Interview with crystal and reiki healer Pierluigi

In times of trouble I always look towards the wise and wonder what they would say or do. Then I remembered an encounter I had with a very young wise man whilst I was staying at a retreat centre in Penedes. When I met him he was in the kitchen soaking a handful of crystals…

Interview with Hernan, a chiro masseur

It was a Tuesday evening when I met Hernan. I went to meet him at a therapy space in Barcelona for a chiro massage and afterwards, to spend some time interviewing him. When he greeted me at the door I burst open with excitement. His eyes dazzled and he wore a light blue crystal around…

Drinking thyme and burning sage

Last week I made myself a fresh thyme tea. That particular day I was feeling a little low and heard this tea had great antioxidant benefits. In the end, the thyme was grounding and delicious and made me feel instantly better. The trouble was, it hadn’t only helped to cleanse my palate but it seemed…

Why we advocate aloe vera

If you’ve ever taken a walk around the countryside of Catalunya, the probability of an aloe vera plant appearing on the route is less than far fetched. In fact, the Mediterranean climate is so warm and dry that we usually benefit from a very happy harvest. Not only does the aloe vera plant tend to…

A sacred falcon messenger

It was New Year’s Day and I took the opportunity to walk. With a lifelong friend, we went to visit the mountains above Barcelona. After our two hour climb under the dazzling sun and our one hour meditation at the top, we stopped for a short tea break before we briskly walked back down the…

Interview with Garraf plant healer, Silvia

Last week, as the waves emerged around the coastal village of Garraf, I found myself attending a very pleasant aloe vera plant medicine workshop. A lady called Silvia was hosting it and she introduced herself as a botanist. As keen as I was to learn more about the spirit of aloe vera, I was equally…

Uplift your spirit with an open fire

This month, I was astounded by the sheer volume of bypassers I saw on the route around my local mountain. But what I was more astounded by was the way we shared the route with the same intention. That was to collect vast amounts of pine cones for our open fires. I couldn’t help but…

Please sleep well this winter

Last week I dropped by Teresa’s pharmacy and while I was there I checked out her wall of new products. Just as I reached for some facial cream, I jumped at the sound of a gentleman behind me. “I’d try the sleeping pills if I were you.” He said with a strong Nordic accent. “They…

Breath and longevity

Last week I met with a friend at the beach who was grieving the loss of her grandad. Her name was Silvia and she was a very dear lady. Before we sat down on the white cushioned bench that gray day, I gave her a very dear hug. Her response to the hug was charming….

How we benefit from the expressive arts

This summer I become indulged in hosting and facilitating poetry workshops in and around the city of Barcelona and was reminded yet again, under a new guise, the power in the art of poetry. For the past decade, my indulgence was in the art of creating and the art of writing itself. And when that…

An interview with Alberto – a Craniosacral therapist

It was three years ago when I sat in meditation having accessed a deep well of tears from inside me. As they poured through every cell of my being I caught sight of alternate images running through my mind. Interestingly, I sat still and enjoyed the showered release. Much to my amazement, when I got…