Let me start us off - my name is Stella McKenna and I use she/her pronouns (not sure why that’s important? read more here.)
I am a guide, strategist, facilitator, feminist, community builder and many other things - we all contain multitudes, right? I am also the host of Strong Back, Soft Front.
As much as I am looking forward to getting to know everyone who finds their way to sit by this fire…don’t you hate it when someone asks you what you ‘do’?*
Here, instead, are a few of the things I am currently curious about
Buddhism and how mindfulness based practices can support us to ‘be with’ the complexity and uncertainty of modernity. I have recently started training in Mindfulness Based Psychotherapy with Karuna Institute so I am on quite the journey with this one!
How bringing people and nature together can resource us for what is to come, because (to quote Joanna Macy) ‘burnt-out people aren’t equipped to serve a burning planet’.
What will it look like to really hold space for change? To build truly relational spaces that support resilience, adaptability and a more imaginative visions of the future?
How can I/we find the acupressure points, that when pressed, will allow new energy to flow and new systems or ways of being to emerge?
How might we act differently if vulnerability was our greatest measure of leadership?
* If you do actually want to know you can read about what I ‘do’ here.
When I’m not pondering my many, many questions - I live on the edge of the Peak District National Pack in the city of Sheffield, UK. I love spending time with trees, listening to podcasts (under trees, or in the bath) and reading as many books as I can. I love swimming in cold water, sitting around fires, and exploring with others how we will muddle our way through all that is ahead of us.
Now, enough about me, I would love to know something about you! Who are you? What are you curious about? What brought you here and how might this community support you? I look forward to learning about you in the comments below 🙏🏻
Ps. you can tell us what you ‘do’ if you’d like to! 🙂
Pps. if you find are enjoying this community and our newsletter, then please do tell a few friends about us. If we are to change everything, we are going to need everyone.
Who are you? What are you curious about? What brought you here and how might this community support you? I look forward to learning a little more about you - Stella 🙏🏻
Oh, the point about building truly relational spaces is in the top of my curiosities at the moment! I’m actively looking for ways I can explore it in the coming year. Would love to hear about your experience and suggestions in that realm!
And, well, hi! I’m Nika :) I’m curious about community and creating spaces for deeper connection. I’m curious about Old Ways and how learning those can become a nutritious compost, informing our New Ways of being. I’m fascinated by our interwoven world and ancient wisdom. I’m forever looking up to nature.
And I look forward to seeing you, Stella, nurture this space and all that grows from it 🙏🏻