At the intersection of heart and habitat.
This is an unfolding space.
Part bookshelf, part workshop, part journal. To discover, to repair and to be.
How do we find balance between the Earth we belong to and the Selves we are building within us?
This space explores the in-betweens, where Earth’s quiet wisdom meets the restless pursuit of Self.
Between Earth and Self invites you to pause:
to witness the magic in life’s simple moments;
to find hope in nature’s fierce power to destroy and its quiet will to begin again;
and
to gently return to yourselves and to just be.
Because the most powerful thing we can do - for others and for ourselves -is to seek and live from the truth within us.
Here, I share glimpses of
What brings hope - Naturing- ideas, stories, or breakthroughs of sustainability in action
and
What's worth holding - Being - personal thoughts that linger in the in-betweens of seeking, becoming and being.
Hello, I am Annes Elsa Francis. I like good stories. You can read more about me here.
I hope you find something here that stays with you a little longer.
Naturing
Ideas for Hope. Actions for Resilience
Humanity thrives on polarity, just like nature. The greater the problems we create, the stronger the solutions we build. The larger our destruction, the powerful our desire to renew. The bigger our stupidity, the wiser our brilliance. The deeper our ignorance, the stronger our care. We stumble in extremes, yet it is there that our genius begins. From ruin rises our restless longing to restore!
It’s that longing that ‘Naturing’ seeks to honour. A space to get to know nature a little more deeply and to be inspired by its intricate behind-the-scenes, where everything is a wonder and strives in fine balance. A space to discover some of the many astonishing things people across the world are doing to give nature a chance to survive, so it can continue giving us one.
From big ideas and breakthrough technologies to little adventures and everyday acts of care, each reminds us that even the smallest effort matters, and each of us matters. Not just for our survival, but to pass on the countless wonders and joys of this Earth to our children.
The wonder of hiking the sacred Himalayas and the magic of diving among the glowing corals of the Great Barrier Reef. The joy of a first kiss beside a serene lake in Italy and the romance of a honeymoon drifting in a gondola through Venice. The bliss of playing in the snow atop Jungfrau and the quiet delight of lying beneath the beautiful cherry blossoms in Japan. The thrill of kicking a football through the streets of Maracanã and the awe of witnessing the Ashes at Lord’s on an afternoon untouched by heat waves…
So that their stories may begin where our love for the Earth never ends.
And to remind ourselves that not all is lost. Not yet!
Being
Thoughts for Searching. Findings for Becoming
The world has changed, and with it the meaning and purpose we once gave to life. Today, we are all running - faster and louder, hoping the noise will quiet what we don’t want to face.
But if success means something different to each of us, have we paused long enough to see what it truly means for us?
Being is a much quieter, but deeply alive corner of my heart. A place where I let myself spiral gently through the loops of my thoughts to catch a glimpse of light that often follows the devastating journey. It is where life teaches me what is mine to learn.
In a world that rarely stops, Being is a quiet invitation to just be. To slow down and savour life’s details. To experience what is. To listen for the wisdom that arrives as whispers from a heart we forgot we had. To nurture the silent spaces that make our actions more meaningful and more powerful.
Here, you will find small stories from my own life, drawn from everyday experiences and the inevitable transitions of life.
Some may resonate with you, and some may not. The in-betweens of feelings and seeking, discovering and becoming are unique to each of us. You are welcome to know mine, share yours if you wish, and shape your own version of the story as we go.
Something or someone that stood out, surprised me, inspired me, or asked something of me.
Discover my research on sustainability and infrastructure, including published articles, ongoing studies and practical insights to shape a better future.