Why I Wrote Witches’ Brews: Reclaiming the Ancestral Wisdom That Lives in Our Bones
A love letter to the plants, the grandmothers, and the deep remembering. The plants have taught me that for every ailment, there i [...]
October 2025
August 2025
Figs & Ferragosto: Savoring the Sweetest Days of Summer in Italy
Ferragosto has ancient roots, beginning with Emperor Augustus in 18 BCE as Feriae Augusti—a state-sanctioned rest after the harvest. Today, it’s still a national holiday in Italy, falling on August 15th, and it’s the heart of the summer’s slow season.
July 2025
The Magic of Animist Travel
Sacred travel isn’t about escape—it’s about relationship. Long before I ever stepped on a plane for my first big adventure, I was [...]
June 2025
L’Acqua di San Giovanni: A Midsummer Blessing from the Old Ways
L'Acqua di San Giovanni Every year, on the eve of June 23rd, as twilight kisses the longest days of the year, Italians across t [...]
March 2025
Five Years In: Why We Moved to Sardinia—And What We’ve Learned Along the Way
In 2018, I wrote an article titled Why We Moved to Sardinia. It is one of the most-read articles on this website. When it came ou [...]
Carne Levare: The True Meaning of Carnevale (Carnival)
by Hansuan_Fabregas (Pixabay) Carnevale is a time of indulgence, but its roots are far more practical than decadent. Long before [...]
January 2025
A Heart in the Highlands: Celebrating Robert Burns & the Voices of Our Ancestors
Me and Robert Burns at the Birks O' Aberfeldy in 2014 Robert Burns, Scotland’s cultural ancestor, championed the common people, [...]
October 2024
Hawthorn: Tree of Fairies, Love & Liminal Spaces (+Hawthorn Elixir Recipe)
Hawthorn, known for its heart-healing properties and deep symbolic connections to the natural and spiritual worlds, has been [...]
September 2024
La Vendemmia: Grapes, Ancestors & Community
This article explores La Vendemmia, the Italian grape harvest, focusing on the deep cultural and spiritual significance of winemaking in Sardinia. From ancient Dionysian rites to modern communal practices, we delve into how the grape harvest connects people to the rhythms of the land, the wisdom of their ancestors, and the cycles of life and death.
August 2024
Embracing Il Dolce Far Niente & Ferragosto: A Mindful August 15 Celebration
Celebrate the mid-August festival Ferragosto with ancient Roman roots by embracing the Italian concept of Il Dolce Far Niente—the [...]
