passion Archives - The Womb

By Srinivas Rayappa

“What you do makes a difference, and you have to decide what kind of difference you want to make.” – Jane Goodall

Located off the coast of Baltic Sea, SuperShe Island is the first and only island just for shes. While the SuperShe community is global, the island is administratively located in the town of Raseborg, Finland. American entrepreneur and former owner of the tech Consulting firm Matisia Consultants, Kristina Roth purchased this 8.4 acre island in 2017 after selling her company for $65 million. The real-life private island gateway, where only women are allowed, has been open to the SuperShe community since June, 2018. The island was started with the goal to give women a space to be themselves and learn from each other, away from the distractions of the outside world.

“Women need to spend time with other women. Being on vacation with men can cause women to become sidetracked, whether it’s to put on a swipe of lipstick or grab for a cover-up. We want SuperShe Island to be rejuvenating and a safe space where women can reinvent themselves and their desires. A place where you can recalibrate without distractions” – Kristina Roth, SuperShe Founder and CEO

How it all began?

Kristina Roth, a computer science graduate, started her career as a techie, surrounded by men. She then moved on to Management Consulting. Having gained the requisite experience, Roth then decided to pack her bags and relocate to the United States because she firmly believed that it was a country of freedom and businesswise, a place where one could take everything to the next level. Once she received her green card, she decided to pursue the American dream by quitting her job and starting her own business. Starting without a penny to her name, she grew her business into a $45 Million success story in a short span of time and was featured on the Forbes list of Fastest-Growing Women-Owned Businesses for several years in a row.

Having a penchant for traveling across the globe, she decided to leave her post as CEO, sell the company and seek out something even more fulfilling. After selling her company, she was prepared to just kiteboard and snowboard and sit on a beach forever, but everyone advised her that wouldn’t last for long. Roth created a blog and a community called SuperShe, devoted to uniting and motivating some of the world’s most inspiring women. Since its inception, SuperShe is making a significant social impact by disrupting the all-talk-no-action reality of the “women supporting women” movement.

After hosting a series of SuperShe retreats in places like Hawaii and Turks & Caicos, Roth dreamed up the idea of buying her own slice of paradise. Roth didn’t know a lot about Finland. Having visited Finland on Scandinavian tour with her fiance, she found Finland as the perfect backdrop. The pure nature, the beauty, the fresh water and fresh air made her fall in love with the place. Even though she purchased the island for her own pleasure and to have a place to unwind, she eventually decided that she was going to open the island for SuperShe retreats. Believing in old-fashioned work, Roth personally oversaw the creation of the entire place, contract managed it and architected it through a Finnish winter.

Everybody who works on the SuperShe island are women, be it the bus drivers who take the guests to the harbour or the women farmers who supply vegetables. Jobs were specially created for women photographers as well. The only time male construction workers were working on the island was to lay lines for power and water and gut renovation.

The prospective guests on the island have to go through a rigorous selection process. Women who are interested to visit the island can apply through the organization’s website and Roth evaluates if the women should be permitted on the island. Roth wants to create a positive environment on the island and does not want bad juju. Her principle goal has been to create a circle of women who inspire and get inspired. Roth believes that positive energy begins to flow when you are surrounded by inspiring women and not gossip mongers. Roth also emphasizes that even though the island is exclusively for women, it is definitely not for men haters. So women who apply citing the reason that they hate men, don’t necessarily get a gatepass to the SuperShe island.

The underlying philosophy of the SuperShe community has been to cleanse the body, mind and soul. The activities offered on the island include Yoga, Meditation, Kayaking, Hiking, meditation, fitness classes and nature conservation activities. Several motivational talks, group bonding sessions and discussions are also organized on the island essentially to distract women from the outside world.

Most of the ingredients for the food prepared are sourced from the island using an ocean-to-table and farm-to-table model. The recipes are highly inspired by paleo and ayurveda. Desert is traditionally served only once a week to ensure the intake of sugars is at a bare minimum. Pure Ghee and coconut yoghurt are prepared on the island itself. The yoghurt prepared with baobab powder and probiotics is a super hit among the guests. Even though weight loss is not the ultimate goal, several women have often mentioned that they have lost several pounds and feel healthier after their stay at the island. The Eco-luxury island has solar powered toilets that burn everything, thus ensuring that there is absolutely no waste littering the place.

