Spring has finally arrived, blessing the land with early blooms while gentle rain showers come to nourish them. With my recent move coinciding with the changing season (a welcome synchronicity), reflections began to sprout in my mind about what it means to live and thrive in foreign soil, in an environment different from the one in which you originally grew.

My journey as an expatriate – a transplant, if you will – has been one of discovery and growth, shaped by my deepening connection to the land and its inhabitants. From the moment I set my eyes on this corner of the world, awed by the majestic sight of Tahoma in the distance, I felt it. I couldn’t put words on this feeling at the time, but I recognized intuitively that I was entering into a sacred relationship with this gorgeous place I was about to call home.

In the early days of my expatriation, I immediately found myself drawn to the beauty of the wilderness that surrounded me. Hiking through rugged mountain trails where the most enchanting alpine lakes live, wandering through ancient rainforests (an ecosystem completely different from what I was used to up until then), getting to know and meet the wildlife roaming the land… These days were filled with a sense of wonder and reverence, a sentiment I have since learned to cultivate and nurture through as many encounters with the natural world as possible, each of them a reminder of the sacredness of life.

You see, these “outdoors adventures” quickly became more than that, they shifted into spiritual journeys, guiding me towards a deeper understanding of my place in the Living World. In the vastness of the wilderness, among towering fir trees and cedars, I often found clarity and perspective. And I have come to understand that animism is not just a belief system that occasionally lingered in the back of my mind. It’s my whole way of life, the web that weaves itself throughout all of my days, permeating through every activity and creative project I engage in. It’s a constant, a pillar of my existence, a way of being that has taught me to approach the world with curiosity and respect, to pay attention to the whispers of the wind and the wisdom of the Earth, and celebrate Nature’s beauty at every occasion.

Unsurprisingly, being a transplant has reinforced the idea that I am indeed an outsider, a stranger who values time spent alone, away from the chaos that is modern life right now. But fully embracing animism and reincorporating meaningful spiritual practices into my daily life has been transformative. I have found a sense of belonging in this place that transcends the boundaries of geographical and administrative borders. Through small gestures and rituals that honor the Earth and its inhabitants, I’ve come to recognize that I am an integral part of it all, a participant in something greater than myself. Most importantly, I realized that wherever I stand, I am never truly alone.

With that said, I have never questioned whether I would ever really belong in this new land. I knew, right from the start. And with each passing season I got to spend here, I have come to understand that belonging isn’t about where you come from, but rather where you choose to put down your roots. Furthermore, being a transplant does not mean losing your ability to flourish. In fact, I have started to believe that it often means discovering new depths of resilience and strength that you never even knew you possessed.

I am so deeply grateful for that. For the challenges that made me grow during these last years and the moments of beauty and pure joy that have filled me with wonder and enchantment. Today, as I look ahead to the seasons yet to come, I do so with a renewed sense of anticipation and excitement, knowing that no matter where life may take me, I have the capacity to bloom wherever I am planted. And the best part? I will carry a piece of this Land within my Spirit for the rest of my days 💛🌿