Loading Events

Embracing Change & Honoring Life’s Seasons

Two-Part Circle

December 6, 2025
10:00 am - 11:00 am
EST
  • December 6, 2025, 10:00 am - 11:00 am EST
  • December 13, 2025, 10:00 am - 11:00 am EST

Date: TBD

Event Format: 

$30 USD

Life is always moving in cycles of change. Just as nature moves through seasons of growth, harvest, rest, and renewal, our lives also carry us through times of joy, transition, and transformation. Some seasons bring energy, new beginnings, and abundance, while others ask us to slow down, release, grieve, or step into the unknown. Change can be very difficult, not because it is unnatural, but because it stirs our attachments, unsettles our routines, and asks us to let go of what is familiar.

In this circle, we will:

  • Honor the season of life each of us is in and give ourselves permission to meet it with honesty and care.

  • Explore how acceptance can bring more ease, even when the path feels uncertain.

  • Practice welcoming change as part of life’s natural rhythm rather than something to resist or control.

  • Support one another in cultivating presence, resilience, and compassion through times of transition.

We will use practices such as journaling, reflection, and shared experiences to help us embrace the ebb and flow of life. This circle is not about rushing forward but about softening into the wisdom that every season carries.

  • Thulani DeMarsay

    Thulani is the visionary founder and Chief Impact Officer of Sankofa Institute. As a person in long-term recovery, she is deeply committed to supporting others on their journey toward recovery. A seasoned facilitator, Thulani excels in group dynamics and in creating experiential learning environments that fosters individual and group transformation.

    For nearly a decade, Thulani served as a senior facilitator and consultant for the Bureau of Substance Addiction Services (BSAS), where she delivered training programs, provided mentorship, and coached the statewide facilitation team. She also developed comprehensive training materials and played a key role in the creation of the statewide recovery coach learning community.

    Additionally, Thulani served as the lead consultant for the Recovery Education Collaborative (REC) in Boston, MA where she was responsible for strategic planning, project oversight, workplan development and DEI initiatives.

  • Octavia Hendricks

    Octavia Hendricks, a person in long-term mental wellness recovery, brings over 15 years of experience as a seasoned facilitator of transformational learning experiences. She skillfully facilitates self-development and self-discovery workshops across South Africa and the United States. As a senior facilitator at Sankofa, Octavia leads training sessions and facilitates healing circle gatherings, creating spaces for both healing and personal growth.

    Her extensive corporate background further enhances her capabilities, allowing her to develop creative project scopes, define clear objectives, and effectively coordinate collaborative efforts. This ensures that every project she leads is not only impactful but also aligns with her deep commitment to holistic well-being.

Lavinia Jones

Lavinia is an ordained Interfaith and Interspiritual Minister, seasoned therapist, and qualified hypnotherapist. Her work honours both the sacred and the everyday, blending therapeutic skill with spiritual practice to guide others into deeper connection with themselves, their ancestors, and the wisdom already within.

Drawing on years of experience in therapy and ministry, Lavinia weaves together hypnotherapy, prayer, and ritual to hold space for healing and transformation. She accompanies those navigating thresholds of change with reverence and grounded care, helping them find presence, healing, and practical tools for integration.

She offers Daily Devotionals each morning at 6:30 a practice of prayer, reflection, and embodied presence as a way of cultivating rhythm, devotion, and connection in everyday life. (https://revlavinia.substack.com/

Cherine Haynes

Cherine is a former Senior Corporate Executive in global investment banking who traded boardrooms for breathwork and deadlines for deep healing. Today, as a certified Holistic Wellness Practitioner, Yoga teacher, Breath-work & Meditation instructor, Sound Therapist, Doula, and Energetic Health Consultant, she blends decades of high-level global experience with a heart devoted to fostering transformation in others.

She is also the Creative Director of Halcyon Holistic Wellness, where, in partnership with her son, she curates a variety of products designed to enhance the wellbeing of others. Cherine creates safe, nurturing spaces for rediscovery, resilience, and a return to the wisdom within. Her catalytic work integrates the five essential elements of wellness Mind, Body, Spirit, Emotions, and Finances guiding clients into lasting harmony, strength, and abundance.

As a wellness leader and speaker, Cherine partners with individuals, communities, and visionary organizations to design intelligent, culturally sensitive, and deeply human wellness strategies. Her interventions go far beyond surface-level programs, they embed sustainable wellbeing at every level from the C-suite to grassroots communities. She delivers bespoke strategies, immersive retreats, and transformative workshops that weave together mindset coaching, yoga, mindfulness, sound therapy, and financial empowerment.

Cherine’s mission is simple yet radical: to embolden those she serves to live fully, grow sustainably, while walking in peace, balance, and unshakable self-trust no matter what they’ve endured.

Digital Well-being & Mindful Technology

This offering is where organizational wellness meets measurable, lasting results. We care deeply about the work we do—and about the people and organizations we serve. That’s why we intentionally track progress and evaluate the effectiveness of every engagement. Using a range of assessment tools and feedback methods, we measure growth over time—not just in performance metrics, but in the overall health, well-being, and cohesion of teams.

The most meaningful indicator of success? When individuals and organizations feel stronger, more connected, and more aligned with their mission. Our goal is always sustainable transformation—not surface-level change.

Digital Well-being & Mindful Technology

This offering supports leaders and teams in cultivating a more intentional, balanced relationship with technology. Using a mindfulness-based approach, we help individuals engage with digital tools in ways that reduce stress, prevent burnout, and foster presence. With a doctoral concentration in media technology and innovation, Dr. Thulani DeMarsay brings a deep understanding of how technology shapes modern work and well-being. She has led technology initiatives across mid-sized and large organizations to help them better serve their mission—while also witnessing firsthand how constant digital engagement can lead to overload and disconnection.

