Wrapping Up 2024 and Looking Forward to 2025 in The Haven

As we come to the end of 2024, I’d love to reflect on what’s been happening around The Haven community over the past twelve months. This year has brought a sense of stability, yet when I look back, it’s also clear that significant changes have occurred.

Moving into 2025, I’m excited to deepen the rhythms and routines we’ve established while welcoming a few exciting additions, including the return of the Book Club and the launch of two new Circles: The Creative Business Circle and The Health Circle.

Phrase Maze Kotas and Play Prompts

This year, our Phrase Maze Kotas explored familiar phrases like “the money changed everything,” “well-worn,” “I closed the door behind me,” “let’s leave it there,” and “back to basics.” These phrases sparked fascinating discussions and inspired creative expression. It’s been amazing to see the unique perspectives and ideas these simple prompts brought to life.

Coming To Our Senses (Community Zine)

Our community zine launched in June, starting with the theme of Tranquility. Since then, we’ve published five issues, most recently exploring Serenity.

It’s been wonderful to feature images, articles, and poetry from Haven members, and recent audio contributions have added a beautiful new dimension. I’m excited to develop this further in 2025. I’d love to hear from you—including those who have contributed before — if you’d like to get involved with a future issue!

The Journal Circle

What began as a short-term experiment in July has become a cherished part of The Haven. Mandy Thompson’s journaling workshop inspired our weekly Journal Circle (30 minutes on Fridays). It’s become a space to check in, reflect, and work through a short journal prompt together. This has not only anchored the week but has also inspired new Circles starting in January.

Improved Speed and Stability

One of my personal more geeky highlights from this year was upgrading the web server in October. The Haven now runs faster and more reliably than ever, a game-changer for my peace of mind! This improvement also allowed me to bring The Gentle Rebel Podcast and my blog under The Haven’s umbrella, creating a unified space for everything HSP, introvert, and gentle rebel-related.

Looking Ahead to 2025 in The Haven

Phrase Maze Kota: Mini-Zine Making Workshops

Our Phrase Maze Kotas will evolve to include a creative, hands-on element in the coming year. We’ll continue exploring thought-provoking phrases, but participants will also have the chance to engage in playful creativity by making mini-zines. This low-pressure activity is perfect for anyone looking to explore their creative voice.

The Book Club

After a year’s break, The Haven Book Club returns with a fresh format. We’ll read one book each month and meet for a single discussion. I’d love to hear your suggestions for books you’d like to read or discuss.

The Creative Business and Health Circles

These new Circles will offer support and accountability for specific areas of life:

Health Circle: For anyone working on health-related goals or intentions, this Circle will meet on weeks one and three.

Creative Business Circle: In weeks two and four, this Circle will provide space for those working on creative projects or business goals. Whether starting, growing, or pivoting, this Circle offers peer support and encouragement.

Both Circles will precede the Journal Circle, providing an opportunity to reflect on progress and set intentions.

Stay Connected: An Overview of Our Community Spaces

We have several spaces designed for us to connect with each other:

Forum: Perfect for in-depth discussions or diving into specific topics.

Timeline: A quick and easy way to share observations, questions, or content you’ve enjoyed, like articles, videos, or music.

Community Gallery: A space to post your photos, artwork, or other visual creative endeavours.

Don’t overthink it, just share whatever is alive for you and anything that’s on your mind!

Thank you for being part of our lovely little community. I hope you have a wonderful Christmas if you’re celebrating, and I look forward to what’s ahead for us in 2025 in The Haven!

Warm wishes,
Andy