The Philippines are a nation which consists of over 7,000 islands, each of which has a unique and substantial history, and each of which has bookshelves of stories to tell. The mystical island of Siquijor, home to the Old Enchanted Balete Tree, is no exception. In fact, it is
While travelling across South East Asia earlier this year, I kept seeing small, ornate shrines in various unexpected places. On streets corners, outside various buildings and inside homes and businesses, people across Indochina keep shrines known as spirit houses. Indochina? The nations of Thailand, Myanmar (previously called Burma), Cambodia, Vietnam,
On the 7th of June 2024, I checked in to the International Buddhist Center at Doi Suthep Temple, just outside the city of Chiang Mai in northern Thailand. After hearing about vipassana meditation retreats online and from fellow travellers on my trip, I felt inspired, and wanted to spend some
James Arthur Baldwin was an established African-American writer born in 1924 in Harlem, New York. Best known for his essays, which usually contained social commentary with a focus on race relation and queer rights, the writer also wrote many notable novels and other works; all of which are held in
Nestled amongst 7,640 other islands in the Philippines, Siquijor is known for a plethora of reasons. Its beautiful waterfalls, beaches and luxurious resorts, as well as the various tourist activities available there, make it a popular vacation destination for holiday-goers around the globe. However, it’s its spiritual heritage
When I visited a faith healer on the island of Siquijor by the name of Annie Ponce, I was welcomed into what seemed like her family home. Annie Ponce took us into her healing practice room, where Catholicism were prevalent, and depictions of Jesus Christ adorned the walls. I sat
El Camino de Santiago, or The Way of Saint James, is the name of the pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostela, in north-western Spain. With medieval roots dating back over 1000 years, it remains a popular route today - taken by countless people from across the world each year. The History
The origin of the coffee bean, one of the world's first countries and even regarded by some as the biblical Garden of Eden, Ethiopia is a unique and interesting country for a multitude of reasons. Located in Eastern Africa, Ethiopia is the only country in its continent to
Zoroastrianism is regarded as one of the first monotheistic faiths - meaning it centered around the worship of one omnipotent, all-powerful God - and can be traced back to around 600BC in ancient Persia, now known as Iran. A highly influential religion, it is thought that Zoroastrianism helped form some
For many creatives, a newly uncovered sense of threat and uncertainty surrounds the subject of AI art. This year, the real power of modern artificial intelligence has been revealed, with Chat GPT composing detailed responses to questions within seconds, and new generative AI art software churning out images at a
Across the world, many communities tap into the natural world around them, using plants and their properties not only for sustenance and fuel for the body, but also for spiritual guidance and growth. Meet Silene Capensis, one of the natural world's many wonders. Also known as African Dream
Born in Brazil's capital, Rio de Janeiro, Paulo Coelho is an internationally renowned author. After being admitted into a psychiatric hospital for questioning and not complying with the expectations of his Roman-Catholic society, Coelho travelled far from home, through Europe and Northern Africa. His work pertains to spiritual