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A New Adventure Begins ~ The Wonders & Presence of Spirit in Flesh
The symphony of animal and nature messages has continued in full force and that’s felt soothing to an uptick in frequencies flowing through life right now.
Evening owl hoots float through the forest consistently behind our home these days. We didn’t used to hear them, or very randomly did. Now, owl energy seems to be the frequency of opening pathways before us, and that’s been mirrored in finding more great horned owl feathers too on a consistent basis. These two were discovered on one of our recent hikes, but about a mile apart and were added to the others I found just recently.
But there’s been something about primary wing feathers from large raptors that just began to show up and this has included first-ever finds. Has that been happening for others of you?
You may recall the large turkey vulture feather from our road trip that I found on the Colorado River, as the vulture took off from the bank we landed the boat on. Then, within just a few days of each other, at the same location here in Tahoe, I found a large osprey wing feather, followed by a giant eagle wing feather – the shaft is 4.5 inches long and the entire feather is 17.75 inches long.
I’ve been gifted osprey feathers before, but never a wing. This was a first for the eagle feather.
There’s a feeling I get about the wings being significant to rising above and transcending any limitations and soaring to creative heights to receive and experience expansive vision. There’s a sense of increased freedom and empowerment, newfound courage, lightness, divine guidance, support, and protection I get from them too. There’s also connection to the message of “elder” and “ancient” parts I spoke about in my last episode. And that they appeared at punctuated points, underscoring the information I was channeling and understanding at those moments directly from communication with The All was very chilling, beautiful, and humbling – a sense of truth alignment rippled through my body.
In fact, the osprey and eagle wing I found just yards and a few days apart along the same path I had been led to explore because of sensing that something was waiting. I particularly love osprey because they move between realms – soar through the air, can land on trees and Earth, but are the only raptors that actually dive deep into the water when catching their meals, while others just snatch fish from the surface (not afraid of the watery and shadow realms). To me, eagle feels particularly honorary, while hawk has always felt very signifying of interdimensional guidance, safe passage, and initiation in my life.
I feel like a mouse in a maze or labyrinth when I find feathers and like each one is a treat I receive for hitting an upleveling turn along my path. Each time the treat increases in levels to match the codes cracked.
Then there’s been the tadpoles in all stages, as well as lots of frogs and very large toads in abundant companions as well. I did actually find a small dead frog, though, on our deck. There must always be that balance.
That was reflective also with the large and beautiful dead trout I found that looked like it had just passed. She was in perfect condition and I found her right after the large eagle wing feather. I felt a special connection to it, being a Pisces and actually pulled it out of the water where I saw it against the bank. Something about feeling her beautiful scales and muscles was powerful for me to hold.
And bunches of lady bugs that seem to always find my hand and arms at the beach – loving my left side in particular and the sacred tattoos there. But I also found a small group of dead lady bugs in the sand next to my towel.
We were also greeted again by the same large family of mom, dad, and goslings upon return to the beach. It had been no more than a week since last we saw them, but they were already looking double the size, as they visited us in our special spot.
We also realized we miscounted them last time, thinking we could only count 12, but now there were in fact 13 – amazing!
And the day before that we saw a family with only three goslings. They just warm my faery heart so much!
I haven’t seen Frith or Hyzenthlay for a while now, but was very pleased this past Saturday that a sweet little baby cottontail made herself known – this one feels to be female.
I’d just finished a project, after our returning from a short adventure I’ll share after this first part, and looked up to find this tiny one, with a mark at her third eye, poised so perfectly in an Astrid-like stance. She showed up again two days later in my garden, nibbling away on bunny delights and running back and forth across the path. That all made me smile huge and the smile was extended on Sunday, in between the home sightings, when I saw another baby bunny running into a bush, upon driving up to my parent’s house for yummy Father’s Day celebrations. (Mom and dad always create a vegan feast, as you know. It was chickpea curry with all the yummy fixin’s of pickled onions, sweet cucumbers, spicy mango, and naan, followed by a fresh deep blueberry pie with the bestest crust!)
I haven’t yet heard a name for this little one, but I’m sure it will come. Especially if she is the new garden guardian of our Forest Portal.
And although we did see a second dead doe recently, there was so much new life and stages of growth and opening around us, that it was easy to understand the weaving of connection. We also haven’t seen a bear since our golden one jumped our fence to connect, but I’ve twice now found large, fresh bear scat on hikes – a message that their energy continues to be near, watch over, and guide me.
I even had a large jackpot find of raw quartz in a pocket I know that included mostly smoky quartz with some of the darkest smokies I’ve found including a few I would say are morion quartz. There were even pieces with lined and etched sides and the beginning of crystal point shaping that I don’t normally see. The energy of these feels very supportive in anchoring so many root changes I’ve been working on and what is helpful even within the collective scope of things unfolding – so gridding is in order for these.
So, yeah…a lot of potent and beautiful messengers and energies have surrounded these pre-Summer days with rich layers connected to each of them for me and to what the season ahead is gearing up to be.
I wonder what kind of reflections you may be seeing or experiencing in your world that point to shifts happening for you or support for directions and questions you’ve been pondering?
It’s been interesting to see how this year has started off so far for me, given I’m in a nine personal year. Days have increased in outer activity, although I can feel my energy is much more inner, even if I’m partaking in what’s showing up – sometimes unexpectedly.
For instance, it’s been on-the-go here for weeks, and recently with out-of-the-blue visitors including a friend of ours and Dave’s brother nearly back-to-back, Father’s Day, our own getaway in between, and now upcoming trips through July.
During all of it, we’ve also upped our outdoor activities with hours of hiking, biking, and long beach days, as is usual for this time of year.
With little blocks of time just at home, I’ve had heightened periods of activity in the small windows to get projects and work done. I’ll share some of the fun I’ve been dabbling in soon.
Like Summer-soon-to-be, I’ve found myself bubbling with creative impetus.
So outwardly it appears not to be very Hermit-like, but I do in fact feel the inward completion and transformation of cycles, a deepening into my truth for the next leg, self reflection and harnessing of greater understanding on how to implement things I’ve learned, and cultivating the quality of life and direction that matches my frequency. And that for sure comes with closure and even experiencing literal deaths all around. I noted a couple of big patterns run their full gamut of extremes, which is now ending a cycle to rest in a balanced way.
All of this feels evident in the animal messengers and how they’re showing up for me.
And in between it all, my garden continues to grow and flourish.
My work now is to just enjoy the beauty that blossoms and expands forth, one step at a time, as the seasons shift.
Another thing shifting, now that we’re empty nesters, is our ability to do things on the spot when the moment moves us and for us to weave another layer of interest into our lives that looks like it’s quickly becoming a passion.
When we returned from our road trip, we talked about starting to backpack. I had only done this one other time in the Grand Canyon with our avid backpacker friends, Happy and Bean. I loved it right away. Dave wasn’t as excited as me at the time, but a huge shift took place that catapulted things.
Like most things I do now, I started up later in life – truly it wasn’t until my 40’s when the physical activities I love and you see me doing, became a part of my daily world. I didn’t grow up, like others, doing a bunch of outdoor activities, although I was hugely connected with all animals from the moment I landed on Earth. So, it’s no surprise the next level would kick in now at 51.
The first day back from our road trip, Dave got the itch and ordered all our backpacking equipment that we didn’t have – we had a tent, sleeping bags, pad, and pillow, and stuff like headlamps from our time in the GC, but none of the rest. We were all in!
He didn’t go searching for the most expensive stuff either. We learned quickly, like with other things we do, that you can do stuff inexpensively and on a budget. He found everything for us at next-to-nothing costs compared to what you normally see, so the investment was like 1/10 the amount one might spend or think you’d need to.
That also made it easy to try it out and see if we did actually like it as much as we thought we would. If we found that we did, we were thinking we may potentially do the whole 165 mile TRT – Tahoe Rim Trail – in sections. Since we live here and have no time restraints, there’s no need to do it all in one long trip. Plus, our goal is to enjoy and be present with everything, without feeling any pressure.
We’ve already day-hiked nearly half of the TRT, but it’s different to backpack and through-hike it. So if we do decide to do the whole thing, we’ll redo it all. We’re also not wed to that idea and really want to make sure it’s all about just having fun, soaking it all in, and not making any part of the adventures reflective of what life can be in the day-to-day, nitty gritty stuff.
For now, it would be a one-trip-at-a-time focus when the moment moves us. I love it that way. I love life that way, actually.
We learned well from our GC backpacking mentors about equipment we’d need and how to be minimalists, especially since the less you have to carry on your back, the easier the hiking.
Our friends were so proud of us and thought it was impressive when we told them my pack came in at 22.4 pounds and Dave’s at 23.6 pounds! They said that anywhere between 23 and 30 pounds was considered excellent. Weeeee!
We also did a little research into local area requirements – for instance, here a bear cannister is either required or highly recommended versus a hanging bear bag – and permits needed.
We then figured out a few options of first adventures we wanted to do and would be able to do given some areas have more snow still than others, while awaiting our equipment to arrive and for some things we were working on to complete so that we’d have the ability to be without need of others contacting us or having to tend to details with time deadlines.
It literally wasn’t until the morning of departure that we made our final departure decision and then finalized details and packed for a two night, three day journey into the wild.
We intended to leave a bit earlier than we did, but things have a way of working themselves out as is in alignment. We headed out to get our permits and have lunch while discovering we’d forgotten our hiking poles at home – important when you have weight on your back and will be traversing technical trails, which this one would be. We had two cars because we would need to park one car at each end of our hike since this wouldn’t be an out-and-back, but a through trail trek from one destination to another.
So Dave took care of the permits, while I went home to get the poles, and then we met up for lunch and headed off to drop the first car off. By the time we parked at our starting point, it was around 3:30pm.
Luckily the boat they have available to take hikers passed the first two miles was running. It was in the mid-eighties and knowing that the whole trail up is all shale meant that being able to bypass the first two miles would ensure us getting to our destination for the night before sunset.
