the village
the creative practice of showing up for each other
The Village is a slow, creative practice of community in a time that often forgets how to hold it. It’s not about idealised togetherness, but about showing up imperfectly and in relation, right where we are. Through letters, gatherings, and shared practices, we learn by doing: how to belong without overgiving, how to stay in relation without disappearing, and how small, real acts of presence and creativity can build community over time. This work is gentle—but it is not passive.
This is:
a creative and relational practice
a small, human-scale community
a place to think, make, and reflect together
a space for FLINTA*
This is not:
a course
therapy or coaching
a spiritual hierarchy
a performance or productivity space
The Village is for FLINTA* who:
feel the lack of real community
are curious about showing up differently
value creativity as a way of thinking and relating
want something slower, smaller, and more honest
You don’t need experience, confidence, or answers - Just willingness.
becoming villagers
Becoming Villagers is the ongoing practice within The Village, unfolding through small, time-bound circles and invitations that explore arrival and presence, listening and attention, contribution and limits, and care, responsibility, and return. Each circle is finite and intentionally contained, with no automatic continuation. Rest, pause, and reflection are part of the rhythm, allowing the practice to remain responsive to real lives rather than fixed schedules.
Village Letters sent by email, offering
a short reflection
a simple creative prompt (no skill required)
a small outer invitation focused on noticing, showing up, or acting in everyday life
Live online gatherings, At the Table, held in the evenings, with a consistent and simple structure:
shared arrival
a short creative practice
small group conversations
collective reflection
Groups are intentionally kept small and personal to support trust and ease.
There is no pressure to speak, share, or participate in any particular way.
This is not a course, therapy space, or teaching format.
There is no fixing or advice-giving unless invited.
The letters are not newsletters, and the gatherings are not performances.
They are finite, imperfect, and human — designed to support connection, presence, and small, real acts of participation over time.
The Village is hosted by Nora Gärtner-Schallenberg — artist, illustrator, and facilitator of creative community practices.