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Oct 30
by Julie in Books, Ecological Conservation, Tonga 0 comments

“Where Do They GO”…. Swimming with whales in Tonga – Book for Oceanographic Conservation

I'm so excited to announce an upcoming venture to support oceanographic conservation through the sale of the publication of my new book "Where Do They Go" in both e-book and hard cover print format. You can have a sneak peek of the online Flip book here Click to view my beautiful ONLINE Flipbook  
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Dec 20
by Julie in Tonga 0 comments

Video of Whale photos

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Nov 02
by Julie in Tonga 1 comments

Trying not to spill my guts…and an amazing privilege…

Under the meandering cover of the Milky Way, with phosphorescence spraying from the hull of the small dingy and an intermittent scanning pass from a headlamp to ensure we didn’t hit any other boats whose own intermittent use of their headlamp was less than ours… I held my stomach ensuring.....
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Oct 12
by Julie in Tonga 0 comments

“..Say where do you go…” Only forwards… can’t go backwards.

“Say where do you go…” from Roady by Fat Freddy’s Drop is a lyric which grooved through dinner at Mandala Island Resort and accompanies my thoughts now as I reflect and revisit my photos. … So … where do they go?? – Into the mystery of the unknown…. and only forwards… Whales can’t go backwards.... so there's no looking back!!!...
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Oct 12
by Julie in Tonga 0 comments

Another world… Whale swimming in Tonga….

Another world.... in the whales world... we are in their home.... welcomed into their space...
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Oct 11
by Julie in Tonga 0 comments

How does one swim with whales in Tonga???

"In the water"... "Go" "Go".... gulps of salt water... veils of bubbles enveloping my foggy mask... searching in the endless stripes of blue for a feint hint of white or black....hearing clicks and squeaks of groaning whalesong (absolutely NOTHING like on those relaxation CD's!!!)..then like stealth submarines with effortless propulsion THEY appeared!!! I forgot I had a camera in my hand. After a quick lift-up and dunk ....
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Oct 07
by Julie in Tonga, Uncategorized 0 comments

Silent Flight …. More…. & Swimming with Whales in Tonga

After each series of encounters swimming with various whales, there was a point where I knew and felt content that it was time for us to move on and leave the whales to get on with doing their 'own thing'....or to feel the cooler air and the softer light on my back to return to a little cafe at the pier where the delight of roasted coconut and salty, hand-cut, hot chips accompanied reflections and words which best described the day for each of us.... but secretly did I want more? Throughout the day often ...
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Oct 07
by Julie in Tonga 0 comments

Underwater Photography, Whales in Tonga; Canon G16 Recsea Housing; My Mistake; Lost Opportunities & Learning

Yes... after some absence and time of sporadic and inconsistent posting, I would like to fill you in..
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Oct 11
by Julie in Tonga, Uncategorized 0 comments

Dreams from uncertain depths…..

After a wonderful and profound experience in Tonga on a Whaleswim Adventure... above is a small selection from a series of images inspired by experiences I will cherish always.
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Feb 17
by Julie in Inspirations, Tonga, Wisdom and Inspiration 2 comments

“Try and be a piece of paper with nothing on it……

"Try and be a sheet of paper with nothing on it. Be a spot of ground where nothing is growing, where something might be planted, a seed, possibly, from the Absolute." ~ Rumi
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Oct 16
by Julie in Earth and Sea, Tonga 0 comments

Markets in Vava’u

Dreamcatcher was still moored off the jetty as our little van meandered
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Oct 14
by Julie in Earth and Sea, Tonga, Uncategorized 0 comments

Flying Whales….

This is so often what I saw. An imaginary world. Freedom.
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Oct 14
by Julie in Tonga 0 comments

Pilot whales in Tonga… an exhilarating experience and so much fun!!

In the rough water on a very windy day we spotted the misty spray of the blowing of air from a surfacing Humpback
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Oct 13
by Julie in Earth and Sea, Tonga 0 comments

Whale calf wants to play… whaleswim in Tonga continues

... I would like to share some photographs of a magical swim
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Oct 10
by Julie in Earth and Sea, Tonga 0 comments

……More whales in Tonga

After my epiphany and recognition about being humble
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Oct 02
by Julie in Tonga, Uncategorized 0 comments

A lesson in humility – the whales choose…..

After a couple of wonderful days interacting with the whales; with every time we went into the water I had amazing experiences
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Oct 01
by Julie in Earth and Sea, Tonga 1 comments

Swimming with the whales!!! At last!!!

Finally.... a whole life of wishing and dreaming... and FINALLY
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Oct 01
by Julie in Earth and Sea, Tonga, Uncategorized 0 comments

Whaleswim adventure to begin!

