See the world through my eyes! Experience it through these blog posts.

Meet the Tree of Life Visionaries – Documentary

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Meet the visionaries at the root of the Tree of Life sustainability project and retreat centre in this inspiring 1-hour documentary created after my August 25-28 staycation at its Airbnb.

From vision quest to reality, this is a story about building community in a sacred space lovingly and artistically designed to help us reconnect to nature and the Self.

Ian Goudie dives deep into the rich soil of the land in the Salmonier valley of Newfoundland & Labrador – its history and its gifts. He also lets us in on the spirit & stories behind each of his architectural creations – the several buildings at the Tree of Life.

At the core of his work is the desire for sustainable building & sustainable living inspired by the spirit of sacred geometry.

Meranda Squires branches out into the community aspect of the Tree of Life. Her contribution to this collective vision was a retreat centre for spiritual teaching & practice in the heart of nature.

Supported by the Elements, she explains how the space is conducive for connecting to our Selves, each other and the Divine.

Enjoy the video here or by searching for it by title on YouTube on your big screen TV.

Read more below about my growth experience there.

A Stretch in More Ways Than One

People come to the Tree of Life for many reasons: work exchanges, retreats, workshops, etc.

My only other time there was in a group of 50 for a one-day water blessing ceremony with Zimbabwe shaman Mandaza in June 2013.

This time, I was there on my own to photograph the Cedar Lodge Airbnb in exchange for a 3-night stay, once again thanks to my friend Gordon Martin who manages several vacation rentals.

I’ll admit, I was nervous when I found out my cabin wouldn’t have a stove or even a fridge. I had this preconceived notion that I’d really be roughing it at TOL and well, it’s been years since I’ve been camping.

Without wheels of my own, making sure I’m well fed for 4 days was top on my mind. I’d never cooked on a propane burner, and wasn’t sure how long a cooler with ice would work.

But like Mark Twain said: “I’ve had a lot of worries in my life, most of which never happened.”

If you’ve been following me for a while, you know that I’ve lived on 3 continents and 5 provinces, but still feel like a chicken in new experiences. If I’m intuitively guided, however, nothing stops me. I feel the fear and do it anyway!

I brought pre-cooked frozen soups & stews and never lacked for anything.

It also turns out that Ian is not only a master builder but a great cook. That raspberry pie he made during the storm with berries he picked on the land was amazing!

And the wood stove kept me nice and toasty on that rainy day/night.

In fact, my 3-night stay at the Tree of Life was absolutely comfortable & wonderful on so many levels! I got to stretch my body in the yoga studio and stretch my mind & comfort zones on the trails too. Yay!

My friend Leslie drove me there and joined me on my first hike to the waterfall.

I then went back alone in the afternoon for a swim. I met Ian’s nephew and his friend there, who told me about the small ledge you can stand on under the falls. Exhilarating! Thanks to my tripod, you’ll witness that in the video! I’m so glad I went before the storm though as you’ll see from the changing flow & colours of the falls.

I tried hiking the trail for a bit after my swim, but didn’t know at that point that it was a 3km loop and got nervous that I’d miss the magic light at the Cedar Lodge for my work photos before sunset. So I turned back the way I came.

The next morning, I tried the trail again.

I confess, I had to breathe through my fears. I don’t know why I was so nervous, but this nature-loving city girl had to stretch her comfort zones … not a bad thing!

Was it a release of all the fears I’d absorbed from the world as an empath during these strange times? Was it old fears rising to the surface to be seen as they left?

Yes, I’d recently seen a lynx on a drive back from St. Vincents, shocked to discover there were big cats on this island!

Yes, we were approaching fall, rutting season for moose.

Yes, there are coyotes in the region.

What if something happened to me alone in the woods?

Imagination can work for you or against you. In this case, it wasn’t helping. But I could discern that it wasn’t an intuitive warning.  So I moved forward and did the 3 km loop with occasional stops to take photos. Mostly, however, I just wanted to get it done. And when the buildings came into sight, both arms reached up in the air and I found myself doing a little “I did it!” dance.

Why do I share this? It doesn’t paint me in the best light. That’s OK.

I’m all about being real. Fear for me was real. Facing it and growing past it was also real. And if sharing my story can help even one more person to stretch their comfort zones and grow, then great!

The results were sooooooo worth it!

When I returned on the trail that second afternoon with Ian, having done it once before and now with a guide, I was completely relaxed and saw so much more than I did in the morning.

I couldn’t believe, for example, that I’d missed the hundreds of puff ball flowers that grabbed my attention that afternoon. For me to have missed something like that means that I truly wasn’t present in the moment – such a good lesson! Instead of focusing on the beauty and on the potential joy of the moment, I had let my fears fuel my blindness to the truth around me.