Normally they only run it for a minimum of four people, but we got our own boat and away we went. We didn’t actually start hiking until 4pm.
This hike we chose is considered a challenging one, which we’ve done before and is in what’s called Desolation Wilderness – the most rugged region around Lake Tahoe with granite everywhere, including granite shale lined trails that climb and climb, sometimes with large steps up.
So it’s slow-going and even more so with a large pack on your back to ensure safe stepping.
It was a hard first day because of the heat and climb, plus hitting unexpected packed snow at the top in the forests and snow run-off creating streams through parts of the trails, but we arrived in time around 6:30pm to set up camp on the beautiful moonscape of Aloha Lake.
I say moonscape because this lake is surrounded in granite around the edges of the water and has a more stark shoreline with pools and little islands. It’s a shallow backcountry lake great for exploring, camping, wading, and swimming.
Normally we enter it from the south and explore the west where there’s a lot of pools and familiar terrain. This time we ended up on the east side, so it was a different vantage point for us. And between camping here and then taking the trail out on the east, we’ve now pretty much done most of the perimeter.
This provided us ability to still take in the sights and feels, fill our water bottles with our water filter, and enjoy our vegan meals before hitting the sack.
This time we opted to try Backpacker’s Pantry for their dehydrated vegan options. Last time with our friends we did Outdoor Herbivore. Both are fantastic!
It was an exciting time for us, just out there doing it. We decided we would and we made it happen and there we were soaking it all in.
Every single sensation.
It was surreal in a way since it was our first time doing this alone. And the best part is that we’d be off-grid for three days.
No cell phone reception or outside access in or out. Just the wide open great outdoors and us.
We congratulated ourselves for a successful first day, as we headed into our tent for the night to read a book, and fall asleep under the moon and stars, surrounded by wilderness as far as the eye could see.
As I mentioned, our plan is not to jam pack in as many miles as possible and rush through the trails just to accomplish an idea. This was inspiration at its finest from spark to igniting. Savoring it all was the goal and tuning into ourselves and our surroundings was the main objective.
So, in all, this trip was only about 15 plus miles in totality, but they were hard and rich ones – this broke up to about 5 miles a day. A lot of through-hikers may accomplish that kind of mileage or more in just one day. That’s not our hearts’ trajectory though.
The night was an interesting mix of subtle sounds, dropping temperatures, and complete stillness and vastness. It was invigorating.
The first night got to between 30 and 35 degrees, but we had great sleeping bags and thermals on so it was comfortably brisk.
Sunrise was beautiful and waking up in nature’s quiet was just like I remembered – a breath of sacred. Well, all of it was really.
Everything was silently loud in the most beautiful and moving of ways.
The water was absolute glass, creating mirror images that reflected “as above, so below.”
We enjoyed the quiet mornings, slowly savoring every sensation while enjoying a warm meal and coffee Dave would prepare us.
And each of the next two days went much the same.
After enjoying our slow, but early-start morning, we packed up and set off for our next destination.
Desolation Wilderness is very rugged and it’s been rare we’ve seen wild animals while hiking the trails, except for one time catching a rare fox sighting. And this trip was much the same – without wild animal encounters, except for feeling like the wild hearts ourselves.
Mostly we saw a variety of birds, chipmunks, squirrels, lots of butterflies, caterpillars, and small fish. There were also quite a few interesting mushrooms due to the moisture and melt off.
The below swallowtail was a giant one and particularly stood out to us, as she lingered in full display. We also had a pair of them circle above us and several times I had butterflies come right at me, as if they were trying to ignite my aura with their renewal spark.
The trail around and out from the lake offered gorgeous vistas every step of the way, with other small lakes to feast our eyes upon.
I was full of energy that second day and was strongly leading the way this time.
We learned that I have a natural navigating instinct, inner compass, and even though some trails I’ve only done once…I remember them clearly and know where right and wrong turns should be.
The snow packs and streams of running water made trails near-impossible to figure out at times. Yet, even if we got off track, senses would lead us back.
There were times I saved us from miles of wrong turns because I remembered and just knew things were off. And when Dave would then check maps, he’d confirm my instincts.
We also learned of my crazy tracking abilities with a funny story.
Maybe this is gross to some people, but it was super hilarious to us, nonetheless, and part of life. You know that one must do number two out there in the wilderness and when at camp there’s protocols for this with needing to be at least 200 feet from a water source and digging deep holes.
Well, on each occasion, Dave would go do his thing first while I finished breakfast or what ever. Then it was my turn. And I kid you not, each time I would go directly to his exact spot, which I had no idea where he was because I couldn’t see him in the trees and didn’t watch where he headed. I could tell by the ground and the way objects like rocks were placed and come back and detail my observations and ask if this is where he went and how he left things. Each time, he was incredulously shocked and we laughed so hard until I cried. I was the poop tracker, amongst other things. My brother has always called me an animal while growing up and that my feet and hands were paws. He and I also have always sniffed everything we eat before we will eat it. LOL!
And between the consistent tracking record overall and navigating right directions, while leading the way, I started to earn my trail name.
It morphed, as after the first day of this Dave was calling me “The Last of the Mohicans.” I really liked that name, but it was too long. So because of my signature long braids I wear on backpacking and camping trips, as well as really challenging hikes like Angels Landing in Zion, this turned into “Pocahontas,” which he called me in Zion at the time.
And so my trail name was born.
Dave got one too, but the story is more involved so we’ll save it for another adventure.
Anyway, we were deep into the wilderness now and things were already feeling second nature, and this second day of hiking led us through beautiful and equally technical shale areas, with a lot of snow pack challenges too.
But we did it and got to our second lake destination, Susie Lake, which is a lake we had also fantasized about being a cool place to camp from the one and only time we hiked passed it.
We got there by 12:30pm and had a full afternoon ahead of us to really surrender to it all.
And without a soul around within sight of us, we really immersed fully.
We had time to set up, get lunch and snacks going, make more water, take naps, read, sun bathe, wash up, skinny dip, hang out on our giant, gorgeous and favorite rock by the water, commune with the incredible elder juniper tree that watched over our camp sight, talk, sit in silence, me go rock hounding, Dave explore with his binoculars, make dinner, and more of the same rock sitting while watching the sunset.
Minutes and hours went by beautifully slow and were savored in a way you just don’t when involved in daily life stuff without making an effort to be present.
Part of that presence for me is about exploring and photography, as the artist me feels that to be an extension of my creative expression that is much needed. Rather than painting on canvas, I am framing paintings that I’m cocreating with Nature all around me.
I not only love to do this as my own a pictorial journal I can look through for endless inspiration, but I’ve learned that it’s also a way I can bring the beauty of this Earth experience as humans to others in times when the world is focused in other perhaps less life-enhancing ways, while etching the landscape into my memory.
The latter is what I’ve discovered to be part of why I’m so good at remembering trails because I pay attention to all the details every step of the way when I’m focusing in on things to creatively capture and are taking my breath away. I seem to imprint the nooks and crannies and sensorial experience of the area so that I can call that up when needed, like on this trip – helping me to know exactly where we are.
And by 7pm we were ready to turn in, read, and sleep another expansive night away. It was slightly warmer at this slightly lower area, with night temps around 40.
Mornings we woke with sunrises, Dave making us coffee and fully loaded oatmeal, and slowly savoring it all some more.
With our last night behind us, it was bitter sweet to make our last trek to our car awaiting us at the end point. Another big day of challenging trails, but everything felt extra bright and alive. The challenge of the first day’s trek up in the heat was far behind me and every day after felt easy and graceful – like second nature, in fact, and me and my pack became one.
We discovered that our calculations were on point and we had exactly everything we needed. We only came back with two extra protein bars and we decided that with how light we pack we could easily add a two pound hammock next time to lay next to the lake between the trees. We’ll likely upgrade our sleep pads to even softer, thicker pads, but other than that we’re good and weren’t missing anything.
We also discovered that even returning to our small mountain cities here was quite a contrast to the alone time out in nature. It felt like we were still wrapped in a bubble of peace and kind of invisible to the rest of the world moving around us, which spoke to how we can create our own experience and journey through life in the cradle of our own frequency.
The whole three-day adventure was truly an experience for presence of being to anchor more deeply and definitely felt in alignment with my personal nine year energy. I thrive in my own world and although am deeply connected to All and focus on that interweaving of energies daily in anything I am engaged in, I am at my clearest when that All is an embodiment within my sole experience.
I love the very tangible feeling of spirit luxuriating in flesh and senses that experiences like this punctuate. I especially feel connected and drawn to the through-hiking in combo with camping. Although camping or day-hiking, alone, are wonderful in their own way, there’s something extra special for me about this combo that both speaks to the minimalist, simplicity, and just connecting with the nomadic and ancient parts of me that is exciting.
Moving with the seasons and where the heart guides, and living in harmony with nature, while leaning into one’s inner senses feels easy and natural.
It makes my first house Mars in Capricorn and all of my “Cappy” energy, as I call it, feel in her joy and essence.
And, to me, all of this is like a golden thread woven between my very cellular and vibrational nature.
It’s an awakening of greatest aliveness and reverence for this Earth experience, which in turn enriches every single experience we walk through life having.
We so look forward to more backpacking throughout the Summer and Autumn seasons, and what ever else new will extend us an initiatory hand. I’m also excited to see how this all evolves and trickles out into inspirational droplets of nourishment.
Our new life pathways are beginning to reveal themselves bit-by-bit, just as Astrid and the kitties knew would be the next steps integral for us and our expansion. And they’ve been smiling hugely for us, showing up in our day-to-day and in the little messages along the way.
We carry them with us always and now have them guiding the journey onward.
Life certainly takes some interesting turns that may feel or look one way in the moment, yet are pieces to a greater puzzle they beautifully make possible.
I hope that this share about one of the ways our life is taking a new turn speaks to any of you in some way who are in transition of any kind in life where it feels right now like there’s nothing that could possibly make it better.
