From baby-led weaning and childhood to women’s food, eating behaviours, and emotions, Fabiolla Duarte has spent 13 years speaking on life, femininity, parenting, culture, language, and eating behaviour. She is an educator, thinker, and mother who studies the work of psychoanalyst and paediatrician Winnicott. She teaches courses and facilitates women’s circles.
Fabiolla is one of our Aura Fellows, having completed our holistic nine-module programme designed to nurture and empower female leaders. In this Aura Spotlight interview, we delve into her experience.
How has Aura transformed your relationship with yourself?
For the first time, I’ve come to understand, from an activist perspective, that if I don’t take care of myself, I’m not contributing to a collective shift in how women relate to their own self-care.
With this realisation, I also confronted the paradox of self-care in a capitalist and patriarchal world where women don’t have the time to care for themselves because they are overworked and taught that self-care is “wasting productive time.”
I feel that the solution to this paradox is a collective one, and we’ll likely encounter a lot of exhaustion until this paradigm shifts.
But if we are together in women’s circles, getting through it all will be less lonely and more fun. Because women are great at laughing and loving together — women naturally take care of one another.
Perhaps self-care is hard for women individually, but caring for women collectively is not. That’s why I live within women’s circles. And it’s through my three years with Aura that I’ve experienced these reflections.
How has your perspective on activism changed?
It has changed a lot. Firstly, because I hadn’t fully recognised the political dimension of my work with women and mothers as activism. I just felt it was important to be there, as it was urgent to support mothers and women, which was simply my job and profession.
Secondly, I was gifted a network of new activist friends from different parts of Brazil, England, and South Africa. Having people to share the challenges and exhaustion of activism with has been so valuable — it brings a healthier balance to this work. It’s also inspiring to learn how other activists approach different issues and develop solutions, expanding my own repertoire.
And there’s one more thing: being part of Aura has brought more respect and recognition to this work, and that, too, has transformed my perspective on activism.
Could you share an Aura experience that was particularly transformative?
The beginning. The initial interview forms, which required hours of dedication, were deeply thought-provoking exercises in self-reflection and time investment. It was about the practices of writing and the practice of taking time.
I remember feeling I had to stop everything to answer and respond as if it were my last chance to answer truly meaningful questions about myself. The songs we had to choose, the reflections — all those endless questions. I loved it.
I loved the anticipation for the online gatherings, the stones, photos, and magical objects we were asked to bring. All the preparations for the days when we had to facilitate an experience.
The first year of Aura was very special and deeply transformed my sense that, yes, I deserved all this care. And the day we received the Aura pendant by mail? ♡♡♡♡
It was a magical year and a significant part of my journey over these three years with Be The Earth.
What does feminine wisdom mean to you? Why is it important today?
I feel that women are the only ones critically observing the current world. Men, for the most part — especially those aligned with patriarchy — are not. Feminist discomfort with the way societies are being shaped may slowly drive change.
I also feel that we’re not only observing, criticising, and raising our voices, but we’re also re-evaluating our ways of living as women. We’re looking at our sexualities, motherhood, and the importance of being together. Some groups of women more than others, but we are doing this.
Women laugh and cry together and fight together. I love being a woman, and though it’s a politically and globally challenging time, it’s one rich with powerful feminist dialogues.
One piece of advice you would give to another woman starting her Aura journey?
Embrace the magic in all the rituals. Make time for everything, even when life tells you there’s no time.
Keep it simple but make it simply magical, even if you’re overwhelmed by the demands of a woman’s life.
Dress up, adorn yourself, go in your most beautiful and comfortable clothes. Eat beforehand, drink something, and be fully present. Bring your coffee or tea, tidy up the space—even if it just means moving things out of sight—but make room for yourself.
I hope you feel as important as an activist deserves to feel and worthy of all the care you truly deserve. Being part of Aura is a very, very special gift—magical, mystical, strange, and powerful.
Love and axé.