Holding Stories... birthing something new in collaboration...

The story of two women - both Mothers and creatives - coming together to co create a space where the ancient art of gathering in circle and storytelling is woven together and reclaimed as Sacred...

A slightly different collaborative piece today to celebrate a new creative partnership… normal service will resume here later this week…

“A flower does not think of competing to the flower next to it. It just blooms”.— Zen Shin

Hello, we are

Lauren Barber

and

Lyndsay Kaldor

As we sit amongst the ripples of International Women’s Day it feels like a poignant time to share the birth of a new creative project with you — a project held by two women, two Mothers, two creatives (both Virgos!). A Manifesting Generator and Projector (if you are intrigued by Human Design) — which feels like the perfect blend of purposeful and integrated revolutionary insight woven together with excitement and the bubbling energy to turn vision into form.

Two women who are devoted to creativity and to holding and nurturing stories (for ourselves and for others).

The essence of both our publications, Story & Thread merging with Held…

Holding Stories… and so it is…

The birth of Holding Stories… a journey of female collaboration…

After discovering each other’s writing, we soon found that we were often tracing each other’s paths, walking side by side (often just a handful of miles and a few months apart).

With each story told, we have found ourselves held in the stories of the other. Now we are reaching out our hands and hearts to shape and form Holding Stories — a melding of what we both hold close whilst bringing our own spirit and skills, in order to create a different kind of magic.

Holding Stories begins with a spring gathering — a half-day writers’ retreat in London on Saturday 20th April 2024 (more details revealed below).

However it is more than this one event… it is a seed planted between two souls — and there is more to come as we gently unfurl from the winter season (both the external season surrounding us and the early years season of Mothering we both find ourselves in).

It is the tender moment of light cracking through the darkness as we both begin to emerge into a new season. A season that dances with our Motherhood AND our creativity and wish (no… need) to hold space for others in the telling of their stories.

An alchemising of hearts

Our backgrounds in the different but complementary disciplines of PR (for Lyndsay) and marketing, branding & design (for Lauren), provide the foundation of our experience in nurturing, drawing out, guiding and telling the stories of others — visually, energetically and with the written word.

We both recognise the importance of holding a story and its teller with reverence and care. We continue to hone this with deep dives into yoga, meditation and somatic trainings, as well as our everyday roles as care-givers to our families. 

“Lyndsay was one of my first true connections on here and I was captivated by her beautiful words, the poetic insights into seasonal ritual and celebration that she shared, woven together with honesty about what it is like to dance with a creative urge and Motherhood.” —Lauren

Making space to speak in person revealed more overlaps within our past and present selves, in places of meaning and a mutual love for the spaces we were carving out to channel our need for creativity in the corners of these early Mothering days.

We spoke about our publications being living, breathing spaces, as representations of ourselves and the unfolding chapter of our lives — each with a focus on both gaining space for ourselves to process and create, and also on gathering, and finding meaningful connection with others.

“I found Lauren’s well of words early on in my writing journey here… and instantly found myself feeling a deep connection to her experiences and Mothering path. As each of her words spilled onto the page, I was in awe of the rawness and the truth telling and around each corner unfolded another synchronicity”. —Lyndsay

The community of creative women we have discovered here has greeted us with such awe and wonder, many of these new connections quickly becoming trusted friends, cherished collaborators and our much-valued cheerleaders. We too, have become invested in them, being inspired by their brilliance and fascinated by their stories — we share both their hopes and dreams, and feel deeply into their frustrations, disappointments and sadness.

We are finding there to be a rewriting of the toxic tale of female competition and scarcity, instead we are celebrating the beauty and resilience in each other and the hope, optimism and shared strength that comes with lifting others up. 

There is a time for everything and there is space for everyone. The recent writings that have been circulating for International Women’s Day show just this - with over 60 other women gathering to share their words as part of the Daisy Chain initiated by our fellow creative soul

Claire Venus

.

It is time for us to gather. It is time for us to boldly return to the ancient ways of supporting and holding one another, creating together.

As spring unfolds… we bring you our first gathering

“Change is brewing beyond my own circumstances – it’s beginning to take shape in the new daffodils in my yard, in the magnolia tree spilling its petals onto the grass at our favorite park. I take such comfort in seeing my own process being mirrored around me, in the continual reminder that I am never the only one”.—

Lisa Olivera

Spring signals a gentle and gradual unfolding. Buds reach fullness and burst at the seams, no longer able to contain the essence of what they have been holding all winter, when the focus has been on rest and root growth. 

We will gather on 20th April, an uplifting time when the light continues to gather pace spilling into the architecture of our days, following the tip in the balance of light at the spring equinox exactly a month before, on 20th March. Our spring gathering will also be illuminated by lunar light as we meet just days before the full pink moon, and by the light of the fire in the lead up to Beltane, the ancient fire festival of fertility and fullness that falls at the beginning of May. 

The day

You are invited to join us for a creative spring gathering, a half day writer’s retreat — an opportunity to tend to your own wellspring and to connect to your inner storyteller. We will gather with other (Substack) writers and creatives, intentionally devoting time to dreaming and visioning for the season ahead. 

Where? Fire + Alchemy, 52 Great Eastern Street, London, EC2A 3EP

When? 20th April, 10am - 1.30pm

What to expect:

We will begin our time together within a sanctuary space in the heart of Shoreditch, with a deeply restorative Yoga Nidra practice, setting the tone for cultivating embodied creative magic by tending to our energetic bodies.

Next, will be the opportunity for your stories to be held and nurtured in Circle as we embark on a series of journaling prompts, seasonal rituals and contemplations. These tools will allow us to unearth the stories we hold in our bones and plant the seeds of intention that we wish to nourish in the coming season. 

Ritual and ceremony will be woven into our time together.

Rose tea, water and light snacks will be provided during the morning.

We are so looking forward to creating a space for connection and creativity and there will be an opportunity to join us for lunch at a restaurant close to the venue in Shoreditch for those wishing to continue the conversation. 

The Early Bird Price of £45 is available until the end of this week, 15th March. After that the price will rise to £55.

We would be honoured if you choose to join us for the first event in our Holding Stories offerings. Please do book your space below and don’t hesitate to contact either of us if you have questions.

With love, and excitement!

Lauren & Lyndsay