Dr Muzammal

27/12/2025

What allows forgiveness to be real? Often there can be a strong emphasis on forgiving someone, while discounting the pain the person being told to forgive might still be feeling.

Yet my own experience is that if I am still feeling deeply hurt following another person’s actions, the act of saying, “I forgive you”, will usually feel like I am going through the motions to fit into an expectation: i.e. the forgiveness won’t feel or be real.

It was through authentic emotional work that I more fully realised the importance of connecting with, and releasing, stored pain or trauma, prior to moving to forgiveness.

Once I have fully emptied out the pain, I feel light - there is then nothing left to hold onto. Forgiveness becomes the next natural step - and importantly, now does feel real.

The missing piece is having the appropriate tools to release pain that is stored, which is where approaches that can hold us to gently connect, feel and allow the emptying out of strong emotions have such a crucial role to play.

However, if already there genuinely is no pain, and the only step left is to forgive, then moving to forgiveness would of course be appropriate. But only if the pain has been released, when much of the time, for many of us, it has yet to be - even if we may want to believe and show otherwise.

24/11/2025

Shared Power and Collaborative Decision Making - The Commons is a Co-Housing community in Santa Fe, New Mexico (a magical region in USA) that has started to use elements of Sociocracy to help with their organising and decision making.

I've been staying there for a few weeks (my third visit), and I was honoured to have presented an overview of sociocractic principles to the community. As an outsider, my input is to help stimulate the lovely folk to reflect on how they are organising and making decisions.

I wasn't there to tell them what to do. Simply to stimulate reflection and conversation around shared power.

It was also joyfully stimulating for me. As much as I might offer anything, I also learn through these interactions. I get to appreciate how the community has adapted principles of shared power in their own way, and how it's working.

We also shared challenges we have each had, and shared ideas. It's enriching :)

I chose not so use powerpoint. Just flipchart, being present and allowing spontaneity.

While at the community, I've also engaged in community meals, and helping with aspects of work needed to hold the communtiy together.

I've met some deeply inspiring people: a lovely physician involved in holistic healthcare: she has written three books (I look forward to begin reading one I bought!), documentary film makers, a therapist, people who have just been in a Zen community and more.

Some simple photos of the evening below..

05/05/2024

🌷 'Beyond Power Over' 🌷: Most of us are conditioned in top-down decision making. Our bodyminds have internalised organisational structures in which the majority are governed by those few, above.

Yet, we frequently complain of not having being heard. Our manager, boss, or team leader has not listened. Simultaneously, we may sadly have never truly experienced structures whereby there is no boss, no manager, no power-over over us! Or where we have, maybe it has felt chaotic.

Yet, there has been much work around systems, approaches and practises in sharing and distributing power.

Welcome to the world of !

This 1.5 hour workshop on Thurs 16th May 2024 will be a simple introduction to consent-based decision-making in small teams.

It's work I've been involved with over about twenty years, on the ground and through trainings. I've supported organisations in this sphere of work - I continue to learn and am excited to explore this rich area with others.

The workshop is hosted by the Permaculture Association of Britain, and will be online. So you can join in from afar.

There's more info and the option to register here:
https://www.permacultureday.org/listing/decision-making-for-small-groups-with-muzammal-hussain/

I hope you can join me..

Permaculture is much more powerful when we collaborate with others. Yet, how can we collaborate and make decisions together when we've been conditioned in top-down cultures of domination? What could be a more mature approach, despite the temptation of individualism? And what about our emotions and b...

18/09/2023

If you're interested in how we can view nature as a teacher (which demonstrates principles of resilience, sustainability andregeneration) to design human systems with those same qualities, permaculture might inspire you, as it has done me.

This coming weekend is the national Festival of Permaculture (UK), taking place just outside London. There will be practical workshops, talks, activities and music, to help heal community and the earth...

This year’s event will be focused on the power of Community, and there are many amazing workshops and opportunities to chill and hang out with fellow change-makers.

With a passion on social permaculture and inspiring wholesome, effective teams, my own formal contribution will be a 1.5 hour workshop on this topic.

Here's an example list of just a few of the many sessions:

- Muzammal Hussain: Nature-Based Decision-Making for small groups: Beyond cultures of domination and individualism
- Liba Ravindrin: Anti-Oppression Circle: creative writing and land justice
- Morag Gamble: Permaculture Education Worldwide
- Katie Shepherd: Moving through climate grief to climate action
- Kayode Olafmihan: Permaculture and the indigenous: Holding an edge
- Gerald Jagwe: Amplifying voices from Africa
- Huw Richards: Self Sufficiency on a half-sized allotment
- Vicki Hird: Rebugging the Planet - Your land, your life, your politics
- Wenderlynn Bagnall: Active Resilience for Community and Earth
and More...

All weekend tickets include 6 meals (Friday dinner, Saturday breakfast, lunch, dinner, Sunday breakfast, lunch) plus all workshops and entertainment. Day tickets also available.

There is more info, and the full programme on this site, from where you can also book a place if you are free and it draws your fancy...

Dates: Fri 22nd September - Sun 24th September 2023
Venue: (Outskirts of London): Lambourne End Centre, Manor Road, Lambourne End, Ess*x, RM4 1NB

22-24 September, Lambourne End Outdoor Activity Centre, Ess*x Join the changemakers on 22-24 September! A weekend of practical workshops, talks, activities and music to inspire change and find solutions using permaculture ethics, principles and design tools. Join us alongside some of the UK’s lead...