It also highlighted the blessing of having a guide in unfamiliar territory. Not only did Ian point out all the lichen and their benefits to the bio-diversity of the planet, he chivalrously helped me cross the river to access the Hidden Falls.

Even with Ian there, I was nervous walking on fallen trees above the rushing waters at the edge of a cliff (small waterfall) to get to the other side of the river. But I was motivated to see / film the Hidden Falls again. Back in 2013, there was a bridge there, but it disappeared in some storm.

Thanks to Ian’s shoulder that got a hard squeeze, I got over the butterflies in my stomach, crossed to the other side, and was rewarded by a magical world opening up before me – rainbow lens flare included (my favourite video moment!)

After some contemplative time there,  we trudged through the water and up rock faces for more river magic –  total movie-making bliss!

I’m so glad I felt the fear and went to the Tree of Life on my own anyway when my friend had to cancel coming with me.

The Tree of Life isn’t roughing it! I was comfortable and very well nourished in body, mind & spirit. 

I trust you can feel some of that for yourself in this visual & educational tribute to the visionaries, volunteers, and land that have made the Tree of Life what it is today.

The Movie

It soon became evident that this staycation was going to turn into another video project! I had no idea, however, how big a project it would evolve into – with over 100 hours of work, improving my technical & editing skills, not to mention my appreciation for the work Ian & Meranda are doing. I felt so inspired!

One thing for sure, my Spirit Calling Card reading was spot on when I’d asked for Guidance about my upcoming trip.

I’d originally imagined another nature video with maybe an introduction by Ian, who lives there.

I had no idea I would learn so much through my time spent with him, both on the land and during our interview. I gained such a deeper appreciation for everything I saw and experienced there.

As you know, my being is naturally programmed to seek beauty in my surroundings.

For example, I’d already photographed the outside of the power house with it’s black log-end pattern. Gorgeous! But after our interview, I became fascinated with what was happening inside – awed at the fact that power from the dam, solar panels and wind turbine all got transformed in there, so I could charge my phone.

So when it came to creating a video, I felt moved to share not only the beauty but the story too. 

It soon became clear that this film would be incomplete without Meranda’s contribution, so once back in St. John’s, I arranged to meet her at The Lotus Centre to interview her.

That’s also where I had my first ever movie premiere on October 2nd with a small group of 15 filling the yoga studio (a large group for COVID times).

With 3 of my videos in the Unscripted Twillingate Digital Arts Festival a couple of weeks ago and now this, I definitely feel like videography is a skill I can offer as I pivot my art praxis to delight, inspire &  generate income.

If you enjoyed the video, please share it far & wide. Thanks.

Answering the Call – Your Turn

What a thrill to be able to explore and express my love of beauty and the beauty of love through this medium, nourishing your transformational journey in the process.

I had no idea when I started playing with video in the snow last Christmas that it would lead to what my summer staycations projects have opened up for me … and others!

After Ian first saw my 400+ photos and the 4 mini nature videos I shared on Facebook, he texted me:

“Your work inspired me so much that I made the decision to proceed with the Artist Studio & it opened me up when I opened into it. I’m getting blown open here working on the model. Thank you! “

I was so moved that my following my bliss inspired an opening for Ian to dive even deeper in his work. If you’ve watched the movie, already, you can imagine the ripple effect of what he’s creating on the lives of so many from around the world.

You never know how something you say or do, when inspired to, will change the life of those around you. So please, turn your intuition into action – be it a smile, a creative project, a thought shared, a person called, etc.

We are all interconnected in the web of Light, the Tree of Life. Know your life is making a difference. The more you put You into your Life, the more we all benefit.

Thank You for your Movie-Ticket Donation

 I gratefully accepted donations instead of selling movie tickets at the movie premiere of “Tree of Life Sustainability Project & Retreat Centre”.

If you enjoyed my documentary and are moved to do so, you’re welcome to send an e-transfer (Canadians) or PayPal donation to [email protected]. Thank you for your support.

Feel free to also explore my original paintings, prints, oracle cards, and intuitive services. And contact me if you’re interested in my videography skills to hightlight the beauty of your area.

 

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FAVA Sketch Challenge Experience

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What an intensive and fun 4 days in Quidi Vidi representing Newfoundland & Labrador in the Atlantic Visual Arts Festival (FAVA) Sketch Challenge. Want my sketchbook? Make me an offer!

I spent over 35 hours drawing in the Christ Church Airbnb, in the village, on the clifftops and at the lake, – 5 sketches a day in all sorts of lighting & weather conditions.

