by Thomas Berry, Soulcraft: Crossing into the Mysteries of Nature and Psyche

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open share / musings

Kia ora koutou, 大家好, greetings everyone,

If there's one thing that I have learned in the 7-month-gap since the publishing of my previous newsletter, it's that some projects simply need a (little) break. The worthy projects tend to get picked up again. The guilt & shame from not "producing enough" is more of a consequence of the endless growth mindset of the predominant non-circular, non-life-centered economic/capital system, rather than a true measure of our worthiness, creativity, and productivity.

When I began this newsletter in the midst of the pandemic, I was locked down in Los Angeles with my parents by uncertainty, fears, and the omnipresent anxiety of our species (other species seemed fine, if not thrilled). In that period, time and attention were abundant, and travel was minimal. Sharing my thoughts and life without relying on social media felt right and good then because I desired a space where I am not attempting to grab or seek your attention along with hundreds upon thousands of individuals and companies also trying to do the same. I felt that maybe through the simple notion of my sending something directly to your inbox, it could feel like an intentional respite where & when you open this because --you want to-- and/or actually --have the capacity for it--. I am so glad I took the leap then to build this little community: an audience of infinite life crossings and synchronicities, without ads, promos, and trends. Just me, my musings, creations, curated gems, for you, your eyes, ears, and mind. Hoorah!

Fast forward to 2024, and life has been looking and feeling rather different. I'll be plenty honest - moving to a new country has been challenging. Settling into new spaces, re-igniting the fire of and re-integrating into a relationship, assimilating into a different culture, finding work, purpose, play, being oneself, navigating different rules, learning new skills, putting on and taking off masks, meeting new people, sdfjkljfasjula. Yep. I got overloaded. I had to re-prioritize my time and attention massively as I stepped through one threshold after another. This autumn and winter were filled with portals into deeper inner spaces, conflicting emotions, dark thoughts and feelings in all the ways. I've not dove this deep internally within, and like the ocean, it just seems to go deeper and deeper. There's also been external influences on my psyche. Chaos. Genocide. Back to joy, awe and wonder. Depths. Gasp for air. Gahh! Tranquility. Rinse and repeat. Meditate. Everything everywhere all at once.

So, here I stand before you again, sharing. Out of my first proper winter in 8 years (and first in the southern hemisphere), to say woah, what a ride. Thankful for the journey. Grateful to be and feel alive. To be on this whenua (land, and more). To have the friends and support that I do, near and far. And to still be doing (mostly) what I enjoy in life. Win.

It's been an enlightening and enriching experience for me no matter how I slice it, 11 ½ months into Aotearoa New Zealand, and now, the 27th edition into this side quest that is the newsletter. If we were alive in the caveman/hunter-gatherer ages, I likely would have been *that* person that'd be the one to show you a shiny new rock, scribbled figures in the cave, and share new tricks I learned from a neighboring tribesperson. This edition is no exception. I can still feel the joy and eagerness to present what I am about to share with you in September 2024, just days after the equinox (also: 中秋節快樂! happy belated Chinese mid-autumn festival). Transitions indeed be happening.

For those of you who are newly subscribed - nau mai, 歡迎, welcome. I share to inform, and perhaps it inspires. I share good news I gather, and I share my favorite podcasts, books, videos, and music I've been listening to. I share with you what I've been working on, and what I find beauty in. If you feel compelled to respond, reshare, support in any way, there are pathways for that.

Thank you for being here.

I've been subscribed for some years now to Bridging Towards Belonging by Brain Stout, and in March he put out a piece titled 'The courage to share your gifts' (a theme that has been *very* prevalent in my life of late) where he wrote,

Brain also shares this quote from Xavier Dagba:

I have been running a patreon page to gather financial support from my fanbase. It's helped me fund trips to support the beautiful work of Conscious Impact, get the tools, services, and hiring people to help me launch my podcast, buffered times of hardship from theft as in 2019 when 90% of my photo & video got stolen, and perhaps most importantly, helped me realize what I do, create, and bring to the table is of value in times I forget this fact myself. My aspirations continue as they have since I became nomadic AND purpose-driven in 2016 to be creating from wherever I am in the world with good people doing radical work and be community-funded. I still believe in this reality, maybe more than ever, because here I am 8 years later with dozens of people still supporting me!

