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Browsing Tag

make a wish

be
never stop dreaming.

for all of us waiting for wishes to be granted. peace.…

17 Aug 2013

hello, i’m Liz

A 47 year old from North Carolina living in Norrköping, Sweden. Mystic. Theologian. Teacher. Writer + Photographer. Living a slow, soulful life in rhythm with nature. Loves french fries, meditation, road trips, craft beer + coffee, moon + stars, tapas + wine, the forest + the ocean. Homebody + wanderer. // Sharing it all with her wife, Lina, and Zola the cat.

current season: witch

notes by liz

trending

December 2021
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« Nov

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belovelive.com_

❍ mystic. theologian. teacher.
↟ living a slow, soulful life in rhythm with nature.
☽ sweden based ↟ north carolina native

Welcome to the magic of December! ✨ A time to

Welcome to the magic of December! ✨

A time to find rest in the void. Warmth in solitude. Hope in the dark. Silence in the stillness.

A time for listening, waiting, tending, healing.

A time of night. Of dark caves + frozen forests + frosted windowpanes. Of stars and moon and cold winds and silent snow, if you’re lucky.

A time to turn inward. Surrounded by candles. Wrapped up in blankets. Watching the fire. Sipping on mulled wine. Hearing the bells of the season. Decking the halls. Reflecting on the year.

_________

These are the darkest weeks of the entire year + I’m creating space for solitude to start each day. So, join me as I write, reflect, and carve out a little soul time every morning from now until the Winter Solstice.

I’ll share a daily post on the blog to help us count down + stay mindful as we move through the magic of December.

Link in my bio! 👆🏼

{ 11.21 } I love all of my little photo collages f

{ 11.21 } I love all of my little photo collages from this month. As I scroll through them I feel eeeeverything. Because November felt like eeeeverything.

I’m sensing that is actually the theme of 2021. Something I’ve already written a little about in my Thanksgiving blog post.

But, seriously, every month so far this year, has lifted me up + brought me down. I’ve felt bliss and heartbreak. And everything in-between.

And November, you’ve been no different.

Still, I feel like I’m evolving + transforming + understanding + accepting + anchoring myself to much deeper roots and a much higher awareness.

So, dear November, thank you for all of the dark, cozy moments. Thank you for the lessons. And even for the exhaustion. Thank you for your deep, mystical call to stay slow + present.

I’m going to stay with that mood as I quietly shift into the magic, the ceremony, the rituals, the traditions, and the silence of December. 🕯

#monthbymonthwithliz
#novembermood

// Day 30 • Wait // I can’t believe it’s ti

// Day 30 • Wait //

I can’t believe it’s time for the last post of November. And I really can’t believe that I managed to create a photo every single day. It turns out that this was the perfect way for me to not only make my way through the darkest, dreariest month of the year, but a way to learn to appreciate it + experience it with a much more mindful, grateful attitude.

Plus, a bonus is that I have documented my November with not only photos, but also words + reflections.

So, now that this month + The November Gathering is over, I’m very excited + ready to shift into the magic of December.

But, now come the absolute darkest weeks of the year… and they call me to stay slow, embrace the solitude + silence of winter, and simply wait + listen.

So, starting tomorrow (Dec 1), I’m carving out some solitary time every morning until the winter solstice on the 21st. I’ll open my crystal Advent calendar, listen to my Yuletide playlist, and share a BLOGMAS.

What’s BLOGMAS?!

I’ll be writing + posting every day on my blog… from December 1-22. I have no plans for what I’m going to write, no themes, no ideas, nothing. My plan is to let my soul speak and to document my days on the blog instead of here on Instagram.

So, stay tuned and watch out each day on IG stories for a link to the post of the day.

For now, I’m going to slowly soak in the last day of November just a little bit longer. And, honestly, I’m feeling a little nostalgic + melancholic that it’s almost over.

🧡

#thenovgathering #decemberdaily #blogmas #mycreativespace #awriterslife #adventmood #holidaymood #lastdayofnovember #earthmedicine #modernmystic #smallmomentsofcalm

// Day 29 • Inward // As the end of November ap

// Day 29 • Inward //

As the end of November approaches, I find myself feeling tired. And I can only think that my mind + body + spirit want to follow nature as she settles into the darkest weeks of the year.

