saints, sinners, lovers, fools

April is here - bringing with it sunshine and warmth, fun and play outdoors, spring and allergies, upheavals and challenges. 

“The figure of the fool walked off the margins of medieval manuscripts into the unholy courts of the Renaissance, then returned to the page as Hamlet’s Yorick. Later, in the age of reason and democracy, the parodist of royal dignity became a mirror of the universal condition: Dostoevsky’s ‘holy fool’ and Picasso’s grubby clowns; Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy.” ~ Dominic Green, The Wall Street Journal 

lousy world leaders - Firuz Kutal cartoon

Tough times call for more care and compassion. 

spring on the water

This season has really been a rollercoaster! wonder | wander | women are dressing in layers and making sure that the cotton shirts and the fleece pants are available, because we never know how the weather will change from one day to the next. 

Postman's Park by the Postal Museum

holy week - shaping perceptions, beliefs, relationships

Palm Sunday to Easter Sunday is the last week of Lent. An opportune time to retreat from regular bustling busy business. Taking a few days of quiet and reflection for ourselves. 

Starting on Palm Sunday, wonder | wander | women gathered together to visit and pray with our parents who had passed away last year. 

Palm Sunday sunset

We arrived in time to catch the sun setting past the distant row of palms that bordered the property. Spending some time with siblings to offer prayers and chat around their urns. Filling them in on some updates we chose to share together. 

Gruyéres - the misty mountains of Switzerland

When wonder | wander | women touched down in Switzerland for the very first time, it was the wettest, gloomiest day of the summer. Sometimes even storybook wishes can be granted in mysterious ways.

advancing its young artists locally in Dumangas, Iloilo

Home to a thriving new crop of artists, Magnet Gallery is an immersive experience in the local art, entertainment and environment of Dumangas. 

Magnet Gallery, Library & Cafe' - Dumangas, Iloilo

Located on Salas Street, Municipality of Dumangas, Province of Iloilo, in the Philippines — it is a home grown collaborative where art, nature, and wellbeing are actively supported and sustained in advocacy and community.

lift your head

The world that wonder | wander | women live in has been growing dark. There are times when a bone-deep weariness threatens to consume us, taking up all thought and energy. A thousand griefs come from all over the world, overwhelming us with our own close and personal grief.

View of St Paul and the Shard in London

feed our thirst & fill us up with heART

On a recent lakwatcha adventure to Iloilo wonder | wander | women spent our days exploring art studios, galleries and museums. Viewing the displays and exhibits fed our thirst for wonder and filled is with insight and inspiration - enough to tide us over until another visit. 

We were missing this sorely the past year - collections of art purposely displayed to enhance its beauty so it spills over to us - its viewers and appreciative audience. 

March 2026 line up at IloMOCA

Crammed into only a few days spared, all the visual overload and creative overstimulation overcame us in a fevered frenzy. Images flying by our flickering lids left us gasping and breathless. Filling our senses to overflowing - our proverbial cups running over in generous waves of delight and awe. 

signs of life

After months of darkness and rain, wonder | wander | women were relieved to finally see the sun out for a whole day! We've had weeks of false alarms and hints of spring, little signs that warmer days were coming.

Gardenias blooming early

solo travel | seeking sanctuary in solitude

It's great to be able to surprise yourself every so often - keeps you young and on your toes, in the best of ways. Since the mid 1990s it's been our practice to carve out time to go on regular retreats. 

In a past life, while fully immersed in a spiritual community, this was easy to attain. Back on home ground on our own, it's become a bit more challenging to achieve. 

they have carabaos here too

After a year in our island home, wonder wander women carved out some me-time and took a trip away from it all. We needed some time to recover and recoup after a long hard year of uncertainty and loss. 

waiting for spring

wonder | wander | women's word for the year so far is "deluge". Between grey or freezing weather, natural disasters, and the man-made disasters of our collective governments, the year has barely started and it already feels like we're being swept away.

Kalachuchi (Frangipani) in ballpoint and watercolour

Imbolc. Full Leo Snow Moon. Brigid.

For the Triple Goddess - Maiden, Mother, Crone - alive in every cycle of becoming. 

A celebration of returning light, Imbolc is a Gaelic festival that marks the beginning of spring. Also called Candlemas (Christian), New Year (Tibetan, Chinese, Iroquois), Tu Bi-Shevat (Jewish). 

maiden, mother, crone painting by Beryl Noyce

Goddess festival of Brigit, Brighid, Brigid (Celtic). It is our mid-winter celebration, prophecy, purification, initiation. Imbolc reminds us that even in the coldest season, the fire has already begun.

a season of regrowth

wonder | wander | women are oceans apart once again, but for the first time in years we were able to spend the holiday season together. This year was intensely emotional for both of us. We were so happy to be able to see out 2025 and greet 2026 together.

Twinning for Christmas!

new orbit, new outlook

The New Moon in Capricorn (18 January 2026) brings the first powerful reset of the year, inviting us to set grounded intentions, create a steady foundation, and commit to our long-term visions. 

This Capricorn New Moon is a time to redefine success, cut distractions, and build a life that feels aligned, meaningful, and sustainable. 

the human circadian rhythm ("biological clock")

If you’ve been feeling called to take yourself and your dreams more seriously, this New Moon is your sign to begin. One steady step at a time. 

2025 recap

This past holiday season has been the first time in over a decade that wonder | wander | women have spent together, back in our island home in the Philippines. 

Unfortunately, it was not a happy case of time flies when you're having fun. But more of an overload of challenging circumstances - both personal and global. 

holiday wreath

Same time last year, while our US half spent the holidays with our Spanish cousins in New York City, our UK half spent it with longtime friends turned family - amid the bright Christmas lights in Regent Street and holiday cheer of Piccadilly in London.