Hey friends!
It has been a while since I wrote. I have been going through many adjustments, and it has felt good and necessary to keep things relatively private. But anyway now here I am, ready to share again.
So much has changed for me in the last few months as I finished off my time living in Devon and, with tear-filled eyes, hopped on a plane back home to South Africa. Leaving Devon and Schumacher was incredibly hard for me, saying good-bye to what in many ways felt like home, like a transformative period of my life as well as to many amazing people, some of whom I consider to be soul mates. But Schumacher was never meant to be a forever place; the intention to go there was always to bring the new learnings back into the world, so although inevitable, leaving was incredibly tough. It made me reflect on how valuable healing and nourishing spaces are to our personal and collective development. Never before have I felt so seen and accepted for exactly who I was, and just receiving that gift has allowed me to further blossom into a greater sense of my true being. This reflection has encouraged me to go into the world and create nurturing and stimulating environments for others so that they too might have the opportunity to step into a fuller sense of their beingness. In my last weeks in Devon, the Dandilions all came out (they were everywhere!), and it felt that my journey had followed theirs in some way; hidden in contemplation throughout the winter and now that spring had arrived, I was ready to be blown by the winds, back south.
Returning to Johannesburg was quite a stark experience. During my time away, I, of course, never forgot about the profound disparities that exist within our country. However, not witnessing them daily for nine months did soften the impact of their harsh reality. What's more, grappling with how my own existence, as well as that of my family and community, has benefited from such an unjust society is deeply uncomfortable to confront. While such an entanglement is particularly evident in South Africa, it is becoming increasingly clear on a global scale that we all find ourselves in this awkward bind. Confronting our privilege is never straightforward; it feels like an ongoing practice for me. It continually prompts questions like, "What are my intentions here?" and "How much is enough?" Through a prolonged journey of wrestling with these complexities, I've come to accept that I can't eliminate my privilege—it's not something I actively chose, nor is anyone asking me to do so. However, perhaps a more valuable question is, "What am I doing with it?", “What opportunities lie in these societal cracks that we see?'“ and “How can I leverage my privilege in such a way that I can best be of service to creating a more whole and just world?” Phew! Writing that just got me sweating (some edgy topics that are not always easy to address, so I will end it there for now, but please reach out if you would like to take the conversation further?).
Upon returning to my family, I headed to the Lowveld for a three-night walk in the Kruger, where I slept outdoors and kept a night watch. What an experience and what a remarkable way to reconnect with home—immersed in the wilderness. A standout moment for me was spending an hour each night on a solo night watch, listening to lions and hyenas calling into the starlit sky. I might have expected to feel nervous, but the role demanded such profound presence that there was no room for fear—only a deep awareness and respect for the African bush, one of my earliest and most profound teachers. As I write this, I am filled with gratitude for all that the land has taught me over the years: resilience, resourcefulness, and the great wonder of the circular nature of all things.
After my bush trip, I then made my way back to the Cape to get settled and supposedly start writing my dissertation. Coming back to Cape Town has been a significant adjustment. In some ways, I feel like I am introducing a new version of myself, while at the same time, it feels like nothing has changed at all. It's a strange and challenging dichotomy to navigate, one that I'm sure anyone who has traveled extensively can relate to. However, being back, running on the mountain, and diving in the kelp forest has brought my soul so much joy!
A real big highlight for me was this past weekend when I got to host a 2-day workshop entitled ‘crafting entrepreneurial ecologies’, as part of my dissertation research. I designed and facilitated an experimental space that 13 brave souls participated in. We explored ideas of co-creation, collective sense-making, and the dynamics of leading from vulnerability, joy, and curiosity. The participants brought their whole selves to the workshop, and together we created joyful experiences while envisioning hopeful futures that act as a response to some of the crises of our times. It was incredibly fulfilling and encouraging for me to witness people showing up and engaging with the concepts I've been exploring, beyond the context of Schumacher. It felt as though suddenly all my theory became animate, and it has encouraged me to keep on this curious and wonderful path I find myself on.
Those are the writings and ramblings for now,
Keep well everyone xx