Dear Friends,

As it’s summer in the northern hemisphere, there’s a greater desire to get away and experience a difference from the drudgery of the everyday.

Travel and adventure are welcome, indeed, especially by those with sufficient time, money, and energy to pursue their summer vacation dreams.

But those of us with limited resources or energy might want to tread an alternative pausing pathway with a soul break of quietude, rest, and peace.

Here our desires are to retreat, muse, ponder, pray, and reflect. This is a vacation of the heart. A retreat from the comfort of your own home. One you can take whatever season you are in, with zero or minimal cost.

🌺🌸 A Soul Holiday 🌺🌸

We can savour a soul holiday where the newness stems from slowing down to notice and observe what might have been hidden or obscured in busyness.

Getting away from it all might seem impossible when we’re still confined to our homes. The difference comes when we adjust our routines to welcome in treats and soul cherishing activities.

Instead of frantic brochure scanning, buying and packing new clothes, sitting in traffic, or joining lengthy airport queues, we’ll take a restful soul break to…

Travel — in our thoughts, our souls, our hearts
Adventure — into sacred pathways of calm and peace
Welcome — whatever speaks to and nurtures us best
Retreat — as we step away from our usual preoccupations and distractions
Treat — ourselves to new food, books, or small luxuries
Muse — poetically or in prose as we journal our ideas
Ponder — how to take better care of ourselves, now, and beyond
Reflect — on what we see, hear, taste, touch, like, and love

❤️💜 Soul Care Suggestions ❤️💜

Perhaps this summer is the perfect time to unplug from your phone and recharge your soul with things you love but rarely factor into your life.

Maybe a social media sabbatical is what your tired eyes, stressed-out soul and frazzled mind are crying out for.

Instead of fretting over time away, allow yourself a refreshing soul break. Treat yourself to some nurturing “me time” which is like having a spa for your heart.

Or give yourself the gift of travel, followed by a period to rest and relax afterwards at home, as these more leisurely weeks of summer unfold.

Let’s aim to appreciate our relationships, enjoy the blessings of nature, foster our spirituality, nurture our health, and take better care of ourselves. Because we all need it. 😉❤️🌺💜

📚📚 Soul Care Books I Recommend 📚📚

Inviting Silence: How to Find Inner Stillness and Calm by Gunilla Norris (Click here for US link)

Sacred Rest: Finding the Sabbath in the Everyday by Cheryl Wunderlich (Click here for US link)

Nature’s Wonders: Moments that mark the seasons (National Trust) (Click here for US link)

Windows of the Soul: Hearing God in the Everyday Moments of Your Life by Ken Gire (Click here for US link)

The Comfort Book by Matt Haig (Click here for US link)

Soul Shots: 31 Days of Pocket Wisdom for Your Hurting Heart (Click here for US link)

🎶🙏🏻 Helpful Soul Vacation Resources 🙏🏻🎶

A selection of music videos to relax with

https://youtube.com/@YellowBrickCinema

Nature video to soothe your soul

https://youtu.be/cHlioeh1WKA

A free Christian online retreat — In the Footsteps of Saint Francis — at Belmont Abbey

https://www.belmontabbey.org.uk/in-the-footsteps-of-st-francis

Treats for yourself or a loved one

Little box of sunshine

https://www.etsy.com/uk/listing/1449822663/box-of-sunshine-recovery-get-well-soon

Mindfulness gift

https://www.etsy.com/uk/listing/1498802242/mindful-letterbox-gift-colouring

Refresh Christian gift set

https://www.etsy.com/uk/listing/1161303209/refresh-christian-gift-set-with-faith

Relax Box

https://lovedandblessed.com/collections/care-packages/products/relax-box