As soon as I’d completed a sketch, I’d email it to the Festival and they’d post it on their Facebook Page, sharing my stories & videos too,

As you’ll see in this 13-minute video, there were several memorable moments:

  • discovering a 2nd keyhole in the intricate bedroom lock
  • finding a dry spot inside the Quidi Vidi Plantation
  • sketching in the dark during 4-hour sunrise time-lapse filming (very freeing!)
  • 60-90km/hr winds on top of the cliffs and at the lake, causing great splatters and stray marks on blowing pages
  • holding back on eating my blueberry harvest before sketching it
  • not holding back on the Mallard Cottage chocolate cake … and therefore not drawing it
  • pacing around a concrete island 100 times while time-lapsing the sunset over Quidi Vid Lake
  • all the head bobbing needed when sketching via observation – something I hadn’t done in 6 years!
  • spending another 3 nights in the Christ Church Airbnb – thanks to my sponsors Gordon Martin & the owners!

Letting Go of Ego

If you saw my introduction post, I was honoured to be invited to represent my province and also a bit nervous. Yes, I accepted the challenge and was excited about it.

But I also felt like a kindergarten child on a very public stage doing something I wasn’t used to doing.

Unlike the other 3 Atlantic artists whose daily offerings showed distinctive artistic styles and superb sketching skills, I played with all sorts of mediums and styles, making all sorts of mistakes.

I confess, I felt the imposter syndrome kick in that first day, but didn’t like how it felt, so gave that up. Yay! 

My Higher Self quickly reminded me not to compare myself – as so many do on Facebook in all sorts of areas. I certainly saw the danger of that.

From the start, I had to let go of ego, not caring what people thought of my sketches or wonder if anyone was questioning my worthiness as a representative for NL.

My job was to sketch and hopefully to inspire others to give it a try, seeing how I went about exploring subjects, styles, and tools.

So that’s what I did – some sketches taking 2 hours and others 20 minutes.

I had fun, and ended each day tired and aware of all I was learning on so many levels.

Interestingly, the easiest to draw, psychologically speaking, were the ones in the dark as I was waiting for the sun to rise. This was closer to how I paint from what I see with my eyes closed – less details, more feeling, more energy. Very freeing!

Sketchbook For Sale

This is no ordinary sketchbook! Within its 20 pages, you’ll witness an evolution, a process, a healing energy of exploration & expression.

If something moves you to want this sketchbook, email me at [email protected] with an offer. It’s still up for grabs.

Which is your favourite and why? Please comment below.

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Whale Song – a visual meditation

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May this 17-minute communion with whales and their soothing song help you connect to your own voice, your own truth, your own song. Symbol of emotional rebirth, community, and communication, these giant mammals have wandered the waters of the Earth long before humans arrived.

I invite you to dive deeper into the mystical realms as you journey with these Wisdom Keepers, Memory Keepers through this visual meditation offering.

Whale Watching from St. Vincents Beach

What an adventure! Just days after our return from the Cape Shore, I called my friend Leslie to ask if she wanted to go whale watching on St. Vincent’s Beach, a 2-hour drive from St. John’s on the Irish Loop of Newfoundland & Labrador.

Witnessing humpback whales feeding on the spawning fish in the deep waters just off the shore of this impressive 5km beach had been on my bucket list for years. 

My Facebook Friends had warned me that there may not be as many whales out there since the Caplin had rolled in 4 days before, but we were willing to take the chance.

How exciting to approach the community of St. Vincent’s-St. Stephen’s-Peter’s River from high above the long narrow strand of beach with a pond on one side and the ocean on the other.

As we very slowly trudged our way up to the long barrier that runs the distance between the Flats and the Gut, we were glad we’d seen the sign not to drive up any closer. It was hard enough to walk up the path of tiny cobblestones, so not surprising that a van got stuck on the soft shoulder.

I was curious why a little crowd had gathered next to the gateway, sheltered behind the tall fence. When we got there, however, we understood that they hadn’t dressed for the cold strong winds coming off the ocean.

The walk was slow. The length of the beach was like nothing I’d seen on this island before. A strand of dead Caplin with their big eyes still shining stretched a few meters from the waves for as far as the eyes could see. 

I’ve never seen the Caplin roll in, but it’s a celebrated event every year in this province. They come to spawn on the beaches, a spectacle that draws birds, whales, and throngs of people who come for the sight or for the buckets full of these small silver fish for food or fertilizer. My heart reached out to them, some of their tiny mouths open in the struggle for their last breath.

After walking a while, we settled down in a spot and just watched the horizon. The whales weren’t coming in just meters from shore as they would’ve had the Caplin still been as plentiful, but they were out there.  

I set up my iPhone XI pro on my mini tripod and my SLR camera on my bigger and much sturdier one.  I didn’t think I’d be able to use any video footage with my flimsy phone tripod wildly dancing in the strong winds.

I was later thrilled to find out about its internal video stabilization feature! The footage wasn’t perfectly sharp, but I wanted to give you a taste of what it was like to watch those gentle giants breach repeatedly on the horizon. Wow!

