Speaking Out Loud
Bringing our voices into public spaces as artists, activists, and facilitators
In our virtual group process “Bringing our voices into public spaces”, people from around the world explored exactly that: the longing to speak up, the fear of being seen, the tension between passion and silence, and the responsibility that comes with expression. What does it mean to bring our voices into public spaces — and what holds us back from doing so?
@foto credits to Aboodi Vesakaran on Unsplash
On Saturday, the 21st of June 2025, we had another Worldwork Journalism session (1st of cycle V). This time we came together from Kenya, Ukraine, Lithuania, Germany, Italy, Egypt, Thailand, Switzerland, Singapore, Australia and the UK. As usual, the co-creative process started with an online Worldwork session (facilitated dialogue) for 30-40 minutes, before everybody captured their own experience in words, and deepened personal high- or downlights by writing and sharing some of the personal story it evoked.
What emerges after the dialogue is a shared exploration — a remembering, a wrestling with inner and outer limitations, and also a celebration of the richness of our diverse voices. Some participants found inspiration in historical acts of resistance like the White Rose movement. Others confronted their own cultural conditioning, personal trauma, or the reality of political repression. Many described the movement between silence and speech as a deeply existential dilemma: Where does self-protection end and self-denial begin? And when does silence become complicity?
The following are excerpts from individual reflections. These texts are raw, poetic, contradictory, vulnerable, and courageous. They remind us that voice is not just volume — it’s relationship, risk, memory, and choice.
We invite you to listen closely. You might just hear your own voice echo in ours.
In this article, we feature some of the roles and themes with quotes from the individual writings. If you want to dive deeper, you can access the Padlet where the original stories are collected.
As a reader, you are also invited to share your perspective on the topics or delve deeper into the aspects discussed by participants, in the comments, here on Substack, below.
The Tension Between Voice and Silence
Many spoke about the delicate balance between expressing themselves and staying quiet. Mildred reflected:
“I can’t help hurting others by protecting myself with my voice.”
Her loudness, once a shield, now became a double-edged sword — a voice both healing and wounding.
Marina, navigating the trauma of war and displacement, described being
“caught ‘in between’: between being mute(d) and the inner urge to speak out.”
Her words echo the silent battles many face when voice and safety are in tension.
Internalised Oppression
Several participants traced their relationship to voice back to childhood and cultural systems. Tanya shared:
“Your life is in your VOICE! Bring back your VOICE to life!”
She spoke not just for herself, but for generations of women taught to be silent.
Zbyszek, once present in public media, described the grief of losing his platform and belief in the power of his words. But still:
“After the group process I would like to express myself in public more. In the past I participated in radio and tv discussions. Then the social and political situation in my country changed. I lost access to the media. I stopped believing my voice had any meaning. I lost my passion and was rather silent.”
Embracing different voices in ourselves
A powerful theme arose around reclaiming rejected parts of the self.
Violet shared:
“I used to hate and reject the aggressive part of me. I can now bring it back and use it… to speak in a new voice.”
Lizzie spoke to the possibility of holding different opposing roles:
“I want to be a truth teller and a silent tree gazer. Both. Brave and tender.”
Voice as Power, Pain, and Responsibility
Free speech is a privilege, for some of us is a matter of life and death
I need to educate myself as an activist, become more creative, be more prepared
Passion and pain are brothers and sisters
My mental health is important!
Who is the public?
Where is the space for sensitivity?
You are not empathetic!
Some people don’t like fighting
Every side needs to be understood and seen
Can you be empathetic when you are under a bombing attack?
Passion scares some people
The privilege of being passionate!
by Beatrice from Italy
and Ausra from Lithuania built on it:
“Pain brings passion, passionate fighting becomes beautiful, and out of this beauty something expands, the empathy arises. It sounds cruel and beautiful at the same time.”
Phil from the UK gave voice to an urgent dilemma many activists feel:
“There’s a genocide happening… how can I sit calmly speaking about roles? But part of me feels this is what we need to be doing.”
Shame, Empathy and Connection
"I am afraid that if I open myself, I will not stop pouring.
Why do I fear becoming a river? What mountain gave me such shame?"
- Jamie Oliveria
a good advice from Brigitta from Germany:
“Let's not do the public speaking alone. Lets go with at least one friend ore one colleague. To stand alone is not good for any of us.”
and from an anonymous voice:
“We need to connect to shift. We need to connect to create change. We need community to connect to change. We need the connection to ourselves to connect to others, connect to the human in me to see the human in you.”
Nadin from Egypt ends a deep inner dialogue with:
“In the end, myself, part whole - part on this new found edge, is a silent watcher yet decides to keep practicing using her voice. But this time, centralising love. Let’s see where this will lead me? ”
What emerged from this global group was not a single answer but a shared field of awareness — of the costs and gifts of speaking out. These voices carry grief, courage, conflict, contradiction, and deep care. Together, they remind us:
Bringing our voice into the public space is not just about being heard;
It’s about reclaiming connection, agency, and belonging within ourselves and across our human family.
Thank you to all Worldwork Journalists involved in this conversation and sharing their personal experience. And a special thanks to Perry for joining Cynthia and myself, Stephie B., in editing!
And you, dear reader, which voice speaks to you? What is this topic, and what are our shared voices evoking in you? Is any insight coming up?
We are looking forward to engaging with you in the comment section!
Apart from commenting below, we invite you to read and join the conversation here on Substack regularly by subscribing. We are grateful for every comment, as it enriches our conversations and supports this tender plant's growth.
About 🌏 Worldwork
Worldwork is an application of Processwork also known as process-oriented psychology. As a psychological and conflict-resolution approach developed by Arnold Mindell in the 1970s, it's based on the principles of Jungian psychology, Taoism, and systems theory, and it is used in various settings, including therapy, organizational development, community building, and conflict resolution. At its core, Worldwork aims to explore and understand both individual and collective processes in order to address conflicts, promote personal growth, and create more harmonious relationships within groups and communities. It focuses on bringing awareness to marginalized or ignored perspectives, as well as the deeper layers of consciousness within individuals and groups.
Editors of this space
Cynthia Wanjihia is a passionate Process Work student as well as a Cyber Security student. She is open minded in world work as well as inter-generational relationships hoping to relate to all and create a safe space to feel heard and share their story.
Stephanie Bachmair (B.ONFIRE/DD Alliance) is a communication enthusiast, facilitator, leadership coach, and process work diplomat. She supports individuals, teams, and organizations to explore and craft their stories, tell them with impact, relate to their audience, and increase their transformative power through dialogue and deep democracy facilitation.
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So glad I got past my edge of seeing myself 😂 and I was able to come here to read the tapestry of everyone's work. I'm remembering to continue onwards, to show up and speak up. Thank you for everyone's courage and power.
Great work!