On being a little more resourced & ready to do what is yours to do.
Starting again, at the beginning. Setting an intention to write again. An intention to think of these notes as love letters — a first-aid kit of sorts — a gift from me to you of things I have enjoyed or been inspired by this week, along with an invitation to share a nature inspired practice with me. A moment to go into the woods so you can return to the village, a little more resourced and ready to do what is yours to do in this challenging time.
This week I have been inspired by…
- These thought provoking Inner Compass Cards. Each morning I pick one at random and then let my subconscious react and respond, sometimes the message is like a slap in the face and sometimes I simply admire the beautiful illustration — both feel good.
- A beautiful song, which I have been listening to on repeat — As I was sitting there // Nature began to take care // Of me and my body // She was nurturing me // Filling me up with new energy. Music has it’s own special healing magic.
- Also in my ears has been the wise stories of Lauren Currie, founder of Upfront — Lauren & her team are on a mission to change confidence, visibility and power for 1 million women. One of the ways they’re making that happen is through Upfront Moment — bitesized episodes on everything from leadership to courage, gentle activism to belonging. I’ve listened to about 16 episodes this week — learning, inspiration and great stories, all in one.
- Anyone who knows me, even a little, knows I am a big reader. Books will always be my preferred way of learning. In preparation for starting my training to become a Psychotherapist (more on that another day) I have been diving into my favourite type of book, memoirs, written by therapists. Maybe You Should Talk to Someone (Lori Gottlieb) was heartfelt and hilarious. The Devil You Know: Encounters in Forensic Psychiatry (Gwen Adshead) was shocking but deeply human, a reminder that behind the worst crimes are people who’s lives have been complex, challenging and often filled with violence. The Examined Life: How We Lose and Find Ourselves (Stephen Grosz) speaks from 25 years and more than 50,000 hours of conversations. A captivating book on universal themes of humanity, our inner worlds and the choices we make.
- This week I spent a mind-expanding couple of hours with Bayo Akomolafe, philosopher, writer, activist, professor of psychology. I have had the privilege of being in a few spaces with Bayo over the years, and there are few who speak to the heart, the trouble and the complexity of our times and this human existence in the way he can. He asked us a question that I have been turning around in my mind since, what if the way we address the crisis, is the crisis? The conversation below, featuring Bayo remains one of the most powerful I have listen to in recent years.
An invitation to explore a practice with me
A practice in the Eastern idea of ‘practice’ — an experience, an opportunity, an invitation to create, to reveal something that is already there. Not to practice for something, not to do but to be, as you are. A practice to remember how to return to ourselves and to, perhaps, foster a deeper and reciprocal relationship and connection with the world around us.
“We are making choices that will affect whether beings thousands of generations from now will be able to be born sound of mind and body.”
— Dr Joanna Macy, Scholar of Buddhism, Systems Thinking and Deep Ecology
#1: Finding your ‘sit spot’ — a sit spot is a secret outdoor place, somewhere close and accessible to where you live. It could be in your garden, local park, the woods down the road. Ideally when you visit you’re not disturbed easily. Don’t over think it, find a place, ask for permission to share the space with the creatures that already call that place home and then settle. Take a deep breath. Focus your attention on what’s around you in that exact moment, let yourself wonder, observe and listen. What do you notice? What can you see? What can you hear? You want to visit often, every day would be magical but even 10 mins once a week would work too. Take the time, I know you’ll be amazed at what you find.
Shared with rippling gratitude to Andy, Chloe, Julian, Jess and Sarah-Jane for holding an exquisite space for us all at the Change in Nature Facilitation Training in a sun-drenched week in the middle of May, which still lives with me every day 🙏🏻
Big sending love, magic & wish for some time outside to you all 💫 — Stella
If you enjoyed this, perhaps you’d like to join me on Substack where I write Into the Woods where each week I share a love letter, a first-aid kit of sorts, for navigating these uncertain times. 🌳