So, I am simply creating quiet, slow space for some solitude each day from now until the winter solstice on the 21st of December.

I can’t hibernate in a cave or leave for a silent retreat for 3 weeks… who can do that?

But, I can carve out + prioritize a little space in the dark of the early morning to turn inward and just bask in the magic of the season.

Here’s to taking time to listen + breathe. 🕯

#thenovgathering #solitudeisbliss #winteriscoming #slowitdown #contemplative #modernmystic #aseasonalshift #seasonalliving #calmcollective

// Day 28 • Story // Happy First Sunday in Adve

// Day 28 • Story //

Happy First Sunday in Advent for all who celebrate! For many, this marks the official beginning of the holiday season… Midwinter, Hanukkah, Yule, Christmas…

You know, I think that the holiday season is meant for telling stories.

Of telling stories of our ancestors. Learning, remembering, and practicing old + ancient traditions of the past. Like lighting Advent candles on the 4 Sundays before Christmas. Or listening to the lyrics of our favorite hymns + melodies.

It is the season of gathering around a table or a fire or a room warm with the glow of candlelight to tell stories of today, of our lives, of the trauma and beauty of this past year, of our adventures and our hopes for the year to come.

It is the season of remembering our spiritual stories. The paths we’ve taken. The mystical moments we’ve had. And, returning to the celebrations + ceremonies + practices that keep us grounded + connected to the Source, the divine, the sacred, and our souls.

It is the season for seeking hope in the stories of our lives.

But, more than anything, in our often dark + confusing world, this is the season for deciding how we can continue the stories… of our ancestors, of the spirit, of hope + faith, of our lives.

What stories are waiting to be created + told? What stories do we have to share? How can we honor the stories of the past + write a love-infused story for the future, starting with this holiday season?

Maybe this holiday season, we will slow down just enough to really listen to the stories being told by each other, by our ancestors, by our neighbors, by our families, by the natural world, by the Spirit of season.

Maybe this season we will be brave enough to begin to tell our own story. 🕯

#thenovgathering #smallmomentsofcalm #adventsunday #tellyourstory #lizandlinahome #holidaydecorating #holidaysarehere

// Day 27 • Warm // Yesterday Lina’s choir sa

// Day 27 • Warm //

Yesterday Lina’s choir sang at the zoo/park (where we also celebrated Halloween) just north of the city.

The whole park was decked out with a Nordic winter holiday feeling and it was so gorgeous. The weather was cold, windy and absolutely perfect to welcome in those holiday vibes.

Can’t believe it’s here. Winter, the holidays, the coziest, most magical, deepest, most reflective time of the year.
❄️🕯

#thenovgathering #winteriscomingsoon #holidaymoodon #nordicwinter #kolmårdensdjurpark #sagojul #aseasonalyear #folknature #aslowmoment #warmandtoasty

// Day 26 • Grateful // So grateful for being a

// Day 26 • Grateful //

So grateful for being able to gather so many family members around our table last night. I was soaking it all up, so I only had time for a blurry, action photo in the middle of it all. But, it’s so in the moment - I love it!✌🏼

Now, our Thanksgiving dinner is in our bellies and it’s time to shift to the Yuletide season!

And, I’m beginning it by pulling out all of our Xmas decorations! Who’s decorating now that Thanksgiving is over + Advent is beginning?! 🙋🏼‍♀️

Mostly, though, I’m still basking in the coziness of last night.

As I prepare for the rest of the year, I’m grounding myself with the intention to keep it as slow as possible. And, when it gets too busy, too hurried, too rushed, I’m going to pull back, breathe, and remember that the real magic of the season is found in simply being present.

All right, y’all. So grateful for this season. Let’s do this! 🦃🕯🎄

#thenovgathering #lizandlinahome #thanksgivingdinner #nordiclife #moodytones #familymoment #holidaysarehere #aseasonalyear #folknature #folkandstory #smallmomentsofcalm

// Day 25 • Recipe // Happy Thanksgiving for th

// Day 25 • Recipe //

Happy Thanksgiving for those of you who are celebrating!

