Navigating active participation (Part 1)

What it looks like being in initiation

For those of us tracking the sky, it’s hard to miss the importance of this moment. I am not an astrologer, but I feel deeply the shifts from the movements of planetary bodies. Many will be much better at explaining the intricacies, like astrologer Venus from her newsletter Venus Uninterrupted in her article April 17 Is Not a Fresh Start. It’s a Point of No Return.

The irony is not lost on me that this moment is a collective initiation and Earthborn Magazine’s first issue is indeed exploring the same theme. Like any initiatory moment, there is a moment of pausing and feeling the uncomfortable terrain of what is irking us into change and the uncertainty of what’s next.

This is where I find myself in this moment as well. Unable to write well. Centred, but feeling like I am frantically sending tendrils out to explore too many options at once. A familiar pattern when I don’t have answers to decide how I want to move forward.

As I am in a phase of my life where I am exploring what active participation looks like, I find myself first exploring. As with any initiation, the first step is to accept what is. For me, I embraced the fact that I don’t know how to build parallel systems, connect with my community, or contribute meaningfully towards a changing world.

Beyond starting the magazine, I am not entirely sure where my contribution to a regenerative world can be. I would love to convert each front and back yard into a food forest. Permaculture, bioregionalism, food sovereignty, children’s education, waste management, and so many more. Our current system certainly leaves many opportunities open.

Earthborn began as an exploration to normalize the initiation process for myself and for others who have no idea where to start. I thought I’d share the baby steps I have taken and what I am doing to begin.

Reading

I have a reading list about books on matriarchy, which I spoke about in a previous post. In addition to this list, I have a reading list about gift economies, mutual aid, systems thinking, and bioregionalism. I’m not in a position to make big moves. But I can learn about those who have already been participating long before I became aware of what’s possible.

The move away from Google

Since December 2025, I’ve slowly been moving away from Google. All my former freelance business’s archives have been moved away from Google Business Suite, along with a vast majority of my personal emails. It’s still a work in progress, but I feel I’m in a great place.

Tech Audit

I’ve also been looking for ways to get off tech when I don’t need it. For example, move to reading physical books and annotating as opposed to relying primarily on eBook versions. I completely redid my notebook ecosystem so that I can be more analog and actually enjoy it. It’s fabulous, and I’m thrilled with how it came along. The other day, I picked up my phone and realized there’s nothing I want to look up on it. I made my phone “boring” over the last few months. I still need to do a better “digital” audit that includes what other subscriptions and data I feel comfortable giving away and what I don’t.

Food Forest Learning

I am currently taking a course on creating a food forest in my own backyard from Ecoversity.

RegenIntel Fellowship

This week, I am incredibly excited to begin my RegenIntel Fellowship. I am the kind of person that needs the lay of that land, and once I have a pulse check I feel I can GO! A sense of belonging washed over me when I learned about the fellowship opportunity and I can’t wait to soak up all the goodness they will share.

First trip back to the land I was born

I left the lands of my birth when I was 3 years old as a refugee. This summer, I am returning for the first time with my ever so curious husband, our adventurous boys, and our new puppy. I cannot place it into words yet, but there is something special that happens when you begin to commune with the land you are on. For me, this reconciliation between the two will be very special as I look to find my place in the world.

On My Radar

Given the fullness of life, I think that’s a pretty good start. But there are a few things I have not yet begun.

Writing by Book

With the production or Earthborn Magazine, my book is something I placed on hold. It will come out when it’s ready.

Involving the kids

I can’t say I did a fabulous job involving the kids as much as I wanted to. As I gain a better grasp, I am beginning to involve them more and more so this is something that will be on my radar in the coming months. So far, my focus, as always, has been to ensure they know who they are and can advocate for themselves. Their inner work will continue!

Earthborn Volume 2 - Exploring Matriarchal Intelligence and Leadership

In my heart, the next issue must explore our relationship to leadership … as in circular leadership, communal decision making, and its inherent need for us to handle difficult conversations. The first volume is still in its infancy, but soon submissions will be opened to explore this topic.

Earthborn Updates

This coming week the first print proof is set to arrive, and I am keeping my fingers crossed it’s a go. It will mean the pre-orders will close at the end of the week as I begin fulfilling them and the print edition is live.

I can’t tell you how excited I am to have both available. My attention can now shift to doing more writing, connecting, sharing, and exploring other distribution pathways available for the magazine.

I have so many ideas to share Earthborn far and wide, and your support in these early stages means the world.

You can still place your pre-order here => https://anamariajanes.thrivecart.com/earthborn-volume-1/

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