Welcome back: this is a place of quiet reflection

A group of women come together in nature and close their eyes in unison.

‘Welcome back: this is a place of quiet reflection’ reflects on our yearning to connect with the wisdom of the past, to find guidance amidst the complexities of the present. A few years ago, I embarked upon a quest to find spaces where women congregate to let go, be raw and true to themselves.

In mystical sites such as Glastonbury and Carnac I met women seeking solace and direction in spiritual practices in nature. The rituals they perform and the landscape that surrounds them offers them a break from society; a retreat free from expectations. As they open up to one another, exposing vulnerabilities in a world that often demands strength, they exchange secrets that free them to trust each other. As a result, a profound sense of sisterhood emerges. Emboldened, they question the patriarchal narrative that has been dominant in western cultures, and inspired by Mary Magdalene’s enduring legacy, they reclaim her as a present-day icon of wisdom and resistance.

Their shared practices counter the dominant culture of competition, emphasising the importance of community and empathy. The search to belong with ourselves and with the land mirrors the broader human longing for stability in an era of uncertain change. In a world saturated with images of conflict and division, where the weight of global crises bears down upon us, this body of work offers an alternative: an invitation to pause and reflect on the power of human connection and nature to heal and inspire.