It's officially December which means this is our last newsletter of the year!

We've now transitioned through 3 seasons and in the global north, we are preparing to wind down into the final season of winter, drawing our energy inwards, just like nature. It's a great time to reflect on all that has been seeded and all that has flourished; and all that has been created and all that is now falling away in preparation for the next cycle.

It's been a huge year for Be the Earth and we are sure it has for all of you too! In this newsletter we will share some celebrations, stories, and gift you with some special discount codes to treat yourself or loved ones with this winter ❄️

🌟 Monthly Highlight 🌟

Our first ever Be the Earth Annual Gathering just happened!

A couple of weeks ago in the stunning setting of South Africa, we held our first Be the Earth Annual Gathering. The gathering saw nearly all of our fellows from each of our programmes (Aura, Flow Funding and the Giving Circle) come together in one place for the first time.

It was a special encounter after experiencing so many Zoom calls together over the year, to finally hug each other, share stories in circle and celebrate all that has been achieved through each programme. We also got to spend quality time with our South African Aura Valley ladies who are part of our first ever regional Aura circle.

It's safe to say it was a truly beautiful and wonderful experience to have so many women in one place and for the Be the Earth team to connect first hand with those we had only ever known virtually.

Thank you to our incredible fellows who made the experience so special and of course to the beautiful lands of South Africa for holding us through all that the gathering was for each woman 🙏🏼

Join us at the ORFC January 2023 🥕

Join us in January 2023 at the ORFC where the Be the Earth team will be speaking and sharing on two separate panels.

What role can philanthropy play to catalyse change on food systems?

Traditional philanthropy in general has been part of the solutions and the problems of our current system. Replicating the corporate model, it prioritises quantitative measurable achievements, trying to put subjective important things like trust, belonging and sense of community into numbers; the usual demand for due diligence, reporting and all the admin required to make a project viable becomes a weight for people who should be spending their time on the ground, and stop them from being their greatest potential.

In this session, we will investigate what allyship looks like and how to evolve the role of philanthropy to be in service of those fighting for environmental, human and animal rights.

 Funding Regeneration - How unconventional financing models can support food and farming businesses

Join us in a conversation with three entrepreneurs working in food and farming and two  funders exploring alternative financing models. We’ll discuss what makes each business “untraditional” from a funding perspective and the best ways to source aligned capital, including the specialised programmes run by the two funders. We’ll try to get to the crux of why there is insufficient private capital being invested in food and farming and discuss how finance needs (and is already starting) to change to support our evolving food systems. Whether you are a founder, a funder, or a farmer, this conversation is for you.

In-person tickets are limited, so don’t wait to book your place at ORFC 2023!

42 Acres Discount Code

42 Acres (a special sibling to Be the Earth) have gifted us with a discount code to share with our community (you) this winter. If you or someone you know is looking to cosy up in a beautiful and nourishing environment whilst also feeling immersed in nature then this could be a beautiful opportunity to do just that!

You can use the discount code: BTE10 in the 'bonus code' section when checking your dates. This discount code automatically applies to all accommodation bookings.

Happy booking!

GROUNDTRUTH

A Be the Earth Investment (and discount code)

GROUNDTRUTH is a company that Be the Earth invested in earlier this year after learning how much plastic they are able to remove from the environment through their innovative bags and accessories. GROUNDTRUTH is unique in that it was founded on purpose not the desire for profit. The founders believe that responsible and compassionate companies can be a powerfulforce for good.

Around 74 plastic bottles are removed through the making of each bag which is manufactured using plastic waste collected from landfill sites, waterways and oceans worldwide!

This week, GROUNDTRUTH launched their latest bag (which would make a great gift this winter!) and are generously offering our community a discount code to use on their website. You can use the discount code "BeTheEarth#2022" at the cart.

Aura Blog: Being with women in circles, revolution, networking, activism and science

with Fabiolla Marques Duarte

"During my journey with Aura I revisited my story through astrology, looked at and dealt with fundamental traumas, reviewed my relationship with money, work and sexuality, and began my studies in Neuroscience, psychoanalysis and ceramics."

Fabiolla, one of our Aura fellows, shares about a new adventure that has revealed itself to her through being part of the Aura Fellowship. "In addition to looking at food and its cultural meanings and subjectivities on the plate, I want to delve into the human being, his psyche and brain. I found out in Aura that I want to be a Neuroscientist".

Check out her full story below!

 ✨ Astrological Insights for December ✨

with Bruna Maia

October & November were intense months marked by eclipses in the Taurus-Scorpio axis. Themes around our values, self-worth, relationship to our bodies, money, and past traumas might have resurfaced during these potent months. Uranus, the planet of awakening, was a key teacher who pushed us toward change and asked us to surrender to the unknown. What lessons came up for you during this season? 

As the Sun enters the stimulating constellation of Sagittarius, we are filled with expansiveness, higher purposefulness, and truth. In this energy, we embody the lifelong student and teacher. They are one and the same.

The soul phrase connected to Sagittarius is:

"I see that goal. I reach that goal. And then I see another"

What goals do you see for yourself (and your organization)? 

Where do you hope to grow, reach, and teach? 

Use your inspirational mind to create a vision that you can materialize here on Earth. After all, we have come here to serve this planet. ONWARDS!

Here's a Spotify playlist curated to celebrate Sagittarius Season ♐️

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