The Haven Information Point

The Haven is an online village for gentle rebels. What is a gentle rebel? Someone who feels a pull towards slower, deeper, and more creative ways of engaging with a world that often values the opposite. In The Haven, you will find resources and invitations to gather at a natural pace and rhythm that suits those who need time to process, think, and feel.

It’s for people who often feel out of sync with reactive, noisy, or ultra-competitive norms and environments and want to explore different ways of holding possibilities for change. Many members identify as highly sensitive or introverted, but anyone who resonates with a need for gentler, less divisive, and more thoughtful approaches to life will feel right at home. 

There are no algorithms, sales funnels, or unrealistic “success” narratives. The Haven is founded on collaboration, curiosity, and accidental creativity, with members shaping the pace and direction together as we follow a structure and rhythm that guide us forward with an invitation of expectancy, not the demand of expectation.

High Sensitivity is a biological trait found in about 20–30% of people along a continuum, characterised by deeper sensory processing and responsiveness to subtle environmental cues within, around, and between individuals. Sensory Processing Sensitivity (SPS) is a scientific term, not a diagnosis or a problem to be fixed. It represents a natural variation in humans and over 100 other species that have been studied. 

The main challenge for highly sensitive people is environments that do not support the needs linked to this trait, which can then be seen as a flaw to fix. However, research indicates that when HSPs are in supportive environments, they can flourish greatly. The Haven is a little corner in the world, I created alongside sensitive individuals, with sensitive individuals in mind. 

Slow Coaching is my (Andy’s) reflective, non-directive approach to exploring change. It focuses on responding to the individual’s pacing needs and recognising that meaningful insights can’t be rushed. I avoid using cookie-cutter formulas or quick-fix solutions and instead offer ways to work together to create time, space, and structure for different levels of processing and observation. Currently, I offer Pick The Lock sessions and Spiral blocks as options for one-to-one coaching that suit any budget.

Not quite. The Haven isn’t about fixing, acquiring, or aiming for specific productive outcomes. It’s about slowing down and creating space to connect with our senses, creativity, and one another. We travel together, sharing what inspires and moves us, and the ground shifts unexpectedly as we go. Members are welcome to stay as long as they need, and there will always be an open door waiting for them if they choose to return. 

I am a musician, writer, and qualified coach, and my passion is creating rhythms and spaces where people can embrace their innate sensitivity and let their creativity breathe. I am neither a licensed clinical practitioner nor do I pretend to be one. 

You’ll discover a friendly, playful, and welcoming community. People arrive as they are and as they need to be. There’s space to rest, listen, write, and join small gatherings without feeling pressured to actively participate in discussions. Immerse yourself in the co-regulatory energy of a group of gentle rebels, where sometimes it feels truly inspiring, and at other times it offers a gentle pause. Nevertheless, it always feels restorative in some way.

Hi. That would be me. I won’t be writing in the third person about myself. 

I am a writer, musician, artist, slow coach, ex-undertaker, and host of The Gentle Rebel Podcast. I first established The Haven in 2014 as a space to explore what it means to be a highly sensitive person in an often-insensitive world. Not as a place to hide, but as a place to understand the trait so I can work with it, and help others do the same, allowing sensitivity to flourish within and around us. 

I believe that everyone is creative and that creativity can help us better understand ourselves and express our emotional responses to the chaos we see and feel in the world. I also love the laughter and humour that we get to experience together here. The best balm for these truly unhinged times we are living through.

Most live gatherings are hosted in the UK and Europe. We have members across different time zones, and I aim to accommodate various schedules. However, this can be quite challenging, so replays or summaries are often shared for those unable to attend live. If you would like to join events and are concerned about timing, send me a message with your location and preferred times.

We have a mix of live events like weekly co-working cafés, journal circles, and kota meet-ups. Some are structured around reflection or discussion, while others are simply spaces to sit together and work quietly. You can join as many or as few as you like.

Yes. You can take your time exploring. There’s no rush to participate, and people often spend a while getting a feel for things before posting or joining a gathering. You can also choose who can see your posts, so you can move at your own pace and get comfortable.

Not at all. Many members quietly observe or dip in and out. The Haven isn’t here to add more for you to do in life. It’s designed to be a place of restoration and discovery; a quiet sanctuary in a demanding world. You can read, listen, and engage with conversations that catch your attention.

You will find a sign-in link in the top menu and via the sidebar form on blog posts. If you have tried signing in but are experiencing difficulties, try resetting your password. If that doesn’t work, contact me and I will look into it and get back to you as soon as possible.

