Reflection – Summer Circle Gathering 2025

Summer Connection: From Silent Walk to Primal Power

On June 21, 2025, our annual Summer Circle Gathering took place on the longest day of the year: the summer solstice. This time at the beautiful Fort Honswijk (UNESCO World Heritage) in Schalkwijk. The island, the fort, and the surrounding nature gave us the space to pause together. Literally and figuratively.

The day revolved around Rituals. As a way to connect with yourself, with others, and with the rhythm of the season. Various rituals that we use during our trails and programs were given a place in the program.

From Defending to Letting Go

Joost Leeflang (FNL board member and chair of the community committee) welcomed the nearly 80 attendees. Marie-Christine van der Meer from Fort Honswijk told us more about the special location where we were guests. The function of Fort Honswijk was to prevent the enemy from passing over the Lekdijk and, in cooperation with Fort Everdingen on the other side of the river, to block the Lek.

Today, we let go of defending!

Update Mirjam van Gils (director FNL)

Late summer is a good time to pause. To deepen and listen to what arises within you. For those who consciously want to make space for this in their own country, in the Dutch wilderness, FNL offers the Veluwe Quest (from September 1-3) and the Year Course Natural Leadership (starting September 18).

The FNL community is a growing and involved Natural Leadership community of over 3,000 people. As a former participant, you are automatically a Member for Life and welcome at inspiring, free events throughout the year. For your agenda: Introduction to FNL on July 9, an Autumn event on October 7, FNL walks on November 12, 14 and 15, and the Winter Circle Gathering on January 24, 2026.

Update Noud Duyzings (chairman FNL)

A lot is happening in the world. In these times, it is even more important for FNL to make an impact, to hold on to the trail feeling within ourselves and to pass it on to others. These times also call for reflection on who we are as a foundation. It gives us a lot of energy to work on that as a board.

Last week, there was an FNL meeting where we had a conversation with Herman Wijffels, one of the founders of FNL and still closely involved with our foundation. The past decades have been a period of abstraction. Of extracting value from the earth and making capital with it. This is finite. The balance between humans and nature must change. To a system in which we receive from nature. Leadership is needed for this. Here FNL, here we all, can help. What kind of leader do you want to be? How can you involve others in this?

Janneke Bok (facilitator and member of the Community Committee) interviewed Marloes about her path. After a long journey through Africa, Marloes decided to commit herself to a more sustainable world. Initially in an activist way, “winning souls for the green church.” Later by committing herself through her work to system change. And by connecting people with each other through her music. The step to stand in the light, on stage, was a huge threshold for Marloes. Her upbringing “just act normal, that’s crazy enough” and experiences in the past “look at her, what a show-off” played a role in this. Good people around her offered her the safety to actually do it. In the end, you have to do it yourself. Stretch yourself. Step out of your comfort zone. Seek out the tension.

Marloes sang the song “Eye of the Hurricane.” (link https://soundcloud.com/marloesarkesteijn/oog-van-de-orkaan?in=marloesarkesteijn/sets/album-oog-van-de-orkaan&si=d8ea9077cabc45049bbb5fa9a3f1b777)

See us here standing
in the eye of the hurricane
The storm rages around us,
but do you see it passing?
Do you stay in the cloudless center,
or do you seize the opportunity
To use the wind power
to take a different path

What stops you
just going, through storm and rain
just going against the wind
for what you really care about?

Trust that the great system will guide you

We then walked in silence. With the question in the back of our minds: What is stopping you from going for what you truly care about? What do you need to let go of to stand fully in the light?

We shared what wanted to be shared in a large joint circle. Many beautiful things came by:

• Let go of wanting to be seen. Do not be led by your ego. Trust that the great system will guide you.

• Don’t say no too much. Don’t be too modest.

• Letting go is also about embracing. What nature gives you, but also what nature takes from you.

• I was long the puppet of my parents. I need to let this go.

If we let our light shine, we give others room to do the same

Marloes sang the Dutch translation of the poem ‘Our deepest fear’ by Marianne Williamson, known from Nelson Mandela’s inauguration.

Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate
Our deepest fear is not that we are extremely powerful.

It is the LIGHT, not the darkness
That frightens us most.
We ask ourselves
“Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous,
talented or fabulous?”

But, why shouldn’t you be?
You do not serve the world by keeping yourself small.

We are meant to shine, as children do.
And it is not just in some of us,
It is in all of us.

And as we let our light shine,
We unconsciously give others permission
to do the same.
As we are liberated from our own deepest fear,
Our presence automatically liberates others.

We ended with a delicious lunch.

Thanks to Fort Honswijk for their hospitality, to Marloes and Robert for their moving contributions, to the community committee for the organization, and to all of you for coming!

Fort Honswijk is open to the public from sunrise to sunset, so be sure to take a look yourself.