There are always rich things at work, new doorways opening with the closure of others, and the cycles will reveal their next layers when we keep showing up and embracing the flow of energy just wanting to move through.
Endings are beginnings.
I’ll end there for now, lol, so that means more is upcoming. I have a very short window before we head out for a while on a couple more trips away, but I’ll try to get one more post out in just a bit. It’s going to be a busy rest of the month and much to share – one piece at a time.
In the meantime, people have been messaging with questions so I’ll answer them quickly here for anyone else who’s been wondering.
Yes, I still am offering Intuitive Guidance Sessions at the very special discount and online Reiki Certification Training, as well as the Empowerment Series courses.
And there are just 4 special crystal skulls and 1 crystal remaining in the current personal release. Price exchanges currently reflected are already discounted off original value.
Sending love and gratitude to everyone. I hope the upcoming Full Moon and Solstice energies are feeling like a doorway to something fresh for you too.
Making Every Moment Count ~ Spring Richness in Full Gear Inside & Out (Updates & My Neck of the Woods)
Days continue to be laced with much more than usual, which feels aligned with the buzzing of Spring both above and below the Earth’s soil right now. That’s how it feels – things rapidly happening in the outer world and richly happening in the inner one, simultaneously. Although it hasn’t quite been two weeks since the last, fuller update, it feels like months of events have taken place in that short window. This to include dream time and all of the in between percolation.
Having a lot going on definitely keeps my mind and energy focused on what’s only presently in front of me, rather than drifting off to the future or past. That’s not to say I don’t still dance in the realms of visions that tickle my heart, but I don’t have the bandwidth to replay anything old, nor give away energy worrying over what might be. I’m on ultra awareness of not trickling energy into mind chatter repetition of stories that are over because I’ve seen how the present rewrites and rewires all of it when I embody the new with alignment.
There’s only here and now and that’s just fine with me.
I’m curious how others are experiencing this new season in what I’ve heard many have been calling a “big” and pivotal year energetically?
Personally, I feel that the more I stay my own course and bring forth more fullness, the less any kind of matrix framework hovers in my experience. There’s no resonance for any of that to attach to, and therefore creative liberation can spark toward a wide open field of potential.
And I know I say it a lot, but I do believe strongly in the value and power of being more playful, staying soft and flowing in my approach, and walking through life with curiosity and wonder. That helps me hugely.
This simply feels to be a reminder of how there are always other ways or approaches for each of us, depending on how we feel currently about our lives. Exploring what you may not have yet – which could be a more playful attitude or simply something different than your norm – could be the other side of the coin that would help open up possibilities where doors feel closed or things feel frustrating.
Yes, I hear you that this can be challenging to do in the face of contrasts, yet this is exactly why these things are so integral and needed.
The point is, if you find yourself unhappy about things, curiosity might lead to a different choice that could bring a different feeling. And that choice is one you are the navigator of – not anyone else.
It’s all about discovering whether or not we as individuals feel good about our experience of life and building from that inquiry’s answer in the way and timing that is ours alone to unravel. It’s not about trying to imitate someone else, nor control others to bend to our individual ways and needs.
One of my hopes has always been that each of us could truly accept one another, recognize the value of variety, and be kind in the face of differences.
We all have different paths, trajectories, and purposes we’re here experiencing. Each a puzzle piece to the other. So to think that there is only one way for everyone doesn’t make sense to my heart. Does it to yours? My feeling is that if someone chooses to experience their version of embodiment that is contrasting to mine and isn’t asking or wanting to change, that doesn’t make them wrong. It simply confirms our uniqueness and underscores compassion because without the contrasts we may not know of any personal, evolutionary path we’d like to embark upon.
This is one of the big reasons why I don’t feel guided to provide straight readings for people because I don’t believe in taking the power out of someone’s hands to choose, in any way. I know how influential a reading can be, even though a person DOES always still have a choice, because it can feed ego thoughts and bypass higher self. I support self sovereignty and have come to believe that every choice is for the highest. I have loved that about The Speakers as well. That their messages are guide posts for self discovery. I mirror their trajectory in feeling detached guidance to be my personal path.
So my blog posts have, over time, shifted a lot energetically with my own personal evolution – preferring to share a more personal journey and adding to the pool of inspiration and possibility in the world where and how I can because it just so happens that this is the guiding star to my heart compass.
There’s just so much we each have to share, which can be simply and potently in emanating a frequency all on our own through our embodiment as example even if we don’t ever talk to others about it. I do know that many of you experience rich layers in your life and are finding these days to be full of synchronicities. I also know many of you may think you aren’t experiencing things and yet you are surrounded by so much love and support, as well as reflections of your heart. It doesn’t matter how things show up, the fact that you’re showing up here on Earth right now speaks to a soul courage and value that is recognized even if challenges don’t make it easy to see yourself.
So, thank you for that.
For being you and being here.
There’s no particular way that needs to be.
Only the way you feel to be in each moment.
That is and will always be enough.
This brings me to share some of how I have been experiencing things and showing up in this small corner of our wide world and because I haven’t posted for about two weeks and likely won’t for another week or more, this will be a longer read.
Perhaps you will find threads of reflections, synchronous connections, an inspiration to see with your heart more, or simply enjoy a break from the every day of it all with some story shares.
I feel to highlight some of the standouts since last I wrote that have included both waking and dream time. Sharing in this way provides a glimpse into how one might journey through life noticing what could otherwise seem subtle or disconnected. Yet, with a pause, a lot of messaging and confirmations we wonder about can come through everyday experiences. And some of it (even if I don’t draw inference to what they fully mean) just highlights the things that are personally important to me and what have supported the wholeness and wellness I make a commitment to so I can continue to show up in the ways I desire.
I’d say that the themes have been a lot of outdoor activity, community (as in friends near and far), animal guides, dreams, closure, and new groundwork.
Do any of these themes overlap with you in some way?
I noticed things ramping up on the 15th. We have jumped into hiking and biking mode here with Spring anchoring, although it takes a little more time in the mountains to fully shift seasons. This means we will stick to biking, since the paths are usually clear for that at lake level, and look for hikes where we don’t have to do a lot of sludging through old snow melt-off. That usually means that we’ll also go down to the valley, just a half hour’s drive, to hit some completely dry trails.
The beauty of living here, at least for me, is the variety we have so close of options and that we can experience both alpine and high desert landscapes. That also gives us options to embrace and make the most of during in between times.
So we did just that on the 15th – went down to high desert terrain and met up with a friend of ours who lives there for quite the hike! It started at the same trailhead we have often done, but being that she used to be a professional mountain climber, she took us a different route – straight up!
Although the hike wasn’t super long – 1.68 miles each way – it was very steep (climbing roughly 1500+ feet in elevation) and the climb was through deep sand on top of that. It was equally a feat in both up and down directions because of the sand and pitch to the trail. We definitely got a great workout for deep breathing lungs and all-over lower body muscles.
And as we climbed up I was finding some cool smaller raw quartz and then discovered part of the jaw bone of a wild animal with sharp teeth. I’ve found a couple of jaw bones before, but this was a different one.
Our end point was a beautiful area with views all around that felt like a vortex – small and protected by granite rocks.
On the way down, I found a perfect, dead Painted Lady butterfly.
That, along with conversations of the day, felt potent.
The next two days I followed through with my intention to clear our yards of Winter’s past. And the theme continued, as upon just heading outside to begin my Spring yard cleanup on the first of those days, I discovered a perfect and peaceful dead mouse. Following having had two dead birds at our home around Boojum’s passing and the previous day’s finds all felt underscoring of rebirthing cycles.
I buried the mouse next to the two birds in my garden animal sanctuary before starting my work.
Not long after I was into my first day of raking, I also came upon a tuft of Frith’s fur in one of his favorite spots he hangs out in, along with a very tiny feather. I loved finding this little gift of his magickal essence and rabbit medicine.
I had some really good muscle soreness from the previous day’s hike in places that were new from the type of climb we did, and coupled with two days’ of yard work, I was feeling really physically activated in a great way.
I actually love raking – it’s a great way to get exercise outdoors, but is also instantly rewarding with immediate results that tickle my Capricorn placements.
I also love nurturing the land and helping to support my blossoms and plants to shine on a new clean stage.
You might remember that last year I did the yardwork while Dave was away on a 12 day silent meditation, so I did the raking, loading up of bags, and hauling them out front on my own. This year, Dave helped with the bagging and hauling, while I made and left piles all around for him. It went pretty fast even with a half acre that gets dumped with heavy loads of pine needles, branches, and pine cones because of living on the National Forest. I put in about 4 1/2 hours on the first day and another 3 or so hours the second day doing the back, side, and front yards.
We ended up with 19, thirty-three gallon bags this year. Last year I had 21, thirty-two gallon bags.
It felt SO good! Team work rocks! And a clean, season’s slate really amplified both closure and readiness.
On the night of the 19th, we headed back down with friends to the high desert valley to do the more regular, long trail in the same area we were at with our mountain climbing friend.
It was a gorgeous day, and going along our usual route provided glimpses of some of the Spring desert wild flowers just starting to bloom.
It was a sunshiny day of vast vistas. We love this hike because you get the best of both worlds – starting in the high desert and then working your way up into the forests of the mountains.
You also get to see both the mountains where we live, the farm pastures in the valley, and high desert rocky areas in between. And there’s a lot of things for my faery heart to explore and discover along the way!
Always a fun adventure!
That night while we were driving home and I saw a very large doe on the side of the highway munching on some grass in the dark. She felt kind of ethereal and shape shifting. Dave didn’t see her, but I can still see her face and eyes that peered into my own.
It was around that night, too, that the bear dreams started all over again.
The first dream was about a bear that kept showing up everywhere I turned, over and over. The bear seemed to be following me, but there wasn’t a feeling of any threat. And the interesting part was that the bear kept biting my hands, over and over too. And each time, I would stitch them back up, over and over. There wasn’t any threatening, bad or painful energies around this and when I woke, I felt like there was something being imbued into my hands and blood stream…like an infusion of sorts. And then I was fixed back up, but different each time. Something energetic was being activated. Since I use my hands for healing work so much, directing energy, and even communicating, this felt important. It also felt to be both cosmic and primordial in essence.
