Every summer I return to my soul scenery, the archipelago of Western Finland. It is always a transformative time, filled with a combination of peaceful silence… 

…and lively reconnections with loved ones, wonderful discussions with dear friends and, like this summer, reuniting with some old friends from decades ago!

There’s always time for a spot of shaman drumming and crystal healing too.

The sunsets are simply beyond glorious…

…and rowing into them in the silence of the night recharges one’s inner batteries like nothing else. Although in August there are no longer such ‘nightless nights’ as in the end of June, it still stays light like this around 11pm. 

I always enjoy working on a few malas, stone talismans and crystal amulets while in this scenery. The huge coastal rocks dating back to ice age seem to emit their own solid sense of peace that’s nice to think will infuse the stones I work with while there.

In addition I enjoy the creative play of eco-dyeing here, collecting local windfallen plants to see what different tones and marks they leave on silk… We had some fun results!

Occasionally we drive away from the island into the nearby town where I was born. There’s a fascinating sculpture park in the forest, it’s called “Edvin’s Path”, with dozens and dozens of large scale sculptures made by one man, Edvin Hevonkoski, out of recycled and upcycled materials, metal, as well as some beautiful wood carvings.

The most difficult thing every year is leaving.

But there’s always the next summer to look forward to.

Thank you, Finland!

~*~