Matilda Tsitsi Fakazi: “We Need More Stillness to Experience Transformation”

Be The Earth's Aura Programme supports Aura Circles — women holding their own women's circles to create quiet spaces for connecting, self-care, feminine wisdom and transforming communities; nurturing different ways of being in the world.

I just knew that I wanted to do something with women in a different way.

I used to work with women through gender-based violence workshops and women’s empowerment workshops. But as transitions were happening in my own life, I felt there was more.

If we really want women to heal, there is more.

I didn’t know where to start, but Aura guided me. I found a way of helping women heal themselves without having to fix anything — just by providing a safe space where they can explore their own healing in their own way.

Each circle is different. Sometimes there are seven women, and many of them are healers. Sometimes we open the circle and it becomes 15 or 20 women. We work with the full moon. We find it very empowering and interesting that all of us will be menstruating during the full moon. It’s beautiful to spend the day together — connecting to nature, storytelling. For us, it feels like a retreat. Like a red tent retreat.

We sit in nature. Sometimes we give our blood back to the earth. It has been such an amazing experience to work with women in this deeper, more meaningful way. I find it more impactful than the workshops I used to hold.

Attending the Aura retreat with Eve and Renata transformed my life.

Before that retreat, I used to be somebody else. In the non-profit space, I felt life was unfair to me. I felt like people didn’t see me. But sitting there for five days, listening to Renata speak about experiences similar to mine, my life shifted.

Every day now, I make time for myself. I do simple things to keep my life as a retreat. I feel honoured to pass on what Aura gave to me, to other women. I also see them transforming. 

I live a peaceful life now, knowing that I can’t be everything. I used to carry so many titles — Managing Director, activist, all sorts of names. Now I wake up and ask: What really needs my energy today? What am I going to do for myself?

When I’m doing this Aura work, I feel extremely happy — I feel my energy surge. I’m extremely grounded, because there is no heavy admin in the process. It’s the experience that is more important. 

One unforgettable Aura moment was the day we went to the waterfall. I realised most of the women had never had an experience with the waterfall. They were a bit scared, but when they stepped into it, there was pure silence. Everyone just being in their own experience.

For me, it was a reminder. After, everyone shared they had an amazing experience, but we didn’t say a word. We just went into the waterfall — sat there.

That’s when I felt: we need more silence. We need more stillness to experience the transformation we are looking for.

When I first came to Aura, my ancestral gift was unraveling, but I couldn’t understand or decode the messages coming from my ancestors. But through rest, journalling, remembering my dreams, and sitting in nature, things became clearer. Pieces came together. It was outstanding. 

Aura changed my life in so many ways. I didn’t know how to practise self-care before. Because of my childhood trauma and my experience with gender-based violence, I was a people pleaser. I always put others first. But not anymore. I don’t just say yes to everything now. My gift is shining.

I feel in sync with nature. I don’t even need to check the moon calendar. My body tells me when it’s the full moon. When I’m walking in nature, there are answers everywhere.

What I appreciate most is the trust-based way Aura works. It helps us to focus on true connection, not worrying about paperwork. Sometimes you plan a circle, but when the women arrive, the energy is different. You need space to flow with what is present.

And it’s not just me giving to the women — they also replenish me and fill my cup with their stories.

Observing how they do their art, how they express themselves in different way. It’s so beautiful.

It’s the only thing I’m truly enjoying doing at the moment.

And I don’t think I would want to do anything else.