This same night I also had another potent dream that involved a dear and magickal friend of mine. I shared it with her and this is a summary of it:
My friend was organizing or cleaning out in a big house and I walked in with another friend and then we started talking about something and my attention turned to just her. My friend was telling me something, but it seemed I wasn’t to remember the conversation. What I DO remember, however, is that while she talked, I touched my left eyebrow and felt the hairs there. They were uneven. Some were really long near the inner part of the brow toward my nose. I pulled on them gently and two giant brown feathers came out. This reminded me of the dream I shared from a couple of months ago, or so, where I ran my fingers through my hair and feathers were sprouting from my crown. Anyway, I looked at the two feathers and the top of them were shaped like ankhs and even had the subtle design of an ankh on the inside – kind of like the design inside the top of a peacock feather. I knew that we were both meant to have one of these feathers and it was in response to what we talked about. That’s all I remember.
I thought it was interesting the brown feathers came from my eyebrow and left eye…the one that symbolizes healing, wisdom, protection, magick, and creativity. This eye is also connected with Thoth – another who has been coming up a lot more recently – he was the one who restored and healed this eye in the Ancient Egyptian stories of Horus.
I had felt the Eye of Horus connection immediately upon waking and wondered if the feather represented a gift or activation, or was representative of being bearers, bridges, guardians, and ambassadors of the knowledge they hold.
There’s also connection with the feather of truth – Thoth presided over the weighing of a feather of truth to a person’s heart when they moved between worlds. Were we being granted passage to the next unfolding? And not needing to pass to the afterlife to do this, but could do so in now time?
The next day, on the 20th, we explored a hike nearer to us to see how the trail was doing in terms of snow.
It still had more snow than we thought, so we knew that anything higher than this is still a bit of time away until we can hike it.
A great way to get our hike, or bike, a day goals in, plus a great pause to the day.
It was on this hike that we also had a grouse make itself known – not visually – but very loudly. It made its signature drumming sound and this felt in line with my dream the previous night of some kind of sacred and initiatory experience. It was the loudest we’ve heard a grouse, which means we were literally so close to it, but it remained hidden. If you haven’t heard this sound it starts like deep thumping and then it builds into drumming. Apparently they make the noise with their wings, by rapidly rotating them back and forth. Sound frequencies being pulsed into our field.
Grouse initiated the next day, which was full of potent bird messengers.
The 21st brought great blue heron doing a determined follow-your-heart-and-truth fly-by, four white egrets standing as anchors of the elements and four directions, and a bald eagle that peacefully sat atop a fence overlooking the landscape with bigger picture vision of how it all connected.
That same night, bears dropped into dream time again. I don’t remember the full dream…just that a momma bear and younger yearling were in it and when they saw me they walked the same direction with me. We were walking together, in a way, with them following me. We all stopped and I noticed a big hole in the ground and stairs leading down. I realized there was a deep underground tunnel and inner caves that could be explored. It was fully dark so I decided to enter and use my cell phone’s flashlight to see my way. There was some kind of tour that had just closed, but I went to explore what I could for now and knew I’d return later to go deeper when it reopened. Unless, I somehow found a way to explore it on my own and might find a way past the barriers to keep people out. I just remember starting to explore this possibility and don’t recall anymore.
So, yes, bears are my constant companions into new layers of alchemy.
I’d like to finish out with the animal messengers before diving into the other paralleling themes…so this takes me to Earth Day on the 22nd. That morning I was laying in bed, readying to get up when a Steller’s Jay did a fly-by from the left, down the corridor across our deck and knocked our sliding door to our room. I was there alone, as Dave had gotten up already. He hit with the side of his body and right wing shoulder, but was fine. It wasn’t a super hard knock, but enough to get my attention. He kind of bounced off and then flew to a tree. I think hitting with his plush body helped, rather than straight on with his head and neck. We had already put the reflective stickers on the two areas the birds had hit to their demise, but this was a new area. We’ll be doing the same here too now, but this bird alert is certainly getting my awareness up. I feel the connections to transformational ends and starts with literal and symbolic death cycles, as well as an invitation from spirit of break-through potential. The other two birds had been smaller song birds…this one (more connected to just me) was the crested Steller’s Jay and he did resiliently survive.
Then, wouldn’t you know it…Frith made two more appearances. You may recall that he showed up on the morning of the potent Aries New Moon Total Solar Eclipse.
Well, on the day I completed the yard cleanup, I went in to shower and relax and then felt called to look out the sliding door to our room and there he was sitting upright and looking straight at me. I noticed a big light orb in the corner, show up later when I looked at the photo.
As usual, he wasn’t scared of my presence and let me open the door and come closer and talk to him, while he nibbled on the now-cleared grass. I imagine he was watching my whole raking show and was quite happy that all the goodies were now easy for him to access – a thumper’s up from Frith on a job well done!
And then his second appearance was on 4/23’s Scorpio Full Moon. Dave had just gone out to begin work on our dripline system – we were getting it ready that day for the season – and Frith showed up in the same spot he had for me, overseeing things. He really likes to be a part of the activity. And the rest of that day proved to be a productive and potent one, as we did finalize dripline preparation. All made it through the Winter and the only repair Dave had to do was on one area of our back deck where some little forest friend had decided to chew threw a big section. That was post-Winter though, so overall everything continues to maintain and hold up well.
I’ll circle back to that day, as the story I want to share feels like a good one to end this post with.
But I did finalize all the Spring prep outdoors I had intended, with a few transplanting and new potting projects on the 25th and returning more delicate statue friends back to the garden after taking a Winter’s nap indoors. And adding in a few new ones including this sweet sleeping baby dragon with a cosmic orb, a hanging bear to keep my bunny bunch company, and a group of new faery mushroom houses, and mushrooms.
This included three new indoor and four new outdoor plants.
I’m really excited about my gardenia plants especially, as it is my favorite fragrant flower other than lavender and star jasmine.
Everything’s ready to go, and everything’s already starting to bloom!
Once I see how all of the perennials do upon return, I shouldn’t have anymore big garden/yard projects except if I add some new plants to thicken in some areas. So, that all feels good!
So, there’s been a lot of outdoor activity indeed – great exercise for the body, heart, mind, and soul – because garden work is quite the workout, as you gardeners out there well know! And of course, is quite rewarding too.
But the physical activity hasn’t stopped there. As the seasons shift, that means a shift in our choice of nature exercise and an uptick in the levels of intensity. Hiking and biking are in full swing, as I started off sharing, with that big climbing hike on the 15th.
As mentioned, we do have to pick and choose during the in between window of Winter melt-off at higher elevations. But at lake level things are ready and, of course, down in the valley in the high desert terrains it’s clear and free for the exploring too. We’ve also enjoyed exploring the food terrain too, finding new restaurants to sample, including an all vegan one!
Longer hikes and bike rides are a favorite of mine and always make me feel so refreshed and invigorated. We’ve done quite a few already with friends and on our own, as well as biking down to the lake and back from our house.
Biking has increasingly become a favorite, as I’m big on both moving my body, challenging my stamina, expanding my lungs, and being in motion while letting thoughts and visions flow. I personally need higher amounts of physical exertion than most people and I do balance it out with downtime, self nurturing, and things like infrared sauna and massage chair time.
During our couple of weeks away last Fall, Dave and I were on our first-ever bike tour in Europe, celebrating his birthday, where we biked nearly 250 miles in six days.
It was something neither of us had ever done, although Dave does hardcore and technical mountain bike rides, whereas I stick to the paths and easier, lower elevation trails. The most we’d biked together in one day is around 34 miles and on that Fall trip it was 40 – 45 miles average most days with a couple of 35ish mile days and one over 50 mile day in between. I had no idea what it would be like, but knowing my Capricorn and Mars placements, I knew I could do it, as I always say that my abilities are all about a mind set. What I am determined and committed to accomplishing, I will. I won’t say it was easy, as it was quite demanding. But the point being I did it and better than I thought was possible, without giving up or opting out for a chaser van ride, and accomplishing that definitely increased my abilities for the things we do around here.
It’s one of those experiences that drive home how the things we think we can’t do, are sometimes only a belief away, or a shift of stories that we allow to run the show.
So, the uphill bike ride home from the lake here was sprinkled with more ease because of having gone through that week of challenge-made-into-accomplishment.
Hikes have been lovely though, in the Spring warmth and mix of still-cool partly clouded days. Sun at high altitude always penetrates more, so even lower temps can make it tank top and bathing suit weather. I did actually have one day of deck sun time to soak in vitamin D. I love me some high altitudes!
One of the things we love on the hike or bike ride we do from our house to the lake is exploring how the new wetlands habitat is reshaping itself by the resident beaver family there.
It’s incredible how they’ve transformed the area and we always find fresh new beaver evidence that means they were just there at the previous dusk hours, working away.
Snow melt-off is creating a lot of waterfalls and running water everywhere, which is beautiful to experience that pure and fresh alpine flow, along with the music of the element that reflects my native sun sign.
We even had quite the swing shift day in weather yesterday going from rain, to snow, to everything covered in a light white blanket, back to sunshine and blue skies, fully melted away ground, then rain, wet snow, and sticking snow again!
Mountain weather is unpredictable, which is one of the things I enjoy about it…the surprise, variety, and contrasts all inhabiting a space and time at once.
Amidst it all I’ve been working quite a bit too and laying the groundwork for upcoming things – some of which I can feel, but don’t see yet and others that I know, but the details are an organic unfolding.
It’s kind of like prepping a garden and planting seeds, before you see any results. Yet, the process is at hand and the manifestation is contained in the tiny foundations that will yield a transformative harvest.