2021 has not been at all what I intended + hoped for on the first day of January. It’s been a rough journey, and yet, somehow I cannot ignore how blessed + anchored I am even with the heartbreak, challenges, and growth of this year.

Perhaps that’s what makes the difference… the knowledge that as the years cycle on, I believe more + more that there’s always growth, transformation, and hope.

Sending warm wishes for a few moments of calm for remembering all that is good - even in the middle of all that is messy.

Spending my Thanksgiving weekend remembering holidays past (and cooking my beloved Grandma Ruth’s corn pudding) but more importantly, creating + soaking up a cozy holiday right where I am.

Here’s to each one of you. Blessings, loves!

🧡🕯

#thenovgathering

// Day 24 • Void // In the beginning of Novembe

// Day 24 • Void //

In the beginning of November, I wrote about how this month is like a dark, mysterious void of nothingness. At least, that’s how it feels as the darkness creeps in more and more.

I still believe that. It really is a month that takes a toll on us, I think. Nature slows down to a halt, readying for winter’s rest. The trees are bare. The days are dark. The nights are long. And everything within me just wants to snuggle down as the unknown dark enfolds me.

At the same time, life continues. Activity buzzes all around me. There are things to do, places to be, responsibilities to meet. And it doesn’t feel natural. In fact, it feels like it goes against exactly how my rhythm wants me to be.

So, I do my best to strike a balance. To live in this societal world, but with boundaries. I seek to keep myself as attuned + aligned with the season as I possibly can. And to carve out space for deep presence within each day.

But, when I do that, then I find myself in the dark void of November. And that is often unsettling.

Honestly, it’s easier to move in rhythm with the outer world. Then, I can avoid the shadows, the dark places, the moments of deep reflection that unearth the truth.

But, since we are part of nature, we need this time of the year, this time in the dark, as much as the trees + flowers + earth need it. This time is rich with restoration + wisdom + rest, so we will be even more ready when the light returns.

So, I’m determined to follow November’s mood. I am committed this month to following the mysterious way… to embracing the unknown, to sitting in the dark, to feeling all of the feels, to listening to my intuition, to reading the signs all around me.

Every day is the beginning of a journey into the unknown. I never know how things will be. And I’ll often feel lost + worried. But, the only thing to do is to walk on. A slow, intentional, mindful walk with hope + trust. One tiny step, one tiny moment at a time.

That’s how I survive + thrive in the void. 🖤

#thenovgathering #mindfulliving #slowlivingforlife #novembermood #nordicsky #earlysunset #folknature #aseasonalyear #modernmystic

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Welcome to the magic of December! ✨ A time to

Welcome to the magic of December! ✨

A time to find rest in the void. Warmth in solitude. Hope in the dark. Silence in the stillness.

A time for listening, waiting, tending, healing.

A time of night. Of dark caves + frozen forests + frosted windowpanes. Of stars and moon and cold winds and silent snow, if you’re lucky.

A time to turn inward. Surrounded by candles. Wrapped up in blankets. Watching the fire. Sipping on mulled wine. Hearing the bells of the season. Decking the halls. Reflecting on the year.

_________

These are the darkest weeks of the entire year + I’m creating space for solitude to start each day. So, join me as I write, reflect, and carve out a little soul time every morning from now until the Winter Solstice.

I’ll share a daily post on the blog to help us count down + stay mindful as we move through the magic of December.

Link in my bio! 👆🏼

{ 11.21 } I love all of my little photo collages f

{ 11.21 } I love all of my little photo collages from this month. As I scroll through them I feel eeeeverything. Because November felt like eeeeverything.

I’m sensing that is actually the theme of 2021. Something I’ve already written a little about in my Thanksgiving blog post.

But, seriously, every month so far this year, has lifted me up + brought me down. I’ve felt bliss and heartbreak. And everything in-between.

And November, you’ve been no different.

Still, I feel like I’m evolving + transforming + understanding + accepting + anchoring myself to much deeper roots and a much higher awareness.

So, dear November, thank you for all of the dark, cozy moments. Thank you for the lessons. And even for the exhaustion. Thank you for your deep, mystical call to stay slow + present.

