Hope this finds you surrounded by the bounty of spring flowers and warming sunny days...
Our main news is that Rite to Freedom is going through a transition period as we reorganise our background structure and take some very much needed rest after a long period of gruelling fundraising efforts. We will be putting a pause to all of our current programmes and offerings and plan to be back in the Autumn with a new shape. Ali and Caspar will continue with their passionate commitment for this work and dreaming what comes next. Jo will be leaving her role in mid May. We have each written personally below.
Caspar, Ali and Jo x
From Caspar...
I sit up from a deep sleep in the heat of the May sun, late afternoon, south Devon. I look down at these beautiful seedlings pushing up through the hard ground. My beloved Bantham beach in the distance, roaring gently. I'm gently encouraging myself to be still, post surf after all that movement in salt and water and waves. The energy of the ocean is running through me and I’m finding it hard to stay in this moment. As I breathe a little slower, I slowly begin to enjoy doing very little, even with all this energy in my body. There is a sense of this being some kind of preparation for the upcoming Rite to Freedom pause for reflection.
So much of life seems to be about moving forward - next, next, next. We all, one way or another need to move through time; that’s the nature of it, isn’t it? Strive, connect, plan, love, be productive… useful. But as I get older, the more settled I am in my skin, the less I feel the need to prove, be seen, accepted through doing more. The ‘what next’ is always exciting, full of adventure and sparkles. Equally we all need to pause to reflect and celebrate our incredible journeys. Who are we if we never ‘have time to stand and stare’?
Over the last 16 years I've been involved in co-leading at least four residentials a year and countless other programmes for Rite to Freedom. There’s been so much learning and growth and challenge and beauty. I’m incredibly proud of our work and our time on Dartmoor through these amazing years; immersed in our individual and collective stories of transformation, healing and adventure. It’s time to slow down, look back at the path behind us and celebrate.
Having been so focused on healing and work for so long, my own and others, stopping to stare is not something I've dedicated enough time to; to celebrate how far we’ve all come in our lives. And from this place of rest, explore our best, next steps. There is absolutely an edge in taking time out; who am I when I’m not producing, being in service, creativity, developing new work?
Recent years have taught me to drop the word, hope. As T.S. Eliot wrote, ‘for it would be hope for the wrong thing’. In place of hope I'm embracing trust. I’ve always been looked after, sometimes in more obvious ways than others. I don’t really know what will happen next. I’ll follow the flow with my beautiful community and colleagues, new and old… and my intuition. I’m going to return to the land around Heathercombe and be with it in a new way. Give thanks, slow down and breathe and play in that soulful place and space. If there is to be a focus in this time off, it will be with the moors and sea even more and from a different angle. More walking, talking, being, eating, solo time; stopping; giving thanks for everything. I have so much love and appreciation for so much richness and abundance from the journey so far.
Thank you Jo M, Ali C, Amber, Ben F and all the freelance staff and the R2F community, you have given me and shown me more love and learning than I think you will ever know.
Grief and Gratitude; the Lover Creator archetype, the time of spring, now, dying into the old, stepping into the new. The journey and adventure continue…rest up Walsh! 🙂
From Ali...
It's 5pm, the sound of bird song echoing all around the garden enticing me out and away from my desk. It's been quite a journey getting to this place of pause and reflection, mixed emotions and so many threads that I wish to tie together beautifully.
I've been taken on a bit of a journey thinking about my time with Rite to Freedom; I have just been looking at my first journal from my residential experience in 2016. I declared on paper that I wanted to stick around and be part of Rite to Freedom however that looked.
Well, I stuck around and it was the right decision, I have been mentored and supported by some of the most incredible human beings to arrive at a place where I stand tall and proud ready for the next adventure.
That's what it's been, an adventure with so many incredible moments shared with dear friends.
Exciting times are ahead, I shall miss working with the lovely Jo McGain but friendships endure if they are meant to outside of a working capacity.
Here's what I intend to be doing with a pause...
Paying attention to the natural world and letting her guide me
Accepting things as they come and go
Under star sleeping
Sitting on tors basking like a lizard
Experiencing how it feels to have time and space
'Journeys that become stories and stories that become journeys' - Mac Macartney
Here's to the next part of the story, I have so much love and gratitude for my colleagues including Benj who have gently guided me along the way, to our trustees and community who make being a part of Rite to Freedom such a beautiful thing.
I feel a closing of the circle in my relationship with Caspar; from participant on the high moors scared and without a voice being gently mentored, stretched and encouraged to now be in a place where we stand side by side ready for the next adventure.
Ali x
From Jo…
Since December 2017 I have been a core part of the R2F staff team, working remotely for all that time. It has seen me through many other changes in my life, providing a stability and support to sometimes otherwise tumultuous times. It has meant a lot to me being a background support to this beautiful heartfelt work offered out into the world, and the times that I have been able to join in person, supporting the staff team on residentials have been precious ones. Ali, Caspar and myself have worked really closely together over the last few years, with Ben previously being a core part of our team, and its been so great to have a solid and supportive team relationship, attending to both the practical and emotional elements of our work together with care, integrity and heart.
Moving forwards I will be looking for a job that has an in person element to it, and will very much keep in touch with Rite to Freedom as new beginnings clarify and emerge.
Jo x
Bloom Festival, May 12th, Exeter Phoenix
We are really looking forward to be part of this year's Bloom Festival at Exeter Phoenixthat takes place alongside Mental Health Awareness week. We will be sharing some of our short films, hosting a cabaret, taking part in a panel discussion and there with a stall. Come find us to say hello!
For more details on the day's programme click here.
Community Connection Days
Our Community Connection Days have been continuing every month, supported by the small grant that we received in December from the Devon and Cornwall Police and Crime Commissioner through Devon Community Foundation.
These days are designed to offer support, connection, growth and deepening to our community of volunteers and staff with a series of days and one to one mentoring.
Our latest day was in our beloved High Heathercombe landscape with the mists clearing over the moors, the gorse in full flower and a cuckoo calling.
Photo credits - Sarah and Jo M
"Through the seasons
with a cautious, unfolding love
you weaved a new world for yourself
and the decades and days slowly lifted into life."
- Caspar Walsh, 'You Waited'