I did fill up with Intuitive Guidance Sessions, but am now able to open up two more spots again. I’m still feeling led to offer the hugely discounted sessions, so if in need and this resonates, you’ll find that offering here:
I’ve also been quite busy with rabbit foster/adoption trainings, doing 1-2 a week and in fact this last week I had 3!
And enjoying an upswing in making some healthy yummies like these medjool date rolls made by blending dates, pecans, coconut, cacao powder, vanilla extract, vanilla protein powder, a little water for moisture to form, and rolling in more coconut.
They make great hiking and any time snacks, as well as a healthy dessert. Dave’s gotten into making his own whole wheat bread with a bread making machine, so he’s experimenting with different varieties and tasty blends too.
I haven’t had a lot of extra time to JUST specifically tune in with my crystal skulls and crystals, but they are assisting me on a daily basis with everything, nonetheless, and being increasingly a natural part of everything I do for the time being. For example, I will feel guided to have one sit with me in my lap or next to me while I’m working, sleeping, or just feel I need to touch one or take them outside for a few minutes in the sunlight for a break. There’s a lot of movement happening behind-the-scenes with them, as they all as a collective tell me when it’s time to record a new episode for Talks With Crystal Skulls.
And speaking of crystal skulls, I did want to mention that I spent time updating the page of listings to reflect what’s currently available. I removed all sold and reserved pieces to make it easier to navigate. I also added links to metaphysical properties because so many people ask about these.
Although a couple more have moved on since last I shared about these, there are still 5 skulls remaining – 4 plus 1 that was reserved that is now back to being available again. As happens sometimes, the person who claimed the white feldspar and light smoky skull and dragon pair ended up letting it go. So, if you were one of the people that had been interested in this beauty and reached out, perhaps it was meant for you all along and as it goes, energies rearrange themselves as is reflective of the hearts who call and divine timing and readiness.
I also updated the page below with two short videos at the top that show the five skulls that are left, before you explore the individual listings for each.
AND, not only are all five (update 2 left) offered with a discount, but a few of them have been majorly price-cut to help home these cocreators. There’s one in particular I’m shocked is still hanging around. Here’s the link:
And that leads me to the last little story I wanted to close out with, returning back to 4/23 that I promised to get back to.
This was the day of the Scorpio Full Moon and as it turned out, that day was a special one for our little family here on the Forest Portal.
I mentioned before how Sweet Pea is doing really well considering her condition and enjoying her time with us both, while receiving all the spoiling she deserves. I’d recently been telling Dave that I felt both that we could do some short trips with her, which might be nice to change up the energy, and that I think she would do well on short hikes too.
She was never a huge fan of her harness and leash in the past, like her brother was, but I got the sense that being our only child and her loving to be with us all the time now, that she may have a different idea about this now. I told Dave that I thought we should try out some short hikes out back in the forest with her and see how she does and if she did well, we could look at taking her on some, a bit more regularly and also think about a road trip now and then.
Well, on the Full Moon Dave said he felt called to take some of Boojum’s ashes and bury them in a special place we hike to out back with view of the lake and we thought it was the perfect time to give this a go, as having our whole little family together for this felt important.
So, I found my cute forest friends backpack, lined it with plastic (for any potential accidents) and then a towel over it for comfort, and strapped it on backwards so I’d be able to talk to and pet her. Then we got Sweet Pea in her little pink harness and loaded her in and off we went!
This is a two mile round trip hike and she did amazing!
Not a peep from her of complaint or discomfort. She either had her head poked out the side watching the sights and dad upfront, rested on my arm, or cuddled up inside around her. We took her out once on the way to the lookout spot and let her try a little exploring on leash. Not bad.
She’s still hesitant and prefers sticking close to us, but this was the best she’s ever done. Normally she just sits in a corner and won’t move.
We then got to our spot and when we reached it we were pleasantly surprised to find daffodils blooming in bunches all over the little area where Dave had intended to bury some of Boojum’s ashes and special things.
We had never seen daffodils growing here before and any earlier or later, we may have missed them.
This, along with it being the Scorpio Full Moon all felt to be supportive confirmation of Dave’s feeling to do this on that day and of Boojum smiling down upon us. Dave didn’t know it was the Full Moon – he happens to be a Scorpio – and the perfection of it all was just a beautiful experience that made it all extra special and sprinkled with magick.
Sweet Pea really liked the spot too and explored the daffodils, the manzanita, trees, and then enjoyed sitting on each of our laps as we had a little ceremony and spent some time there together talking about Boojum.
Dave has had a challenging time with this, and this was a way he thought would help create more closure and assist the grieving process for him.
I thought that was perfect and beautiful.
Sweet Pea did too.
And the place where Dave chose for Boojum was equally perfect – a place we can visit and look out at the vast landscape we love and all dream together.
We were so pleased with the experience and how well Sweet Pea did.
She seemed proud of herself that she was a big girl going on hikes with mom and dad now.
She was so good, didn’t even have any potty accidents, and really felt to be enjoying herself.
Upon returning, Dave ordered an official kitty carrier for hiking and we plan to take her out on short ones like this, now and then, so we can continue to immerse in creating special memories together.
We’re making every moment count.
That feels, to me, what life’s about.
And speaking of memories…today happens to mark the anniversary of Nestor’s return to the stars 16 years ago – she is my twin soul that was with me in rabbit form for five Earth years. That was a year of profound life changes for me when she departed in 2008. My soul family in bunny bodies sure know how to aid my personal evolution.
Today also marks Dave’s 16 year vegan anniversary. Big markers of personal growth all around indeed.
Our little family is going to be away for a short little trip, actually, beginning the 30th – but will return on the 3rd. So, if you do in fact find a crystal skull calling, just know that any claims made this weekend will go out this Monday, the 29th. Otherwise, I’ll get back to shipping on the following Monday. I’ll also be taking a work break for these few days, too, and will return to things soon.
Until then, now, later, and in between…here’s to making every moment count.
Faery Down Under Part 4 Conclusion: I Love Australia
We just arrived back home late last night from our adventure Down Under and it’s wonderful to have this holiday weekend providing today as a day of integration, rest, and reverence for all. It was a fantastic trip in every way and was more than either of us imagined it would be. This created both a bitter and sweet farewell, for now, as our hearts were sad to go, but also love our present home in Tahoe and the many new things we have set in motion to return to. Like with all things it’s about trusting and embracing the next part of the journey and where it leads, as that’s how we continue to move forward and receive the most out of our experience of life, rather than grip tightly to it. I’m grateful to have more within me to bring along the journey because of the adventures we’ve said yes to and grateful also for the soul retrieval integrated in Australia. This adventure has been both inspiring and invigorating for sure!
When last I left off we’d just arrived in Byron Bay and enjoyed our first immersion at the sacred Aboriginal site of Ti Tree Lake. Our next two days were full of the beauty and high vibes of Byron Bay’s beautiful beaches, nature, views, amazing vegan food finds, gorgeous and potent sunsets – one filled with orbs – powerful activations and initiations at the Crystal Castle (with light beams and energies galore showing up in the photos), and New Moon celebrations.
It was amazing that I traveled to Australia on a Full Moon and we were there for the New Moon as well. Felt like a perfect cycle to experience there and support for intentions in our lives. I also loved how things aligned with what we were doing on these days, without planning. So yes, being amongst giant crystal guardians for the New Moon energy was indeed no accident.
I will do a separate post to share a bunch of photos from the Crystal Castle, so you can get a feel for it. Definitely a must experience in my opinion.
After we reluctantly said goodbye to Byron Bay, we then had two days in Brisbane, but along the 2 hour drive we stopped on the Gold Coast in Mermaid Beach so Dave could do an in-person radio interview on ABC Radio combined with a local lamb farmer to discuss the economics of meat production.
That just happened to align perfectly, as he’d just received a call for the interview two days before and we just happened to be passing through on our way.
Then of course I had to step foot on Mermaid Beach…a Pisces MerFaery needs to anchor her fins and feet officially. Hehe! We enjoyed lunch we picked up for a picnic on the beach before continuing on to Brisbane.
And then we had a lovely time exploring the best the city had to offer, being gifted a free guided tour of Brisbane by our gracious Airbnb hosts, Ken and Vicki, who wanted to help us see as much as possible.
We couldn’t decline their sweet offer and were so grateful for all they did for us above and beyond in accommodating and making us feel at home. The tour ended up being 3 hours including walking, free bus, and City Hopper Ferry, which allowed us to experience the best of things and the total experience. So wonderful the city has these free services.
And then a little donut adventure happened….had to happen some time, if you know Dave’s love for these and his being a magnet for them everywhere he goes. He’d already enjoyed a bunch of vegan donuts before I arrived to Australia, but now he got to share the love. Dave showed us his vegan donut skills by diverting us momentarily to stock up on a half dozen specialty, super-sized donuts. We gave some to our hosts to try. Many giggles were had over this.
The tour was better than any tour we could have paid for and our hosts were incredibly sweet, stocking their beautiful place with vegan toiletries and food just for us. They asked us our dietary needs before arrival sending us tons of helpful info, and even though we said we’d be fine we found a home away from home awaiting us. They also put fresh roses in the place from their home that filled the place with sweet aroma, and stocked tons of fruit and fresh watermelon, supplied picnic basket, soy milk, breakfast items and more and made sure there wasn’t anything non vegan…all just out of consideration.
After getting the lay of the land with them, we set off walking the streets and exploring the restaurants to find some yummy dinner and the next day we immersed fully in the culture and beauty of the city visiting the Roma Street Parkland gardens with a free tour there as well, got to see the amazing Water Dragons (dragons on this last day were a big theme showing up a lot), tons of other birds, brush turkey, ibis….
The Wanderlust event just happened to be going on on the event grounds connected to the gardens so we got to soak in the high vibes that were just getting kicked into gear as we explored. This is a triathlon event of yoga, meditation, and 5k, with lots going on and unity energy being blasted out. We stopped to breathe it all in with them.
