Advertise on podcast: Creative Soundscapes with Margaret Soraya

In this conversation, Emma Simpson shares her journey from being an air traffic controller to becoming a writer. She discusses the healing power of open water swimming and how it led her to explore women's relationships with water globally. Emma reflects on the impact of grief in her life, particularly the loss of her brother, and how it shaped her writing. The discussion also touches on cultural perspectives on grief, the challenges of writing authentically, and the importance of community in the creative process. Emma's upcoming book, 'Breaking Waves,' delves into these themes and aims to connect with readers on a deeper level. Pre Order Breaking Waves Join Emma for a writing workshop in Harris at the Creative Light Festival Find Emma on Substack Find Emma on Instagram Get full access to Quiet Moments at margaretsoraya.substack.com/subscribe

Words and imagery that encourage you to retreat to be kind to yourself, express yourself, find inner peace and become strong again. Taking your place in the world. Strong, calm and needed Margaret x Get full access to Quiet Moments at margaretsoraya.substack.com/subscribe

Debbie Hartmann shares the incredible stories of her photography projects that helped her mum as she was experiencing Parkinson's disease and Dementia and her friend with brain cancer. Debbie turned her creativity into positive, fun projects that lift both her and others during difficult times in a natural and intuitive way. Her enthusiasm for life and helping others is contagious. This episode is possibly one of the most heartwarming stories of humanity and love tied up in photography projects. Debbie is an extraordinary person who always seeks out the positives in life and allows herself to connect naturally to who she is and use that in her photography. She finds beauty everywhere and recently set out on a photography project to better help her "like" the harsh Minnesota winters. Please take a look at her projects and beautiful photography on her website. https://www.heyhartmann.com/ Get full access to Quiet Moments at margaretsoraya.substack.com/subscribe

In this episode, I take a reflective winter walk in January's snowfall to share my thoughts on slowing down and the challenge of balancing that with content creation. Substack has given me one cohesive platform where I can share my writing, images, video and audio and that has helped me feel less overwhelmed. This episode is about my journey towards a more fulfilling, less pressured approach to sharing my life and work. And how that has brought about my concept of visual meditations. If you’d like to write in to tell me about something that is challenging for you right now, I would love to be able to create a meditation for you ( anonymous) Just email me at [email protected] I also outline 3 ways in which sharing your work on substack is helpful, even if you don’t have big aims to write for business, followers or monetisation: 1/Help encourage you to write more - a place to write and a place to publish. 2/ Learning to practice putting things out into the world and gaining confidence through doing. 3/ Finding community; people around us to motivate and uplift us. Finally, I share my plans for a future writing retreat in Wales with Sean Tucker and more details for the Creative Light Festival in Harris in October 2025. Some Links that may be helpful Creative Festival Writing Retreat Substack / Newsletter Get full access to Quiet Moments at margaretsoraya.substack.com/subscribe

Dear readers, I hope you enjoy this meditation, which I wrote while thinking about a time of year when there can be many pressures. It is accompanied by a video from my home in Harris, and the music was a commissioned piece by Will Collant. Sending love, Margaret Get full access to Quiet Moments at margaretsoraya.substack.com/subscribe

Send us a text A. S. Apothecary is a crofting enterprise based on the Isle of Harris. Their work is deeply rooted in the ethos of therapeutic plant work. Join Margaret as she talks to Amanda who is the founder, plantswoman and gatherer, distiller and creative force behind A.S Apothecary. This chat gently guides you through the process of how they cultivate a diverse range of therapeutic plants on their croft organically. They grown lush plants on the croft and in a huge greenhouse which 'meanders like a garden' inside. Hear how they wild harvest and use the plants for their products. The Imagery is so powerful - the scent and atmosphere in their workshop is almost tangible. You can feel the passion for their work flow throughout. They produce skin care, Wild Eve, speciality teas, tinctures, first aid kits and even roast coffee! A wonderful calm and soothing journey through nature - do not miss this. You can find A.S. Apothecary on Instagram Their website is www.asapoth.com Sign up to the next Creative Light Festival here: https://creative-light.co.uk/ Sign up to my newsletter to hear first about new retreats: Follow me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/margaretsoraya/ Join my online Creative Haven community : https://creative-haven.newzenler.com Get full access to Quiet Moments at margaretsoraya.substack.com/subscribe

