Episode 1.1 Veronique: Welcome to the very first episode of our podcast. We’re so excited to be starting here. I just wanna say that we’re not really here as teachers. Well, I kind of see you as a teacher a little bit more than me anyways, but I think we’re also both learners, we’re both like, kind of walking this path. Um, and we’re excited. Paola: And I think this year I feel like we wanna take this and do the path that we’re traveling, you know? So each episode for us is gonna be a step, and hopefully by the end of the year we can look back and reflect how far we’ve come, what are some things that we changed, what are some things that surprised us, or you know, what are some gentle shifts we wish we taken or that we want to take for the new year? ’cause there’s always room to grow and change. So this is how we’re gonna take it, and we’re hoping you guys come with us and travel the path with us. Okay. So, before we dive into today’s conversation, we wanted to share on how we’re gonna shape the year ahead. So the way we’ve designed this podcast is super gently. It’s not gonna be forced, gonna be a bunch of themes that focus on growth, healing, and self understanding. Veronique: Each month we’ll also share resources that go along with the theme. Some will be free. Free! Paola: We love free things! Veronique: And some will be premium and some will be physical tools that you can hold in your hand. And speaking of this, I have something for you before we go any further. These are the, , journals. I got it for you in both English and Spanish because I personally noticed that I think differently in different languages . And so I feel that sometimes you might. Reflect in a certain way in English and reflect in a different way in Spanish. And now you’ve got the opportunity to do both. Paola: Absolutely. Thank you so much. And honestly, just opening them now, I’m noticing first off, how there’s a lot of space for me to write and reflect. And I like how it sets, like there’s like a quote that kind of sets your day, like your intention for the day. Love that. Love that. And we love birds. I have some bird earrings. Veronique: And I have a bird necklace! Paola: We’re decked out.. So I Think that that’s really cool. And then for me, because I’m super artsy and I love to draw and, make art, um, there’s a lot of space for me to, to do that. Like it’s all open. So, it’s not overwhelming at all. It’s gentle and it just invites you to do it, so this is awesome. Thank you so much. Veronique: You’re welcome. I’m so excited to share it with you. Okay, so the Reflection Journal before we get further into our podcast, reflection Journal is available in a monthly free digital, so you can go on our website, www.sanctuary-of-wings.com. You can actually download the monthly, every month you get like a small monthly file and download it for free. Or you can buy the full version, either the book or, there’s a digital full version and the full version. The difference it has is it has the monthly and weekly and right now the Spanish version is only available in physical copy that’s it for the journal. Paola: And if you’re watching the video version, you’ll see, for example, there’s the physical and it’s so I love it. But even the free digital version is enough for you to just, like, you don’t need to be worried, oh, I’m waiting for shipping, or, I don’t have the funds ready. Don’t make excuses for yourself. Just do it. Just do it. Just go! Veronique: We want people to do it. To keep us accountable. Paola: Exactly. We keep each other accountable, so. Veronique: Yeah, exactly. Paola: We’re keeping you accountable too. And um, with that being said, there’s also something else. So there’s the free vision board activity sheet. So it looks like this. This is printed out, and then that’s the back. So, um, it’s simple, it’s printable and it helps you map out and kind of set, invite yourself of what you think your year could look like. And again, it is just from a curious perspective, it’s not meant to be any type of pressure or anything. Veronique: We have stickers for it! So you can actually download these digital speakers and you can print them like I did here. Or you can just like if you’re using it on a digital… I’ve got like these formats… Paola: Amazing and we’re gonna do these ourselves as well and bring them back maybe on another, another podcast. Veronique: I’m excited to share that. Paola: yeah. Veronique: Okay. So now we’re going to the main part of the podcast. So this is gonna be like, what’s the recurring part? Where is the conversation? Well, that’s the part that I’m the most excited about because yeah. I’m excited about having these conversations. Paola: Yeah, absolutely. Veronique: Um, so how it works is we’re gonna have just the smallest topic. And they’re gonna be like our guides and they’re not scripts. So we might get a little bit off topic sometimes, but I think… Paola: that’s cool. Fine. Veronique: No, it’s, that’s fun. That’s but the, their starting point that helps us stay grounded and that they still leave space for intuition… Paola: and learning because I learn things from her and she’ll learn things from me. And I think that’s the best way. So Veronique: I, I feel like I, I like on that kind of gentle path, I’m definitely like a student. but I am very… eager Paola: Absolutely. We, we like that. We definitely
A gentle conversation about beginnings, presence, and the art of showing up for your own life. Episode Video + Audio Section Watch the Episode https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fyZoQlguDK0 Listen on Spotify Episode Summary This first episode of Notes from the Sanctuary explores what it means to truly arrive in your own life. We talk about the emotional texture of a new year, the gentle art of beginning again, and the small somatic cues that help us stay present. This conversation set the tone for our entire January theme, Foundations of a Gentle Life, and it gave us more goosebumps than we expected. Key Themes We Explore the emotional texture of a new year the shift from comparison to grounding the art of beginning again vision boards as self listening somatic cues of presence Favorite Moments From the Conversation the moment Véronique got goosebumps when something resonated Paola’s insight about being gentle with herself even though she’s gentle with everyone else our shared laugh about “baby adult” years Resources Mentioned January Reflection Journal (free monthly download) Full Digital Reflection Journal Full Physical Reflection Journal (English & Spanish editions) Vision Board Activity Sheet Printable Sticker Sheet Transcript See our Episode 1.1 Transcript here. Behind the Scenes Read the Behind‑the‑Scenes Post for Episode 1 (We also included our favourite bloopers from Episodes 1 and 2 in the behind‑the‑scenes post. They’re chaotic, adorable, and very “us.”)