Then we explored the Brisbane Clock Tower at City Hall and Brisbane Museum of History. On our way to walk to lunch we then synchronously ran into Anonymous for the Voiceless, which is an animal rights organization specializing in direct street action. We stopped to chat – they seemed excited to meet us, especially Dave – and their photographer wanted photos they’ll post later to their Facebook page. This is one we got.
And off we went to another fabulous lunch (for all the amazing vegan food finds and photos, please visit my Instagram or Facebook page, as I’ve shared tons of details on this and more from the adventure there), and then went to the GOMA – Gallery of Modern Art, which is one of the most highly regarded in the world and had incredible art installations, took a 12 minute ride on the Wheel of Brisbane (giant ferris wheel), sat in the Nepalese Peace Pagoda to absorb the harmonious serenity there, and then finished things off with another free ride up and down the Brisbane River on the City Hopper Ferry before taking a rest and enjoying our last yummy meal at a fun night spot in the city.
That rounded out the end of our adventures before we had a full day of travel to return back home. Our flight between LA and Reno had a huge layover of about 12 hours, so we even had the chance to visit Dave’s family for the day when we got back, which was really nice not only to see them, but we got to take in a two hour nap, showers, a lovely lunch, and enjoy their oasis garden to ease back into the energy of the U.S.A., as well as meet the new member of their family….a 3 year old, rescued Greyhound named Judy. They already have another Greyhound named Tammy that’s 12 years old and Harley, they’re young rescued Coonhound. I so love and resonate with Greyhounds and am grateful to them for learning so much about them and being able to experience them firsthand, as they resonate the most of any dog with me – reminding me much of the sensitive and intuitive disposition of rabbits, ironically, since live rabbits are used to race them.
But back to our trip – it was just fabulous all around and the highlights for me were definitely the animal connections (love, love, LOVE them all especially the koalas, kangaroos, wallabies, and incredible birds), gorgeous coastline, nature’s beauty, the energy, the warmth of the people, the amazing vegan food,and of course getting to meet my family. Synchronicities and magick were around every corner and everything just flowed beautifully. There was a sense of ease and gentleness, as well as a relaxed energy of presence and the moment everywhere we went. There is a huge – at least to us – and noticeable difference in the people and ways in Australia, which is such a warm welcome. The people are all so incredibly nice and helpful, the cities are so clean and without graffiti, we noticed a sense of trust that doesn’t happen here in the States and greater sense of well being in mind for all, and presence. We noticed immediately upon arrival to LA the contrast in our people interactions.
The cities in Australia were very cool, fun, and with tons to do and everything very convenient, but it was the smaller oceanside, sleepy and quieter towns that really felt like home.
My favorites were Byron Bay, Tathra and the Eden area, and Port Macquarie – likely in that order.
My favorite and most memorable experiences, overall, were visiting the Koala Hospital and the Crystal Castle, as well as walking Lemon Tree Passage with all the tropical birds swarming around and the koalas in the trees to find.
Of course meeting my family was heart enriching and is it’s own special thing outside of it all. Since that I’ve been nearly daily in touch with my 3rd cousin since. And good news! My parents have booked their trip in October to Melbourne (just happened a few days ago) to visit our family there and explore that area. All of this put into motion with my being there as the bridge…so that’s a wonderful gift we all get to share.
In terms of a balance with nature and city, we loved Bondi Beach as our fav.
And of course the cities – Melbourne, Sydney, and Brisbane were incredibly rich with a different kind of vibe and experiences with one of the highlights being the symphony at the Sydney Opera House that we got to go to, which is a fav memory. And the food…oh the food!!
We didn’t even scratch the surface of what you can experience in this incredible land, but did get a good lay of the land and feel for things, with the best of the time and worlds we were in. We traveled about 1300 miles over the course of 2 and a half weeks, which I drove mostly to give Dave a break after his whirlwind tour the 2 weeks previously traveling to the 7 capital cities. I enjoyed driving on the opposite side of the road, having it feel natural actually, likely because my brain works bilaterally and I do things backwards always anyway. But it became second nature so much so that driving home yesterday was what started feeling foreign. LOL! It’s all balanced out though.
We fell in love with Australia for sure and felt deeply connected there, so much so that we could see ourselves living there as well as the other places we’ve rooted our energies in, and can potentially see a future of us having a home there when that presents itself in aligned timing along the journey. But we do know the city that called to our Bohemian hearts and I feel, like with the other heart homes we’ve discovered on the Magick Bus adventure, that we’ve anchored in these places with our presence and energy there for things to light up when the time is right. What has been important is making those connections literally and in all ways, so that our essence signature is at one with the lands we feel called to and then the rest will unfold in divine timing.
Also, I do know why I hadn’t finished that last part of my book before going (if you recall I completed it all except the end), as I was definitely right about the last energies to put it to closure were needed to retrieve and experience in Australia. So many signs and messages came through on this journey, including very specific tie-ins to the story I’ve been writing that showed up literally, messages from Cosmo (which continued up until the last day before leaving), inspiration for the final pages, and even a dream of the new bunny love coming to me soon connected with things I loved in Australia, as well as messages and alignment to support the bigger dreams I’m working toward.
So perfect in all ways.
As I sit here writing this, overlooking the portal of beautiful Lake Tahoe, I can feel the connection via it to Australia and to every doorway of experience I/we am/are opening and about to enter.
I love Australia and am grateful for being embraced by the energies there and the welcome extended beyond just this adventure we’ve returned from. I also love the continued surprises that keep being revealed, the more we embrace saying yes and remain open to the highest good evolving that takes our hopes and dreams to a new level without limitations to what that needs to look like.
Anything and everything is possible and what appears to “be” right now, constantly shifts into what is most nurturing and aligned for the next now moment, as long as we remain open, flexible, and detached from any fixed definition of experience.
Faery Down Under Part 3: Australia Speaks to My Spirit
I’ve been feeling so in my element here in Australia and grateful to have found another heart home. Such a special and magickal place for sure. As mentioned, I’ve not had any transition difficulty with the time and day difference, no jet lag, no issue with the driving on opposite side I’m used to (I’ve been doing all the long distance driving here on our journey up the east coast), and feel completely invigorated and inspired, not to mention, nurtured by the land, animals, warm people, and yes the yummy food.
Also as shared, I’m just posting some short updates to give you a glimpse into things, but if you’re on Instagram, I’ve been posting a plethora of photos to give everyone a full idea of what it’s like here in all ways (these photos reshared to Facebook as well). I like to provide insight to places in ways you might not experience, for those who may never get to travel or who are interested in traveling and may find resonance to inspire you to follow that dream.
I find sharing on Instagram to be easy and quick, without intruding upon my time and can be done easily when I have some down time. This is why I’m not sharing a huge blog post on this journey, but snippets when I have the time, along the way…like today. I have some time in the mornings here and there while Dave does his work before we head off on the adventures of the day. Good thing the work day ends in the U.S. in our mornings, so that he can be free to enjoy the day. Perfect alignment.
I’ve had so many nudges from Cosmo here as well, with his name showing up right where I am and have dreamed of the new bunny love coming into my life too, as well as had signs from him. I’ve been blessed in finding tons of feathers (yes, that continues here), and even wallaby and koala fur on our hikes in the wild nature reserves.
Anyway, since my last post of Tathra and Canberra, we were in Bondi Beach/Sydney, Newcastle, Port Macquarie, and now Byron Bay where we’ll be for three nights before our last destination of Brisbane. I even had the chance to meet the incredible staff at Voiceless, the animal organization in Sydney that hosted Dave for his lecture tour at the most amazing vegan Italian restaurant ever, anywhere – Gigi Pizzeria in Newtown.
We’ve stopped along the way also in beautiful Lemon Tree Passage to walk a Koala Reserve on the Mangrove Boardwalk and Woolgoolga for lunch and seen so many beautiful port and coastal towns along the way. Dave has been in his element too as you can see above of him searching for koalas in Lemon Tree and here at Ti Tree Lake below.
It’s all been amazing and perfect, really giving us the lay of the land and getting to enjoy the best of each place even though for a short time. We even had the chance to go the symphony at the famous Sydney Opera House, which was a wonderful treat, seeing the amazing, blind-by-birth, solo pianist Nobuyuki Tsujii play Chopin. I also gifted myself a beautiful black Australian opal ring there – led to the perfect place to find it in The Rocks historic district – which is the rarest of opals. I wanted something truly special and that would energetically bring the energy to my life even while not in Australia.
But for this post I want to focus on feeling in my element here and how Australia speaks to my spirit, which in large part is the energy, but also the animals and nature….my most cherished friends and nurturers.
I just adore the tropical birds of every sort imaginable….so exotic and the songs and voices they have are memorable and such a gift to hear, morning, noon, and evening. To look up and have them flying all around me and talking from the trees is magickal.
And the other animals like kangaroos, wallabies, koalas, wombats, ring tailed possums, flying foxes, fox, and ocean life (the humpbacks are due to be where we are any moment, as they were only 32 hours behind us in their migration…following our path!), are just so special and dear to me both in their energy and messages, as well as their endearing qualities and beauty.
Unfortunately, I’ve seen more dead animals here than anywhere, as they don’t have fences to protect them from the roads and highways, so anything I haven’t seen in the wild, I’ve sadly seen on the road. We’ve made it a point to only visit wild nature reserves and real rehab facilities, as there are many zoos and even “reserves” here that are really zoos and not actually nature reserves. We don’t support those and prefer to see animals in their natural habitat or in places dedicated to helping animals that have been rescued and if possible, release them back in the wild.