I’m going to stay with that mood as I quietly shift into the magic, the ceremony, the rituals, the traditions, and the silence of December. 🕯

#monthbymonthwithliz
#novembermood

// Day 30 • Wait // I can’t believe it’s ti

// Day 30 • Wait //

I can’t believe it’s time for the last post of November. And I really can’t believe that I managed to create a photo every single day. It turns out that this was the perfect way for me to not only make my way through the darkest, dreariest month of the year, but a way to learn to appreciate it + experience it with a much more mindful, grateful attitude.

Plus, a bonus is that I have documented my November with not only photos, but also words + reflections.

So, now that this month + The November Gathering is over, I’m very excited + ready to shift into the magic of December.

But, now come the absolute darkest weeks of the year… and they call me to stay slow, embrace the solitude + silence of winter, and simply wait + listen.

So, starting tomorrow (Dec 1), I’m carving out some solitary time every morning until the winter solstice on the 21st. I’ll open my crystal Advent calendar, listen to my Yuletide playlist, and share a BLOGMAS.

What’s BLOGMAS?!

I’ll be writing + posting every day on my blog… from December 1-22. I have no plans for what I’m going to write, no themes, no ideas, nothing. My plan is to let my soul speak and to document my days on the blog instead of here on Instagram.

So, stay tuned and watch out each day on IG stories for a link to the post of the day.

For now, I’m going to slowly soak in the last day of November just a little bit longer. And, honestly, I’m feeling a little nostalgic + melancholic that it’s almost over.

🧡

#thenovgathering #decemberdaily #blogmas #mycreativespace #awriterslife #adventmood #holidaymood #lastdayofnovember #earthmedicine #modernmystic #smallmomentsofcalm

// Day 29 • Inward // As the end of November ap

// Day 29 • Inward //

As the end of November approaches, I find myself feeling tired. And I can only think that my mind + body + spirit want to follow nature as she settles into the darkest weeks of the year.

So, I am simply creating quiet, slow space for some solitude each day from now until the winter solstice on the 21st of December.

I can’t hibernate in a cave or leave for a silent retreat for 3 weeks… who can do that?

But, I can carve out + prioritize a little space in the dark of the early morning to turn inward and just bask in the magic of the season.

Here’s to taking time to listen + breathe. 🕯

#thenovgathering #solitudeisbliss #winteriscoming #slowitdown #contemplative #modernmystic #aseasonalshift #seasonalliving #calmcollective

// Day 28 • Story // Happy First Sunday in Adve

// Day 28 • Story //

Happy First Sunday in Advent for all who celebrate! For many, this marks the official beginning of the holiday season… Midwinter, Hanukkah, Yule, Christmas…

You know, I think that the holiday season is meant for telling stories.

Of telling stories of our ancestors. Learning, remembering, and practicing old + ancient traditions of the past. Like lighting Advent candles on the 4 Sundays before Christmas. Or listening to the lyrics of our favorite hymns + melodies.

It is the season of gathering around a table or a fire or a room warm with the glow of candlelight to tell stories of today, of our lives, of the trauma and beauty of this past year, of our adventures and our hopes for the year to come.

It is the season of remembering our spiritual stories. The paths we’ve taken. The mystical moments we’ve had. And, returning to the celebrations + ceremonies + practices that keep us grounded + connected to the Source, the divine, the sacred, and our souls.

It is the season for seeking hope in the stories of our lives.

But, more than anything, in our often dark + confusing world, this is the season for deciding how we can continue the stories… of our ancestors, of the spirit, of hope + faith, of our lives.

What stories are waiting to be created + told? What stories do we have to share? How can we honor the stories of the past + write a love-infused story for the future, starting with this holiday season?

Maybe this holiday season, we will slow down just enough to really listen to the stories being told by each other, by our ancestors, by our neighbors, by our families, by the natural world, by the Spirit of season.

Maybe this season we will be brave enough to begin to tell our own story. 🕯

#thenovgathering #smallmomentsofcalm #adventsunday #tellyourstory #lizandlinahome #holidaydecorating #holidaysarehere

// Day 27 • Warm // Yesterday Lina’s choir sa

// Day 27 • Warm //

Yesterday Lina’s choir sang at the zoo/park (where we also celebrated Halloween) just north of the city.

