Woah, lovely photos - so green - and the beckoning wild. 'Going West' took me to Cornwall for 10 years by the sea, and now in Portugal; I feel comfortable 'out of it' and away from the hustle and bustle of the city. Thank you for the newsletter round-up of 2024; a challenging year indeed. But a spirited and precious one too I can see.
The opening lines of the poem ("I know this place / deep / beyond my bones / in the heart / of the green / and ancient stones") capture something very important about connection of soul with physical location - from wilderness to wilderness we seem to wander until our bones are in tune with the land - and we find a home for where we don't have to 'explain ourselves'. All the best for 2025, Josh & Veronika.
Thank you Josh, and a happy New Year to you too! I have been to Cornwall, Perranporth, actually. It is such a beautiful spot. Yes, this year was challenging to many, I think. I talked to a friend from Estonia, who moved to Ireland and we agreed that the land and the wildness truly were the thing that called us most. I think there are some regions with which we connect on a soul level. I am still exploring whether it has to do with past lives or the energy and history of the land or all of it in the mix. I resonate with your words "explain ourselves". No more words needed here, I feel those deeply in my heart. The opening lines of the poem came to me in an instant. My soul was talking. Have the best year!
Thank you. We know Perranporth well. We went there annually for the Celtic Dance Festival (Scottish, Welsh, Cornish, Manx, Irish and Breton) and had great fun trying all the differing dances. Also flew my power-kites there on the beach.
What a lovely and poetic review of a powerful year of growing...
I can totally relate. My inner voice called me westwards in 1995. So I landed in West Penwith, the most western peninsula of England, where St. Eia is said to have landed in the 5th or 6th c. sailing across the Atlantic from Ireland in a Coracle. It's been a wild ride for me too. I landed with nothing and received so much more than I could have ever imagined or wished for.
(3 years after my landing on the wild western coast, Josh arrived and stayed)
Every year in the autumn we attended the Celtic festival of Cornwall, which is held in Perranporth (about half an hour north from where we lived), and where the Celtic nations gather from Scotland, Wales, Brittany, Isle of Man, Cornwall, and of course Ireland, to make music and dance five days.
From Cornwall we moved to the western part of the Iberian peninsula, about an hours drive inland from the Atlantic (the constant wind got into our bones after 10/13 years). Although physically settled in this southern Celtic landscape which has been our home for the past 16 years, the inner journey continues. It still feels like a wild ride...
One cycle has ended, the new one has just begun.
Very best wishes for a safe and breathtaking ride through 2025 from on wild rider to another. Let's never stop growing xx
Oh wow! Thank you for sharing your journey! I have been to Perranporth as well, beautiful spot! The cliff walk there is amazing! I don't know the Celtic festival though, I have to go, that sounds so cool! Yes, these thresholds between endings and beginnings are such a sacred void! I wish you all the best for 2025 as well! I raise my glass to: Let's never stop growing!
I just checked the information and found that the Celtic festival in Cornwall (called Lowender Peran) has moved to Newquay... not sure whether it's still being held there but here is the website to check it out. https://www.lowenderperan.co.uk/
If it's on I can highly recommend it. But I expect there will be something equivalent in Ireland (and Wales, and Scotland...) too...
I’ve enjoyed following you here Sadhbh. What a wonderful newsletter you have. It sounds like it’s been quite a year. Congratulations on your book. Here’s to growth! The Wild West. Meet you there. Keep writing. We need you. 🙏❤️
Woah, lovely photos - so green - and the beckoning wild. 'Going West' took me to Cornwall for 10 years by the sea, and now in Portugal; I feel comfortable 'out of it' and away from the hustle and bustle of the city. Thank you for the newsletter round-up of 2024; a challenging year indeed. But a spirited and precious one too I can see.
The opening lines of the poem ("I know this place / deep / beyond my bones / in the heart / of the green / and ancient stones") capture something very important about connection of soul with physical location - from wilderness to wilderness we seem to wander until our bones are in tune with the land - and we find a home for where we don't have to 'explain ourselves'. All the best for 2025, Josh & Veronika.
Thank you Josh, and a happy New Year to you too! I have been to Cornwall, Perranporth, actually. It is such a beautiful spot. Yes, this year was challenging to many, I think. I talked to a friend from Estonia, who moved to Ireland and we agreed that the land and the wildness truly were the thing that called us most. I think there are some regions with which we connect on a soul level. I am still exploring whether it has to do with past lives or the energy and history of the land or all of it in the mix. I resonate with your words "explain ourselves". No more words needed here, I feel those deeply in my heart. The opening lines of the poem came to me in an instant. My soul was talking. Have the best year!
Thank you. We know Perranporth well. We went there annually for the Celtic Dance Festival (Scottish, Welsh, Cornish, Manx, Irish and Breton) and had great fun trying all the differing dances. Also flew my power-kites there on the beach.
Anyway, look forward to your 2025 postings. Josh.
What a lovely and poetic review of a powerful year of growing...
I can totally relate. My inner voice called me westwards in 1995. So I landed in West Penwith, the most western peninsula of England, where St. Eia is said to have landed in the 5th or 6th c. sailing across the Atlantic from Ireland in a Coracle. It's been a wild ride for me too. I landed with nothing and received so much more than I could have ever imagined or wished for.
(3 years after my landing on the wild western coast, Josh arrived and stayed)
Every year in the autumn we attended the Celtic festival of Cornwall, which is held in Perranporth (about half an hour north from where we lived), and where the Celtic nations gather from Scotland, Wales, Brittany, Isle of Man, Cornwall, and of course Ireland, to make music and dance five days.
From Cornwall we moved to the western part of the Iberian peninsula, about an hours drive inland from the Atlantic (the constant wind got into our bones after 10/13 years). Although physically settled in this southern Celtic landscape which has been our home for the past 16 years, the inner journey continues. It still feels like a wild ride...
One cycle has ended, the new one has just begun.
Very best wishes for a safe and breathtaking ride through 2025 from on wild rider to another. Let's never stop growing xx
Oh wow! Thank you for sharing your journey! I have been to Perranporth as well, beautiful spot! The cliff walk there is amazing! I don't know the Celtic festival though, I have to go, that sounds so cool! Yes, these thresholds between endings and beginnings are such a sacred void! I wish you all the best for 2025 as well! I raise my glass to: Let's never stop growing!
I just checked the information and found that the Celtic festival in Cornwall (called Lowender Peran) has moved to Newquay... not sure whether it's still being held there but here is the website to check it out. https://www.lowenderperan.co.uk/
If it's on I can highly recommend it. But I expect there will be something equivalent in Ireland (and Wales, and Scotland...) too...
Oh thank you! Yes, Ireland has lots of wonderful festivals! Thanks for sharing!
I’ve enjoyed following you here Sadhbh. What a wonderful newsletter you have. It sounds like it’s been quite a year. Congratulations on your book. Here’s to growth! The Wild West. Meet you there. Keep writing. We need you. 🙏❤️
Agree. And wonderful pictures shared with us.