A commitment to a different way of being

In the work I do I seek to break down traditional and historic ways of working that have come from the capitalist structures we live in. Instead I want to create a place of belonging for all - something that offers a way to be in relationship in a different way, something that takes us away from extraction, and embeds us within the soul of the world.

Here are some of the ways I hope that we can do this together - because we can only do this together.

Becoming human

Together we will allow our humanity, we will welcome mistakes and flaws - yours and mine - because we are all human, and mistakes are inevitable. Perfection, getting everything right, or exhausting ourselves trying, comes from oppressive systems. Let’s dare to be human together.

Reciprocity + generosity

I believe in a gift economy over a market economy, that enables all to flourish. I offer sliding scales, free offerings and I volunteer in my local community. In this space together I ask that we move outside of extraction, and consumer and service models. That we come together, to work in a way that offers mutual reciprocity and generosity.

The currency in a gift economy is relationship, which is expressed as gratitude, as interdependence and the ongoing cycles of reciprocity.

- Robin Wall Kimmerer

Hierarchy + power

I aim to remove hierarchy throughout our work together and bring an awareness of power dynamics. Together we will explore mutual power, rather than power over. Power together.

Co-creation

We create together. None of what we do together comes from me - it comes from us, and the vast world beyond.

Participation in life

Participation is necessary in life, we have to choose to participate. It’s the same if you choose to work with me, participation is vital. We cannot co-create without participation, remembering participation can look many different ways.

Remembering our field of relationality

There’s a forgetting in the systems with live in - we forget how to be in connection, with ourselves, with others, with the land we live on, our animal kin and the plants that literally give us life. We are all part of this, we are embedded. Let’s foster a remembering and deepen our field of relationality.

I would say that the goal of this work is to extend the level of participation of the soul as widely and deeply as possible.

- Francis Weller

Belonging

I believe each and every one of us is looking for a place of belonging, a place where we feel seen, held and acknowledged. My hope is that together we can cultivate this sense of belonging, that we can restore a reverence for belonging in our world. That we acknowledge difference, we interrogate our judgements and beliefs with compassion, and we seek to come together in a society that separates. We come to interdependence over independence. That there might be a world where we get things wrong and we still belong, we’re still loved.

Lineage, ecosystem + restoration of culture

Everything I share comes from a deep lineage. As a white woman in this world I seek to restore culture and explore what it is to create ecosystems and interdependence. I seek to deepen in the sixth gate of grief and tend to the harms I’ve caused and been complicit in. I am supported by teachers and mentors in all the work I do and offer.

Staying in relationship

We understand that being in any relationship means there will be rupture, this is what it is to be human. When things go wrong we will stay in relationship as much as we’re able to. We’ll stay in the messiness to seek something different. We’ll move away from punishment, and we won’t dispense of others. Together we’ll hold others in compassion, cultivate compassionate accountability and ways of restoration and repair. We’ll learn these ways together.

Truth, honesty + voice

There’s a collective wound around our voices - what it is to speak truth, even when it makes you shake. I believe this needs to be cultivated, I believe that this can go a long way to tending to our world right now. My ask is that if you need anything or if anything isn’t working for you, that you come and speak to me about this, that we may come together and explore what’s here.

Care + reverence

I care deeply - about you and me, other humans, the world, our earth, our plant and animal kin. You’ll see this through the things I offer, what I say, what comes through in my writing and in our time together. I care about the little things and the big things. There’s reverence. I invite you into mutual care, of one another, and our wider world.

Slowness + quiet

In a world that reveres speed, we shall go slow. In a world that reveres noise, we will listen to the quiet. And we will rest when we need to.

Grief + Soul

Ultimately my work is steeped in grief and soul. It seeks to come back into right relationship in the world. It reveres interdependence over independence. Citizen over consumer. The relational over transactional. My work sees through the lens of politicised grief tending, to name the harms that are happening in the world and to honour human life, all human life and beyond. I have a fidelity to care and belonging. May we find our ways of belonging together.

