It’s called the Oasis Meditation Group – but really, it’s so much more.

Every fortnight for the past year, a group of residents at Uniting AgeWell Latrobe Community, Strathdevon gather in a session of inclusive togetherness that affords them the opportunity to relax, reflect on their innermost feelings and share with others in a safe, non-judgmental space.

The group is named after an oasis which is a place of refuge, sustenance and is life-giving to all. Every person has spiritual needs which need to be acknowledged.
Chaplain Pauline Simpson started the group and facilitated its fortnightly meetings which are not prescriptive and run for as long as they run.

With around 10 residents in attendance, sometimes they meet in a quiet room at Strathdevon. Other times they meet in the garden. Once they took a picnic to the beach and listened to the waves instead of background music.

It starts off with Pauline nominating a theme and recently have included mothers, peace and friendship to name but a few. The themes are about life and what is important to those attending. She then reads a poem or plays some music pertinent to the theme.

Guided meditation follows, with residents focusing on breathing and relaxing. This is a time to release the tension in the body and to unwind. Once the body and mind are relaxed, there is the opportunity for inner reflection on the topic at hand.

“This affords them a quiet time to collect their thoughts and to hopefully come to an inner peace about their lives,” explains Pauline. “We tend to be our own harshest critics. It is an opportunity for residents to practice self-healing and self-kindness.”

Put simply, routine and busy lives often prevent this from happening.

Pauline says residents are at an age where they reflect on their own mortality and many may worry about the time they have left to address any unresolved life issues. Residents may want to address relationships in their lives. Self-healing is important in the process of reflecting on the people in our lives.

“It is an opportunity for people to be heard. Really heard. It affords them the time and space for reflection. To air their regrets, their highs and lows honestly with a group of people who listen,” explains Pauline. “Over time, trust and friendship builds within the group, so it’s a really safe and welcoming space.”