Any opportunity to write with Ahava is one I will always take. 

She is welcoming, gentle and kind; her soft approach allows the space for all words to be okay. 

When I get these words on my page through Writing Alone Together, I no longer have to hold them in my head, or my heart. I’m freeing up space for new words and ideas to flow in and out of me. I am more comfortable, life is easier.

Setting aside and creating the space in my week and life is the most powerful thing. Having a group of women and the mentorship of Ahava feels like sweet permission for me to stop everything else (dishes, laundry…) and write.

Coming together, connecting to our hearts and bodies and each other allows me to feel change and more is possible; these places we feel safe and heard and seen are holy places.

I am grateful to have found mine in writing and with Ahava!

Ciara Chamberlaine, Writer, Yogi and Writing Alone Together facilitator

Loving Inquiry opened the doorway to possibilities that were untapped, stored away deep within. I have never kept a journal so this was an interesting insightful process, how a question could often produce so many more questions. 

Learning to touch my heart and saying, “stop” when I am having unkind thoughts about myself. I will take this with me for the rest of my life. 

Always welcoming, warm and kind, encouraging and skillfully guiding everyone to explore their creativity, Ahava, because of your generous spirit, you have created the opportunity for women to explore their lives with curiosity, openness and compassion.

Judith Barnett, Quilter and Writer

When I received a gate every two weeks it was like opening up a gift just for me!

Ahava’s poems, her own experience, and the questions she asked were always thought-provoking.

I often didn’t know what I was going to say as I started writing, and then ended up being surprised about what had happened. 

My journal became a companion who would always listen to me without judgement. And it became a vehicle for my meanderings about the art exhibitions I saw and my photographic projects.

Thank you, Ahava, for your gentle attention and guidance.

Denise Okan, Linguist, Photographer and Traveller

My growth happened around changing my personal story from one that was about weakness, fear and ‘stuckness’ around my creative process to one of strength, joy and having a vision for myself.

Knowing that I am a writer has led to discovering the sheer joy of pen in hand and watching with awe what flows onto the page. The transformation to my inner soul is quite remarkable. 

Ahava, you have this wonderful ability to listen and then reflect on what I shared with you. Always, whatever you said or challenged me to do was just right. 

You are really good at creating a safety net for fragile creators; there is no judgment, no shame, no blame, just celebration of whatever little steps I took towards opening into my creative self.

Rineke Jonker, Writer and Storyteller 

Through Loving Inquiry, my creativity was freed. 

I could play and feel great with the results, without judging myself or waiting for others’ approval. I realized just how important it is for me to tell stories, to help others tell theirs. 

Ahava encouraged me to find imaginative ways to address the places where I felt stuck. She encouraged me to see the possibilities rather than limitations.

There was always an ease in working with Ahava that felt like a collaboration. She was open to listening to where we are at as individuals, respecting our own process, and whether we wanted to share. She was encouraging, playful, flexible.  

Working with Ahava is working from and in the heart. 

Sam Barlow, Writer, Photographer and Multimedia Collage Artist

Thank you for a sweet and deep creative journey of Loving Inquiry. 

Spending an afternoon of writing and sharing with a dynamic and interesting circle of women has been a treat for my soul. It is like a warm embrace drawing us into an intimate space of beauty and peace where we explore our passions, pain and promises about life and living. 

I felt so loved and embraced by your kindness, Ahava.

I learned how to give my story the time and attention it deserves, so my audience could be drawn into each living moment. You have an amazing gift for listening and co-creating.

Thank you for being a caring catalyst in the expanding of my creative consciousness, for helping me to appreciate my golden years, turning my straw into gold and my dreams into reality.

Premilla Pillay, Poet, Writer and Dancer

I found the prompts to write and reflecting on the writing process to be very helpful. Having an obligation to make time to write was also very helpful. 

Comparing my writing to others at first, made me feel uncomfortable. I was able to overcome it by the second session, understanding that it was my writing, my process and my goals. 

Ahava, your supportive, non-judgemental approach was what I appreciated most.

Louise Douaire, Retired Nurse & Memoir Writer

What Ahava does is hold my hand.

Ahava knows that I know the way, and so she gently reminds me that my own wisdom lies within me. Ahava has taught me a new way to see and to listen. 

What I really loved about Ahava is that she really does go with what is happening at the moment. This helped me to relax and open up to the experience too. I also loved to see her learning about herself along the way.

She is also a bit silly- and I love that!

Odette Graham, Floral Artist

It was perfect and gentle and just what I needed. 

I feared that my ideas would not be good enough or compare to others.

Ahava showed me that there are no right or wrong ideas, that we all bring to the world what we are best capable of offering in the most pure and joyful way because we are all so unique. 

Rachel Ogis, Writer and Weaver 

Ahava helped me to ditch the self-sabotage talk.

She set a tone with her voice and the space that was very calming and relaxing. She is easy to talk to and very open-minded, like a soul sister. She encouraged us to look at our ideas with fresh eyes and a fresh approach.

It was also inspirational to see how other women are writing and creating their lives.

The course was very exploratory and rewarding.

Amy Gessinger, Leather Worker & Owner of Bareback Leather

Thank you for creating this space in which I can be open-hearted and playful, explore my words and what I want to be doing with my life. 

 Loving Inquiry offered a tangible tool for moving through this challenging time.

Instead of beating myself up or falling into despair, I am learning to use try words to practice new ways of being.  

When I walk through the gate, it’s like a transformation!

Ariana Salvo, Fiction Writer, Poet and Photographer

I couldn’t have planned anything better for me to be part of  Loving Inquiry. 

In the past year I have been on a wonderful journey to discover myself and explore my life from a different perspective; as a loving, inquisitive observer.

Writing and journaling and discussing my process of grief has been a very healing journey.

I am so very grateful to Ahava and each woman in the group for their loving support.

Charlene Wolff, Writer and Filmmaker

Ahava believed in me and communicated this through her words and actions, helping me believe in myself and my writing project.

What I valued most was the way she gave me permission to not know what would happen, to explore and discover what was possible, what was needed moment to moment. 

Ahava, you brought the heart of a brave companion, and the intelligence of an experienced writer, together wrapped in love and curiosity. 

Lynda Monk, Co-Author of Writing Alone Together, Director of International Association for Journal Writing (IAJW) 

Ahava, I loved your spontaneity in facilitating our group this past weekend!

The benefits I received were many and varied: expanded creativity, greater confidence in following my own unique path and deeper insight into my truest gifts.

The warmth of your loving guidance brought out the best in us. 

Circles within circles…a playful and moving experience.

Sheila Sayer, Poet and Performer

Ahava skillfully coaxed voices we didn’t even know we had out of us and onto the page, then more and more pages.

Guiding us in Writing Alone Together, she provided the perfect balance of support, encouragement, and loving kindness, leading us through a beautiful process of unfolding and exploring our journeys through writing, sharing, and holding space for one another. 

Ten writers were born that weekend. 

Margaret Schultz, Nurse and Blogger (Love and Scrubs)