I am human, we are human. I don’t profess to have all the answers, or to be perfect, I’m not. I’m here for what is real. I’m here for what is hard and uncomfortable. I’m here to continually question what it is to be human in these times. And I’m also here for cultivating deep relationships and an affection for belonging.

Our relational agreements

I work in the realm of coaching and mentoring

Coaching and mentoring is not psychological counselling or any type of therapy. More and more the way I work is that of a guide, guiding you through grief, through life - bringing my full lived experience as well as everything I’ve learned in the training and education I’ve taken. This also links to what I speak of when I talk about power, we are engaging in a mutual relationship, with mutual power and respect. You can see the organisations I’m registered with, alongside my qualifications on my about me page.

Exploring gift economies - can you pay more?

I’m always exploring ways we can change the capitalist structures we live in. If you are able to pay more, or can support someone else coming into this work - perhaps by paying for a place on Life’s Poetry for example - please let me know. And if you’d like to offer a gift, you can do that here. If I find myself in times of excess, I donate and invest in people and organisations who continue to support the work of grief and mutual liberation.

Sliding scales

I offer a sliding scale so that you’re able to pay what you can afford. I ask that if you’re able to pay more, that you honour this, as this allows me to support those who need more financial support.

Lower fees

My aim is to make my work as accessible as possible - particularly for those in marginalised communities and identities - and therefore I offer lower fees where I’m able to. Within this I have a few requests:

Please use the lower fees only if you truly need them.

If the issue is one of cashflow i.e. you will eventually have the funds to pay for our work together, please use the payment plan options instead of the lower fees - I offer a range of payment plans and offer extensive flexibility.

Please do not use the lower fees because your preference is to pay a lower cost or a fear of future scarcity, this is a symptom of the capitalist structures we live in and I ask that you honour the work that’s being offered. You can read The Serviceberry by Robin Wall Kimmerer to dive more deeply into this.

Please consider lower fees carefully. When you opt to take a lower fee place, particularly for Life’s Poetry where you’re taking one of the lower fee spaces.

Payment Plans

When you sign-up for a payment plan this becomes our financial agreement. This means you will pay the full amount of money you agree to pay when you sign up. If you need to make any changes to your payment plan for any reason, please let me know as soon as possible. I aim to be as flexible as I can and always ask for open communication so we can work together to support you.

Refunds

I will ask that we explore refunds through the lens of what it is to be in an accountable relationship - that we make a commitment through these agreements and we’ll come to what feels fair for us both.

For Life’s Poetry you are taking a space, a bit like when you book a ticket for a show, your seat is reserved. For this reason when you sign-up you are agreeing to make the payment for the programme in full. If you choose a payment plan, you are agreeing to pay this in full whether you choose to complete Life’s Poetry or not.

When things change

Things always move and change. In the event of significant unforeseen circumstances for either of us, we will meet in our humanity to consider what’s needed and what feels right for both of us.

Group reciprocity

When we’re working as part of a community or group, like Life’s Poetry, I believe that we don’t just show-up for ourselves, we come for those that are part of the group too. Another element of reciprocity - it’s not just me/I, it’s us and we. So I ask that you come and participate for you, and for others.

Your wellbeing

I struggle with these words - wellness and wellbeing - and we can explore why - but I do need to ensure you're well enough to participate in our work together - either one-to-one or as part of Life's Poetry. By stepping into this work you agree that you are well and able, and have the support in place to take part in this journey together.

Confidentiality + Respect

Everything shared within the space is confidential. I will share anonymously with my mentors and supervisors only in service of you and our time together.

Initial commitment (for bi-weekly one-to-one sessions)

If you choose to work with me one-to-one, in bi-weekly sessions I ask for a 3 month/6 session minimum commitment initially, this is to establish our working relationship and also takes into account that this type of work takes time. After this initial commitment you can choose to continue our work together if that feels right for you.

Supplements

If I recommend supplements for you, and you buy them through Natural Dispensary and/or Amrita Nutrition when registered as a client of mine, I will earn a small commission. I will continue to receive commission on all orders, for as long as you are registered as a client of mine with either of these suppliers.

In working together we’re making a commitment to each other, in the full scope of our humanity.