About

My Story

One and a half years ago, I became seriously ill and could not work anymore. I was diagnosed with a brain condition and a burnout. I was working as a Treaty Lawyer while being a single mother of my now lovely 5-year-old son. My life had come to a standstill.

At first, I was in denial of the severity of my condition. But after a major emotional collapse, I was forced to come to terms with reality. I could not intellectualise my way out anymore.

Apart from regular checkups at the hospital, taking medication for my brain condition, attending weekly therapy and an occasional kundalini awakening session, I made some necessary lifestyle changes.

All the while, going into nature was deeply nurturing. Walking among trees quieted my mind. Listening to birdsong made me look up in wonder. Even watering plants at home made me feel at ease. With a nervous system that was quickly on high alert and dealing with daily headaches, I realised that nature had the ability to calm my nerves, make my headaches disappear, and tether me in the present.

My experiences in nature prompted me to re-evaluate my values and beliefs. I started to learn more about what it means to be whole in ourselves, with others, and with the more-than-human world. And I became convinced that everything is deeply interconnected. Yet, the way in which we in the Western world often interact with the more-than-human world indicates to anything but kinship. We have become deeply estranged from the natural world, primarily viewing it as something to use, to extract from, and to exploit.

I believe that the climate crisis is the largest question of our time. Because let’s be honest: how will we, and all other life forms, be able to flourish in the days and years to come without a regenerative and thriving earthly home?

I have recently left my job as a Treaty Lawyer. With my new-found values and beliefs, I’m dedicated to encouraging a more reciprocal and just relationship with the other-than-human world where it will no longer be about what we can get from nature (something I had to unlearn) but about how we can simply be with nature.

With love!
Vera