Between November-February our Community Manager Francesco took a sabbatical to reconnect with his Italian roots. Read below impressions from his time away:
After three months in my beloved Tuscan homeland, it’s wonderful to return to the Salisbury Centre! My time in Italy was deeply meaningful—dedicated to listening to the land of my roots, honouring my ancestors, and healing my family line.
Having lived away from Italy for 18 years (!), with only brief visits back, I felt called to return for a longer period and truly tend to my foundations. My childhood wasn’t the easiest, and this journey was a profound opportunity for healing. Throughout my stay, I worked weekly with a somatic psychotherapist, allowing me to explore and process the emotions and triggers that arose while reconnecting with family and old friends. It was challenging, beautiful, and deeply transformative. I feel incredibly grateful for this time.
Alongside my personal journey, I had the joy of sharing my passions with Italy — offering music, sacred fire ceremonies, space-holding for gatherings, and teaching Georgian singing. It was inspiring to see how much hunger there is for these gifts and the awareness I’ve cultivated over the past two decades abroad.
I also connected with incredible land projects, agroecology movements  led by young people (Oh MY GOSH how much I missed Italian vegetables, and OLIVE OIL!), and innovative education initiatives for children that challenge and offer alternative to old patriarchal and disconnected systems. These encounters filled me with hope, reminding me that, beyond mainstream narratives, a powerful movement is emerging — one that honours the spirit of the land and works in harmony with it. Change is happening, and it’s being guided by those who choose to listen.
This time also allowed me to slow down, prioritise my health, and reflect on what keeps my faith burning strong in these times. Now that I’m back, I’m excited to support the Salisbury Centre community both in my staff role and with my energy. You’ll also see some of my personal offerings emerging, as I feel more motivated than ever to share my gifts widely across Edinburgh!
I look forward to co-creating spaces for community, ritual, and celebration—honouring the Sacred Fire, exploring harmonic singing, nurturing creativity, and embracing practices that remind us of the magic of being human in this vast, wondrous universe. Get in touch if any of this resonates and spark a desire to share anything!
Much love and gratitude,
Francesco Benvenuti, Community Manager