Supporting patrons have access to exclusive posts such as this 21-minute open-share from May, this video and writings from July, this reflections & declaration video after an inspiration & insightful walk-and-talk in August, and this recently dropped bonus album filled with hundreds of unpublished photos, time-lapse videos, behind the scenes and commentary from recent explorations around Te Waipounamu​ (South Island). All it takes is as little as $1 USD/month to access exclusive content like this. If you've liked my stuff, is it worth a buck or more to support me and my work? Because I'll let you in on a little secret - to formulate my own content creating studio-team that can be location-independent and financially-sound while attracting good collaborators and team members to work is still a vision and dream that I very much hold onto and wish to manifest. Thank you for considering. 🙃

Here are inspiring moments and humans I've gotten to rub shoulders with in recent months:

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global good news

Future Crunch, my favorite source of good news, is now Fix the News. I resonate with the founder, Gus, "If I’m not careful, the doomscrolling can get overwhelming. ... Researching and writing this newsletter is my own medicine. At the end of every week, no matter how awful the news has been, I’m reminded of all the progress that has happened in places where the cameras aren’t rolling. ... a lot of you use this newsletter in a similar fashion, to take a break from the relentless negativity, to have your faith in humanity restored, and to remind you that the news doesn’t just have to be about the mistakes that are made; it can also be about the steps we take to fix them." Here's a very small hand-picked selection from the past few months:

• The world’s forests are doing better than we think. England now has more forest than it did during the Black Death, covering 13,000 km2 of the country; China’s forest area has increased by about 607,000 km2 since 1992, and the combined tree-planting efforts of India and the U.S. would cover Bangladesh in an unbroken canopy of leaves. Bloomberg​
• Plastic bags are the number one contaminant found in Colorado’s rivers and streams—but last year, thanks to the imposition of statewide fees, between 1.5 billion and 1.8 billion fewer plastic bags were used, and an even greater reduction is expected this year, as businesses phase out their use too. ABC Denver​
• Humpback whale numbers in Cumberland Bay of the island of South Georgia have nearly recovered to pre-whaling levels, last seen in 1904. The rewilding of South Georgia amounts to 'the single most uplifting environmental story in the world.' Hakai​
• Women in Türkiye can now use their own surnames after marriage, following a decision by the Constitutional Court to abolish a restrictive provision in the Turkish Civil Code. 'Saying that a married woman must take her husband’s surname, and the child take their father’s surname is lending official support to the patriarchy.' duvaR​
• In India, the number of women enrolling in higher education increased by 32% between 2015 and 2022, from 15.7 million to over 20 million. There has also been a notable increase in enrollment across all levels of education for female students from scheduled castes, from 21 million in 2015 to 31 million in 2022. Economic Times​
• At least 9% of Seychelles's budget is allocated to education, and it has met all six of UNESCO's goals, achieving a 50% improvement in adult literacy, ensuring universal access to primary education, and achieving gender equality in education. Fair Planet​
• Youth activists in Norway have won a major legal victory, after a court in Oslo found the approvals of three new oil and gas fields invalid and issued an injunction forbidding the state from granting any new permits necessary for construction and production there. 'This is an important victory for current and future generations and the environment.' Greenpeace​
• South Africa may have finally turned the corner on HIV as prevalence among pregnant women has dropped to its lowest in two decades. Over the last ten years, the six countries of the Greater Mekong have made remarkable progress towards malaria elimination. In the US, 21 states have abolished the practice of court fines for juveniles. Iran's literacy rate reached 97% in 2023, up from less than 50% in the 1970s. Thai lawmakers have taken a big step forward towards improving air quality. Egypt just amended its laws to include more chances to appeal in criminal cases, a 'victory for human rights.' The US government is forgiving another $4.9 billion in student debt for 73,600 borrowers. The Maldives and Sri Lanka have achieved hepatitis B control, meaning consistent vaccination rates over 90%. No, the maternal mortality rate in the United States is not rising; it's actually on par with those of Canada and France. Since 2014, over 5,000 schools in Ethiopia have been equipped with water, sanitation, and hygiene facilities. In Kenya, 200,000 people just gained access to clean drinking water. California has enacted a law that makes it easier for out-of-state doctors to get experience in reproductive medicine.

*takes a breathe*

And, despite a national spike in homelessness, some regions in the United States are finding solutions. By the time this newsletter goes to press, there's a good chance Greece might have legalized same-sex marriage. Zimbabwe has abolished the death penalty, a practice introduced by British colonial administrators. A sex education bus has reached over 5,000 teens in Honduras, and it's just getting started. 95,000 people just got access to clean drinking water in Mauritania. The adult literacy rate in Tanzania has risen to 83% from 78.1% in the past decade. Poverty is plummeting in Bangladesh, thanks to a much better social safety net. Ecuador's highest court has decriminalised euthanasia. The United States reduced its backlog of immigration cases last year, after processing an unprecedented 10 million cases. Last year the FDA approved 55 novel therapeutics, the second-highest total in 30 years. Young people in the United Kingdom are drinking way less. In the 1980s, the average lifespan of a person with Down syndrome was 25 years. Today it's over 60.

Yeah, I needed to hear all of that goodness too.

And there's SO much more that isn't covered in media. The world isn't as gloom and doom as we often think it is. Get your GOOD fix @ Fix the News.​
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original work / offerings

In April this year I crossed paths with the wonderful, beaming of light of a human, Iza Lakapati Thomson (they/them).

Iza has been a nomadic earthbuilder for years, living simply, hitchhiking, learning from different teachers/masters in the craft, teaching hundreds of people across the global of the magic, strength, and beauty of earthen building techniques and materials. Their advocacy for ecological reciprocity and reconnection is at the core of their why and mahi (work). Workshops are fun, inclusive, and conducive to play and laughter, not just learning. Imagine that!

