Instead of speeches, we created space for reflection, story, and conversation.
To mark International Women’s Day in a more intentional way, I co-created Sip. Reflect. Connect with the Coffee Commune – a community I collaborate with often. What made the afternoon distinctive was the combination of three simple elements: a small welcoming space, a sensory experience that sparked curiosity, and time for conversation. Events like this remind me that when we slow down and engage our senses, conversations often move beyond the surface.
Shari Wilding (the Coffee Commune’s engaged Executive Manager) thoughtfully prepared the room so people could sit together, see and hear one another easily, and move around the space as the afternoon unfolded. The group was deliberately small, creating the kind of environment where people could genuinely engage rather than simply sit and listen.
Using Maverick Minds facilitation cards, I invited people to choose a card that mirrored something about themselves and then shared a short reading from A Natural History of the Senses, inviting everyone to appreciate the richness of the sensory world around us.
Soon, the room was filled with the aroma of freshly ground coffee as Rai from the Coffee Commune guided us through a sensory coffee experience. We explored the flavours through touch, taste and smell while hearing the stories of remarkable women coffee growers from South America, including Ana Uribe and Aida Batlle.
With our senses awakened, I guided people through a series of journaling prompts exploring what had brought them to the event, the women who have influenced them, the journeys that have shaped them, and the rituals that sustain them. Some people shared their thoughts aloud, while others chose to keep their writing private. Both were equally welcome. The writing became the starting point for conversations that were anything but superficial.
One participant said that the prompts sparked “a flow of ideas and emotions”. Another described the afternoon as “a multi-sensory guided experience… both fun and authentic, and deeply real.”
We finished with a beautiful high tea and bubbles, continuing the sensory theme, and giving everyone time to continue the conversations already begun.
The Coffee Commune and Maverick Minds are already looking forward to our next collaboration. If this kind of intimate gathering sounds like your ‘cup of tea… or coffee’, we would be delighted to explore what might be possible with you.