Inspired by the book “The Science of Positivity”, authored by Loretta Graziano Breuning, much importance is given to laughing, crying and exercise because they jointly help release of endorphins. SuperShe is like a cake with hundreds of layers. There is programming for the body, mind and the soul. While the 8.4 acre property has got utmost attention because it is exclusively for women, there is a lot more happening on this island retreat. The SuperShe community is also like a white canvas – you can project onto it whatever you want. While one can project their fears, worries and discrimination on to it, others may try not to let the negative energy suck away the positive energy. Currently there are more than 8000 members in the SuperShe community spread across 154 countries.

SuperShe Millionaire Contest literally invests back into women and the SuperShe community by giving a $1,000,000 grant to one community member’s idea or project. The SuperShe app also gives women from all over the world (154 countries and counting) a space where they can showcase their skills, learn from one another, and meet new people who shake up their perspectives. SuperShe has created an uncensored place where women can be their truest selves and get out what they put in.

“I always tell women to draw three circles. Find what you’re good at, what you’re passionate about and what makes money — the intersection of those three circles is your calling with which you can pay your bills. I’m big when it comes to women empowerment and big on being able to pay your bills and being independent.” – Kristina Roth

SuperShe community has played a pivotal role in creating several success stories. One of its members Diane, started her own business after being part of SuperShe. Another woman named Ramona got some investment tips and decided to make some successful cash flow investments into real estate. Another SuperShe named Cat wanted to become a freelance videographer with Red Bull, and her dream came true. There’s also Jessica, who after having a male partner in her company for 8 years, made the courageous move to take over the business after being a part of SuperShe. Another SuperShe who was impacted was Nini, a woman who lost 10 pounds after a SuperShe Island retreat and kept working hard towards her goal.

Despite SuperShe island having gained immense popularity in a short span of time, there has also been much criticism about the elite nature of this club. Critics have taken exception to the super expensive cost of stay at the retreat claiming that the nearly $4500 per week price tag is affordable only for rich women and they opine that this doesn’t necessarily help gender equality.

Not letting criticism get to her, Roth believes that society should stop telling women how to live their lives. One of her advices to fellow women is “Just be what you want to be. There’s no one right way to live. If women were allowed to be whatever version of themselves they wanted to be without judgement, scrutiny, or societal pressure, there would be no need for a separate community that is a safe space for women to push the boundaries set upon them by society.”

by Karla Gottlieb

Reviewed by Elsa Lycias Joel

A book is only the start of a long, certain journey. Any author would like to be reviewed by an unmotivated, impersonal reader; it is with this frame in mind that I review The Mother of Us All by Karla Gottlieb.

What struck me at first was the appellation “The Mother of Us All”, a powerful one. The book is not only a treasure of new terminologies and amazing facts about Jamaica and its fierce Maroons but a pastiche of scenes. Truth does leave a terrestrial trail and Karla Gottlieb has done well to track down more about the times of Queen Nanny by detached observation in “Mother of Us All,” which is a powerful story of love, hurt, passion and death.

Love for one’s own land and people; hurt by British colonialists; passion to reclaim rights; dignity and a way of life and death of Maroon warriors at the hands of tormentors and vice versa. Even though all 6 chapters explore the inexhaustible human dimensions of Queen Nanny, my enthusiasm to re-read certain chapters, especially the third one that describes Queen Nanny as the general, is justified because the chapter showcases an empowered woman, mighty and wise in an era when the valid idea of feminism or empowerment or gender equality wasn’t even known.

I’m not analyzing why this book is being widely sold across nations. Perhaps, there is some kind of corollary that heroic women-centric work does transcend borders and the Eritrean publisher, Kassahun Checole, had known it better. In addition to shedding bad light on colonial forces, this is indeed a work that seeks to disturb the complacency of patriarchal societies too. After all, the catchphrase is Queen Nanny-Queen Nanny-Queen Nanny. This book is written with worldwide readers in mind and everything in it does help people think behind and ahead of their times, to stop, reflect or observe.