Send us a text Dr Marie-Lise Schlappy joins me to chat about HSP's ( Highly Sensitive Persons.) HSP, is a term coined by psychologist Elaine Aron who has written several books on the subject. You can find more on her website https://hsperson.com/ We chat about how the traits are different to introversion, but a large proportion of introverts are HSP's  Sign up to the next Creative Light Festival here: https://creative-light.co.uk/ Sign up to my newsletter to hear first about new retreats: Follow me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/margaretsoraya/ Join my online Creative Haven community : https://creative-haven.newzenler.com Get full access to Quiet Moments at margaretsoraya.substack.com/subscribe

Send us a text A solo episode from Margaret recorded out by the water with bird sounds in the background. Living more slowly and in tune with nature and how silence and nature sounds help soothe the nervous system. Cooking and baking and other creative activities that help slow down and live better.  Documenting the wildlife and flowers that surrounds me in a small area around my house.  Why creativity is important - it gives you the tools for coping and releasing emotions during difficult times in life. Making a date with being creative and allowing time for play.  What are the circumstances in which you feel creative - begin to notice and then repeat when you feel the need to feel inspired.  Sign up to the next Creative Light Festival here: https://creative-light.co.uk/ Sign up to my newsletter to hear first about new retreats: Follow me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/margaretsoraya/ Join my online Creative Haven community : https://creative-haven.newzenler.com Get full access to Quiet Moments at margaretsoraya.substack.com/subscribe

Send us a text In this conversation, Margaret Soraya interviews Bill Ward about his approach to photography, specifically his use of intentional camera movement (ICM) and his connection to water. They discuss the importance of being open and generous in the photography community, as well as the role of movement in both acting and photography. Bill explains how movement is central to his photography and how intentional camera movement allows him to add his own unique touch to his images. They also explore the relationship between a photographer's personality and their photographic style, emphasizing the importance of authenticity and self-expression in photography. In this conversation, Bill Ward and Margaret Soraya discuss their experiences with underwater photography and the challenges they face with their equipment. They also explore the idea of projects and how they evolve over time. They touch on the process of exhibiting and creating books, and the importance of choosing the right images and writing to accompany the work. They emphasize the need to keep photography interesting and fresh by constantly exploring new subjects and techniques. Takeaways Being open and generous in the photography community can lead to a more collaborative and supportive environment.Movement is central to Bill Ward's photography, and intentional camera movement allows him to add his own unique touch to his images.A photographer's personality and personal experiences can influence their photographic style and subject matter.Authenticity and self-expression are important in photography, and photographers should strive to create work that resonates with their own passions and interests. Underwater photography can be challenging due to equipment issues, such as aligning the camera correctly in the housing.Projects in photography are ongoing and can evolve over time, allowing for exploration and growth.Exhibiting and creating books are valuable ways to showcase and present photographic work.Choosing the right images and writing is crucial when putting together an exhibition or book.It's important to keep photography interesting by constantly exploring new subjects and techniques. Sound Bites "There's a temptation to be territorial, but as you say, being open and generous is important.""Intentional camera movement is about adding your physicality to the photographs.""Movement is absolutely central to what I really like doing in terms of photography.""It's the going back and back and back that's the thing... that's where the good stuff comes from." Sign up to the next Creative Light Festival here: https://creative-light.co.uk/ Sign up to my newsletter to hear first about new retreats: Follow me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/margaretsoraya/ Join my online Creative Haven community : https://creative-haven.newzenler.com Get full access to Quiet Moments at margaretsoraya.substack.com/subscribe

Send us a text Out on the kayak on the Isle of Harris, Margaret shares her thoughts along with the sounds of the birds and the water all around. Immerse into the peace and quiet of the early morning on the island with Margaret. Margaret shares thoughts about overwhelm and how to narrow down which channels to use for yourself. A comment on Neale James' recent podcast with Sean Tucker where they chat about overthinking and how to learn to listen to your own intuition and not be distracted by whether your art or writing or music will be liked by others. Some thoughts on journalling and how writing things down can mean the difference between remembering important things. As well as some readings from Margaret's notebooks.  Neale James Photowalk podcast with Sean Tucker   Sign up to the next Creative Light Festival here: https://creative-light.co.uk/ Sign up to my newsletter to hear first about new retreats: Follow me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/margaretsoraya/ Join my online Creative Haven community : https://creative-haven.newzenler.com Get full access to Quiet Moments at margaretsoraya.substack.com/subscribe

