It happened. It happened for the very first time, and the sheer realization of it sends goosebumps down my spine. We were invited to the "Pereveslo" Historical and Local History Museum in Khyttsi to recreate an ancient Kupala ritual. But this invitation wasn’t for me personally, nor for my close circle of friends. The invitation was extended to the traveling women’s school, "Between Herbs and Words" (Mizh travamy i slovamy).
What does this mean? It marks perhaps the most significant milestone in our bridge-building: a self-sustaining, agentic space has been born. Our School has finally gained its own distinct identity, received its protective charm-logo, and is now instinctively perceived by the world as an independent living entity—a person with their own unique worldview, character, and core values.
I love how beautifully this idea is unfolding, even though a familiar human anxiety stirs at the bottom of my soul. For so long, I’ve been used to keeping every process under tight control. Now, I have to consciously let go of the steering wheel, trusting their natural, free flow. I don’t know what the final outcome will be, but Krzysztof Czyżewski once gave me a saving grace: the permission to stop frantically focusing on the end result and instead dissolve into the process itself. So, I am taking the risk and stepping into absolute trust.
We arrived in Khyttsi on the eve of the solstice, when the earth breathes deeply and nature reaches the peak of its mature power. The "Pereveslo" program promised a total immersion into ancient meanings through the four elements: Fire, Water, Earth, and Air. And our inner Amateur opened its heart to meet each one of them.
In this place, where every pereveslo (a traditional straw band) holds the connection between generations, we relearned the romanticization of the world according to Novalis: giving high meaning to the mundane, and the dignity of the unknown to the familiar.
Our School has made its first adult, fully independent step into the world. And the world noticed. This is a beautiful beginning of a great shared journey.