For a short time, the lighting changed from dull grey to a late afternoon sparkle bouncing off the waves. It was magical.

We ended our short visit to the region at my friend Elizabeth’s house, just off the beach. How joyous to see her in person (from a safe 6-foot distance) after being regularly connected online. Her home was filled with my paintings, and my Spirit Calling Card “meditate” rested on the coffee table.

I am so grateful to my art patrons for helping me continue to create, be it paintings or free online offerings like this one. If you’re moved to contribute to my spiritual art practice financially, I invite you to explore my online shop. Thank you!

Our adventure didn’t end there, though. As we drove through one of the towns, we saw what first appeared like a large blond dog coming towards us on a little bridge. We stopped the car to give it space. As it turned off the road and into the ravine, my heart skipped a beat. “That’s not a dog!”  Its gait and powerful hind legs gave it away, even if I hadn’t gotten a clear look at the face. “That’s a wild cat!”.

I had no idea we had wild cats in Newfoundland! As a regular hiker, I was aware there were plenty of moose and the occasional black bears in some regions of the island (and the rare visit from a polar bear off the ice floats), but never considered the presence of wild cats.

We drove ahead a bit and asked the couple stopped by the side of the road what it was. A Newfoundland Lynx, they said. They’d seen it go into the yard of a house and had stopped to tell the owner, who chased it away from her dog in the back yard.

Now, I wasn’t ready to get out of the car to go looking for it as they had (that was a big wild cat after all!), but my friend and I both felt honoured by the crossing. Looking it up, lynx are symbols of insight, vision, foresight, and intuition.

Whales & a lynx in the same day. Wow!

Still Photography in Witless Bay

Once I got home and started playing with the video footage and the few stills I’d succeeded to take despite the distance from the shore (and the dozens of just-too-late-splash-shots), I had an idea.

Why limit this video to a location? What I wanted to honour was our Wisdom Keepers, these giants whose presence has thrilled me many a times while living on this island. 

I’ve sung to them from the decks of a storm-chased ferry from St. Pierre & Miquelon (no photos from that time) and had the pleasure of connecting to them & photographing them from a few whale-watching trips in Witless Bay.

When I was an English-as-a-Second-Language instructor at Memorial University of Newfoundland, I had accompanied a few of my classes on both Gatherall’s and O’Brien’s  boat tours. I’d also taken some of my summer visitors to see the whales and bird colonies. My best shots since I moved here in 2011, however, were from my Eco Tours Zodiac Adventures with the St. John’s camera club. 

It’s in times like these that I’m glad I’m an organized person. I was easily able to locate and peruse several folders of whale watching stills to pick the ones I included in this Whale Song visual meditation video for you.

I was also thrilled to purchase a new song from my source of royalty free meditation music, “Into the Deep” by Christopher Lloyd Clarke.

I hope you enjoyed this 17-minute communing with whales experience with me.

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The Spirit of Cape Broyle – sight & soul candy

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Sight & soul candy! That’s what my house-sister called this video of my staycation in Cape Broyle as we watched it on the big screen TV. You can’t be in a rush for this 50-minute contemplation of my love of the beauty and the beauty of love. Enjoy!

Once again, my friend and Airbnb Superhost Gordon Martin dropped me off, this time for a 4-night stay at Kelly’s on the Loop in Cape Broyle, 45-minutes drive from my house.

Like with every time before it, I thought this was the best staycation and most inspiring photo & video rich environment for my creative play.  “We love thee Newfoundland” (lyrics from the anthem).

There were so many highlights:

  • an afternoon & a sunset kayaking tours with A Wilder Experience
  • 2 glorious 3-hour sunrise photo sessions alone on the beach 3 minutes from the Airbnb (even if I got cold on the 1st and forgot my tripod on the 2nd but decided not to run back as the colours were already blazing)
  • exploring the rock formations & eating blueberries at the Southern River & later swimming in it with my friend Kim MacPherson, my long-time pirate adventurer (explorer) buddy.
  • walking a couple of hours on the East Coast Trail with my friend Tina White, who journeys at my mindful pace being a certified forest bathing guide
  • arriving at the harbour just in time to witness the unloading of a good haul of cod and having one of the men say “What’s your name again?” as he guessed I was the gal his wife had talked about after meeting me at The Red House in Ferryland the week before. Small world!
  • walking 3 hours to the trailhead in neighbouring Admiral’s Cove and, when I’d decided I’d had enough just making my way there, getting a ride back with a couple leaving one of the houses in an antique Cadillac (with my mask, of course).
  • driving back to Admiral’s Cove with my friend Kim who stayed overnight to see it in a different light, then going one little town further to witness Brigus South at the magic light hour.
  • having my first French fries since the beginning of COVID at the Riverside restaurant 3 doors down from my Airbnb… and a couple of soft serve ice creams at their take-out window.

