Dear Lionies,
As I write to you today on December 31st, 2024, I reflect on the incredible journey I’ve experienced throughout 2024. This past year has been one of profound healing and self-discovery. I continue the ongoing process of integrating trauma and reconnecting with my authentic self, a part of me that had been buried for so long.
When I started Wild Lion*esses Pride, I envisioned it as a space to share my reflections, art, and experiences. Over time, it has become so much more—a vital connection to like-minded individuals and those who share similar interests. I have built meaningful relationships through my improv group, therapists, and coaches in Hannover, just over an hour away. Yet, here in Einbeck, social connection remains elusive. My closest friend lives 300 kilometers away, making the kindness and engagement I find here all the more significant.
Your encouragement and support have provided a sense of connection that has helped me rediscover my voice and feel truly seen.
A Journey Through the Canyons
This past year has been unlike any before. I moved beyond simply wandering and began to actively map, measure, and chart the vast terrain of my canyon. Each step reveals intricate stories and allows me to see this space as a connected and living whole.
As I explore, I see how suffering arises when I search for stability and meaning in transient elements—relationships, achievements, material possessions—rather than in the enduring truth of who I am. The canyon itself teaches me this lesson. Its geological formations, shaped by time, pressure, and experience, mirror the constancy within me. The sun, steady and unchanging, illuminates my path, reminding me that even as circumstances shift, the essence of who I am remains unwavering. True peace and freedom come from recognizing and living from this unchanging awareness.
Each canyon wall, marked by trauma and resilience, holds unique stories etched into its surfaces. I trace the textures—the graininess, the toughness, the smooth and jagged edges of sediments. The richness of its colors shifts with the seasons, each shade reflecting a part of my journey, and I honor the beauty and complexity of this evolving landscape.
The canyon invites me to investigate what remains beneath the fluctuations of life. It speaks as I listen and learn. I identify which plants nourish me and which to leave untouched. The animals within its bounds, each carrying their own rhythm and wisdom, guide me toward living in harmony with this space. I look to the sky, to the stars and planets—silent witnesses to my journey—and feel their steady presence illuminating what might still be hidden in shadow.
Through my art and writing, I illuminate these spaces further. Each creation offers glimpses into the healing and discoveries that come with rewilding—shedding what no longer serves me and embracing the untamed essence of who I am. Cooking and creating art ground me in the present moment. Whether kneading dough or blending vibrant hues in digital designs, these practices provide expression and solace.
And then, on some days, the miracle unfolds. Through sensing, feeling, touching, and listening, I merge with the canyon itself. I no longer stand apart from its vastness but become the canyon—its rock formations, flowing waters, and vibrant life.
This process is not rooted in resilience or strength, but in a refusal to live from sorrow or carry forward the weight of old narratives. Like the canyon, I find freedom in releasing what no longer serves and embracing what remains. Each path I walk and every stone I touch contributes to a greater whole. When I pause—when I simply am—the canyon reveals itself fully, allowing me to experience its timelessness and my own.
The canyon is no longer a place of entrapment or survival. It is a teacher, a home, and a reflection of my own vast and enduring essence.
Looking Ahead
As 2025 unfolds, I remain deeply committed to three guiding intentions: healing, connection, and authorship. These intentions shape both my personal journey and the stories, art, and reflections I share here.
Healing continues as an ongoing process, woven into the exploration of my Canyon Model, which I’m gradually crafting into a book. It reflects the integration of past experiences and the discovery of new depths within myself.
Connection takes center stage as I seek to counter the isolation I’ve endured for much of my life. This year, I hope to deepen existing bonds, foster new ones, and use this space to nurture meaningful interactions and a sense of belonging.
Authorship empowers me to claim my narrative—not just in writing the book but in shaping how I live, speak, and create. From art and photography to recipes and reflections, every piece I share forms part of a broader tapestry of self-expression and growth.
Through these intentions, I will continue to explore themes of dignity, intersectionality, and the power of communication. Weekly intentions, affirmations, and recipes will remain a source of joy and grounding, reflecting my commitment to offering nourishment for both body and spirit.
Thank you for joining me on this journey. Together, we can continue to uncover new lay
What to Expect in 2025
This year, Wild Lion*esses Pride will continue to evolve, with a few key themes guiding my exploration:
Art as a Reflection of the Inner Journey
Expect more of my photography and digital art, where colors, textures, and symbolism weave the story of my ongoing journey. Art will remain a space where words can’t always reach—a visual expression of dignity, resilience, and hope.
Dignity and Intersectionality
I’ll dive deeper into these essential themes, exploring how they shape our lives and relationships. Through personal stories and thoughtful reflections, I hope to shed light on the role history and systemic forces play in our individual and collective journeys.
The Power of Communication
Language connects and divides, reveals and conceals. This year, I’ll examine the role of communication in crafting our narratives—both the ones we tell ourselves and the ones we share with the world.
Diversity Matters
Diversity remains at the heart of this space. I’ll continue to celebrate the richness of human experience while exploring how we can navigate our differences with compassion and understanding.
Intentions, Affirmations, and Nourishment
I’ll keep sharing my weekly intentions and affirmations, alongside stories of cooking and food—both as a creative outlet and as a source of comfort and connection. Recipes will remain a delicious way to nourish not just our bodies but also our spirits.
My Continuing Journey
While much of my Canyon Model is reserved for the book I’m crafting, I will continue sharing my insights and discoveries with you. Together, we’ll explore the big picture as it unfolds, one bite-sized piece at a time.
An Invitation to Reflect
As we embark on the new year 2025 together, I invite you to consider:
How do the stories we carry—our histories, identities, and experiences—shape the way we navigate the world?
This space exists to honor those stories, to celebrate the messiness and the beauty of the wild canyons we traverse.
It’s a space for reflection, connection, and growth—a place where we can roar together in our individuality and our shared humanity.
To my readers, followers, and subscribers
Thank you for being part of this journey, it means so much to me.
Your presence and support make Wild Lion*esses Pride what it is—a space of authenticity, courage, and community. Whether you’ve shared a comment, subscribed, or simply taken the time to read, you are an essential part of this pride.
In 2025, let’s continue exploring the wild, untamed landscapes of our lives. Together, we’ll uncover new layers of dignity, creativity, and connection, and we’ll keep building a world where every story matters.
With love and wildness,
Would you be willing to Support My Work and Subscribe as well as Contribute? It would mean so much to me!
Creating art, testing recipes, and sharing my reflections here is a labor of love, but it also comes with real costs. As someone on sick leave for mental health challenges since January 2024, currently without a clear path back to work, I rely on a disposable income of €350 / $380 a month to support myself and my cat Monty.
Monty: Yes please give me treats! Then I will purr for each of you. 😻
If my writing, art, and recipes resonate with you, I would be incredibly grateful if you would consider supporting my work with a paid subscription to Wild Lionesses Pride*.
Your subscription helps keep this space ad-free, reader-supported, and accessible to everyone, while also supporting the time, creativity, and resources I dedicate to this work.
If a paid subscription isn’t feasible right now, you can also show your support with a one-time tip via my Tip Jar here.
Thank you for your kindness and generosity—it truly makes a difference. Together, we’re creating a space of reflection, creativity, and connection, and I’m so grateful you’re part of this journey.
Wild Lionesses Pride* is a reader-supported publication, free from ads and algorithms.
If my work resonates with you, I’d be grateful if you shared it with others who might find it meaningful, helping to grow this vibrant community of reflection and connection.
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