Dr. Maya Ward

Maya Ward is passionate about deepening the connections between body, ecology and culture through writing, dancing and tending the earth. Her PhD explored shamanistic and somatic metaphysics, and she runs workshops on the role of embodiment in facilitating ecological and spiritual connection. She has worked as an urban designer, outdoor theatre director and permaculture teacher where she focussed on developing intimacy between the human body and the places we dwell by creating humane and intimate environments. Her memoir _The Comfort of Water: A River Pilgrimage_ detailed her walk from the sea to the source of the Yarra following the length of an ancient Wurundjeri Songline. She lives in the mountain village of Warburton, Australia, where she co-creates pilgrimage-based ritual, runs contact improvisation dance classes, and grows food and replants forest with her home community. Informed by the philosophies of deep ecology and indigenous knowledge systems she dances with trees, exploring the embodiment of the vegetal realm.