I feel truly blessed to have had so many opportunities this summer to explore this province I’ve called home since 2011.

I also feel grateful that I have this way to share in my abundance with you through my passion for photography & videography.

I may have had Ireland on my 2020 intuitive vision board (instructions on how to create yours here). But as you can see below, I also had “Newfoundland Revisited”. My heart / intuition knew long before I did what I needed this year. I’m glad I’m following through on it.

Intuition into action – may it also lead you in your happy healthy life.

 

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Ferryland on Foot & Tips for Intuitive Living

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There’s something very special about sitting on the toilet watching more than a dozen whales spouting in the distance.

With ocean views from all 4 sides of The Red House in Ferryland, I excitedly walked in circles day & night. I even grabbed my camera during a mid-night pee break to capture the full moon illuminating the herringbone clouds in the mackerel sky. That was before I even left my bedroom!

I don’t usually get much sleep the first night of my staycations. My childlike curiosity, wonder, and excitement kick in with so much newness to discover and beauty to breathe in. The creative spark lights my fire!

This time, my friend and Airbnb Superhost Gordon Martin dropped me off in Ferryland, Newfoundland & Labrador for a 3 night/4 day stay. As you can see in the video, this 5-bedroom iconic house was ideally situated for my solo Ferryland on foot experience.

Not having a car can be such a blessing – you see so much more of where you’re at! I feel I really got to know the area, and with this video, you will too.

I walked an average of 8 hours a day with thousands of photo/video pauses along the way. I wandered through the archeological dig & harbour, around town, on the beach, to the lighthouse, up on the old railway bed, along the main road and wherever my attention pulled me.

With strong winds keeping the boats in the harbour and COVID-19 keeping most of the doors locked, I often found myself on my own under magnificent skies.

The crowd waiting for their Lighthouse Picnic, however, was the largest gathering I’d been in since the pandemic started.

Once I’d called from a waiting station and received my picnic bag, however, there was plenty of room on the point to find a secluded spot to settle in and enjoy my curried chicken sandwich, lemonade, pasta salad & carrot cake.

As I then lay in the balmy 18 degree sun (64 F) to watch the grasses dance, a whale swam right below, enjoying its own picnic.

I was grateful that the winds were unusually calm long enough for my mini tripod to stay still during a time-lapse shoot of the “picnic ants” – my favourite part of this whole video.

And yes, it’s a challenge cleaning cream cheese icing off an iPhone XI Pro Max after trying to manoeuvre one-handed photography while holding up the cake…

There were so many awe-inspiring, heart-expanding, smile-inducing moments as I gratefully explored my surroundings. I can only hope that you can feel that for yourself as you enjoy this 30-minute video to the song “Into the Deep” by Christopher Lloyd Clarke.

All this is an hour’s drive from my home in St. John’s, NL.

Intuitive Living Tip

Following your bliss is part of the intuitive living recipe. 

Exploring your Intuition into Action Treasure Map means taking one inspired step at a time, not knowing what it might lead to. It asks you to trust. From baby steps to leaps of faith, that trust will open up your world to you.

That’s right. You need to embrace the mystery and trust that both the journey and the destination holds treasures.

I started taking photography and film-making workshops 20 years ago for the fun of it.

My plans to return overseas to teach English Second Language were derailed when I received intuitive guidance during meditation to go study photography on Vancouver Island for a year after completing my Masters of Education.

That led to working with the late Courtney Milne (world renown photographer of sacred sites & nature) and his wife & co-author Sherrill Miller for a couple of years in Saskatoon before diving deeper into my own art.

Intuition guides you, stretches you, encourages you to emerge more fully into who you are.

Like pieces of a puzzle, each inspired action fits into an evolving bigger picture.

That’s the feeling I get with my new passion for videography.

Right now, I’m creating and sharing these videos as a natural extension of being inspired to offer Gordon photos of the Airbnbs he manages in exchange for a stay there. 

This emerged from my need for nature retreats while my monies are tied up in credit in Ireland for the 2-month trip I’d planned there before COVID hit.

Before that, however, came the inspiration to invest in an iPhone XI Pro and to take a couple of video classes at the Apple Store in Ottawa while I was there for Christmas. I then started playing with iMovie on my phone to make fun videos like this cross-country ski one to share on Facebook.

I don’t know where this is leading, but I have a sense that all this nature & tourism passion play has helped me develop skill sets that could open up new income doors for me. It’s already opened creative vistas for a fulfilling summer around the bay. 

I’m excited. I’m curious. I trust that it’s all evolving perfectly one inspired step at a time.

If you look back at your life, can you see how taking inspired steps years or even decades ago has shaped where you are now? What inspired actions are calling you today? 

