Riding The Storm: November

Hey friends,

It feels like I’m riding a wave. I just started a new job coaching teenagers at a Dutch high school, opened our attic retreat space and began working with six new counselling clients. The sense of momentum is exhilarating. In retrospect, I’d been feeling pretty stuck for a while, so I’m enjoying the flow - while trying to maintain my balance on the surfboard. (Fortunately this is a metaphor, I suck at surfing.)

In this issue, I’m experimenting with a more concise format to replace my blog piece. I’d love to hear your feedback,

Tom 💚

I’m facilitating truffle ceremonies at my home the first Saturday of every month ✨

I want to make these transformational experiences accessible for a small group each month - reducing the barriers by having day retreats in Rotterdam at an affordable price point. Links in the dates below 👇

❄️ December 6th - last spot available.
🎆 January 3rd - special New Year’s edition.
🌲 February 7th - get your discounted super early bird tickets.

I’m organising a retreat that combines the power of Active Hope rituals from Joanna Macy’s Work That Reconnects with Psilocybin Truffles.

The focus is on reconnecting with ourselves and the natural world with a cosy group of like-minded changemakers. 2025 was a year of unprecedented unravelling. How do we feel about that? How can we move forward with resilience? This is a space to reflect, be held and gain clarity for the year ahead.

👉 Learn more here.

💔 Witnessing Emotional Expression, Blink -182 Cover, Video

An elderly man pouring his heart out while singing Blink-182’s pop-punk classic, I Miss You. I find it particularly heart-wrenching to see old people cry - it mirrors back a vulnerability that pains me. Witnessing the emotional depth of our fellow humans helps us to see our own.

🌍 Land’s Lineage: bridging political divides on immigration, Alexander Beiner

An insightful piece analysing the politics of immigration, inviting us to come into contact with our land. This is how we transcend identity politics - coming back to the foundations of what sustains our lives, wherever we’re from.

🤯 Why we never hear about the countries where socialism works, Amie Boakye

A provocative essay that explores the media landscape that frames socialism as a failure and ignores its everyday successes. Let’s see how Mamdani handles New York!

📹 Climate in Therapy, Documentary

This is what happens when seven climate scientists attend group therapy together. A fascinating documentary, giving an inside view of the emotions behind the cold cognitive walls that scientists have been educated to work within. What a surprise: scientists also have emotions!

This month, I’m experimenting with sharing short provocations. Writing long pieces began to feel like a chore, but this format flows easily for me. Besides, who has the attention span for 800-word articles anymore? Let me know how these land for you!

Are you dreaming of a better future or setting unnecessary conditions for your happiness?

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In an uncertain world, your vision board is merely a reflection of your present moment desires. Who knows who you’ll be by 2030?

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You only exist in relationship. As the world evolves, you evolve. Projections into the future disregard how the world will change and how you’ll change. Things that seem important now won’t matter by 2030.

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Hold a coin in your hand with your palm facing downwards. Grasp it tightly. Turn your palm upwards towards the sky. Open your hand. Notice you’re still holding the coin, without grasping it. Take a breath and observe how that feels.

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Can you loosely hold onto your desires without grasping them? Allowing for emergence enables you to tune into the world’s rhythms, flowing gently towards your destination.

After many, many hours of work, we opened our ceremonial attic for the first psychedelic day retreat. I hope to welcome you soon to create magic together in this wonderful space. Exciting times ahead!

May you have a mind that loves frontiers
So that you can evoke the bright fields
That lie beyond the view of the regular eye.
May you have good friends
To mirror your blind spots.
May leadership be for you
A true adventure of growth.

- John O’donohue

Thanks for reading!

-Tom 💚