James met me at the sandy beach and took me to Talau House which was to be my home with 6 other guests for the next 10 days or so. I was greeted by Theresa and was adorned with a frangapani and bouganvillia lei
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Sep 17
by Julie in Earth and Sea, Tonga, Uncategorized 0 comments

Two days at Reef Resort – Kapa Island – Tonga

..... back to my adventure. I was collected by two beautiful locals to be trasferred a short distance
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Sep 14
by Julie in Earth and Sea, Tonga, Uncategorized 0 comments

Fiji airport; Nukuʻalofa then Vava’u

It does take a bit of getting to Tonga - especially the way I did
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Sep 12
by Julie in Tonga, Uncategorized 0 comments

Excitement on the runway

I have had an absolutely incredible time on my journey to Tonga to swim with the whales. It started like this.....
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Aug 27
by Julie in Tonga, Uncategorized 0 comments

no more sleeps to go …. whaleswim in Tonga!

.... yep... no more sleeps to go before I am off on my 50th birthday present to myself.
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skeinydipping

I looked down and saw my hands. Hands which have t I looked down and saw my hands. Hands which have touched; have loved; have created; have worked; have nurtured. My hands.   

I looked down and saw on my wrist and fingers items from around the world which have so many stories; items which have all been created from the heart and made by the hands of others. 

I looked down and saw beautiful yarn. Yarn which has been handled carefully through shearing, dyeing, skeining, balling; and now being knit in my beautiful hands. 

My hands are one of my gifts. This year I’ve really missed the touch of another with my hands, to feel the heart of another through my fingertips; but so grateful and love my hands which touch and feel; work and play!

What do you see when you look at your hands?

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Knitting a fabulous  #slipstravaganzamkal by @westknits .
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#gratitudeattitude #westknitsarethebestknits #westknitsmkal2020 #knittersofinstagram #knittersoftheworld #knittersofaustralia #indiedyedyarn #handmadewithlove #handmade #handmadejewellery #fromtheheart #createeveryday #livetotravel #healing #healinghands #creativehands
My life is wonderful… and I have so many stories My life is wonderful… and I have so many stories. I’ve had adventures on all continents. Slept being rocked by the sea; felt the ice on my skin in both polar regions, and felt the silence of the deserts. I’ve walked stone steps in monasteries at altitudes where each step I’ve taken consciously and mindfully; focussing on treasuring every molecule of oxygen in the rarefied atmosphere. 

COVID has paused those adventures, but I draw upon my experiences as I navigate adventuring my days in a different way, on our ‘home range’. 

I recall my steps in Tibet as I walk through our bushland. I am mindful and conscious of my surroundings. I listen. I feel. I feel happy here. I am content.

My new stories may not hold the same experiences of connection with others; and may not be of extreme challenges or crazy things  (which I am rather prone to doing! 🙂 ) but they are not less wondrous… as I smell the warm eucalyptus waft from under my feet. 

I weave my stories, and this story is of my personal journey on my daily walk through our bushland. 
You can see some of my other woven stories on my website - link in profile. 

How do you express your life’s stories?
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#weaversofinstagram #indiedyedyarn #indiedyed #rigidheddleloomweaving #ashford #inspiredbynature #contentcreator #emotionalbalance #homedeco #handcrafted #makersmovement #creativelifehappylife #wellbeing #travellerlife #journeywoman #weavingaustralia
“....The Assookinakii cowl was created for those “....The Assookinakii cowl was created for those times in your life when you need a meditative and healing knit. Assookinakii (ass-s-oo-kin-uh-k-EE) means ‘healer’ in the Blackfeet language, thank you to Cut Woods School in Browning, MT for the tradish language support”. –  Candice from @thefarmersdaughterfibers 

Knitting this beautiful cowl by Candice from @thefarmersdaughterfibers for @sistersunitedmt ; WAS healing. 

As my hands gently formed the repetitive stitches I reflected on the word ‘Assookinakii ‘ - healer. I am a healer. I don’t understand it. It’s something unseen. Something within me which has been recognised by Ngangkari and ‘clever men’ here in Australia; and shaman and healers around the world as we travel. This recognition always has caught me by surprise; as I seem to walk a line between two worlds. 

As the stitches slipped from one needle to another and the beautiful colours of @spincycle_yarns revealed themselves; in the pauses between the stitches I heard a voice whispering to continue to seek connection with the natural world and listen deeply. 

What has been healing for you this year?
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#healingjourney #meditationpractice #dyedinthewool #assookinakii_cowl #knittersofinstagram #knittingaddict #livinglifetothefullest #happydays #shaman #healer #healersofinstagram #listentoyourheart #indiedyedyarn #handmadewithlove #knittersgonnaknit #knittersoftheworld
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2017 All photographs created by and property of Julie Stephenson.