Those of you have known me and my work would likely be smiling/chuckling at how much this would resonate with me. 🥲🤠

A friend in Ōtautahi Christchurch and I took Iza's introduction earthbuilding course, and I offered to photograph and film some footage to support their kaupapa (Māori for foundation of principles, values, ideas). Upon hearing Iza's admittance into a master's program in sustainable architecture in Wales and thus have begun fundraising for the degree and expenses, it felt like a no-brainier for me to put in some additional time and creativity to cut together a little video in support. You can ​find Iza at @wanderingearthbuilder and link to their fundraiser is in their bio. 🔗

This is the result (more collaborations like this please, universe!), enjoy! 😎📽️

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About 3 months ago in the thick of dark winter, I found the courage to record and share a video for my (near-)future self reminding me of the obstacles that I see and have overcome, the fear of presenting myself vulnerably into a public realm, and the immensity of the community support that has been invaluable. The response from folks were incredible. I'm so thankful for the comments, reflections, and (re)connections that resulted from my dare to share. This video picks up on all of those necessary and powerful reminders and more. I really quite enjoyed digging up old footage and photos to bring this little story to life!

This video was first recorded on 21 August after an immensely inspiring walk & talk catch up with Erica Austin-Knopp (pictured in the video thumbnail). Although over a month has passed, the flow of consciousness shared is even more relevant today. Time is not linear, lifetimes have already passed, whirlwinds within and outside of me have passed, and my little heart and mind have struggled here and there to keep up with the totality of being alive on this floating, spinning blob of water and rock.

Part 1:

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That is one of the 3 thought-provoking questions that Erica asked to which I give an honest answer to.

In the second half of this video, I declare and state who I am, why I wish to (continue to) offer what I do, and how I've been going about it. In recent years, I realize that I have not been super good at asking directly and fully what I desire and need, so here I am, giving as clear and bold of an attempt to present myself to the world as a community-supported, impact-driven visual-storyteller who is in search of an avengers team of weavers, mentors, and collaborators. I'm seeking people to learn from and with whom I could also share my gained knowledge and skills. I don't wanna only do projects solo.

My ability to move through different spaces and connect with a diversity of people and projects with shared kaupapa (Māori word for foundation of principles, values, ideas) is my gift.

End of September into October is shaping up to be a potent month of new transitions, supporting others' inner work as well as my own, new gigs, while carrying this inner flame of motivation with me and making decisions that are as long-sighted and truly good for me as much as possible.

Part 2:

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recommendations

This section is where I share videos, podcasts, books, music, and workshops that I have uplifted and/or helped me become a better person.

Videos:
​TEDxAuckland - Mana: The power in knowing who you are | Tame Iti​

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​Happen Films - The Life of an Inspiring 85-Year-Old Change Maker!​

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Books:
​All About Love by Bell Hooks
​The Wake Up by Michelle MiJung Kim
​The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho

Podcast:
​The Emerald
​Rourou Conversations
​The Elephant in the Bedroom​

Music:
​Naturritu; Trevor Hall; Lux Arcana; Namirí; Joydah Mae; Stan Walker​

Workshops:
​Courageous Conversations South Pacific Institute (Australia + Aotearoa NZ only); their global org is here.
​Building Communication Bridges Inside & Out by Janet Redmond (Aotearoa NZ only)

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gratitude

For those of you who are new to the newsletter, welcome & thank you!
Your time & attention are invaluable, and I sincerely hope you find value here.

For this edition I'd like to direct my gratitude to the two men's group that I've been part of since being in Aotearoa NZ. One of them I started from an email I wrote while enroute from Southern California to Te Waipounamu South Island to some of my closest guy friends in different corners of the world. The other was an invitation from an existing friend, brother Bear Heart, to one of his existing men's circles in Ōtautahi Christchurch. I've been humbled, touched, enraged, joyed, frustrated, and in awe with myself and everyone in these 2 groups that have held me physically, emotionally, and energetically as I have for the rest of the them. What a sensation. Bringing back together the tribe. Returning to our community weave. It's too important and essential to lose. Let's normalize men talking about their feelings and needs in safe containers (again).

This publication is a labor of love & devotion. For each edition, I spend hours compiling, writing, editing, and weaving content altogether. It is made possible in huge part due to patrons who pitch in regularly on patreon. Bonus content and print discounts are also perks. This income has become a humble, reliable, and essential pillar of financial support. It allows this publication and the podcast to be somewhat financially feasible while keeping them ad-free (a rarity in this age, let's be honest!). I must thank friends around the globe who hire me for their portraits, weddings, photo & video lessons, business/org shoots, etc. If you're keen to learn more and/or are feeling financial abundant, I'd absolutely appreciated a dollar here and there, cheers!

If regular contributions aren't your thing, I have a tip jar as a "street busker" w/ cameras, mics, and musings​.

Grateful for you Reader,

Kai (Jonathan)