mariakoropecky by Maria Koropecky
Seven years ago this week, I was walking the Camino de Santiago in Spain. Just me, myself and my backpack for 263 kms over country roads. I remember shedding a lot of tears along the way. I’m grateful I met Laticia and Miguel.
I had no idea how my pilgrimage would shape my future and even though it has been a bumpy ride, I feel I’ve grown and changed for the better as a person.
The Camino became the inspiration for my first book, Closer to Indigo which led to my video series, Saanich: Emerging Land; Emerging People. Both of these projects gave me a chance to develop my creative voice and let me be more authentic in my expression.
But still there was a part of me that wasn’t up to speed with what I was trying to do. Basically, I wasn’t feeling safe within myself or in the world so everything didn’t go smoothly or turn out as I had hoped.
I can now see from this perspective that all of my experiences, especially the storms I faced, weren’t there to stop me from living the life of my dreams – they were really giving me another chance to learn how to calm and regulate my nervous system.
That’s what I really needed. That’s the piece (or peace) I was looking for: FEELING SAFE and getting myself back to center. And now, seven years later, I’ve put more pieces of the puzzle together.
For the last 2 years, I’ve been writing a workbook, The Seven Wonders Within Plus Crystals, Aromas & Dances: A Guide To Balance Your Chakras & Feel Better and I’ve managed to put words to my wisdom and this week, I sent the final files for my new book to the printer.
I’m launching my book at the Psychic & Spiritual Arts Fair in Sidney, BC on Saturday, October 3, 2026. Come see me if you’re nearby and want your own, literally hot-off-the-press copy!
Funny how life turns out. I didn’t know where my path would ultimately lead but I find it interesting that seven years later (1 year for every wonder within) I’m walking a parallel camino across the same dates, but this time I’m exploring the landscape within.
I’m feeling good about the next part of my journey and continuing to build this muscle of feeling safe in myself and sharing what I’m learning with others who might be looking for their own way home.
I feel my journey was never really about finally arriving somewhere and was more about learning that I can create a little more safety for myself wherever I am – one breath, one step, one wonder within at a time.
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Let me know if you’d like a copy of The Seven Wonders Within Plus Crystals, Aromas & Dances: A Guide To Balance Your Chakras & Feel Better by Maria Koropecky. It’s a 304 page workbook and includes word searches, colouring book graphics and 6 weeks of pre-printed journal pages plus an Emotions Thesaurus and summaries of 66 crystals, essential oils and world dances all to help people like me to feel better from the inside out using the chakra system as a framework.
