Debbie Hartmann shares the incredible stories of her photography projects that helped her mum as she was experiencing Parkinson's disease and Dementia and her friend with brain cancer. Debbie turned her creativity into positive, fun projects that lift both her and others during difficult times in a natural and intuitive way. Her enthusiasm for life and helping others is contagious. This episode is possibly one of the most heartwarming stories of humanity and love tied up in photography projects. Debbie is an extraordinary person who always seeks out the positives in life and allows herself to connect naturally to who she is and use that in her photography. She finds beauty everywhere and recently set out on a photography project to better help her "like" the harsh Minnesota winters. Please take a look at her projects and beautiful photography on her website.

https://www.heyhartmann.com/

In this episode, I take a reflective winter walk in January's snowfall to share my thoughts on slowing down and the challenge of balancing that with content creation.

Substack has given me one cohesive platform where I can share my writing, images, video and audio and that has helped me feel less overwhelmed. This episode is about my journey towards a more fulfilling, less pressured approach to sharing my life and work. And how that has brought about my concept of visual meditations. If you’d like to write in to tell me about something that is challenging for you right now, I would love to be able to create a meditation for you ( anonymous) Just email me at margaret@margaretsoraya.com

I also outline 3 ways in which sharing your work on substack is helpful, even if you don’t have big aims to write for business, followers or monetisation:

1/Help encourage you to write more - a place to write and a place to publish.

2/ Learning to practice putting things out into the world and gaining confidence through doing.

3/ Finding community; people around us to motivate and uplift us.

Finally, I share my plans for a future writing retreat in Wales with Sean Tucker and more details for the Creative Light Festival in Harris in October 2025.

Some Links that may be helpful

Creative Festival

Writing Retreat

Substack / Newsletter

Dear readers, I hope you enjoy this meditation, which I wrote while thinking about a time of year when there can be many pressures. It is accompanied by a video from my home in Harris, and the music was a commissioned piece by Will Collant.

Sending love, Margaret

Send us a text

A. S. Apothecary is a crofting enterprise based on the Isle of Harris. Their work is deeply rooted in the ethos of therapeutic plant work. Join Margaret as she talks to Amanda who is the founder, plantswoman and gatherer, distiller and creative force behind A.S Apothecary.

This chat gently guides you through the process of how they cultivate a diverse range of therapeutic plants on their croft organically. They grown lush plants on the croft and in a huge greenhouse which 'meanders like a garden' inside. Hear how they wild harvest and use the plants for their products.

The Imagery is so powerful - the scent and atmosphere in their workshop is almost tangible. You can feel the passion for their work flow throughout. They produce skin care, Wild Eve, speciality teas, tinctures, first aid kits and even roast coffee!

A wonderful calm and soothing journey through nature - do not miss this.

You can find A.S. Apothecary on Instagram
Their website is www.asapoth.com

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https://creative-light.co.uk/

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https://creative-haven.newzenler.com

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Dr Marie-Lise Schlappy joins me to chat about HSP's ( Highly Sensitive Persons.)

HSP, is a term coined by psychologist Elaine Aron who has written several books on the subject. You can find more on her website https://hsperson.com/

We chat about how the traits are different to introversion, but a large proportion of introverts are HSP's

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A solo episode from Margaret recorded out by the water with bird sounds in the background. Living more slowly and in tune with nature and how silence and nature sounds help soothe the nervous system. Cooking and baking and other creative activities that help slow down and live better.
Documenting the wildlife and flowers that surrounds me in a small area around my house.
Why creativity is important - it gives you the tools for coping and releasing emotions during difficult times in life. Making a date with being creative and allowing time for play.
What are the circumstances in which you feel creative - begin to notice and then repeat when you feel the need to feel inspired.

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Out on the kayak on the Isle of Harris, Margaret shares her thoughts along with the sounds of the birds and the water all around.
Immerse into the peace and quiet of the early morning on the island with Margaret.
Margaret shares thoughts about overwhelm and how to narrow down which channels to use for yourself.
A comment on Neale James' recent podcast with Sean Tucker where they chat about overthinking and how to learn to listen to your own intuition and not be distracted by whether your art or writing or music will be liked by others.

Some thoughts on journalling and how writing things down can mean the difference between remembering important things. As well as some readings from Margaret's notebooks.

Neale James Photowalk podcast with Sean Tucker

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Listen in to Margaret as she shares her thoughts on this period of rest, regeneration, and self-compassion that she has been practicing recently.

She covers numerous topics and, in her own unique way, explains how she has consciously slowed her life down, prioritizing rest recuperation and meditation, which she instinctively knows is needed for her well-being.

Sometimes, that space to breathe and not to be doing, reading and mindful activities can really spark creativity and thought processes back into action. She is particularly enjoying listening to the sounds of nature at the moment - the birds and barking seals, for instance, are all very soothing.

Neale James Podcast episode

Joey Hulins website

Find Beach art by Dorothy atTraigh Alba

Sign up to the next Creative Light Festival here:
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Follow me on Instagram:
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Join my online Creative Haven community :
https://creative-haven.newzenler.com