A reflection from one of Rē's Inner/Outer Landscapes Fellow
Rē has recently been able to give out what we are calling inner/outer landscapes fellowships, which invite Fellows to engage in both deep interior and exterior engagement. These are for mid-career professionals who are largely outside of academia but who are doing important and often unrecognized work in some aspect of regeneration. These people are often unlikely to receive fellowships in traditional ways because they are working outside of normal academic contexts.
This year we have focused on people within our own network. Three people received a fellowship in 2025. Maya Galamidi͏ (Founder of Empower With Nature)is one of them. Here she shares some about her experience.
I was delighted to receive the fellowship from Rē focused on Inner and Outer Landscapes. This fellowship lasted for two months, beginning with the task of clearing my agenda for the upcoming weeks and proactively managing my commitments. Clearing one’s agenda and creating time for what truly matters is a luxury in life.
The focus on outer landscapes, I chose to channel my outer landscape exploration into creating a new course on Alliveness and Nature, a topic I had always been eager to research but had postponed due to other work obligations over the past two years. As I structured the lecture and engaged in research, I lost myself in readings alongside this academic exploration. I delved into literature focused on women’s journeys and their connections with nature, examining how these connections relate to belonging, rooting, and nurturing oneself. I pondered how nature reveals paths and connections to us.
The themes of Alliveness and Nature inspired me to start journaling about my past and reconnecting with my childhood experiences in nature. I began to reflect on how I had previously been oblivious to the weight of identities, geographies, and societal systems pressing upon me. This reflection enabled me to reconnect with my true self, prompting a reevaluation of the person I believed I should be.
As the month focused on inner landscapes began, I embarked on an introspective journey. The inner landscapes program encourages me to explore aspects of my life that I wish to engage with but often neglect due to time constraints. For me, this inner landscape centered on “Searching for Home Through Alliveness and Nature”; The concept of home is deeply personal; it extends far beyond a mere physical location to embody a sense of belonging, connection, and inner peace. For me, home means living in harmony with nature and feeling deeply connected to the land and waters. It signifies being part of a supportive community, spending time outdoors, and fully experiencing the rhythms of the natural world. Consequently, I chose to spend a month in Lesvos, a Greek island I had always dreamed of living on, to see if it could become my home. My search for home began at the onset of the COVID pandemic.
Upon arriving in Mytilene, the capital of Lesvos, I was captivated by the island’s beauty. Mytilene, steeped in Greek mythology, is a charming little city just a boat ride from Turkey, where I reside. I focused on discovering and immersing myself in life on the island. This journey was not purely about physical locations; it was an exploration of the inner landscapes—examining how each place stirred feelings of aliveness and interconnectedness with nature. To me, home is where life flows effortlessly, where the earth’s energy mirrors my own vitality.
Each day, I set out to explore various parts of the island, observing, sensing, and feeling the natural world around me. Everything I had read over the past month and throughout my life began to merge. Lesvos is an island adorned with pine forests, olive groves, deserted landscapes, stunning coastlines, rocks, mountains, waterfalls, and the vibrant blooms of spring.
Rich in archaeological sites, the island is deeply connected to ancient Greek mythology, Roman history, and Ottoman heritage. As I discovered new places and immersed myself in their essence, I felt an overwhelming sense of belonging. Yet, I found myself questioning if the island think I belong to there. This introspective inquiry opened the door to transformative experiences.
Through my reflections—expressed through singing, dancing, walking barefoot, somatic exercises, and journaling for two to five hours each day—I endeavored to align my activities with the island’s natural cycles, facilitated a profound reconnection with my essence and authentic self. The people I met, the culture I engaged with, and the overall journey reignited my joy and liveliness. Nature revealed a profound truth: nothing truly dies; it merely transforms, maintaining a constant state of aliveness. The phases of life bring constant change, especially when we align ourselves with the rhythms and transformations of nature.
The exploration of inner and outer landscapes encourages individuals to take the time to pause within the demands of their daily lives and focus on what they truly desire. It is about re-remembering oneself through self-awareness and self-responsibility, understanding how to utilize the time we have, and navigating life according to our own rhythms, free from the constraints of societal expectations. Rather than being consumed by to-do lists, we can embrace life as we want to experience it. For me, this journey has sparked a surge of creativity, prompting me to reflect on how I choose to spend my days and what is truly important to me—grounding myself and seeking a sense of home. Now, I am focused on integrating everything I have learned and experienced and sharing these insights with others.
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