I’ve always been drawn to the water. Swimming has always played a lead role in my life. A series of life experiences caused me to reassess where I was going, both literally and figuratively. It was these feelings of dissatisfaction and frustration for curiosity for an alternative path. A lust for life, a desire for experience, I was led to the jungle shoreline of Mexico. Immersed in the Pacific Ocean, I soon came to realise my time in the sea was a meditation.

I’ve learnt invaluable lessons along the way about the link between our health and the environment we inhabit and how it affects our mind/body reality, and therefore our happiness. The healing power of recording and reflection. The way that life lives. And how it can end. The fragility of life and the value of living it well.

These lessons, mixed with my fascination with memory, recollection and time, led me to writing. Though not a naturally skilled writer myself, (quite the opposite in fact), I started recording my thoughts and experiences – more than journaling, I started using writing as a creative means to meditate, using the five senses to evoke memory which would in turn allow me to reflect, heal and understand. I quickly saw that I was learning something important. Something I wanted to share with others.

A ritual of the process.

During my time in Mexico (and before), I exposed myself to meditation practices, and attended ancient meditation schools of Vipassana. With my 13 year career in interior architecture and the way we were being asked to work in the commercial design world, it turned me to examine the values of natural raw materials with the principles of permaculture, undertaking qualifications in various types of natural building, including bamboo construction. I saw that I could blend these teachings from design, meditation and my habitual writing to create something truly powerful.  An alternative creative, meditation meeting place, I hope to be accessible to everybody.

And so, The Morning Ritual was born.

I now split my time between my colourful, beautiful ‘Tiny Manor’ in the Yorkshire Dales, and my jungle homestead, in the Oaxaca Coast of Mexico.

I look forward to inviting you to Casa Arcilla soon!

Love,

Catriona x

PS . You can follow me on instagram here.