I kicked off February 2025 with facilitating a workshop at Soho House Amsterdam on Saturday the 1st. We had an international group with participants from Ukraine, Spain, Tokyo, and the USA.
The intention of this Open Up session was to spark 'π¨ πͺπππππ ππ π·ππππ,' a term I've first coined in 2020 to describe the process of cultivating the possibility that something else is thriving with us, as an array of knowledge. It also invites us to question what it means to be a leader in a complex system.
Five years ago, I began writing about "A Coming of Place" process and perspective because the very essence of what constitutes βplaceβ is undergoing a profound transformation. Looking at economic, ecological, and political pressures, many of us have been, and will be forced to flee and start new lives in new lands. Cities are being redefined by technology, rural landscapes are being reshaped by climate change, and digital spaces are emerging as new arenas of human experience. In our movements, we are reminded that we are not just inhabitants of spaces; we are co-creators of the environments that shape us. Many places do not need a repair but a care, a visitation, a space to connect, to wonder, and to imagine.
For this session, I introduced the group to a traditional Maori greeting from New Zealand, where people first acknowledge a place that provides them with a sense of belonging and identity before stating their name. We approached this way of meeting each other through the practice of inquiry which Iβm trained in. Participants reflected on how this practice profoundly impacted their connection to nature, leading to the sharing of personal stories, including those related to war, climate change, and childhood memories. With this deeper sense of connection, we then embarked on a breathwork journey, which helped many shift their perspectives even more and offered a possibility to heal parts within themselves.
To everyone who joined: thank you for embodying the spirit of hope for future generations. We're setting up another workshop in April.
Want to practice "A Coming Of Place"? Email me πΏ
Thank you,
Katrien