Embrace the mystery. Feel the fear but do it anyway. Many are being called to make changes or pivot in their careers to better serve the needs and generate income.

If I hadn’t stretched my comfort zone and reached out to Gordon at the beginning of the summer with this idea, this video wouldn’t exist.

Watching it last night on YouTube on the big screen TV at a friend’s house, it blew my mind… so much better than on a phone!!!

It had been a couple of weeks since I’d created it and tears came to my eyes. I couldn’t believe that this had been created through me. I felt so honoured. So amazed.

I’m not bragging here. No. I was reliving the awe and gratitude for the beauty I explored & expressed and for the path that led me here.

And now, I’m saying yes! to where it may lead. So may it be.

May you continue to explore & express your passions in these uncertain times. There’s never been a better time to listen in and take inspired action – from intuition into action, may you have a happy, healthy life.

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The Nosy Neighbour Staycation Challenge & my Quidi Vidi Adventure

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Here’s a fun summertime challenge for you. Be a nosy neighbour in your city, town, or village. With COVID-19, staycations are the way to go!

Pick a neighbourhood, leave the car behind, and discover it in the same way a tourist would for the very first time – keeping safe social distance & practices, of course.

Playing tourist always brings out that childlike curiosity & wonder in me – important elements to the intuitive life.

Have fun with it – see where you’re inspired to explore and who you’re curious to talk to. If you can, stay overnight for a fuller experience.

That’s what I did!

It was a cold and rainy July 16th when my friend Leslie & I headed to Quidi Vidi, a neighbourhood of the city of St. John’s that used to be its own village. Now, it’s a mix of fishing stages reminiscent of the seasonal fisheries of the 1600s to upscale inns, restaurants, artisan quarters and a famous brewery.

We stayed at the historic Christ Church that I’d been curious about for years. Did you know it was and Airbnb in the summer? You’ll get an inside look at this beautifully appointed residence owned by Aiden & Elizabeth Duff and managed by my friends Gordon Martin & Linda Chantal Hewitt of People Place & Things.

I also found myself interviewing a few of the locals for some colourful and delicious til bits. Trust me, for a nature photographer, this was a stretch of my comfort zones, but a lot of fun. Both my guests were very cooperative, informative, and kind.

Thank you to Skipper Ring, storyteller, tour guide & musician who shares stories of growing up in Quidi Vidi, beating an 80-year record in the Royal St. John’s, Regatta, and crafting the lear fence along his stage.

Thank you also to  Sam Primmer, one of the managers at Mallard Cottage, currently #22 in Canada’s Top 100 restaurants. Our 3-hour feast was a welcomed splurge – both our first time there and my first restaurant meal since early March due to COVID-19.

So treat yourself with this 24-minute video as I take on the role of nosy neighbour in Quidi Vidi village for a day. 

Oh, and if seeing Skipper Ring’s breath in mid-July discourages you from coming to Newfoundland & Labrador, don’t let it. We got sunshine & outdoor swimming weather right after it!

So what neighbourhood are you inspired to explore in your city, town, or county? I’d love to hear about it in the comments below. Where did you go? What were you thrilled to discover? 

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To the Cape Shore & Back – a visual meditation

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Welcome! For the next 47 minutes, sit back and relax with me on the Cape Shore of this beautiful island I call home.

Allow Mother Earth’s healing energy and Newfoundland & Labrador’s scenic beauty to soothe your soul and nourish your transformational journey.  

What a blessing this trip was for both myself and my friend Leslie. May it now be one for you too.

Ask and You Shall Receive

Thank you to my friends and long time art patrons Gordon Martin & Linda Chantal Hewitt of People Places & Things for arranging this trip for me.

They manage several Airbnbs, including Gordon’s cottage which you experienced in my Affirmations for a Happy Healthy Life video. As an aside, it featured three of their 8 Dominique Hurley original paintings.

If you recall, I’d asked Gordon if I could stay a few days at his cottage. He gladly said yes and was happy to receive the gift of my photos to help with his promotional efforts.

I’m a firm believer in Ask & You Shall Receive.

I’d asked Source & my Team of Divine Helpers for inspiration, which led to the idea of contacting Gordon.

Now he’s the one asking me to take more creative retreats at the other properties in his care. What a win-win!

I may not have had my 2-month retreat in Ireland due to COVID, but I’m feeling blessed and rejuvenated, finding creative ways to travel & practice my art in these interesting times.

Thank you also to Irene Collins Carr, the owner of the Airbnb in St. Bride’s for agreeing to have my friend Leslie & I stay there for 3 nights. What a beautiful location and a beautiful home! If this video inspires you to book it for your own Cape Shore holiday, contact my friend Gordon here.

And I’d be remiss if I didn’t thank my friend Leslie for accompanying me. We travel really well together, plus she has a car and loves to cook. Those healthy vegan meals were a real treat. The desert you see in the video was a roasted rhubarb cake with vanilla cashew cream filling on a coconut crust, decorated with edible pansies from her garden. Yummy!

