Talking Stick Foundation
"fostering a culture of living connectivity through the sacred art of circle work"
about
Talking Stick Foundation is a not for profit enterprise, established by a circle of women listening deeply to the initiatic invitation to ‘understand the consciousness of Medicine’. The Foundation created the White Waratah Institute to prepare more women for the ceremony of opening to a new age of Earth human consciousness - the age of 'being'.
Over 30 years of practice has revealed the effect and healing of the emergence of living Medicine (spiritual lore), through the sacred art of Circlework and the lived understanding of the consciousness of life as nature.
Living Medicine is the cutting edge doorway to emergent beingness for caring for children, the individuation of dynamic adolescence and the development of an adult human to participate in life through spiritual lore.
Medicine Woman understands that emergent new life is anchored through deep spiritual knowledge, surrender, calm and centred presence, deep listening and deep seeing.
Medicine Woman is the manifest practice of weaving the bridge between the pure heart's dreaming and daily living culture of connectivity. Being the medicine.
white waratah institute
"Centre for Higher Medicine as Nature"
At the centre of our foundation is the White Waratah Institute which invites women to participate in our learning initiative for deepening and developing women’s medicine work for a New Earth.
Whether you are interested in the power of story through connectivity or at the doorway of becoming a medicine facilitator, the White Waratah teaching and practice Circles allow you to move at your own pace, for the place in the world you are.
The program has been designed over many years of sitting in circle and is facilitated by Penelope Star, the original story-teller and White Waratah Institute circle facilitators and therapists.
white waratah teaching and practice circles
A space for connection, healing, and shared wisdom, our Circles are at the heart of women’s Medicine work. Rooted in ancient practices, they offer a supportive environment for personal growth, collective transformation, and deepening self-awareness.
Each Circle weaves storytelling, reflection, and experiential learning to strengthen community and nurture the journey within.
In 2026, the Circles are an invitation to participate in the ongoing preparation for ceremony of opening to a new age of Earth human consciousness - the age of ‘being’. This moment of human Earth-time calls for the Mastery of Medicine Women - the mastery of the power of the receptive hemisphere of the brain in right harmony with the rational brain.
2026 CIRCLE COHORTS
1 - Mastery of Listening Cohort (for new and continuing women)
(fortnightly online circles - various date and time options + gathering days + 1 retreat)
2 - Mastery of Seeing Cohort (for continuing women)
(weekly online circles - various date and time options + gathering days + retreat)
NB: Gathering days are in Australia and retreats are in Australia or Bali. International participants who cannot travel will be accommodated by discussion.
She who sees she is not the doer, is the seer
For more information or to express your interest e-mail: info@talkingstickfoundation.com.au
There is limited fee assistance to support accessibility.
Penelope Star, the original storyteller and lead facilitator
stories from the women
“From the very first circle, I felt I had found myself amongst something deeply important —something old and known, like a language I knew but did not yet know how to speak. Medicine moves and shows an intimate path, weaving closely along the threads of my heart/life. It has been a reclaiming of the natural order of things — restoring building blocks of what it means to be human, me, earth woman, Medicine. I am deeply grateful for the teachings … teaching a way of life rooted in love and truth, reminding me the way of peace. Full of gratitude and hope for the future of our precious planet Earth, I bow in thanks to the Medicine and the Circle.” (Carol Leale)
“Over several years of attending teaching circles through the White Waratah Institute, with a deeply supportive group, I have experienced meaningful personal growth as a woman and through different stages of maturation. The teachings, shared directly by Penn Star, are offered with such grace, depth, and care. Being held in a space without judgment has allowed me to lean into my truth, soften into who I am becoming, and grow with honesty, courage, and trust. It has been a deeply grounding and nourishing experience.” (Rebecca Kirwan, filmmaker)
“The teachings of Women’s Medicine in Circle work supported me in so many ways. A deeper understanding of myself — my patterns of behaviour, family wounds and cult-like thinking of my childhood. A growing awareness of my relationships with family, friends and my work as a psychotherapist in community. A blossoming into a life of consciousness, presence, understanding, remembering all things in nature, and gratitude for everything. Women's Medicine work has led to such an abundance. The unhappiness, anxiety and fear have softened to feelings of great happiness, love and joy in my daily life.” (Karin Krueger, therapist)
“I have sat in womens circle's for years and have always wanted to facilitate my own, however I knew it was a very sacred thing to hold. The teachers at Talking Stick Institute have deepened my knowledge and connection and I am now in the position to safely and sacredly hold circle in my community." Jaz Wearin, business owner.
who is women's medicine work for?
Circlework is for women over the age of 32 who are interested in:
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Understanding of the consciousness of life as nature
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The pathway of individuation for personal, adult responsibility for peace, connectivity, receptivity and love
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Fostering a culture of living connectivity and love for the children, for future generations and for all of life
The community currently includes women of all ages (over 32 years of age), from all walks of life, from all over Australia and around the world and who are therapists, facilitators, healers, psychologists, healthcare professionals, researchers, business owners, community workers, teachers, volunteers, mothers, grandmothers and more. They work across multiple settings including in community services, child and family and services, Ceremony, health and allied health, aged care, education, the arts, government and private industry.