Send us a text Listen in to Margaret as she shares her thoughts on this period of rest, regeneration, and self-compassion that she has been practicing recently. She covers numerous topics and, in her own unique way, explains how she has consciously slowed her life down, prioritizing rest recuperation and meditation, which she instinctively knows is needed for her well-being.  Sometimes, that space to breathe and not to be doing, reading and mindful activities can really spark creativity and thought processes back into action. She is particularly enjoying listening to the sounds of nature at the moment - the birds and barking seals, for instance, are all very soothing. Neale James Podcast episode  Joey Hulins website  Find Beach art by Dorothy atTraigh Alba  Sign up to the next Creative Light Festival here: https://creative-light.co.uk/ Sign up to my newsletter to hear first about new retreats: Follow me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/margaretsoraya/ Join my online Creative Haven community : https://creative-haven.newzenler.com Get full access to Quiet Moments at margaretsoraya.substack.com/subscribe

Join Margaret whilst she chats with Laurence Winram, a professional photographer from Aberdeen and now based in Edinburgh. It's fascinating to hear how he balances his diverse commercial and unusual creative work. Laurence describes in detail how he creates his beautiful land art  At these times, he is embracing the moment,  whilst practising gratitude and mindfulness.  He loves the connection to nature. He creates his design, takes the image and within hours the scene can degrade and be returned to nature.Enjoy this gentle insight into Laurence's life. it will make you think.  Be sure to tap into his @shapednature page on Instagram - you won't be disappointed. Sign up to the next Creative Light Festival here: https://creative-light.co.uk/ Sign up to my newsletter to hear first about new retreats: Follow me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/margaretsoraya/ Join my online Creative Haven community :https://creative-haven.newzenler.com Get full access to Quiet Moments at margaretsoraya.substack.com/subscribe

Send us a text Join Margaret as she introduces us to some sounds, thoughts and feelings she experienced during her recent trip to Kerala, India. Since 2016, she has regularly headed to India for Ayurvedic treatments and the time felt right for her to return this March . She explains how her time there helped with ongoing feelings of grief, gave her space to write and to think and, as always, use creativity as an outlet. A calming, thoughtful reflection of her time at this retreat. Sign up to the next Creative Light Festival here: https://creative-light.co.uk/ Sign up to my newsletter to hear first about new retreats: Follow me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/margaretsoraya/ Join my online Creative Haven community : https://creative-haven.newzenler.com Get full access to Quiet Moments at margaretsoraya.substack.com/subscribe

Anni Townend is a Leadership Partner, Coach and Mentor to Executive Teams and Senior Leaders, as well as being an Author, Facilitator, and Entrepreneur and Podcast Host of Leaders in Conversation with Anni Townend.Join Margaret  as they talk about the benefits of walking and talking. Anni explains that walking is one of the ways in which she renews herself and this has always been a criteria for her when deciding where she lives.They further explore  the equation of creativity, collaboration and conversation. A really inspirational chat which shouldn't be missed as it emphasises the importance of finding an outdoor activity which resonates with each of us.  Finding cracks and crevices in our busy lives to take time to stop is crucial.Anni advocates taking small pauses every day and reading!  Listen in to hear how to greet each day as a mini adventure!Anni's Podcast Anni's Website Anni's Instagram Sign up to the next Creative Light Festival here: https://creative-light.co.uk/Follow me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/margaretsoraya/ Join my online Creative Haven community :https://creative-haven.newzenler.com Get full access to Quiet Moments at margaretsoraya.substack.com/subscribe

Send us a Text Message. Listen in to Margaret explain how she is navigating the various stages of grief she is experiencing.  As always she instinctively turns to creativity and nature, whilst at all times listening to what her body needs, tuning in to what makes her feel better. Sign up to the next Creative Light Festival here: https://creative-light.co.uk/ Sign up to my newsletter to hear first about new retreats: Follow me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/margaretsoraya/ Join my online Creative Haven community : https://creative-haven.newzenler.com Get full access to Quiet Moments at margaretsoraya.substack.com/subscribe