Seeking Feminine Solace Over the Seas!!!

Where I travelled:

Delightfully, I indeed found what I needed overseas, discovered several healing feminine sites, objects, places, and sentient beings.  

Here is my story about a number of unfolding experiences, in three countries, over a six week period, that have put me back together and that have revealed that the feminine is a significant healing energy that can transform old and traumatized women like myself and reward with magical experiences!!!

It is the ‘being’ energy that is most comfortable for the feminine side of ourselves.

I was searching for the feminine, in Crete but I was also seeking my own inner guidance as to how to be on this trip and how to let myself be guided by inner promptings.  

My only pre organized agenda was accommodation bookings, otherwise I had no plans.  So, in Loutro, staying right on the sea, I lazed in bed looking out the window as ferries and boats plied the little bay.  

I watched sunsets at little bars and every evening meal was fresh fish caught in the ocean that day.  I did practically nothing else.  

Having arrived by ferry, my car left at the mainland port, I had nowhere to drive, and I wasn’t going to push myself to hike (although it is a hiking mecca and many tourists were hiking).  

I lazed, I ate, I read, I searched the horizon.  I did nothing, and of course it’s the ‘being’ energy that is most comfortable for the feminine side of ourselves.  

After three days I returned to the mainland and drove to Myrthios.  This is a tiny village above a seaside resort called Plakias.  I had a huge villa in Myrthios with a mezzanine bedroom and a kitchenette.  Again, I didn’t push myself, I was listening to my needs.  I did just one thing per day, usually involving a short drive and a walk to the site.  

I visited a monastery, a special palm filled beach inlet, and a town in the mountains above a gorge.  Later in the day I did more relaxing, and plenty of swimming in the resort infinity pool that had views to die for out over the Libyan Sea (swimming was ok by then.  The pool was warm and the Cretan weather  was warming up!!). 

Time to move on again, to Axos, a tiny village in the mountains, near Mount Pilates, and the gorgeous eco resort of Enogron.  I hit gold at this place!!!  Located in what felt like the middle of nowhere, Enagron was really a collection of gorgeous villas, a stunning infinity pool looking over the side of a cliff, and many choices of classes and activities to participate in if you so wished.  

Recovered from covid totally by now, I did a botanical tour of the property, learnt how to taste olive oil and did a Cretan cookery class.  My fellow travellers were like minded people, enjoying the authentic buildings, the Cretan hospitality, the “green” values, and the chance to dine together every night.  

My thirty years of psychological practice have resulted in much accumulated knowledge of the profession, and of working with people.  New graduates are often filled with theory, protocol and policy by their universities, and I believe it is helpful to open up those beginning in the field, to what really helps people, the humanity of the work so to speak.  I shared with Sophie my belief that it’s the deep, trusting and complex relationship with the therapist that is most important, where listening, understanding and respect are the driving priorities.  

Travels to the West

I reluctantly left Enagron for the seaside town of Agios Nikolaos.  Still without GPS, but armed with a huge map of Crete, I did the long slep to the western side of the island, probably stopping ten times for assistance in finding the Villa Olga.  Eventually, after passing it many times, there it was, and a lovely stay ensued.  I continued to meander my way around the countryside, an intuitive nosiness, finding interesting sites.

 I did my one indulgence of retail therapy in a clothing retailer, a lovely dress shop, where time was not of the essence and the ladies indulged my tryings on.  With the appropriate linen capri pants, and aquamarine blouse, I could indulge my inner Katherine Hepburn and enjoy a chic leisure ensemble.