Conversations by the Fire

On belonging, relationships, being enough, and the possibility that we don't have to earn our place here... What if being me were enough? What if this moment, right now, were enough? What if all that is available to me, now, is enough? I've been mulling these questions over lately, alongside all sorts of thoughts about relationship, how we meet one another, and how we meet ourselves. And today, with the New Moon in Libra, feels like a good moment to sit with them. Lib

I don't really like humans... And yet, I'm becoming more interested in what happens when we gather differently. When there is room for difference, space for repair, and the possibility of belonging without having to disappear.

I have been wondering about belonging. How is it that we can share blood and not quite feel at home? How is it that we can cross oceans, arrive on unfamiliar shores, and suddenly breathe more deeply? Perhaps belonging has never been about where we come from. Perhaps it has always been about where our being is welcomed. A place where nothing essential needs translating. Where our shoulders soften. Where our body forgets to brace. Where our soul can fully arrive. Maybe belongin

We often think of rupture as the obvious break. The argument. The silence. The painful conversation. The moment someone leaves the room. The relationship that suddenly feels strained, distant, or unsafe. But I keep returning to the sense that rupture often begins much earlier than this. Before the words become sharp. Before the body turns away. Before the silence settles between two people. It begins in the body. A tightening in the chest. A small holding of the breath. A clo

Sisters… of the heart, of the blood, of the ancient remembering. We come as we are unyielded, unpolished, unmasked carrying our laughter like lanterns, our tears like the salt of the sea that shaped us all. There is no striving here. No need to tuck away the trembling part, the doubting part, the part that still believes she must earn her place. Here , every part is welcomed, every part belongs. We enter the circle like stepping into warm earth: barefoot, slow, letting the a

Recently, I spent time in community. It wasn’t just being around people… it was feeling the net of support that community can create. There was space for me to breathe… to soften… to take a step back and rest. I didn’t have to be constantly “on”… responding to the needs of my family or tracking those around me. For once, I could attend to what I needed in the moment. And what I noticed was this… it wasn’t only because my partner was caring for me, or that my child was cared f

Have you ever caught yourself thinking, I just expected them to know… or I shouldn’t have to ask… or I should be doing better by now…? We all carry expectations. Some are simple and unconscious. Some are deeply entangled with emotion. The word expectation comes from the Latin expectare - to wait for, to hope for, to look out toward something. There’s a sweetness in that, isn’t there? A sense of possibility. Of being open to what’s coming. Like when we say someone is “expectin

What if connection came before correction? Exploring Daniel Siegel's “connect and redirect” approach to parenting, and how we can hold boundaries, guide our children and stay connected even when things get difficult.

When we think about thriving relationships—whether within a family, partnership, or community—one of the most vital elements is mutual support and cooperation. This principle reminds us that we are not meant to navigate life alone. Instead, our well-being is deeply interwoven with those around us, and by fostering a culture of support, we create a foundation for true connection and growth. A Moment of Transformation In a recent therapy session, I had the privilege of witnessi

Play is one of the simplest ways we can connect with our children. Through laughter, physical play, competition, frustration and the occasional argument over the rules, children get to experience themselves in relationship — and we get to experience them too. A reflection on what happens when we make a little more room for play in family life.

Nestled in the serene Swiss mountains, I found myself at a transformative 12-day personal development retreat. Surrounded by breathtaking views, I felt a surge of confidence in my communication skills. Eager to showcase my abilities, I volunteered to listen first, thinking, "Aha! This is my moment to shine!" The Challenge of True Listening However, just minutes into my fellow participant's sharing, my mind began to churn with judgments and solutions to her problems. I thought

Reflections on the work of Dr. Ray Castellino Welcome, dear one. I’m so glad you’ve found your way here… Pre - and Perinatal Somatic Therapy (often shortened to PPN) is a field of healing that explores how our earliest experiences shape the way we meet life. Long before we had words, our bodies were already learning.In the womb, during birth, and in the first months of life, our nervous systems were forming impressions about safety, connection, belonging, and support. These

What does it mean to truly listen? Deep listening asks us to slow down, become curious and stay present — not only with another person's words, but with the feelings and experience underneath them. A reflection on listening, empathy and genuine connection.