On the New Moon Solar Eclipse back in June I made the decision to step away from my role in Joyality. Although in many ways this is a decision that has been brewing and emerging for some time, it is not one I made lightly. This project has truly been the center of my life for the past six years - it has guided so many of my decisions and so much of my time, energy and love. I began my journey with Joyality when I was 21, just beginning to glimpse and understand the complexity of building a meaningful life in this world. This project has truly been the only constant through my 20’s, a touchstone for my identity, my sense of contribution and my orientation for how to be a person. As I approach the final years of this formative (and incredibly chaotic) decade of my life, I am carrying a knowing that it is time for me to step out of this container and explore new horizons in my work and contribution to co-creating a just and regenerative future.
When I met Eshana in 2015 I had just discovered the world of ecopsychology. I will never forget the experience of discovering that these feelings and experiences that I knew deep in my bones but had no language for were actually the topics of peer-reviewed, academic research and articles. Having other people put words to these truths was validating and hopeful in a way I didn't know I needed. In a time in my life when I genuinely thought I was “going crazy” this world of thought and practice showed me a path forward when I honestly couldn't imagine one. Getting to connect with and learn from Eshana - both her decades of experience and knowledge as well as her beingness as an embodied daily practicer of this work - was a profound and life-altering moment. My relationship with her, and the work we’ve done together, has truly altered the course of my life, my work, and who I am. When I read her words calling for an “activist ecopsychology toolkit” something clicked in me - yes, this. This is what I need. This is what we need. Her call to integrate activism and ecopsychology made more sense to me than anything I’d read in a long time, and it launched us on the wild and magical ride that we now know as The Joyality Project. Eshana - I love you and I am so grateful for you. At the risk of sounding overly dramatic, co-creating Joyality saved my life. I was able to make what I desperately needed, and in doing so, and finding that other people needed it too, I found my joy and hope and faith in Life again.
There is no way to describe how much I have learned through co-creating and stewarding this project. I have failed so many times, in so many ways, and I've achieved things that I didn't know I was capable of. I've gotten to meet and collaborate with so many incredibly intelligent, talented, creative, indescribably wonderful people. If I’ve had the pleasure of working with you in a course, workshop or at an event you have touched and inspired me in ways I can’t fully describe. I will always be deeply grateful and incredibly honored that Eshana trusted me to collaborate with her and her life's work in this way. She has become one of my dearest friends and I love what we've created together.
My hope is that this co-creative iteration of Joyality has somehow touched you, inspired you, activated you, reminded you, or reinforced you. I hope it has helped you feel held in your grief, fueled in your action and encouraged in your joy. I hope it's reminded you that you matter. I hope it's grounded you in the truth that you are deeply interconnected with all people, all beings, all Life on Earth and that your liberation and wellbeing are inseparable from theirs. I hope it has brought you closer to your true Self in some way and supported you in committing to bringing that Self to the healing of this world. Thank you, thank you, thank you.
As I step into this next chapter of my life, totally uncertain what will emerge, I carry all of this, and all of you, with me as grounding and guidance. There is much work to be done and I open myself to it knowing that I am not alone in my love, care, and dreams for our world. Thank you so much for being a part of this journey and for your dedication, love and care for the world. I am grateful to be walking (stumbling?) on this path with you. I hope to get to connect with you in the next iteration of my work. If you want to be in the loop as the next chapter unfolds, you can sign up for that HERE.
I hope to see you again on the other side!
Rachel xx