The summer holidays remind us of a time when most people’s lives were intimately connected to the land. The reason many of us enjoy time off work and school over the summer is rooted in agricultural traditions.

The harvest season typically required intense labor to gather and store crops before the onset of winter. Children were needed to help with planting and harvesting, so schools would often schedule breaks during these times to allow families to work together on their farms.

The period between late summer and early fall is a time of plenty when the hard work of planting and cultivating throughout the spring and summer months culminates in a bountiful harvest. Many cultures worldwide celebrate harvest festivals, as a way for people to express gratitude for the successful yield of crops and to rejoice in the fruits of their labours.

Harvest festivals and summer holidays provide an opportunity for people to connect with nature and the cycles of the seasons. These celebrations remind us of our dependence on the land for sustenance and the importance of working in harmony with the environment. 

🦋 Flowing Money in Service of Life

Moving from awareness into action 🌱

Surrounded by beautiful nature and abundant wildlife, join us for a four-day regenerative retreat exploring and developing processes and practices that allow us to take bolder steps towards a global economic system that prioritises life on Earth, hosted by Be The Earth, Regenerosity and Transition Resource Circle,

24th-27th September 2023.

The retreat will be facilitated and guided by Lynn Murphy and Alnoor Ladha, authors of Post Capitalist Philanthropy and co-directors of The Transition Resource Circle, a group, seeking to work with resources and resource holders to alchemise and liberate capital to be in service to life.

We'll be delving deep into the role of financial capital in the transition from failed capitalism to a post-capitalist system that supports all living beings to thrive, combining theoretical content with practical exercises, and prioritising connection with nature and with others.

🌿 Venturing into Next Frontiers 🍁

Rethinking how we do our collective work

“We have been reflecting on the fact that how we do things shapes not only what we do, but also what we are able to imagine... How can we come together in such a way that we’re not just discussing the change we want to see, we’re actively living it too?

Imagine what it would be like to do the work we do together not just in conference but in congregation; bringing our whole selves, not just our work selves, into the spaces we share. Seeing the whole human, the rich spirit in each of us, not just the economic relationships we engage in.”

Be The Earth Founder, Seth Tabatznik, and Head of Philanthropy Renata Minerbo share their reflections following the Next Frontiers in Funding, Philanthropy and Investment conference. With 50+ speakers and over 1000 attendees, this event brought together innovators and changemakers from across the philanthropic and investment worlds.

Meditate with Satish Kumar

🌷 It's free and it's for everyone 🪻

Join world-renowned peace-pilgrim, life-long activist and former monk, Satish Kumar, for this one-off, free meditation that is open to all.

Monday 4th September, 2023 7:30-8:00 am BST

Loved for his deep wisdom, joy and optimism, and for his radiant heart, Satish's words and powerful presence have been transforming lives and inspiring global change for over 50 years. Now in his late 80s, Satish has devoted his life to campaigning for ecological regeneration, social justice and spiritual fulfilment. His life continues to be in service to 'Soil, Soul, Society'.

🌸 Blooming Brilliant 🌸

A triumphant ending

Our beloved Blooming Initiative came to a triumphant ending this month. This programme combined microgrants, capacity building and storytelling with a relationship-based long-term approach, to strengthen grassroots community initiatives that are prototyping regenerative economies based on care for people and planet.

We were so deeply honoured to have these five inspirational projects taking part:

🌷 Frente Alimenta

Frente Alimenta bridges the gap between small family farmers on the city’s outskirts and vulnerable urban neighborhoods. They channel the power of agroecological production to ensure that fresh, healthy, and balanced meals reach those who need them most.

🌻 Loop:Frome

Loop:Frome cultivates a circular economy in Frome, UK, gathering surplus food from local businesses and transforming it into nourishing compost. By composting food waste locally, they craft nutrient-rich soil that’s also distributed to gardeners and growers throughout the county.

🌸 Instituto Chegados

Familia Chegados builds bonds and creates change in their neighbourhood, nurturing various projects that enrich their community, such as the Community Library, Meeting (English classes), Sarau Diz’Quina (a poetry event), and the Festival de Pipa Poético (Kite Poetry Festival).

🌺 Frocal

Frocal invites local residents to reimagine their village of Forest Row through a holistic lens. They have recently secured seats in the Parish Council, a vital step to enable meaningful change and steer Forest Row toward a future illuminated by sustainability and harmony.

🌹 Amaqanda Learning Garden

Drawing inspiration from permaculture principles, Amaqanda Learning Garden raises chickens and rejuvenates soil and water systems on-site, creating a flourishing landscape that effortlessly intertwines human existence with nature.

The work they do amazes us – please go check them out and show your support! As part of the programme, each of these initiatives made an inspirational short film about their work, which you can watch by clicking the link below.

 🥁 And finally...

Some good news 🌈

The people of Ecuador have voted in a historic referendum to halt the development of all new oil wells in the Yasuní national park in the Amazon, one of the most biodiverse regions on the planet. Read more in this hopeful and inspiring article:

"Joy and hope are all too rarely associated with the environmental movement, but both have been in abundant supply since Ecuador’s people voted on Sunday to keep the country’s oil in the subsoil of the Yasuní national park. The question now is whether this is a one-off triumph, or something that can be replicated in other countries..."

 ✨ Virgo Season ✨

Reflection, reassessments, and rest

The Sun moved into Virgo on August 23rd, and we're officially in Virgo season, the season that helps us connect to life themes that relate to your health & wellness, self-improvement, and service.

What is interesting about the beginning of this year's Virgo Season is that there are 6 energies currently retrograde: Mercury, Venus, Chiron, Saturn, Neptune, and Pluto. When most of the planets are retrograde, it marks a time for reflection, reassessments, and rest. Mercury retrogrades 3-4 times a year for 3 weeks, from now until September 15th this is the moment to slow down and go inward.

Please keep in mind that during the next 3 weeks, Mercury Retrograde can bring up delays, misunderstandings, and communication/travel issues. In these moments, we must learn to be adaptable and patient with others, but most importantly, compassionate with ourselves.

Business Tip: Mercury Retrograde is usually not a great time to launch a new project, but if you need to make any significant announcements in the upcoming 3 weeks, there's a Sun-Mercury Cazimi on September 6th where The Sun & Mercury meet up in the sky, and this archetypal energy helps us find our way to fresh insights and downloads.

 For more info on this month's cycles, follow @bru_maia on IG!