A Month of Moving & Being Moved
Travels through water, land, music, and memory from the Ligurian cliffs to the plains of Montana
It has been a month since I started sharing my newsletters with you here on Substack.
How has it been for you so far?
I would love to hear from you—your thoughts, impressions, or wishes. Feel free to drop a comment below. It helps me shape this space to better meet your needs.
I don’t want to flood your inbox. But I do want to offer something nourishing—both for you and for myself—through regular writing.
On the Road
This past month has been all about the road.
First came a family trip across the Mediterranean, followed by visits to friends in the west of Ireland and the western USA. Beauty met me everywhere.
Liguria region, in northern Italy, took my breath away. The food—pesto, seafood, focaccia—was divine, but it was the wildness of the land that lingered with me. Terraced vineyards and stone houses clung to cliffs above the sea. "Resilience" was the word that kept coming to my mind.
Did you know that Portofino means “the port of dolphins”? Or that there are whales in the Ligurian Sea, too?
I didn’t see any there, but I had the rare joy of encountering two humpback whales and a seal colony in the Salish Sea near Seattle. That moment deserves a full-length post—one I will share in the coming weeks.
The Irish Coast: Sound and Stone
My next stop was the wild Atlantic coast of County Clare, Ireland. Waves, cliffs, and tales. I wrote a piece on this recently:
👉 Dancing With the Waves
Did you know the Cliffs of Moher and the Aran Islands in County Clare were once joined by land and share the same geological roots? I find Earth’s evolution just as moving as our own. We often see Earth as fixed and solid, but it is always in motion—always becoming.
My husband Peter and I joined the Willie Clancy Traditional Irish Music Festival in Milltown Malbay. The whole town was alive. Music, poetry, dancing—everywhere. Feet (including mine) flew across wooden floors in joyful rhythm. Irish artistry is in the bones of the land. I feel so lucky to call Ireland home. It feeds my creativity deeply.
From Saltwater to Fossils: The Pull of Montana
By the Mediterranean Sea and on the Atlantic coast, the refreshing sensation of water prevailed, merging with the fluidity of music, dance, and poetry. Meanwhile, in my next destination—Montana, USA—there was an earthy groundedness.
Montana is known as “Big Sky State,” but to me, it felt like the Earth’s deep memory.
Did you know that Montana has some of the best-preserved dinosaur fossils on Earth? There, I felt the land speaking—a language that predates human memory, with fossils whispering from ancient times.
Since ceramic art reveals the awe of earth-based creation, it makes perfect sense that one of the world’s most vibrant ceramic arts communities—The Bray—is based in Helena, Montana.
If you are a ceramic artist, I strongly recommend checking out their residencies. If you simply love ceramics, browse the work of current and past artists. It is incredible.
👉 archiebray.org
Special thanks to the Casey family for introducing me to this place.
What I am Listening To
The Casey family—Ilgaz, Kevin, Robin, and Genco—have been huge inspirations. I have already written about Robin and Genco:
👉 What I Learned From Playing
More to come on Ilgaz and Kevin soon.
Now, here is a song we played on repeat during our road trips. It is Robin’s favourite. He gets tearful every time. So do I.
Sinéad O’Connor’s voice—raw, emotional, stripped.
👉 Spotify link
What I am Reading
In Seattle, I visited storyteller and writer Naomi Baltuck at her hometown Edmonds. Naomi is a woman of myriad gifts—community builder, birdwatcher, marine observer, gardener, and mother to two amazing artists—she has been weaving tales since the 1980s. Generously, she gifted me her book Apples from Heaven, a collection of multicultural stories celebrating the art of storytelling itself. The title comes from an old saying:
“Three apples fell from heaven: one for the teller, one for the listener, and one for the one who takes it to heart.”
Naomi attributes this saying to Armenian culture. In Türkiye, we also claim it. Likely, the phrase belongs to Anatolia, the land Armenians lived on long before Turkish invasion and genocide.
The book is a gem—especially for storytellers.
👉 Find it here
What Moved Me
Two radiant souls departed this world in July —Andrea Gibson and Joanna Macy.
I have long admired artists and activists who lived with grace, leaving heartfelt marks on Earth. Yet it is rare to witness someone die gracefully—especially in our death-phobic world. Both Andrea Gibson and Joanna Macy became my teachers in this, showing how to embrace death with open arms, their final days radiating immense love.
Andrea Gibson was the Poet Laureate of Colorado and a powerful spoken word artist. Their poetry holds truth on gender, queerness, mental health, and justice.
Explore their work: 👉 andreagibson.substack.com
I was deeply moved by their poem 'When the Bough Breaks' when I first heard it a couple of years ago. Tragically, it remains just as relevant today – perhaps even more vital – amid the global political turmoil and military aggression we are enduring. I hope it resonates with you as powerfully as it does with me:
👉 When the Bough Breaks (watch here):
Joanna Macy was a pioneer of ecological and spiritual activism. Her work helps people move from despair into connected, meaningful action.
More here: 👉 joannamacy.net
Upcoming Events
🎭 Dublin Fringe Festival
I have been invited by award-winning performer Sinéad O’Brien to join her piece Hungry Grass / Stray Sod.
I will be telling a personal story - my experience as an immigrant in Ireland - weaving it with the ancient legend of Fintan mac Bóchra.
🗓 8–17 September
📍 Leprechaun Museum, Dublin
🎟 Get tickets here
Want to Tell Your Story?
This year, personal stories have become central to my work.
If you have followed my writing on storytelling, you know how passionate I am about its healing power. If you have not followed the thread, here is a place to start:
👉 Personal Storytelling as a Healing Art
In November, I am offering a new online course on crafting personal stories. Only a few places left.
Interested? Email me at info@senemdonatanmohan.com
More info: 👉 The Well of Wisdom course
Thanks for being here.
I am grateful for your time, your thoughts, and your presence.
Let me know what is resonating. Or what you would love more of.
Warmly,
Senem
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