Meet the 15 fellows in our inaugural ROOT Rhythmic Sabbatical Fellowship!
Our fellows met and began their rest journey in New Orleans, where we spent time dreaming and authoring different narratives of what rest means to us. Starting our journey together at the end of the Mississippi River, the group got to learn from local healers on how communities in New Orleans understand and practice rest. In addition to engaging with our sabbatical curriculum, fellows spent time with local healers, were welcomed by a jazz band made up of Black elders, ate amazing food cooked by a local catering business, and learned about beading and the history of Masking from Spy Boy Walter of the beautiful Creole Apache tribe.
They also got to gently reclaim rest in their own respective ways, through practices like drumming, dancing, beading, journaling, going to bodies of water, napping, being with their loved ones, and observing spiritual practices, among others. We are excited to continue hosting the group in monthly rest practices!
Before returning to their daily routine, some members of the Rhythmic Sabbatical dropped wisdom that resonated with us. Check out what they say about rest and returning home:
- “Don’t rush to report back or share learnings. Instead, sit with the experience and tell people, ‘I’m still processing.'”
- “Are you just resting to sustain—or to regenerate?”
- “Reset expectations. Don’t meet urgency with urgency.”
We are so honored to be part of this group’s rest journey. We look forward to seeing what grows during our months together!