I always love sitting down to write to you. To share reflections and practices that might be helpful, start bigger conversations and offer something a little deeper than the 90 second reel or mini caption that go out on socials.
So I wanted to start these Love Notes from today, in what I hope will become a regular, welcome moment for you to pause, reflect and perhaps gain something amongst your busy day.
To begin, you may like to know that I am running a VALENTINE’S WEEK OFFER: Book on the Spring Retreat with a friend by Friday and get 1 space half price click here to find out more!
So for this week’s love note, I wanted to share something I learnt with you, as it fanned the fire in me...
The etymology and evolution of the word “gossip”. Why?
Because its story is a piece of the puzzle in understanding our societal conditioning and why rebuilding trust, dignity, connection and community is so key in untangling ourselves from it.
Did you know that pre-patriarchal and capitalist society, the word “gossip” was used to describe a godparent, a role traditionally given to a woman, who stood in spiritual relation and guide to a child?
It then evolved into a word that suggested a strong attachment between women, a gathering with other women in friendship, and to describe women who acted as companions in childbirth.
A word to describe female solidarity, strong emotional connection and commitment between them.
As the patriarchal and capitalist ideals took hold, these strong supportive bonds between women threatened the very systems that were being built. They needed us isolated, quiet, in the home, only trusting of and reliant on our husbands.
So they took our “gossip”, our gatherings, our connections, our commitment to each other’s care and support and made it something that only untrustworthy women did. It was sneaky, secretive, untoward.
We were taught to be distrustful, suspicious and distant to our sisters. We hungered for and yet pushed away deeper connections.
So in this love note today, I urge you to join me in reclaiming “gossip”. By showing up in healing spaces together, in community, where women and non-binary folk can show up just as they are. Held, guided, seen, heard, supported through the chapters, challenges and turning points of life.
In a time where many of us struggle and recoil from seeing other women feeling powerful, rooted, being successful, living unbounded by the old ways we were taught we should be.
So let’s be brave now. It’s time to lean towards and challenge these deeply rooted narratives when they arise in us. Not shame ourselves, but liberate ourselves from them! The conditioning that stops us from living at our most honest, resourced, supported, courageous and unashamed.
This is why leading groups like my chronic stress and burnout healing programme The Resourced & Resilient Woman Programme (starting 26th Feb) and the Spring Equinox Retreat are such an important part of my work and mission.
It reignites connection, trust and collective reprogramming of the old.
We need time alone to do “the healing work”, of course we do. But if we don’t also bring that back into connection with others, we will only ever get so far.
So I’m interested, what has reading this sparked in you? Drop me a note at hello@hannahrzysko.com to tell me more
I hope it inspires you to look up, reach out, challenge the archaic status quo and GOSSIP a whole lot more.