A welcoming online space to meet story in community.
Gathering Around Story offers a warm, reflective online circle where readers come together from time to time to pause, breathe and meet story with presence.
Each gathering is a gentle moment of reconnection—an opportunity to slow your pace, listen inwardly and feel accompanied by others without pressure or expectation.
This is not a discussion group or a book club. It is a spacious, reflective conversation shaped by story. You do not need to prepare anything or read ahead. You simply arrive as you are, and the reading offered in the moment becomes a soft entry into reflection.
Whether you feel drawn to a single session or occasional gatherings over time, you are warmly welcome.
What Gathering Around Story feels like
An online circle has its own warmth, ease and gentle rhythm. Participants often describe a sense of settling as they arrive and a feeling of lightness as they leave.
You might experience:
• a shift from activity into presence
• a quiet moment of insight
• companionship without pressure
• language that meets something true within you
• the steadiness of being held in a reflective space
Everything is invitational. You choose how you take part. Nothing is required of you.
How a session flows
Each gathering follows a simple, nourishing rhythm:
1. Arrival and settling
A calm moment to arrive in your own time and breathe into the space you are entering.
2. A reading offered aloud
A poem, passage or short text is read aloud to open the doorway into story.
3. Quiet reflection
A short pause to sit with what touched you, notice what stirs or simply rest.
4. Gentle conversation
A spacious conversation where you may offer a few words or simply listen. There is no expectation to analyse or interpret. The focus is on noticing.
5. Closing moment
A final reading or reflection to carry forward into your day or evening.
This rhythm creates a soft container where insight can arise in its own time.
Why people join
Gathering Around Story is for anyone who longs for:
a reflective pause in a busy life
connection that feels gentle, spacious and unforced
a place to explore story without needing to interpret or perform
a soft entry point into the world of bibliotherapycompanionship grounded in presence rather than discussion
You do not need to be a confident reader. You do not need to speak. You are welcome exactly as you are.
Format and practicalities
Gathering Around Story is offered online so you can join from wherever you are. All you need is a quiet corner, a device and a few uninterrupted minutes to settle.
Gatherings run for approximately 60 to 75 minutes
The reading we explore together is offered during the gathering
Gatherings take place occasionally through the year
No preparation or prior reading is required
Cameras may be on or off, depending on your comfort
Each gathering stands alone. You can attend once or many times
These circles are paid offerings. Pricing for each session or series will be listed with the event details.
Pricing
These circles are paid offerings at $25 per session. Some gatherings are facilitated by Dr Susan McLaine. Others are guided by trained bibliotherapy practitioners from the Bibliotherapy Australia community.
Upcoming Gatherings
The next Gathering Around Story will be offered online 9th August 2026, 11 am to 12 noon (AEST)
A gentle invitation
Come sit with story.
Let words meet you with steadiness and warmth.
Be part of a small community where presence matters more than performance.
You are warmly welcome to join us.
If you are seeking books that steady or inspire, Rosy tends a bookshelf for you.