The whole park was decked out with a Nordic winter holiday feeling and it was so gorgeous. The weather was cold, windy and absolutely perfect to welcome in those holiday vibes.

Can’t believe it’s here. Winter, the holidays, the coziest, most magical, deepest, most reflective time of the year.
❄️🕯

#thenovgathering #winteriscomingsoon #holidaymoodon #nordicwinter #kolmårdensdjurpark #sagojul #aseasonalyear #folknature #aslowmoment #warmandtoasty

// Day 26 • Grateful // So grateful for being a

// Day 26 • Grateful //

So grateful for being able to gather so many family members around our table last night. I was soaking it all up, so I only had time for a blurry, action photo in the middle of it all. But, it’s so in the moment - I love it!✌🏼

Now, our Thanksgiving dinner is in our bellies and it’s time to shift to the Yuletide season!

And, I’m beginning it by pulling out all of our Xmas decorations! Who’s decorating now that Thanksgiving is over + Advent is beginning?! 🙋🏼‍♀️

Mostly, though, I’m still basking in the coziness of last night.

As I prepare for the rest of the year, I’m grounding myself with the intention to keep it as slow as possible. And, when it gets too busy, too hurried, too rushed, I’m going to pull back, breathe, and remember that the real magic of the season is found in simply being present.

All right, y’all. So grateful for this season. Let’s do this! 🦃🕯🎄

#thenovgathering #lizandlinahome #thanksgivingdinner #nordiclife #moodytones #familymoment #holidaysarehere #aseasonalyear #folknature #folkandstory #smallmomentsofcalm

// Day 25 • Recipe // Happy Thanksgiving for th

// Day 25 • Recipe //

Happy Thanksgiving for those of you who are celebrating!

2021 has not been at all what I intended + hoped for on the first day of January. It’s been a rough journey, and yet, somehow I cannot ignore how blessed + anchored I am even with the heartbreak, challenges, and growth of this year.

Perhaps that’s what makes the difference… the knowledge that as the years cycle on, I believe more + more that there’s always growth, transformation, and hope.

Sending warm wishes for a few moments of calm for remembering all that is good - even in the middle of all that is messy.

Spending my Thanksgiving weekend remembering holidays past (and cooking my beloved Grandma Ruth’s corn pudding) but more importantly, creating + soaking up a cozy holiday right where I am.

Here’s to each one of you. Blessings, loves!

🧡🕯

#thenovgathering

// Day 24 • Void // In the beginning of Novembe

// Day 24 • Void //

In the beginning of November, I wrote about how this month is like a dark, mysterious void of nothingness. At least, that’s how it feels as the darkness creeps in more and more.

I still believe that. It really is a month that takes a toll on us, I think. Nature slows down to a halt, readying for winter’s rest. The trees are bare. The days are dark. The nights are long. And everything within me just wants to snuggle down as the unknown dark enfolds me.

At the same time, life continues. Activity buzzes all around me. There are things to do, places to be, responsibilities to meet. And it doesn’t feel natural. In fact, it feels like it goes against exactly how my rhythm wants me to be.

So, I do my best to strike a balance. To live in this societal world, but with boundaries. I seek to keep myself as attuned + aligned with the season as I possibly can. And to carve out space for deep presence within each day.

But, when I do that, then I find myself in the dark void of November. And that is often unsettling.

Honestly, it’s easier to move in rhythm with the outer world. Then, I can avoid the shadows, the dark places, the moments of deep reflection that unearth the truth.

But, since we are part of nature, we need this time of the year, this time in the dark, as much as the trees + flowers + earth need it. This time is rich with restoration + wisdom + rest, so we will be even more ready when the light returns.

So, I’m determined to follow November’s mood. I am committed this month to following the mysterious way… to embracing the unknown, to sitting in the dark, to feeling all of the feels, to listening to my intuition, to reading the signs all around me.

Every day is the beginning of a journey into the unknown. I never know how things will be. And I’ll often feel lost + worried. But, the only thing to do is to walk on. A slow, intentional, mindful walk with hope + trust. One tiny step, one tiny moment at a time.

That’s how I survive + thrive in the void. 🖤

#thenovgathering #mindfulliving #slowlivingforlife #novembermood #nordicsky #earlysunset #folknature #aseasonalyear #modernmystic

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