Launching Notes from the Sanctuary has felt a little like stepping into a new room in our own home. Familiar, but filled with possibility. After more than a month of dreaming, planning, and gently nudging ourselves forward, we finally filmed our first two podcast episodes. Episode One was released last Thursday, January 15th, and Episode Two will follow next Thursday. Now that the dust has settled (and our lovingly created cozy study backdrop has been temporarily returned to its dining room function until the next filming day), we wanted to share a few reflections from behind the scenes. What surprised us, what challenged us, and what made us smile. The Joys and the Challenges of Filming Our First Episodes Filming a podcast is an adventure. A fun one, a messy one, and definitely a humbling one. We learned very quickly that speaking into a microphone is not the same as speaking across a table. I personally discovered that I do not speak as clearly as I thought I did (which I am now taking as a gentle invitation to slow down, breathe, and articulate with intention). Even with the learning curves, so much went beautifully right. The backdrop we created in my dining room felt warm and inviting (exactly the environment we hoped to bring you into). The conversational tone we wanted came naturally, and the flow between us felt grounded and intuitive. That was one of the biggest gifts. Realizing that the heart of the podcast, the conversation itself, felt effortless. We also have new equipment on the way (because of course we do), and we are excited to keep refining the sound, the visuals, and the overall experience. This project is alive, evolving, and teaching us as we go. January’s Theme: Foundations of a Gentle Life Each month, our podcast explores a theme that supports growth, healing, and self understanding. For January, we chose Foundations of a Gentle Life, which felt like the perfect doorway into a new year. Episode One centers on Arriving to Yourself, and in many ways, that is exactly what filming this first episode felt like. We were arriving awkwardly, joyfully, imperfectly into a new creative chapter. Here are a few of the ideas we explored in the episode: These conversations gave us goosebumps more than once (those little somatic sparks that say yes, this matters). What Episode One Taught Us Episode One was not just a recording session. It was a mirror. It showed us where we are strong, where we are still learning, and where we are growing into ourselves as creators. It reminded us that: We are calling Episode One a success not because it was flawless, but because it felt true. It felt like us. And that is the foundation we want to build everything else on. If You Haven’t Listened Yet Episode One, Arriving to Yourself, is now available on our website and podcast platforms. It is a soft beginning, a grounding breath, and an invitation to step into the year with curiosity instead of pressure. Next week, Episode Two will explore Intentions and Gratitude, continuing our January theme with warmth and depth. We will share a separate blog post for that episode soon. Thank you for being here at the very beginning of this journey. We are learning, we are growing, and we are so grateful to be doing it alongside you.
As we say goodbye to 2025, many of us feel the familiar pull to reflect — to sort through the good and the bad, to celebrate what we’ve survived, and to feel grateful for what we’re leaving behind. It’s become a bit of a tradition to look back on the year with exhaustion, to name the chaos and hope the next one will be kinder. And when we look at the state of the world, at what media feeds us daily, it makes perfect sense. But what has your year been like? Last night, I sat with my teens and asked that question. And we realized something surprising: while the world outside felt like it was on fire, our personal bubble had been… gentle. Quiet. Healing. 2025 wasn’t loud, but it was a year of regaining our footing after a few hard ones. My youngest found a school where they feels safe. They received an autism diagnosis that helped them feel seen, and they rekindled a beautiful old friendship. My oldest has been moving in and out of depression — but more and more, he’s coming out. We have plans. We’re looking ahead with cautious optimism. We lost our beloved bird, Sunshine. But we welcomed two cockatiels who needed a safe home, and I’m waiting for their feathers to grow back before I introduce them properly (before and after photos included). Our home is now filled with plants, laughter, and a few unexpected friendships that have deeply nourished me. There’s a man in my life whose presence continues to teach me patience, calm, and gentle resilience. He didn’t arrive in 2025, but every year, his peaceful influence deepens. I feel secure, grounded, and supported. My work life became less chaotic. I found peace in the midst of surreal headlines and heartbreaking stories. I focused on what I could change. I built strong foundations — within my family, within my circle of influence. I helped others where I could, not always with money, but with care. And that grounded me. For me, 2025 was a year of building the foundation I needed to create a beautiful 2026. And now, we rise Technically, a new year is just a reset on a random calendar. But symbolically, it’s an invitation: to rest, reflect, and rise. And with the start of this calendar year, I’m officially launching Sanctuary of Wings. It’s a business, yes — but it’s also a path. A shared journey. A space to build a great year together, where we focus inward and outward, within our circle of influence. We’ll work on building what we already have. We’ll find gratefulness. We’ll find peace. We’ll find strength. What’s launching today What I’m most excited about is writing this post next year — looking back at what changed, how we grew, and what we built together. I hope you’ll join me in creating a calm, strong, and intentional 2026. Let’s make things happen — gently, powerfully, and with purpose. With love,
