There are places that ask nothing of you except your presence. Hidden amongst 11 acres of remnant bushland, this entirely off grid, petite octagon shaped adobe sat quietly amongst the trees like something plucked from the pages of a fairytale. Welcomed by the laughter of kookaburras echoing through the afternoon air, I arrived carrying the weight of a busy life. The kind most of us know all too well. A mind full of plans, deadlines, distractions and endless doing. I mean, I thought we were human beings, not human doings.

I could tell this little sanctuary had other plans for me. Or perhaps, no plans at all. The kind I like best. The ones where you follow your heart and allow Mother Nature to guide the way. Life here was beautifully simple. A drop toilet. A gas powered outdoor shower. An outdoor cooking space embraced by nature. Most of my meals were cooked atop the indoor wood fire, a slow and patient process that taught me something I had long forgotten: how to breathe, sit, and wait.

As the flames crackled and danced, I slowly began to soften. It took time to surrender fully to my surroundings. To stop reaching for what was next and simply be where I was. Little by little, Mother Nature wrapped her arms around me. I felt nurtured. Held. Safe. It felt as though I had come home to something ancient within myself.

The octagon palace felt like the dwelling of a wandering gypsy witch. Velvet bedding invited deep rest while crystals, artwork and treasures adorned every corner. Silk window shades and woven textiles filtered the sunlight into soft, dreamy patterns that drifted across the walls throughout the day. Every detail felt intentional, artistic and enchanted.

Each morning, I would light incense and watch the smoke curl and twist through the golden light. There was something hypnotic about it. A reminder that beauty exists in the simplest moments. Yet the magic was not confined to the cottage itself. I found myself wandering the property, drawn deeper into the bushland as though following an invisible thread. Searching for something I could not quite name. Something bigger. Something magical.

And then I saw her. Raw. Green. Sparkling beneath the sunshine. A gemstone resting quietly amongst the earth. Soon I discovered they were scattered throughout the property. Hidden treasures waiting patiently to be found. Gifts from the land itself. Or perhaps they were never waiting for me at all. Perhaps they found me. The more I explored, the more the property revealed its secrets. Tiny surprises tucked amongst the trees. Gentle reminders to keep my eyes, mind and heart open. The land felt alive. Enchanted. A place that invited endless wandering and wonder.

As evening settled over the bushland, I built a fire beneath the stars and wrapped myself in a blanket so soft it felt like a cloud. Birds offered their final songs before the night sky unveiled itself in all its brilliance. There, beneath a blanket of stars, I made wishes. For healthy love. For understanding. For the courage to be seen and accepted fully. Because if we truly look within, isn't that what we all want?

The fire crackled beside me while the universe stretched endlessly overhead. In that moment, the world felt both enormous and intimate. Each night I slept deeply, cocooned beneath velvet covers with the warmth of the wood fire glowing nearby. The kind of sleep that only arrives when your soul feels at peace. The kind of sleep that heals even the deepest wounds.

When it came time to leave, I noticed something had shifted within me. I arrived carrying a noisy mind and a slightly deflated heart. I left carrying stillness, with a side of magic. The land had gently peeled back the layers and reminded me of who I am beneath the busyness. A dreamer. A lover of beauty. A wholehearted romantic. A believer in magic. An earth angel with a heart full of possibility. I left feeling lighter, softer and more connected to myself than I had in a long time.

Before returning home, I spent some time exploring the nearby town of Timboon. The day was cool and crisp, painted in beautiful autumn colours. Still, some things simply cannot be resisted. French men, sunny days and Timboon Ice Cream, just to name a few. And truly, have you even lived if you have not tried it? Delicious.

Ice cream in hand, I wandered through the township admiring golden leaves dancing in the breeze, colourful artwork and charming corners that seemed to invite you to stay a little longer. A final reminder that wonder exists everywhere when we choose to notice it. This was not simply a getaway. It was a return. To nature. To stillness. To magic.

And most of all, a return to my big, beautiful heart.