The DrumRoll Team

Welcome to our August issue, where our theme is serendipity - those unexpected discoveries, chance encounters and curious turns in the path that sometimes seem to lead us towards exactly what we needed, even when we were looking for something entirely different. Inside, we explore the subtle differences between coincidence, synchronicity and serendipity, and consider whether those unexpected moments might sometimes help us recognise what is meant for us.

Green Aventurine: A Crystal for Serendipity There is something wonderfully appropriate about green aventurine being associated with serendipity. Traditionally regarded as a stone of luck, opportunity and possibility, it carries the symbolism of being open to what might appear when life takes an unexpected turn. Serendipity is not simply about being lucky. It is the unexpected discovery of something valuable while looking for something else. A chance conversation introduces us to a new idea. A...

In Aotearoa New Zealand, Matariki draws attention to the winter sky. As the star cluster rises, it marks a season of remembrance, gratitude, gathering, storytelling and looking towards the year ahead. Across homes, marae, schools and communities, the night sky becomes more than a backdrop. It becomes a place of memory, meaning and reflection. This seasonal turning towards the stars naturally invites a wider contemplation of the heavens. For centuries, people have looked upward not only to...