Lately, especially after our wonderful trip to England spent with family and friends, I’ve been reflecting deeply on how I show up in community.

What kind of community am I craving for my own growth?

Where do I find the right people?

How do I create spaces that feel safe, sacred, and reciprocal?

And most importantly… am I giving what I’m longing to receive?

These questions are not new. They’ve been simmering in me since I left Toronto in 2021.

When Sam and I moved to Northumberland County, we knew from the start that community would be at the heart of everything we built here. It’s one of our shared core values and something we’re committed to living.

That first summer, I taught community yoga classes at the Baltimore Community Centre Park, while Sam supported his friend Jana of Rice Lake Cider at the Cobourg Farmers Market. It was our way of getting to know the land, the rhythm of the place, and the people who call it home.

The following year, I began volunteering at Foragers Farms, which became a very grounding and nourishing experience. If you’ve never put your hands in the soil and learned how the food you love it grown I highly recommend you try it out. Plus you local farmer will greatly appreciate the extra hands, support and help. There is so much that goes into it!

Around that same time, we guided our Somatic Breathwork Journeys during the full moon—our HOWL events. These quickly became a powerful gathering point for people craving connection, depth, and transformation. Folks started traveling from Toronto, Peterborough, and nearby towns just to be part of it.

We also began hosting Soul Soup Sundays, a mini day-retreat, from our home in Baltimore that combines breathwork, nourishing homemade soup, and time in nature. These intimate gatherings became another way we explored how to bring people together in meaningful, body-centered ways.

And to be honest, this is just the beginning.

Sam and I are always dreaming up new ways to blend community and personal development, creating consistent safe spaces where people can show up as they are, feel supported, and grow together. Because we need that, us included.

Why Community Matters (More Than You Might Realize)

Despite being more digitally connected than ever before, loneliness and depression are rising at alarming rates. The U.S. Surgeon General recently declared loneliness a public health epidemic, and a 2023 report from the National Institute on Aging revealed that prolonged loneliness is as damaging to your health as smoking 15 cigarettes a day. 🤯 Let that sink in.

We humans are wired for connection.

Our nervous systems regulate better in the presence of others.

We heal through safe, and well attuned relationships.

And, as I mentioned in last month’s newsletter, we make meaning through our relationships.

What Kind of Community Are You Longing For?

Here are a few types of communities you might consider exploring or cultivating, depending on your current needs:

Local & Land-Based Community The people you share physical space with:

neighbors, local farms, yoga studios, gyms, parks, co-ops, coffee shops. These offer grounded, real-time connection through shared routines and rituals.

Relational & Emotional Community The ones you feel safe enough to be your full self with:

chosen family, your group chat, a grief or healing circle, your therapist or mentor, your spiritual or creative kin.

Learning & Growth Community Those who walk beside you on a path of transformation:

group programs, workshops, spiritual sanghas, book clubs, retreats. These are spaces for insight, expansion, and reflection.

Digital Community When held with intention, online spaces can offer real support, especially for those who feel marginalized or alone in their local area. Virtual groups, forums, and classes can still hold a sacred pulse.

The key is getting clear on what you need right now and acknowledging what you’re ready to give.

Community isn’t something we just receive, it’s something we actively co-create.

A Few Journal Prompts to Support You

What kind of community is my body longing for right now?
Where in my life do I feel most connected?
Where do I feel most alone?
What can I offer in community?
What kind of support am I willing to ask for and receive?
What does “safe” community feel like in my body?

Whether it’s through our HOWL gatherings, Soul Soup Sundays, or something entirely new on the horizon, I truly believe that when we gather intentionally, we return to something ancient, necessary, and soul-sustaining.

We remember that we are not in this alone and we are far better off together.

What Kind of Community Are You Craving? Reflections on Belonging, Building, and Becoming Together