Reflections from our Head of Community & Partnerships, Renata Minerbo, following our first ever festival earlier this month.
Deep sigh. We just completed our first Be The Earth Festival at 42 Acres in Somerset, England, and I find myself searching for the right words to describe this event: fun, profound, eye-opening, and deeply engaging are just a few that come to mind.
This event brought together over 80 people from our network, all united by a shared vision of a world that nurtures all beings. Funders, entrepreneurs, activists, impact investors, and experts in their respective fields gathered for four days to celebrate nature, life, and the unique ways each of us manifests our purpose in the world through meaningful work.
Our program was diverse, weaving together play, deep conversations, ample opportunities to explore, and engaging topics.
It was four years in the making, incorporating our unique approach to hosting events, where we brought our heads, hearts, and hands together for a full—connected—experience.
We not only talked about but also connected with nature, exploring the beauty and abundance of the landscape. We created rituals to activate our spirituality, both as individuals and as a collective.
We delved into innovative and holistic ways of using financial capital—from philanthropy to investments and everything in between—to create new ways of living.
We gave our minds a break by moving our bodies through walks and other physical activities. We activated our creativity through art, including pottery, poetry, and singing. We enjoyed nourishing, local, and delicious food. Throughout it all, we strengthened existing relationships and forged new ones.
Working towards social and environmental change, especially with a systemic mindset, can be overwhelming because there’s often no sense of significant achievements or quick problem-solving. Despite the immense passion for this value-driven work and the many amazing projects that could be listed here, there are always areas for improvement—from diversity and inclusion to participation and power sharing.
We often don’t know how to do things differently because we’re part of the same system we’re trying to change. Yet, being an activist keeps us acting, seeking new pathways to learn and grow while experimenting, making mistakes—sharing the journey of navigating between polarities.
While acknowledging that there’s still so much to (un)learn, we celebrate and embrace the hard conversations that can only happen in a space of trust.
One of our Wisdom Keepers, Satish Kumar, shared the importance of acting without attaching to a result. He said:
“When we let go of the outcome, there’s space for the magic to happen.”
If we perpetually chase after taking responsibility for all the injustices in the world without rest, we can only burn out and fall into despair. So the best we can do is to learn to let go of expectations and to keep acting from a place of love and connection.
In the end, that’s what matters most.
