September has been a challenging and intense month of integration for me… as well as experiencing some profound reflections on change, creativity, and the courage to keep growing.

I’ve been thinking about how we navigate transformation: both the messy, uncomfortable bits and the breakthroughs that follow.

When Change Feels Like Grief

Do you relate to a fear of change?

To seeing growth as expiring rather than upgrading?

Recently I’ve been grieving who I was, noticing resistance to my moving forwards. As a dancer/choreographer with a 20-year career: constantly travelling, adventuring, with my identity deeply attached to my success – this year has felt like that moment in the chrysalis when there’s just slurpy green soup and eyes!

And I have been embracing how beautifully life unfolds: right here and now when I empty myself to the definitions, and fear.

This year (my first year married) has been both awkward and brilliant: full of challenge as well as laughter. It has been a massive upgrade and involved a massive transformation… but honestly, I wouldn’t change it…

Because life really is such a gift when I am present to receive it.

The Art of Creative Collaboration

Speaking of magic (and grief), I am finally landing after “A World Without Death”: a brilliant creation by Displace Yourself Theatre (for whom I had the pleasure to collaborate with to create choreography and movement for their brilliant show). The show took place on a massive HGV truck outdoors, and included acting, music, dance and aerial arts… and an exploration (and acceptance) of death. What landed most for me is how willingly creativity unfolds when you pour your heart into art with phenomenal humans: It reminds me why community and connection are so essential to our creativity.

Releasing the Need for Perfection

My Journal to JOY has now had 6 editions! Why? Because I kept creating resistance around it: I lost the files, I experienced tech glitches, I had problematic publishers… I realised this is connected to the grieving: always perfecting instead of progressing:

When I used one of the practices from the book itself, I realised that this was the theme of September: because being in my genius is scary for my identity! So I have been creating chaos to avoid moving forward.

But 6 editions are truly enough! It is time to complete this (and offer the book at a big discount!) and move forward…

Because sometimes our blocks aren’t accidents, but our ego’s way of keeping us “safe” from our own brilliance.

Surprising Ourselves

And speaking of fear of failure, do you remember I told you I failed my Portuguese exam? Well, I was wrong! I passed with the category ‘bom’ (good), scoring way higher than I expected!

So imagine what we can all create when we don’t put limits or definitions (or go into freeze as I did in the second half of my exams)?

Choosing Love Over Fear

Recently, in London, we witnessed demonstrations spreading hate and division. Many people, particularly those from the global majority, felt the low vibration of fearing for their safety on public transport and in the streets.

When there’s separation and fear in the world, practices like Embodied Alchemy, journaling, and being in nature become essential for staying in love rather than fear.

What I know from my communities and experiences is that acceptance, love, and joy are much stronger vibrations than hate. And when we choose to move and take action from these higher frequencies, we’re part of the ripple creating the world we want to live in.

This Month’s Journal to JOY Invitation:

As we move through September, I invite you to observe what is obvious to you:

Where are you resisting change?

Where are you creating chaos or distraction to avoid your own brilliance?

And how can you choose love over fear in your everyday life?