We’re also both grateful to Tyrone A Batstone, caretaker of the Airbnb and paramedic at the Cape Shore Ambulance next door, without whom none of us would have experienced the beauty of the brook in St. Bride’s and Gooseberry Cove. There were no signs and driving in our direction, we would have completely missed these. So thanks for the tourist tips, firewood, your dog Skipper and fireside company Tyrone!

If there’s something you’re missing in your life, focus on the essence of it and ask the Universe to show you a way. Then live moments of that feeling every day.

I’m sure my appreciation for my neighbourhood and the thousands of photos I’ve shared of its beauty on social media, inspiring others to get outdoors is part of why this has all unfolded.

Live in the Feeling Tone (the L.I.F.T. practice as one of my teachers Derek Rydall calls it) and open to receiving. But don’t forget to ask.

Stay tuned for future blessings emerging from my creative collaborations and co-creations.

One Step At A Time

I can’t believe how much we saw, did and experienced in 4 days! I’ll admit, I was overwhelmed when faced with thousands of photos and videos on 2 cameras (iPhone XI pro and SLR).

But I like to finish one project before starting another and had another staycation booked in less than a week.

So I took a deep breath (not to lose the blissful feeling from my trip) and tackled this project one step at a time.

This resulted in 7 mini videos that I shared on Facebook and Youtube in the week prior to this post. Then, it was much less daunting to put them together into one project, improving on some editing choices along the way as I’m still learning all this stuff.

If you’re feeling overwhelmed by any project in your life, I wanted you to know you’re not alone. Just take it in bite-sized chunks, one step at a time, and celebrate each win!

Whether de-cluttering your house, raising a child, creating a new piece of art or doing your taxes… one step at time…. and breathe deeply. You can do it!

New Music

If you’ve been following me for years, you know that I’ve been using the same 5 royalty free songs purchased from Christopher Lloyd Clarke in my meditation and scenic videos.

I still love those tracks, but am happy to report that this video features a new addition to my collection, “Enlighten Me”.

Now you may think it strange to have Tibetan throat singing, gongs and singing bowl instead of Irish jigs for a Newfoundland & Labrador video…. but being out in nature brings out a combination of my mindful zen nature and childlike curiosity & wonder. So in my mind, this new music was perfect for it. Let me know if you agree in the comments below.

P.S. I’ll be publishing every 2 weeks instead of weekly for the rest of the summer. If you’re in the mood for more, enjoy browsing my blog history and website. There’s lots to explore. Enjoy!

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Flatrock Waterfalls – One of Mother Earth’s Powerful Energy Vortexes

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There are places on this planet that you know will instantly recharge you. The waterfalls near the East Coast Trailhead in Flatrock does it for me. Can you feel it in this video? Breathe in the beauty as you experience it through my eyes along with “Across the Sky” by Christopher Lloyd Clarke.

The first time I went, I could almost see the energy vortex. I could certainly feel it. It’s the strongest energy I’ve felt in Newfoundland & Labrador.

One of the reasons I like this island so much is that it rarely gets too hot. Even though we’d had frost warnings at the Summer Solstice, we also had a Humidex of 33 Celsius (91.5F) on June 23rd. That’s too much for me.

So at 6am, I headed to my friend Leslie’s to drive out together to Flatrock (25km) for a bit of a nature soak before the heat, before the grocery store opened, and before my full workday.

We stayed 2 hours.

I confess. Although the camera often helps me to be more present, my new film-making passion gets me so creatively excited that I sometimes forget to slow down.

Luckily, I really enjoy filming time lapses, which means putting the camera on a tripod and leaving it there for an hour or more.

So that’s what I did.

While Leslie went hiking up the cliffs to journal, I took my boots & socks off to ground, bare skin on the rocks. With the waterfalls to my left and the ocean to my right, I was in my happy place.

Making sure I spend some time every day skin to skin with Mother Earth has done wonders for me. If you haven’t seen The Earthing Movie, I recommend it. I always knew about the power of nature, but wasn’t aware that our rubber soles stopped the flow of healing energy.

Where’s your go-to spot when you need to recharge? Your backyard? neighbourhood trail? I’d love to know. Please leave a comment below.

P.S. When I don’t include the actual sounds of the water or other nature elements, it’s because it was too windy. I’ll have to figure out a way to get better quality audio for you. Still learning. 🙂 

P.P.S. It’s time I purchase some new royalty free songs to use in my meditations & videos as you’ve been hearing the same 5 for several years. If you’d like to contribute to my creative life, check out my online shop for oracle decks, intuitive services, original paintings & prints. Thanks!