22/08/2023

'BODY, EMOTIONS, PRESENCE: DOORWAY TO OUR ESSSENCE'
I chose this title when I was generously asked if I would facilitate a workshop at a weekend micro-festival at a friend's home/garden in Brighton (Saltdean area). The festival is called 'Susubury' and if I'm correct, it originated one year when the orgniser wasn't going to be able to make it to Glastonbury! (Notice the same ending in the festival names!)

There are also workshops on Voice and Wellbeing, the I Ching, Egyptian and Ecstatic Dance, as well as musicians, delicious food and opening and closing ceremonies. It's on Sat/Sun 9th/10th Sept. My 1-hour workshop will be on the Sunday (2.30pm).

It's just £10 for the wristband/entry for the whole weekend. Workshops then free. (Accomodation not provided).

It's open to friends, so if anyone who knows me is interested, just let me know and I'll share the booking link with you.

26/04/2022

🍁 If some kind of substance, or substances, are to be used, increasingly this seems to me to be a much more attractive option than conventional antidepressants, which even though I've prescribed in the past - and I believe do have their place within our current paradigm - I've never felt to be worth the chanelling of energy, resources, and attention that has gone in their direction.

"The psychedelic compound found in magic mushrooms helps to open up depressed people’s brains and make them less fixed in negative thinking patterns, research suggests.
According to the findings, psilocybin makes the brain more flexible, working differently to regular antidepressants, even weeks after use. Researchers say the findings indicate that psilocybin could be a viable alternative to depression treatments.
They say patterns of brain activity in depression can become rigid and restricted, and psilocybin could help the brain to break out of the rut in a way traditional therapies cannot."

Research shows effects of compound found in magic mushrooms can be seen weeks after treatment

08/05/2021

🌾 I liked this article on the importance of embracing all emotions.. including sadness:
Some quotes: "I continued my quest and discovered that avoiding sadness by burying it or ignoring it doesn’t work, since suppressing so-called negative thoughts only exacerbates them. Experiencing temporary sadness on the other hand, can – counterintuitively – make us happier....

Accepting sadness as a key part of our human experience makes us more compassionate to ourselves as well as others.

And... sadness can act as a catalyst for much-needed change and ultimately a more fulfilling life.

Since I started studying sadness, I’ve begun to make changes prompted by those powerful feelings. It isn’t easy, but it is necessary. Because many of us have been sold a very narrow definition of happiness that means never being sad. But this isn’t happiness – it’s barely even a life. If we want to live well, we have to make friends with sadness, too. Starting now."

Bedridden, and unable to move, I realised that I had spent my life running from misery. It was time to confront it, says author and journalist Helen Russell

25/03/2021

🌾 Hearing about the experience of a brave doctor (GP) who I recently worked with over three processes on zoom, may be useful for anyone seeking healing for trauma.

From my end, this work is a joy, it bypasses the mental story and gets straight to the heart of our experiences, allowing deep pain to naturally release and insights to emerge. 🌾

08/03/2021

🌾 'Vitamin D Insufficiency May Account for Almost Nine of Ten COVID-19 Deaths...'
Thank you to Todd Caldecott for highlighting this article.

"Although results of an observational study, such as this one, need to be interpreted with caution, as done by the authors [1], due to the potential of residual confounding or reverse causality (i.e., vitamin D insufficiency resulting from poor health status at baseline rather than vice versa), it appears extremely unlikely that such a strong association in this prospective cohort study could be explained this way, in particular as the authors had adjusted for age, s*x and comorbidity as potential confounders..."

Evidence from observational studies is accumulating, suggesting that the majority of deaths due to SARS-CoV-2 infections are statistically attributable to vitamin D insufficiency and could potentially be prevented by vitamin D supplementation [...]

16/02/2021

🌾 Do you know anyone severely affected by the pandemic who has barriers to accessing counselling? Two friends of mine are involved with this important project that currently has space for new clients: the project offers 3 free counselling sessions (phone or online) "to adults severely impacted by the coronavirus pandemic... who otherwise can’t access counselling at the moment...

Perhaps the people, groups or services that you usually turn to for support aren’t currently available, and you don’t have the spare cash to pay for therapy. We are also offering our support to NHS workers on the front lines.

We are offering 3 free counselling sessions. Each session is 50 minutes long."

Coronavirus SupportCommunity Counselling is offering free emotional support via phone or online counselling to adults severely impacted by the coronavirus pandemic.Who is this for?This project is for people who otherwise can’t access counselling at the moment. Perhaps the people, groups or service...

29/01/2021

An insightful article: "Around the world, many people have found that the Covid-19 crisis has helped them realise what is truly important in their lives. The basics: like health, relationships, a safe and warm place you can call home, dignity, freedom from persecution and discrimination. Being able to feed yourself and pay the bills.

In this way, an existential crisis might move you towards greater authenticity, which may also bring anxiety as you struggle for meaning. Now that the familiarity of your life has been stripped bare, what is your life really about?"

Book extract: A lot of things will change as a result of this pandemic and it’s clear the recovery won’t be marked by a discrete event

11/01/2021

Nature offers us beautiful, heart opening moments. I took this a couple of days ago, as I cycled by Brighton beach - yup, it is 'local' to me! (I had stopped cycling of course - the view was so beautiful I had to stop for a few moments and breathe it in). 🧡