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.