All chapters are a revelation of Maroon revolution, but some of their tactics are startling. For example, the way the Maroons controlled their breath and movements for a longer time and thrived as undefeated champions of camouflage to outwit the British is very well narrated. This helps the readers picture the revolution in their mind’s eye. Overthrowing myths of the Universal Mother with facts in the form of quotes or research material is the intent. A detailed analysis of myths versus facts in Chapter 3 allows the reader to tailor their introspection or investigation of Queen Mother’s tactics and resources from any area of interest most relevant to them.

Similarly, the exceptional use of abeng, an instrument made from a cow’s horn, which is mentioned several times, kindles the curiosity and enriches one’s understanding of the same. Who wouldn’t want to see an abeng with an ornament aka the jaw bone of that British representative Laird of Laharrets? Abengs that blow extensive, coded messages should be anybody’s fascination, at least of the inhabitants of La Gomera or the Yoruba drummers.

Unique people with divine powers find unique solutions to their problems or situations, don’t they? Several versions of bullet-catching stories might unsettle any reader but not disprove Nanny’s divine powers.

In determining the purpose of any treatise, we must see the question with which it opens. Even the land grant to Queen Nanny opens with a problem. Chapter 2 discusses how Nanny refused to submit and raised difficulties for the planters who dismissed the 1739 peace treaty and infringed upon the Maroon lands. The prophetic abilities of Queen Nanny are insinuated in many places. A colonial office violating the third article of the Leeward Maroon Treaty in 1796 is another example of a breach of trust and the reason why Queen Nanny never looked forward to any kind of agreement/settlement with the colonizers but their exit from her lands.

The hero of the book seems to raise the question whether fight or renunciation of fight is better and decides a good fight is better, come what may. Many a time she declared that there are no perplexities and would command and attack against the colonizers. The book fleshes out the adventure and gives a kind of behind-the-scenes narrative of a woman’s power against oppressors. It is a must read for all those who approve of women in power and reprove colonialism. This book justifies the Maroon rebellion against British colonialists. And, the most significant thing about it is that it beautifully weaves around the right words that portray, represent and reflect the tone of the historical figure of Queen Nanny more than anything else.

The emotive quality in Karla’s writing is powerful and the logic crisply military. She seems to suggest through the protagonist that colonization was ruthless and therefore it is the duty of every thinking person/leader to deliberate on reparations and do everything possible to deter colonization, defeat raiders or any kind of fissiparous forces. There are multiple plot twists and conflict of interest involving different groups, nations and Maroons who turn traitors. It is this earnestness in presenting the facts that demands a lot of research and makes it more necessary for the world to know of Queen Nanny and her traits, as well as her impact on the world.

Brave, innovative, powerful and provocative, in all the best ways, Queen Nanny’s character is approached with deep respect and understanding. The book never misses any title this hero has earned as a general, spiritualist, healer, saviour, nurturer and more. This woman leader’s exalted status is emphasized in all chapters and through extensive exploration of historical documents, literature, hearsay and history. In the end, the assertion that Queen Nanny did not sign any accord with the British who never honored promises and treaties is vivid.

“The sun never set on the British empire”, an Indian nationalist later sardonically commented, “because even God couldn’t trust the Englishman in the dark.”

Bold enough to state that the British deliberately concealed the prowess of Queen Mother, the author hasn’t spared anything to dismantle lies and deception.

Karla’s style is relaxed, though there are moments when you wish she has not tried to pack in so many excerpts and quotes (all perfectionists are like this). It’s only the academic stretches where you feel the length of a full fledged research. Otherwise, it’s a breezy read. People the world over love real stories that provide a paradigm for everybody’s everyday life. What more could validate an author than her passionate participation in conferences held in Charlestown to honour the legendary Queen Nanny!

Sadly, this book doesn’t satiate the curious many who would want to retrace Nanny’s childhood or spend a night atop Abraham’s Hill or Watch Hill and take a bite of a pumpkin from the Pumpkin Hill. For that, it would take a trip to Maroon lands in Jamaica.

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