Mysterious ways
This blog is intended to inspire, tickle and surprise, and to refine the way we think about life and all its joys, pitfalls and miracles. I see writing as a way of facilitating personal growth, self development, a deepening of one’s spirituality and a reconnecting to soul.
With loads of fun on the way, of course.
My name is Aernout Zevenbergen; I am a journalist, author, speaker – collectively best labeled as “Story Catcher”. My main fields of interests are Africa, masculinity and spirituality; and where those three different paths meet in the forest is where you’ll find me. Most likely with a content smile around my mouth.
Africa is where I was born, and where I’ve lived and gallivanted since 1997; chasing stories, collecting memories and capturing moods, smells and sounds.
Masculinity – or more precisely: the many questions around ‘being a man’, ‘manhood’ and ‘maleness’ – is a theme that allows me to play with issues around soul, identity, vision, mission and ‘the purpose of it all’.
I am aware that the perennial quest into meaning is one that will probably never be satisfactorily answered in just one lifetime, but the quest is fascinating nonetheless. I chose the entry point of masculinity, for it is heavily in flux at the moment, and creates extreme havoc all around. It is often said that “masculinity is in crisis.” It think that’s too strong, but yes, we do have some serious problems arising from some weird ideas out there around masculinity.
And ‘spirituality’? It’s a highly contaminated word by now, which covers anything from crystals to vision boards. Originally, though, spirituality covered our relationship with the visible and invisible world around us, as much as our relationship with ourselves, and – for lack of a better word: the ‘Bigger Picture’. In all of my writings I explore the ‘soul’ as I encounter it, within and without. Where and how does ‘soul’ become buried under the strains and stresses of daily life? What happens when the connection between soul and mind is severed? How does the soul celebrate joy and contentment, and how does it smell when there’s little of both?
Because all of these themes and topics thrive through the exchange of ideas, I welcome all comments and invite everyone to write a guest blog.
Feel free to browse to your heart’s desire, or read this for a few more words on my motivation.
Welcome & Enjoy!