Through this work, we guide teams in rethinking their digital habits, using tech more mindfully, and creating a culture of clarity, focus, and purpose.

Energy & Flow for Sustainable Leadership

We see energy and flow as essential for sustainable, effective leadership—and for how individuals show up in every aspect of life. This offering is grounded in the science of flow by Dr. Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi and the research of Dr. Jim Loehr, co-author of The Power of Full Engagement. It’s inspired by the idea of the “corporate athlete,” acknowledging that today’s leaders often work long hours with increasing demands, yet struggle to maintain energy and focus over time.

Combining insights from elite athletics and human performance science, we offer practical tools to assess personal energy, recover effectively from extended effort, and create the conditions for deep flow. Leaders gain strategies to stay clear, grounded, and resilient—no matter what the pace of life requires.

Integrative Nutrition & Vitality

Led by certified integrative health coaches, this offering provides personalized, holistic support to nourish the body, restore vitality, and sustain high energy levels. Rooted in the principle of bio-individuality, we partner with individuals and teams to co-create nutrition and lifestyle plans tailored to their unique needs and leadership goals. It’s not just about what’s on your plate—it’s about cultivating the energy, mental clarity, and resilience needed to lead with presence, focus, and strength. 

Holistic Health Coaching

This offering provides individualized support designed to meet each person or team exactly where they are. We begin with a guided visioning process to clarify your desired outcomes and long-term goals. From there, we work collaboratively to co-create a personalized wellness plan that supports your mental, emotional, physical, and spiritual well-being. Whether in one-on-one sessions or group settings, our coaching is rooted in a holistic, client-centered approach that honors each person’s unique path.

The result is sustainable growth and meaningful change aligned with what matters most to you.

Stress Resilience & Emotional Mastery

our approach to Stress Resilience and Emotional Mastery empowers individuals to stay grounded and clear-headed even in the most demanding situations. Participants learn to regulate their nervous systems, manage emotional triggers, and cultivate presence under pressure. Through mindfulness-based practices and science-backed techniques, we guide people to transform stress into strength—fostering calm, confident decision-making, emotional intelligence, and a deeper sense of inner stability.

This offering is ideal for teams and leaders who thrive in fast-paced environments but seek tools to prevent burnout and sustain well-being.

Kamogelo Maema

Kamogelo, based in Pretoria, South Africa, is a vibrant and solutions-driven professional who brings enthusiasm, adaptability, and a human-centred approach to his role at Thulani Consulting Group. As the Executive Assistant, he plays a key role in keeping operations running smoothly, supporting both the administrative and strategic needs of the team. His calm presence, attention to detail, and ability to manage complex logistics make him an essential part of the organisation.

He is also a skilled technical producer for online events, using a variety of platforms and digital tools to deliver well-coordinated and engaging virtual workshops. Beyond the screen, Kamogelo is an insightful facilitator, passionate about creating spaces for reflection and growth, and supporting teams through behaviour-focused interventions that improve how people connect and work together.

He holds a Bachelor of Arts in Human Geography and Anthropology, along with an Honours degree in Environmental Studies from the University of the Witwatersrand. His academic journey deepened his interest in how people navigate and shape the environments they’re part of—insights he continues to apply in his work every day.

Octavia J. Hendricks

Octavia is a visionary transformation catalyst and soul midwife whose work bridges holistic wellness, sacred sisterhood, and regenerative travel. As Co-Founder of the Council of Women South Africa, she has facilitated women’s circles and immersions across Africa, Europe and including heart-centered gatherings with sisters in the UAE.

Based in the majestic equestrian neighbourhood of Noordhoek, just below Chapman’s Peak in Cape Town, Octavia works closely with a 50-hectare farm, championing seed-to-plate living, food security, and regenerative growing. She also curates conscious consumption through her Steeped in Consciousness tea offering. Founder of the Osun Rise Group, Octavia is a certified South African Specialist with SA Tourism, leading regenerative retreats and transformational travel experiences.

A Healing Hands Therapist, Naturopath, and holistic massage practitioner, Octavia helps people uncover and harmonize the emotional, psychological, and energetic roots of dis-ease. She has worked with advanced TimeWaver technology to identify and harmonize energetic imbalances, blending ancient wisdom with modern innovation.

Her writing has been published in The African Dream: Sunflower Effect (African Dream Foundation for Women’s Programmes) alongside African women change-makers. An inspired keynote speaker, Octavia walks the path of embodied love and the reclamation of the sacred feminine, inviting women everywhere to remember their worth, renew their hearts, and rise together.

Dr. Thulani

I’m Thulani DeMarsay, and for nearly three decades, I’ve worked at the intersection of leadership development, contemplative science, wellness, and technology and innovation. Over the past 25 years, I have consulted with leaders from diverse sectors across the United States and, more recently, in West and Southern Africa. My mission is clear: to help leaders and teams maximize effectiveness while honoring well-being. I firmly believe that our ability to be effective is directly tied to our emotional, spiritual, psychological, and physical health.

I earned my PhD in Human Development, with a concentration in Technology, Media, and Innovation. My dissertation research focused on contemplative leadership, exploring how reflective practices such as mindfulness, meditation, silence, yoga, and other practices build resilience in leaders and help them thrive during times of disruption. My research revealed how these practices enhance decision-making, emotional intelligence, and organizational well-being, equipping leaders with the tools they need to navigate complexity and foster both individual and organizational resilience. My concentration further explored how organizations can leverage technology to advance their mission effectively.

An Evening with Thulani: Wednesday, February 28th 
Time: 10:00 AM (EST), 1:00 PM (PST), 8:00 PM (SAST) Duration: 1 Hour
Location: NY, 222-3344

Some content about this event

Skip to content