goddess Self, and selling SpellCrafting products.

I am also a Mother and Wife to the most amazing family. They are very supportive in my Work as Ceremony Woman and the Work I do in website management. Although it may seem as though the two aspects are misaligned, in actual fact I see them as One, while I am able to bring People together in Ceremony Space, I am also gifted with the ability to connect People via technologies, creating a stronger, richer Global Community of Truth. Furthermore, I have a university degree in Professional Writing, and believe that well-written words and language make all the difference in presenting a professional face to the public. Words come easy to me, and this is a Way I share.

My purpose in Being a part of the GAIA Committee is to serve as a Keeper of safe Space and Weaver of Connections.

 

Tracey Martin : Committee Member

I am passionate about women's work, health, animals and the earth. I have a love for native american earth beliefs and am learning more of the aboriginal dream-time. I am a keen student of the world and spiritual beliefs. I have been an RN for 25years and began my journey into spirit about 15 years ago. I am a trained hypnotherapist, and pranic healer. I have been educating and running workshops for 13 years.

I love to motivate and empower people. My teachers are Jean Shinoda Bolen and Brooke Medicine Eagle who I met in 2009, my inspiration comes from Paulo Coehlo, Jean Auel , Oriah Mountain Dreamer as well as many others. I am an avid traveller and gypsy at heart. I have 3 beautiful Children Amelia 23, Brodie 21 and Molly 13 and a love across the sea. I have just settled in Toowoomba and have a place to set my roots down cradled by the mother on an extinct volcano, a theme, after living in Vanuatu for the past 2 1/2 years. I am so excited to walk my talk and be of service to women. I find my passage to crone exciting and wouldn't miss a moment!

 

Lyndell Francis : Committee Member

Hi, I'm Lyndell Francis, I'm a qualified Remedial Massage Therapist and am currently studying my Diploma in Counselling. I am walking a new path in life with my focus on earth based spirituality, while i still have much to learn I look forward to being on the GAIA committee to help promote awareness, understanding and education about the Goddess community.

 

Victoria Connell

Mine has been the journey of the book; for each has helped shine further light on the landscape that is me; on a pilgrimage to the sacred feminine. Not knowing what I was looking for at first, the search led to CG Jung’s works, ancient history, mythology, anthropology, philosophy and the like. These books answered questions dogging me, fuelling yet more. After a while I realized my life was like that of the Miller’s daughter and at last understood what the circumstances in my life were pointing to.

Though raising a family, working full time and involved in community, I set out on the Heroine’s Quest. It could only last so long before something cracked; me. The marriage ended, precipitating further changes as the journey continued. Then, after twenty seven years in business it was time to simplify yet again and withdraw for a year and a day; to live in the ‘forest’ and heal. This is when the adventure started in earnest, but that is another story.

My business skills are sales and marketing, small business management and office administration. My creative gifts include poetry and storytelling. What spiritual wisdom I have, has been learnt the hard way. I am currently birthing a book, so in this first year on the committee, offer what makes room for itself, and hope to learn much from those who have served before. I look forward to being part of the community that is Gaia Inc; and ‘her’ emerging role in building strong communities.