Go to your Account Settings inside The Haven and open the Notification Settings tab. From there, you can choose what updates you want to receive by email or within the app.

Yes. You can contact me (Andy) directly, and we can have a chat if you like, where I’ll answer any questions and help you determine if it feels right for you. 

That’s completely normal. Many members have felt this way. And The Haven isn’t a place with a fixed identity that you must conform to or social rules you need to follow. If you are a gentle rebel, you probably naturally resist the idea of being squeezed into categories and boxes. Sensitivity is not an identity or set of tastes/opinions; it’s a way of being in the world, and it varies for everyone. My goal is to create space for people to explore and express their sensitivity however they want and need to, and to invite connection with people to whom they don’t need to explain themselves.

Only if you want to join live gatherings. Otherwise, there’s no schedule to follow. You can read, listen, or post whenever it suits your own schedule.

There’s no standalone app but The Haven is fully optimised for mobile. You can access The Haven through your browser on any device.

All upcoming events are listed in the Events Calendar . You need to be signed in to your membership to see joining instructions for specific live happenings.

Members can share creative work, writing, or reflections on the Activity Feed using the hashtag for the specific upcoming issue. You can also email me (Andy) directly to discuss potential ideas and submit finished contributions.

There is no free trial for The Haven. Experience has shown that they didn’t help people connect meaningfully. As humans, we tend to sign up for things and then forget about them. At the end of the trial, we might realise we forgot to use it and cancel instead. I don’t want people to feel rushed or pressured into joining, which is why I offer plenty of public resources and Courtyard events so you can get a sense of what you’ll experience inside. I also reserve a number of temporary residencies for those who aren’t currently in a position to commit to paying for a monthly membership but feel an intuitive pull to this community.

Membership is £15 per month. There’s no minimum commitment and you can cancel anytime. 

One-off Pick The Lock calls (Choose Your Own Price) and slow coaching spiral blocks are available to book through The Fireside . If you have any questions before registering, feel free to drop me a message .

Yes. I welcome writing that helps people connect with their natural creativity or presents an alternative perspective on cultural pressures that undermine sensitivity, difference, and creative spirit. I am not interested in “how to fix yourself” articles or posts that portray sensitivity as either a sign of superiority or inferiority in relation to others. If you have an idea, send a message , and we can see if it’s a good fit. 

There’s no need for a hero’s journey narrative about starting with nothing, experiencing a revelatory moment, and discovering the secret to success. Gentle rebels around here are good at sniffing out marketing BS. This is not the place for those stories. Keep it real.

I don’t accept unsolicited requests to be on the Gentle Rebel Podcast, especially from PR firms sending AI-generated emails claiming to have listened to the podcast. I ignore those. However, if you believe that you or someone you know would be a good fit for a rich conversation, I am open to the idea!

If we haven’t met before, I like to follow your social media or listen to other shows you’ve appeared on so I can get a sense of whether it feels right. If you’re trying to fit an appearance into a promotional window, I am unlikely to agree. Past experience shows that discussions about a product or service launch aren’t particularly engaging for me or my listeners (I don’t want to have the same conversation you’ve had on many other podcasts).

Get in touch here 

Yes, quite possibly! I love discussing that intersection of sensitivity, creativity, and the cultural pressures that many of us feel compelled to gently resist. I’d be glad to hear from you; tell me your podcast, the area you wish to explore, and we can take it from there. Get in touch here.  

Absolutely! I’d love to hear from you. Drop me a message .

Absolutely. This zine is built from noticing. Small fragments are as valuable as long essays.

P.S. you are creative! I’m telling you, there is creative juice oozing through you. 😁

Yes. Send as many pieces as you like. If I have a large number of submissions, I may ask you to flag your favourites.

There is no requirement to polish. Raw, honest, and interesting often works best. Perfectionism can definitely get in the way! If there are elements that I believe could benefit from being quickly tightened or tidied (for the sake of clarity), I will let you know. 

Generally not, though I may do light formating edits for clarity or space when arranging the pages. I will contact you for anything major in terms of the content itself.

We go deep in our explorations so this happens occasionally. Flag any concerns you have when you send it. We will include a discretional warning if it feels like the right thing to do.

Of course! If you feel like you don’t want me to include your work in the zine, let me know. Ideally at least 48 hours before the watch party so I have time to remove or replace it.

Yes. Email me and I can update how you’re credited. I can use your name, a pseudonym, or post it anonymously. The important thing from my perspective is that you feel safe in this process.