It all began in the late spring in 2020, a time that would ignite a global shift, a transformation period for so many of us. We had been living on O’ahu for a good year, and what used to feel like paradise had shifted. It was as if overnight the Spirit of Aloha, the energy of love, peace, compassion, and kindness, had been subdued in most places on the island; and my one escape was daily swims in the clear waters of the Pacific Ocean.
When things are out of alignment, there’s usually two things to do: change your internal landscape or change your external world.
The environment felt like a spiritual nudge, if you will. Deep down we knew that our time in Hawai’i had come to an end, yet where was our next destination? Where were we supposed to go? When asking Spirit, I heard a very clear voice saying, “Go to Italy.” It was like the moment from Elizabeth Gilbert’s “Eat, Pray, Love” when she asked God what to do and the answer was, “Go back to bed, Liz.” But instead of going back to bed, the voice told us to journey to Italy. 
(Although Elizabeth Gilbert did end up in Italy as well!)
So, once again, we set out on an adventure into the unknown, from the lush, vibrant energy of Hawai’i to the rich, historical tapestry of Italy, and embarking on what would become a profound spiritual journey of deep inner transformation, exploration, learning, growth; meeting kindred souls and reconnecting with places from times past.
The top image is my view from our first Italian breakfast spot. At that time, I had no idea of the depth this journey would take me on!