I cannot even begin to tell you how much I enjoy spending time in the Bushveld. My favourite place in the world is Motswari, a private game reserve in the Timbavati Region of South-Africa. When I visited Motswari last month, I had a stunning encounter with a leopard... and there was a lesson in that experience that I treasure with all my heart.

If I know anything about leopards, it's that they are elusive. It is such a blessing to happen on one - but it's the exception rather than the rule. In fact, during the five days I spent at Motswari, everyone in the camp was hoping to see one of these spellbinding creatures on a game drive. But no luck.

It became a bit of a joke in camp. The first question we asked each party when they entered the camp was what they saw... Lions? Yes. Elephants? Of course. Buffalo? Yip. Rhino? For sure. Leopard? No, no, no. Not a chance...

On my third night at Motswari, I arranged to go for a sleep-over at Giraffe's Nest, a hide in the middle of the...

I'm finally back in Australia after my trip to South-Africa. I had some awe-inspiring adventures in the Bushveld (more on that later), but the experience I'd most like to share with you, is an event of anguish and paralysing fear, and the immense power of an unyielding faith that all is well, no matter what!

About two days before my return to Australia, I received word that my one-year old grandson had been airlifted to the Royal Children's Hospital in Brisbane with suspected meningitis. At that time baby Chase wasn't breathing on his own, and it was clear from my communications with my daughter that the prognosis was dire. He was admitted to the Paediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU), where a team of specialists attended to him. He was subjected to a lumbar puncture, CT scans and a number of ultrasounds. They struggled to administer an IV because his veins kept collapsing, and after more than 30 attempts, and when all other options were exhausted, a femoral line was inserted, which...

There is no doubt that we live in a miraculous universe. Miracles happen all the time. Solutions to seemingly insurmountable problems that you could never have conceived of appear out of thin air. Fervent prayers are answered. Unexpected cheques arrive in the mail. Gifts are given. Surprises materialize. Treasured lost items are found. Health is restored. Relationships are rejuvenated. Attitudes are renewed. Angels make their presence known.

The question you have to ask yourself is whether you believe in the power of miracles, or in the power of your fear. Each fearful belief you hold is a choice you make. You may be fearful that you won’t have enough money to pay the bills, that you’re gaining weight, that your relationship is on the rocks, or that you’ll grow old alone. You may fear change, loss, failure, or even success.

Perhaps you fear illness or death… but whatever your fears are, know that you’re not alone. Fear is an epidemic in our society...

Imagine this....

The alarm clock goes off way too early. Exhausted, you try to sleep in just a few minutes longer. Chores. Expectations. Overwhelm. Traffic jams and unkept promises. Work. Pressure. Too many coffees.

The way of the world... but it doesn't have to be your way. I have a remedy for when your soul cries out for silence and space.

Find a park, a beach, or a patch of grass. Kick off your shoes. Inhale. Exhale. Forget about the traffic, the bills, the arguments, the endless demands. Feel the stresses of the day melt away.

Hear yourself think. Hear the message of the earth...

'Be calm. Be at peace. There is nowhere else you need to be right now. Just breathe. Inhale peace. Exhale gratitude. Be a part of the beauty that is nature because that is the true YOU. You are at home in me because you are a part of me.

Notice the falling leaves and the flowing water. Thank the trees for holding you, comforting you, welcoming you. Let your roots reach down to the center...

I'm blessed to say that I've had my share of breathtaking vacations in my lifetime. Earlier this year I spent two months in Europe, and apart from basking in the beauty of rural France, soaking in the golden hues of Tuscany, and lazing on the picturesque beaches of the Greek Islands, the break was about so much more than pleasure. It rejuvenated my intimate relationship, and also did wonders to stimulate my creativity and enhance my productivity after my return.

As much as I wish I could fly away to an exotic location or even just drive to the mountains to gain some peace and clarity at the drop of a hat, it's simply not realistic. But finding an hour to unplug from the busyness of life and take care of the most important part of myself is simple, easy, and free.

If you too have a need to nourish yourself on a regular basis and bring more vitality into your life, you don't have to wait another second. Simply find a spot in Nature that speaks to your soul and set the...

Dear Life

May this day,

(and every one of my days)

be blessed.

May my thoughts of doubt and fear

not block any miracles in wait.

May I grow into a deeper peace,

a deeper joy,

and ever deepening love.

Amen

Reconnect with your body and soul with Soulwoman Circles.

Your soul is the seat of your deepest moments of being alive. When you are triggered by stress and negativity and frustration, take a soul vacation.

Simply stretch your imagination to a place of beauty and delight...

• Find a quiet place where you won't be distracted for a few minutes.
• Close your eyes and slow your breathing. Just sit and follow your breath for a while.
• When you're ready, pose this question silently to yourself: 'What is my soul longing for?'
• Don't think too hard about the response. Simply allow any images, sounds or feelings to show up.
• Ask yourself a second question: 'Could I create a soul vacation that would meet some of the needs of this longing?'
• Open yourself to sights, sounds, smells, tastes, and sensations in the experience, as they arrive.
• Notice any feelings of love, joy and peace that appear, and where those feelings are in your body.
• When the experience ends, let it go.

Reconnect with your body and soul in the Soulwoman Circles.

Guide yourself to a centred, focused state of gratitude by following the steps below:

• With your eyes closed, practice opening the fist of your heart by actually making a fist while inhaling, and then opening it as you exhale.
• Breathe deeply as you allow the energy of gratitude to flow around you and within you.
• Touching your thumb to your index finger, think of something that you're deeply thankful for in the present moment. Visualize it clearly and give thanks for it.
• Touching your thumb to your middle finger, travel back in time and think of something you feel deeply grateful for that happened in the past. Visualize it clearly and give thanks for it.
• Touching your thumb to your ring finger, project yourself into the future and think of something that you're deeply thankful for that is waiting for you in the future. Visualize it clearly and give thanks for it.
• Touching your thumb to your little finger, think of something that transcends all time that you're profoundly grateful...

Meditative reading is not about gaining new information. The purpose is to enter a different state of consciousness as you read.

Read the following passage slowly... pause... and allow for a moment of reflection. 

"When you surrender to what you cannot change
and open your heart to what is,
you enter a state of grace.
Suddenly, a sacred stillness arises within you,
a soundless sense of peace.
And within that solace, there is bliss.
And within that bliss, there is love.
And within that love, there is the Source of all that is."

~ Mia Rose

Reconnect with your body and soul in the Soulwoman Circles.

Do you have a feeling of being blessed? There is profound power in the simple gesture of blessing yourself.

• As a meditation, this practice is done with childlike faith and reverence.
• Close your eyes and relax the muscles in your body.
• Breathe your way beneath your busyness, the way a diver slips into the stillness beneath the turbulence of the waves.
• Bring an image of yourself to mind and pay compassionate attention to yourself.
• Imagine speaking directly to yourself, whispering a phrase like 'May I be blessed,' or 'May I be protected from all harm.'
• Feel the fact that who you are is enough.

Reconnect with your body and soul with Soulwoman Circles.