Vika Viktoria's message about curiosity epitomised much of my Newkind Festival journey.
Vika described curiosity as a bridge to human connection - and 'relationship wealth'.
She led a powerful active listening exercise where we asked each other why we came to Newkind - seven times. Questioning became deeper as we probed the meaning of key words in the given responses.
Emotional, intellectual and social curiosity can become a way of being.
Deeper questioning surfaces values, assumptions and worldviews. And wisdom.
Newkind presenters and participants quickly became a coherent Newkind community.
A community interested in social justice issues through self discovery, change and transformation.
It's a community with a deep and genuine curiosity of 'the other', of the bigger picture and of new possibilities.
There's an openness to what the events and the people we encounter in life have to teach us.
Participatory conversation and heart-centred localisation was a common theme.
In what ways can I and my community/communities live in deep connection with nature and each other? What are the optimal and human scales for what we do?
Most participants were curious, positive and playful.
There was just as much focus on what works as what needs to change.
There was a recognition by many that in these times that some find emotionally and mentally challenging there is just as much good news as bad (although the good news is not always as visible in traditional or social media).
Some presenters spoke about spirituality.
I would add spiritual curiosity as an important way of being.
Just as many recognised the importance of whole systems approaches in social activism some were open to holistic - Body-Mind-Soul - perspectives. There was a genuine openness and respect for indigenous spirituality. Religious traditions were seen by some to be lacking in empowering spiritual perspectives and practices for the individual.
I'm sure there were as many journeys through the Newkind Festival as people.
It was a rich and deeply satisfying experience.
It's an experience I hope to repeat.