One of these was the Koala Hospital, which I highly recommend visiting if you travel here. We just happened to be only a mile away from it in our Airbnb in Port Macquarie, unbeknownst to us, but such a gift! It was an incredible, moving, and heart warming experience. We enjoyed meeting the koalas and visiting and learning about the Koala Hospital, which is the only Koala Hospital in the world and is as old as me…founded in 1973. I thought that was a pretty cool synchronicity, especially since I feel so drawn to them and had a stuffed koala when I was a little girl. They take in, care for, treat, rehabilitate, and release koalas that are injured and have health challenges. Some come to have a forever home here because they can’t be released back due to their inability to survive because of their disabilities. We arrived right in time for their 3pm free guided tour, which included getting to see a couple of them getting their flavored medication, which they loved and were given so tenderly. Dave and I both picked up Koala Hospital t-shirt and tank to support them. You can also adopt a koala here for $50 to help support them. They take in 250 koalas a year and are not governmentally funded, so everything is donations. They have $500,000 worth of expenses per yer. If you want to help out you can visit:
So yes, I feel really aligned here and in my heart. So I wanted to share the highlights for me that have been most moving and meaningful and some of my favorite captures since my last post, which include me immersed in being me. You can visit Instagram for all the rest.
Dave has captured some photos of different aspects of me in my element…here more my mermaid self in these two.
I especially love this capture of me below by Dave that really reflects this and how I feel as one here and in wonder. This is me in the magickal Mangrove forest at sacred Ti Tree Lake, which is an Aboriginal area just over a mile hike from our Airbnb, which did upon arrival pre-sunset and at twilight. This used to be a sacred place where the Aboriginal women would go to give birth to their children. It feels significant to be here right now for all that is birthing in my life. I’m filled with gratitude and then some.
(Love that that end line was at 1111 words…I’ve been seeing 11:11 and 1:11 here every single day. Definite manifestation magick and portals)
Faery Down Under Part 1: A Warm Welcome to Australia with Family, Food, Wildlife Magick, City & Coastal Explorations
I had a little time this morning upon waking before we head out on our hiking and explorations today and thought I’d share a little summary of things experienced on my four days so far while it’s fresh and also since I won’t be doing a big trip blog at the end – wow it seems like so much longer, as it’s all been so rich. My three-flight-connection journey went well and synchronous, as I traveled to Australia on the Full Moon in Scorpio and I haven’t experienced any jet lag, oddness with being a day ahead, or challenges in any way including driving on the opposite side of the road than I’m used to. It’s all been seamless and comfortable – a very easy shift that likely is in part due to my mutability, but may also speak to a resonance of being here before beyond this life.
I’ve shared all of this via Instagram and reshared to Facebook, so this will be a bit of a repeat to anyone on those platforms, but I felt to share it here too for my blog community and for my own sort of travel journal memories, so it’s all in one place. I will only be sharing a few fav photos, however. The rest you can see at those social network links, if you haven’t already.
Upon arriving we spent the day in the city of Melbourne (which is beautiful in Autumn right now), walking everywhere and really feeling the culture here and enjoying the great vegan food and entertainment.
We visited the Eureka Skydeck 88, which is the highest viewing platform in the Southern Hemisphere, as well as sat in on one of the very old churches at evening mass with the choir singing, which was lovely.
Vegan restaurants are plentiful and the amount of options and quality of food rivals LA for sure. We enjoyed TONS of yums for lunch and dinner at Smith & Deli, as well as their sister restaurant, Smith & Daughters, and even got to enjoy local, live jazz music at the jazz place next door to the restaurant, where we secured a reservation for a table while waiting for our dinner spot to open.
Our next day was an exploration of the Melbourne’s countryside, which took us on a vortex drive through eucalyptus, gum trees, and ferns, having us spiral in the forests and parks, which was quite interesting and landing at a beautiful hike through the bush, which was just gorgeous.
And after it was family time, as I mentioned, I have family here I’ve never met.
So we got to spend the afternoon, evening, overnight, and morning with my family just outside of Melbourne. This is family whom we learned about in the early 90’s for the first time.
My dad’s family is from Sicily and they had spread out to several areas long ago. Some staying in Sicily, others settling on the East Coast of the U.S., Argentina, and Australia. Family members never having met including brothers and sisters. My Great Great Uncle and his family were who I got to meet for the first time and just days before his daughter’s 70th birthday – my third cousin who shares a birthday with Cosmo, my bunny – as well as his 102nd birthday. My uncle’s wife is 95.
He is the Uncle of my grand father who passed recently at almost 98 I believe. They were only 4 years apart. They all speak Italian and hold memories of life we can’t imagine. It’s incredible how much they have been blessed to experience.
My third cousin’s daughter and family were able to join too – she’s my fourth cousin, as well as my third cousin’s brother and wife. Her daughters were so very sweet and even invited me to join them in the living room to have a tea party and color with them, which I thought was adorable.
I can’t tell you how incredible it all was and how much I love these people, feeling I’ve known them forever. It was emotional to leave. Feeling like I’ve retrieved another part of my soul and expanded my heart with parts I didn’t know were missing.
My third cousing, Nella, who will be 70 tomorrow (well tomorrow here) was just the best. She reminded me of my mom actually and I was so strongly heart connected to her immediately. We both said it was incredible how strong our connection was and picked up as if I saw her yesterday. We learned a lot about each other and shared a lot of intimate things in the short time together. We will definitely be keeping in touch and I’ve learned that my parents, because of my coming here, just like with our trip to Alaska, are now planning a trip to hopefully visit the family in October this year. I know they will have an amazing time and I feel my mom and Nella will be like two peas in a pod, like she and I were.
I learned that Nella has taken up painting and other arts and crafts, as well as volunteers a lot. So we have that in common. She gave me a pair of earrings she made, and I got to see all of her beautiful artwork she’s been making. She taught herself via Youtube videos. Her daughter Olivia loves gardening and has wanted a Garden Tower to add to hers, which I shared about having, and so we chatted about a lot of things we both enjoy and she and her husband, as well as the rest of the family were so interested in our being vegan, loved my tattoos, and everything I do. Such warm welcomes all around. Olivia and her husband Liam have actually watched films like Earthlings and it has shifted their own course of action with their food choices for them and their two little girls.
The whole family grows a lot of their own vegetables, as my Great Great Uncle has land four times the size of Nella’s and all vegetable and fruit garden. And Olivia has a garden as well where they grow much of their own vegetables.
My 3rd cousin Phil, Nella’s brother, actually attributed my Great Great Uncle, Carmelo’s being 102 to eating so many vegetables. Apparently, and I’m not sure if I’m remembering correctly who, but it may have been Carmelo’s Grandfather or Father who lived to 105.
I have relatives on both sides of the family who have all reached mid to late nineties, and some 100’s, so I guess it runs in the genes. When Nella saw she me was floored I was 44. She said, “I thought you were no more than 25!” LOL! She, herself, looks in her 50’s like my parents, despite them all being in their 70’s and she said, “it’s in the genes.”
Nella’s husband, Vic, is an artist in the garden. They have a lovely large yard with bonsai trees, flowers, fruit trees, and more.
I was so amazed by the incredible bonsai collection he has. He took me to tour their garden sanctuary where I found hundreds of gorgeous, nurtured and cultivated bonsai. So amazingly beautiful! I have never seen anything like it anywhere. Some he’s loved and cared for for 40 years! They are so incredible that someone actually stole 4 of his most prized bonsai trees. Luckily his insurance company reimbursed him, but sad to put all those years of love into your babies and have someone take them.
I was so incredibly touched by my family we got to spend time with in every way including how welcome they made us in making all vegan food for everyone to enjoy, picking up all kinds of things for snacks, and trying new recipes. Nella was amazing with her culinary skills. We were so spoiled and had more food than we ever have.
She made things like sweet potato and squash patties, an eggplant, peppers and tomatoes dish, a chickpea and lentils dish, a vegan pot pie, fresh baked bread, (tons of sides), and a coffee chocolate cake. We also had huge spread of options for breakfast including cereals with rice milk, fruits, toast, jams, peanut butter, crumpets, coffee, juice, tea….my fav was the crumpets which I had about three of. One with avocado and walnuts, which she recommended as a tasty combo, and the others with peanut butter mostly and a little jam.
It was a fabulous time and celebration and so perfect that we were there for Mother’s Day with Nella, who reminded me a bit of my own mom, but such sweet timing to be with her to share the love.
It was challenging to leave. I just kept snuggling Nella as many times as I could. We will definitely be keeping in touch on Skype when I return home and I also got her daugher’s email to keep in touch with, as well as my Great Great Uncle’s phone number, as apparently he loves to talk on the phone. His accent is thick in Italian and Nella’s husband is thick in both Italian and Australian. So it really is both incredible and takes presence to listen, as it should be.
We are forever in each other’s hearts.
After visiting my family we had another wonderful experience visiting our kangaroo brothers and sisters. My family told us where we’d be able to experience them freely (not at a zoo) and they were right. It was such a magickal and incredible experience walking among them in the wild with cockatoos and other wild, beautiful birds flying around. What magnificent beings they are. And to be so close to them was such a gift. So human-like and powerful.
Until then we’d only seen dead kangaroo on the side of the road, as they are like deer who wander at dusk and cross the highways. So sad, but what amazing creatures they are.
I also love all of the wild, tropical birds here. The rainbow lorikeets, parrots, cockatoos, and the huge magpies. The songs in the morning are just beautiful and the cawing is such a nice feeling.
I’m sure locals might find some of this annoying, or simply the norm, but it is such a gift and I never tire of the wildlife anywhere, even in my own backyard. Everyday is a miracle and magickal whenever I see any animal, no matter how often. But to see new ones just adds to that magick for sure!
After our kangaroo introductions and connections, we set off up the coast, as our journey will be taking us to Brisbane. We’re taking the longer route along the coastline and stopping along the way. So far we spent time in Metung and are now in Tathra, with so many other seaside towns like Eden, in between.
All so gorgeous and we’ve just been booking places along the way, which has been incredible finding the most amazing Airbnb’s on the water.
Upon arrival in Metung, greeted by our Airbnb host, who was so sweet and helpful, we had the chance to explore the town and had an amazingly magickal sunset experience by the water surrounded by black swans.
It was surreal and they even gifted me 18 feathers, so I’m really feeling the enchantment and their medicine.
