In her Words : Stories that Shape Us

This Women’s Month, we gather for a heartfelt afternoon of stories that shape us — told, held, and shared by South African women authors who have dared to voice the personal, the powerful, and the in-between.

Set in the warm, intimate setting of the Equilibrium Wellbeing Centre, this curated high tea experience invites guests into deeper dialogue — with themselves, each other, and the stories that define us.

Whether told through memoir, poetry, essays, or fiction, each author’s work reveals a facet of womanhood: resilience, identity, reinvention, healing, and inner voice.

This is more than a book event — it’s a soft landing space for conversation, clarity, and connection.

 Fireside Chat Theme:

“Stories That Shape Us: On Becoming, Belonging & the Power of Women’s Voices”

A facilitated conversation (moderated by Janine Daniel) featuring all participating authors. Each will reflect on:

• What story shaped their becoming?
• When did they find (or reclaim) their voice?
• What truths did they need to unwrite—or reimagine?
• How has storytelling helped them create belonging?

This chat invites vulnerability, wit, and wisdom — grounding the afternoon in resonance and recognition.

 Featured Authors:

• Salochanee Reddy (Midlife in Blossom)
• Candice Preston (Unlocking Your Superpowers)
• Karen Lazar (Hemispheres: Inside a Stroke, Echoes and W is for Witness
• Arja Salafranca (A Life Stripped of Illustions, The Fire in Which We Burn, Beyond Touch, The Thin Line)

 Breakaway Circles (30–40 min):

Guests choose an author-led pod for small-group dialogue, guided by a reflective prompt aligned to each author’s theme. These are not Q&A sessions, but interactive mini-circles for story-sharing and connection.

Example prompts:

• “What part of your story are you still becoming?”
• “Where have you had to find your voice again?”
• “What are you learning to let go of or live into?”

 Movement & Integration (15–20 min):

To close the day, we’ll gently shift from conversation to embodiment with a short freestyle movement or guided somatic session — helping participants release, reflect, and reconnect. This could include breath, flow, or intuitive movement in a safe, non-performative format.

 Intention:

This event is designed to honour women’s voices — not just those in books, but those in the room.
It offers a soft yet powerful space to reflect, speak, feel, and reconnect with the stories that shape us.