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Affirmations Video for a Happy Healthy Life

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May you be nourished by the healing energy and beauty of Mother Nature during this 15-minute video inspired by a staycation at The Country Experience on Hawco’s Pond in Deer Park, Newfoundland & Labrador.

For an even more powerful experience, repeat the affirmations out loud, allowing yourself to feel their truth in your life. Then breathe deeply and expand that feeling out into the Universe as you watch.

Celebrating Life

As much as I craved solitude for my first monthly creative staycation (which resulted in A Prayer for Our Times), I was thrilled to share this experience with my good friend Leslie Bridger.

The timing was perfect as June 14th was Leslie’s rebirthday, 15 years after a near-fatal bicycle accident in Toronto. Doctors had little hope for her when she came out of her induced coma, but she not only recovered from her physical and brain injuries, she turned her life around.

Sharing her love of life and belief in the healing powers of Mother Earth and the Elements has become her mission. She came out of her coma understanding that we are all interconnected Divine Beings, like points of light on a giant web. Her love for humanity is great – a wonderful influence on me.

I already knew she was a perfect traveling companion, having house-sat together in Nova Scotia for a couple of weeks in 2017. I don’t say that because she loves to cook and I love to eat! It does help, though.

We also understand each other’s need for balanced activity time together and time alone to work on our projects – my video art, her book.

I couldn’t have asked for a better staycation. Indeed, it was just what my Spirit Calling Cards suggested on the morning of our departure:

The Gift of Life

You don’t have to almost die to realize you deserve to live the life you were born to live.

With COVID-19, more people have taken the time to reflect on the preciousness of life. After the shock of having been kicked off the hamster wheel, many have simplified, prioritized, re-organized their lives to focus on what truly matters. Some didn’t have a choice!

From small changes to major life decisions, they’ve sought the opportunities emerging from these challenging times.

What about you?

Wherever you are on your transformational journey, life invites you, through experience, to make the choices that serve your Highest Good. Only you can make those choices; only you can take that responsibility.

What’s right for you may not be what’s right for everyone else. Listen in and follow your intuition, one inspired step at a time.

And if the “buts” of your ego try to keep you small, acknowledge them and creatively love your way through and past them.

For example, my ego was telling me not to spend on staycations at a time when income has only been trickling in and I have thousands of dollars tied up in credit in Ireland since my 2-month trip was cancelled due to the pandemic . I knew, however, how instrumental a change of scene and break in routine could be for my creativity.

So, thinking outside the box, I offered friends who owned or managed properties, the opportunity of receiving photography of their sites in exchange for 3-night stays. Win-win!

When you set your heart on a goal and make life-affirming decisions, the Universe provides. Stay open to miracles! Ask and you shall receive.

Which affirmation from the video spoke most strongly to you? Please share it in the comments below.

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Seaside Solitude – A Video Contemplation at Middle Cove Beach in the Rain

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Exercise

You’re invited to use this video contemplation as a tool to help you connect to your inner guidance. Here’s how.

Ask your soul & Team of Divine Helpers a question and listen in as you experience this rainy morning at Middle Cove Beach, a few minutes from St. John’s, Newfoundland & Labrador in Canada.

Access your intuition through the symbolism of the sights and sounds.

Give yourself the space to feel, hear, see, remember, know, smell & taste – whatever channel your intuition finds to speak to you.

If the meaning isn’t immediately clear, dig deeper. Analyze your insights and data through reflection or journaling.

Notice any inspired actions that rise to the surface of your consciousness and Act upon them. Remember, intuitive guidance is useless unless you act on it.

Then Allow your life to unfold, knowing that every inspired action acts like a piece in the puzzle. Embrace the mystery and keep on moving on.

Like the waves of the ocean, living intuitively means repeating these 5 Steps over and over again – a dance with your Higher Self and your Team of Divine Helpers. Enjoy!

So Glad I Did!

Here’s where I ended up on my first Offline Sunday – a new habit to help me disconnect from the Internet to reconnect on a deeper level.

There must have been hundreds of people there in the 2 hot & sunny days before, but I found myself in blissful solitude for 2 hours communing with the elements and playing with my iPhone camera on a very rainy morning.

Truly, making movies has become one of my favourite pastimes. There’s so much beauty to explore and this is just one more medium for me to express my love of beauty and the beauty of love.

And yes, my new rain gear is waterproof. Yay! I sure tested it that morning.

Of course lifting my jacket to wipe my camera lenses on my shirt didn’t keep me completely dry, but I was happy.  lol.

When you equip yourself for the weather and obstacles, there’s a whole world to discover. I’m so glad I listened that morning when my soul said “To the sea!!!”.

What is your soul calling you to do or be? What space is beckoning you to come and discover it (or discover another layer of you within it?)

Make time in your schedule this week to disconnect and reconnect. You’re worth it!

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