We also had a rare sighting of the ring-tailed possum on our way home, which is only seen at night, if at all. I think the animals are coming out to greet us, which I’m so touched by.
This current place in Tathra we’re staying in is stunning, reminding us of our place in Lake Tahoe with the expansive 270 degree view of the ocean all around. It sits atop a cafe and actually is for sale. Wheels turning…. 😉
We’ll be setting off for some hiking today, as we’re surrounded here by gorgeous beaches and National Parks…so we’ll have the best of both worlds here, exploring all day in this Heaven on Earth.
And that’s an update for now. Only four days so far, but all feels incredibly important and just as I suspected, a bit of soul retrieval going on here for sure, with heart and spirit nourishing, and definitely a lot of inspiration and heart expansion to infuse into my writing and life.
Feeling very grateful and blessed for sure.
Quick Magick Bus Itinerary Update
I’ve had several friends recently ask about our upcoming whereabouts to see if things align to connect in person so I thought I’d share our itinerary between now and end of October to help out. We’ve just left Colorado and are in Wyoming with a continued journey onward through Montana, parts of Canada (we’ll be returning two more times here), down through Michigan, and a stop in Indiana to visit with my bestie. I do have the rest of the proposed plan to take us throughout North America over the course of the next couple of years, but will post as it evolves.
We’ve had three visits so far by family, friends, hosted a private retreat, and about to receive our fourth guest today – a sweet friend who has been inspired by our journeys and made her own abbreviated version of a similar path right behind us, now catching up with us to hang out for a while. I’ve also been able to connect with one dear friend while in Sedona.
We aren’t always able to make the connections happen, but I always know that everything has its divine timing and what does take place is perfect.
Magick Bus Itinerary:
Wyoming
6/8 – 6/11 Laramie, Wyoming
6/11 – 6/14 Green River, Wyoming (Flaming Gorge)
6/14 – 6/19 Moran, Wyoming (Grand Teton National Park)
Leave to Montana
6/19 – 6/22 West Yellowstone, Montana (Yellowstone National Park)
6/22 – 6/26 Gardiner, Montana (Yellowstone National Park)
6/26 – 6/29 Bozeman, Montana
6/29 – 7/3 Helena, Montana
7/3 – 7/6 Missoula, Montana
7/6 – 7/10 Great Falls, Montana
7/ 10 – 7/17 East Glacier Park, Montana (Glacier National Park)
Leave to Canada
Alberta
7/17 – 7/20 Waterton Lakes National Park, Alberta
7/20 -7/24 Calgary, Alberta
7/24 – 7/31 Edgewater, BC (Kootenay National Park)
7/31 – 8/7 Banff/Lake Louise, Alberta
8/7 – 8/14 Jasper National Park, Aberta
8/14 – 8/17 Edmonton, Alberta
8/17 – 8/21 Elk Island National Park, Alberta
Saskatchewan
8/21 – 8/23 Lloydminster
8/23 – 8/25 Saskatoon
8/25 – 8/28 Candle Lake
8/28 – 8/30 Manitou Beach
8/30 – 9/4 Sherwood Forest near Regina
Manitoba
9/4 – 9/8 Riding Mountain National Park
9/8 – 9/11 Portage La Prairie
Proposed Places To Be Booked Soon:
9/11 – 9/14 Winnipeg
9/14 – 9/18 Nopiming Provincial Park
9/18 – 9/22 Big Whiteshell Lake
Ontario
9/22 – 9/25 Vermilion Bay
9/25 – 9/29 Nestor Falls
9/29 – 10/2- Mine Centre
10/2 – 10/9 Thunder Bay
10/9 – 10/16 Pukaskwa National Park
10/16 – 10/20 Lake Superior Provincial Park
10/20 – 10/23 Sault Ste. Marie
Michigan
10/23 – 10/24 Grayling
10/24 – 10/25 Big Rapids, MI (Manistee National Forest)
Indiana
10/25 – 10/30 Goshen
Reflecting on Ireland & Travel Tips to Explore this Magickal Emerald Isle
I had Ireland on the mind this morning after corresponding with a friend. I also know many who have felt called there, as I did.
And with Winter approaching, and hearing friends making travel plans and looking for ideas of where to go, I was reminded of this old article I wrote in 2008, not long after returning from my personal sacred journey there to retrieve and integrate parts of my soul.
It also coincides with my painting, Air, which holds the Ancient Druid and Celtic Ireland energy that I am sending out prints of today from my December art sale.
I traveled at the end of Winter, right before the transition into Spring, and found it amazing! People often don’t think about traveling to places in Winter, unless they’re headed to warm, sunny locations.
Having traveled a lot off-season (the best in my opinion) and visiting both Ireland and Iceland in the Winter, I can tell you it’s pretty fantastic.
There are many gifts to be experienced in all seasons.
I spent my time on the west coast of Ireland, which called to me most with its energy.
Anyway, I felt inspired to share the ezine article here with only a fraction of the photos I took that I managed to find easily. I have a ton more amazing images of my journey and this incredible place, but pressed with time, I went with what I found quickly.
I’m copying the article below, but you can also read it at the link here: Ireland Off-Season – Travel at it’s Best! Unexpected Surprises and Tips for Everyone
Unexpected Surprises and Tips for Everyone Including Solo Travelers, Vegans, and Those Looking for a Bit of Magic Any Time of Year.
If you have your sights set on Ireland, or any exotic travel locale for that matter, then don’t be put off by mass opinions and appeal. Ireland, especially its magical west coast, is a must-see whether traveling en groupe or going it alone. And all you vegetarians and vegans out there will find Ireland to be surprisingly accommodating with interesting and fairly elaborate options available. You simply need to ask. This Emerald Isle offers a nice blend of down-to-earth goodness, ancient and exotic mystique, and lively pub night life. There’s something for everyone indeed.
Most sources will tell you that mid-Spring to mid-Fall, particularly April to October, is optimal travel time to Ireland. And sure, Spring is gorgeous with everything a-bloom, especially May, Autumn colors are bountiful in October, and July and August are peak, but not everyone enjoys the hustle and bustle of tourism at its height. What they fail to share with you is the fact that Winter is actually pretty amazing, especially if you catch the end of it right before Spring rolls in. Not only do you pretty much get the place to yourself, but you also get to capture some of the true magic and mysticism of this ancient land.
Now of course, all depends on personal interest and preferences, yet don’t be put off by the colder Winter months. Winter can actually be pretty mild, with little to no rain, gorgeous nebulous, cloud-filled skies, fog rolling across mountain tops and just skimming the edges of the Lakes of Killarney, beautiful bursts of sun-lit days lighting up the fairy-filled forests, and fabulous, ancient winds that sweep you into a world of Celtic and Druidic splendor. What magic to behold and all to yourself, on top of that!
Ireland’s west coast hosts a multitude of things to see and experience, including the beautiful Gap of Dunloe, Inisfallen Island on the Killarney Lakes, many castle ruins, well-known and off-beat Stone Circles and Standing Stones, the famous Ring of Kerry, gorgeous Beare Peninsula, sacred Skellig Michael Islands, and Killarney National Forest with its famous Muckross House to name just a fraction of possible destinations.
The beauty of traveling off-season is that you will find yourself having the sites, and experiences of them, all to yourself. Skim across the mystical Killarney Lake waters with your very own warm-hearted Irish boatman to tell you tales and share folklore or take a walk through Killarney National Park and feel the grandeur of its old, knotted oak trees while skipping along the fairy trails.
Better yet, imagine standing, as the Druids once did, amongst the ancient energy of Uragh or Grange Stone Circle, wind sweeping across the hilltop as you take in the serenity and sacredness without a sound or presence around to disturb you. Whether a history buff, photographer, artist, avid traveler, or spiritualist, you’ll find exactly what you’re looking for and be grateful for the serene opportunity any other “peak” traveling time would not oblige you.
For those of you with special dietary needs, such as vegetarians and vegans, not to worry. You’ll find more than enough options and surprises in store for your culinary tastes, to suit any occasion. If you’re looking for an ideal place to stay, while loading up on great meal options, Friars’ Glen Guesthouse is #1 on the list.
Located just a couple of miles outside of Killarney town center, in the beautiful Killarney Forest, this exquisitely quaint home-away-from home, bed and breakfast not only offers unmatched quality service and exceptional serenity, but the owner Mary is one top-notch chef, whipping up hardy vegetarian and vegan surprises for breakfast and if asked, packed lunches as well! And the nearby, beautiful Killarney Park Hotel has a wonderful bar restaurant where the chef is most accommodating, creating fabulous vegan soups and such options as vegan risotto made with coconut milk! And for the luxury seeker and spa enthusiast, Aghadoe Heights Hotel and Spa in Killarney offers a multitude of sensuous pleasures to cater to your every whim, including a top notch chef who will prepare some pretty fancy vegan meals from start to finish! Some vegetarian options can also be found in small deli/bakeries and cafes, as well as the occasional small health food stores. The simple key and secret always, is simply to ask and your wish will be granted. Ireland does host home to some of the warmest and friendliest people in the world.
That being said, those who also prefer traveling alone will find Ireland to be most welcoming and a perfect destination for the adventurer, as well as the peace seeker. Of course this island is a wonderful host to groups, families, and romantics, but those who venture for their own experience and enjoy the exciting possibilities that are available for ones who march to the beat of their own drum, will discover how truly fulfilling a journey to Ireland can be. Whether you decide to follow your heart’s desire in the moment, or desire a personalized itinerary, you’ll find an overwhelming amount of experiences awaiting you. For a truly unique and sacred experience, Celtic Spirit Journeys with international teacher and writer on Celtic spirituality, Mara Freeman, are not to be missed. Or, simply contact her and she’ll be more than happy to tailor-make a special custom journey that suits your personal needs, even equipped with fabulous personal driver, Michael Burniston, as your historical encyclopedia of knowledge and folkloric entertainment.
No matter what you are looking for, Ireland, ANY time of year is truly a place not to be missed; Winter, vegan, solo traveler, and all.