Reality is more complicated than we can believe. Everywhere we look, something seems to be shifting. On the surface, it feels chaotic — every time we turn on the news, we see stories that make us doubt reality. Things sound stranger than fiction. We see what looks like the start of revolutions, wars, governments unraveling. It feels like everything is falling apart. But when I look closer — inside my circle, inside my community — I see the duality more clearly. Alongside the chaos, I see compassion. I see people working on themselves, tending to their healing. I’m having conversations that would have sounded insane in the 90s, yet now they feel natural, even necessary. Division and Polarization One of the clearest signs of this turbulence is the division we’re living through. Polarization has deepened across countries and communities. Nationalism is rising in ways that feel both familiar and unsettling. People are pulled into extremes, convinced that only one side holds the truth. It feels surreal — like watching a script unfold that we once thought belonged only to dystopian novels or movies. And yet, here we are, living inside it. COVID as Catalyst? COVID was another turning point. A global pandemic that sounded like fiction suddenly became our reality. It exposed fragility in our systems, widened divisions, and forced us to confront mortality and uncertainty together. At the same time, it awakened compassion. We saw neighbors helping neighbors, communities finding new ways to connect, people re‑evaluating what matters most. COVID became both a wound and a mirror — showing us the cracks, but also showing us the resilience. Science and Spirituality Begin to Meet Quantum physics talks about energy, interconnectedness, and the way observation itself changes reality. The discovery of the Higgs boson shifted how many scientists saw the universe — proof that invisible fields shape everything we know. And then there are the synchronicities. They seem to be everywhere. People I’ve always felt were more connected are even more so now. Children I know are predicting things before they happen. My logical mind fights with my gut feelings, but the signs keep appearing. Ancient Echoes of Change Many ancient cultures spoke of times like this: Across cultures, chaos is never random. It is always a sign of transition, a doorway into something new. Astrology and the Ages Astrologers speak of ages — long cycles shaped by the movement of the equinox through the zodiac. Many believe we are shifting from the Age of Pisces into the Age of Aquarius, a time of collective vision, innovation, and higher consciousness. And here’s where my logical mind stumbles. I can’t wrap my head around the absolute insanity of believing that the star configuration at the moment we were born could explain so much about us. And yet — I see truth in it. I see patterns that repeat, archetypes that resonate, energies that seem to align with what’s happening in the world. Maybe astrology is less about prediction and more about language — a way of naming energies we already feel. The Flip Side of Awakening Acceleration brings paradox: I still struggle to fully believe in these energies. My logical mind wants proof. Yet everywhere I look, I see signs. And maybe the truth is that both sides are real — the chaos and the compassion, the collapse and the renewal. Closing Thoughts It feels to me like we are being invited into our own flight lessons — learning, strengthening our wings, and rising together in a time of great change. And yet I wonder: Does it matter if all of this is literally true? If choosing to see hope alongside the chaos helps us heal, helps us grow, helps us strengthen our wings — is that harmful? If believing in energies, synchronicities, or epoch shifts gives us courage to face the turbulence, maybe the truth lies less in the facts and more in the transformation they inspire. Perhaps the real awakening is not about proving what is real, but about how we choose to live in the face of uncertainty. And if that choice leads us toward compassion, healing, and renewal, then maybe the belief itself becomes part of the medicine. 🪶 Reflection Prompt Take a quiet moment and ask yourself: In the midst of division and chaos, what signs of compassion or awakening have I noticed in my own life?
In the Toltec world, dreams are not just stories of the night — they are places of remembering, spaces where the spirit wanders freely and receives what the waking mind is too busy to hear. When a hummingbird appears in this inner landscape, it arrives as a tender guide, carrying messages wrapped in colour, movement, and quiet sweetness. A hummingbird in a dream is a visitation of the heart. It comes softly, but never without purpose. What the Hummingbird Brings Into the Dreaming Its presence often signals that something within you is ready to awaken — a truth, a joy, a courage you may have forgotten. In dreams, the hummingbird invites you to notice: It moves quickly, but its medicine is gentle. It shows you how to touch many inner flowers without losing your center. A Messenger Between Realms In Toltec dreaming, the hummingbird is known as a bridge‑walker — a being who can slip between worlds with ease. When it visits your dreams, it may be carrying: Its ability to hover in stillness mirrors your own ability to pause, breathe, and listen deeply. If a Hummingbird Has Visited Your Dreams Ask yourself softly: The hummingbird doesn’t arrive with loud messages. It arrives with felt truth — the kind that lands in the chest before it becomes words. A Closing Dream Reflection If a hummingbird has crossed into your dreams, consider it a blessing. A reminder that even in the quietest hours, you are guided. You are held. You are being led toward lightness, clarity, and the soft renewal of the heart. The hummingbird comes to show you that your inner wings are ready — even if you don’t feel it yet.
