<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?><rss xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/" xmlns:content="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/content/" xmlns:atom="http://www.w3.org/2005/Atom" version="2.0" xmlns:itunes="http://www.itunes.com/dtds/podcast-1.0.dtd" xmlns:googleplay="http://www.google.com/schemas/play-podcasts/1.0"><channel><title><![CDATA[Sparks of light]]></title><description><![CDATA[Welcome to Sparks of Light! I write about hope through memories, moments and dreams.  My words are inspired by a photograph, piece of music or a thought that won't leave me until it's on the page.  May my words ignite a spark of hope within you!]]></description><link>https://trudinicola.substack.com</link><image><url>https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!LQU-!,w_256,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F3bb1f4b8-3dbd-4f4f-90dd-a806d0f9a295_499x499.png</url><title>Sparks of light</title><link>https://trudinicola.substack.com</link></image><generator>Substack</generator><lastBuildDate>Wed, 19 Aug 2026 02:29:41 GMT</lastBuildDate><atom:link href="https://trudinicola.substack.com/feed" rel="self" type="application/rss+xml"/><copyright><![CDATA[Trudi Nicola]]></copyright><language><![CDATA[en]]></language><webMaster><![CDATA[trudinicola@substack.com]]></webMaster><itunes:owner><itunes:email><![CDATA[trudinicola@substack.com]]></itunes:email><itunes:name><![CDATA[Trudi Nicola]]></itunes:name></itunes:owner><itunes:author><![CDATA[Trudi Nicola]]></itunes:author><googleplay:owner><![CDATA[trudinicola@substack.com]]></googleplay:owner><googleplay:email><![CDATA[trudinicola@substack.com]]></googleplay:email><googleplay:author><![CDATA[Trudi Nicola]]></googleplay:author><itunes:block><![CDATA[Yes]]></itunes:block><item><title><![CDATA[Rising Sun ]]></title><link>https://trudinicola.substack.com/p/rising-sun</link><guid isPermaLink="false">https://trudinicola.substack.com/p/rising-sun</guid><dc:creator><![CDATA[Trudi Nicola]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Tue, 18 Aug 2026 11:13:56 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!6qTI!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F75a659c2-03b9-47f8-8c88-352494c389b6_5712x4284.jpeg" length="0" type="image/jpeg"/><content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>If you want to know</p><p>The secret to the glow</p><p>Of the rising summer sun </p><p>It&#8217;s orange incandescence </p><p>Gently inviting</p><p>A new day to begin </p><p></p><p>Then consider this:</p><p></p><p>The sun emerges untethered </p><p>Unbothered by the weight of duty</p><p>Unburdened by expectations </p><p>Inspired only by the need</p><p>To succeed</p><p>In sharing its spectacular, vibrant light</p><p>And, in doing so, nonchalantly </p><p>Illuminating the world</p><div class="captioned-image-container"><figure><a class="image-link image2 is-viewable-img" target="_blank" href="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!6qTI!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F75a659c2-03b9-47f8-8c88-352494c389b6_5712x4284.jpeg" data-component-name="Image2ToDOM"><div class="image2-inset"><picture><source type="image/webp" srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!6qTI!,w_424,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F75a659c2-03b9-47f8-8c88-352494c389b6_5712x4284.jpeg 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!6qTI!,w_848,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F75a659c2-03b9-47f8-8c88-352494c389b6_5712x4284.jpeg 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!6qTI!,w_1272,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F75a659c2-03b9-47f8-8c88-352494c389b6_5712x4284.jpeg 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!6qTI!,w_1456,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F75a659c2-03b9-47f8-8c88-352494c389b6_5712x4284.jpeg 1456w" sizes="100vw"><img src="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!6qTI!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F75a659c2-03b9-47f8-8c88-352494c389b6_5712x4284.jpeg" width="5712" height="4284" data-attrs="{&quot;src&quot;:&quot;https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/75a659c2-03b9-47f8-8c88-352494c389b6_5712x4284.jpeg&quot;,&quot;srcNoWatermark&quot;:null,&quot;fullscreen&quot;:null,&quot;imageSize&quot;:&quot;normal&quot;,&quot;height&quot;:4284,&quot;width&quot;:5712,&quot;resizeWidth&quot;:null,&quot;bytes&quot;:0,&quot;alt&quot;:null,&quot;title&quot;:null,&quot;type&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;href&quot;:null,&quot;belowTheFold&quot;:true,&quot;topImage&quot;:false,&quot;internalRedirect&quot;:null,&quot;isProcessing&quot;:false,&quot;align&quot;:null,&quot;offset&quot;:false}" class="sizing-normal" alt="" srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!6qTI!,w_424,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F75a659c2-03b9-47f8-8c88-352494c389b6_5712x4284.jpeg 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!6qTI!,w_848,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F75a659c2-03b9-47f8-8c88-352494c389b6_5712x4284.jpeg 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!6qTI!,w_1272,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F75a659c2-03b9-47f8-8c88-352494c389b6_5712x4284.jpeg 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!6qTI!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F75a659c2-03b9-47f8-8c88-352494c389b6_5712x4284.jpeg 1456w" sizes="100vw" loading="lazy"></picture><div class="image-link-expand"><div class="pencraft pc-display-flex pc-gap-8 pc-reset"><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container restack-image"><svg aria-hidden="true" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 20 20" fill="none" stroke-width="1.5" stroke="var(--color-fg-primary)" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><g><path d="M2.53001 7.81595C3.49179 4.73911 6.43281 2.5 9.91173 2.5C13.1684 2.5 15.9537 4.46214 17.0852 7.23684L17.6179 8.67647M17.6179 8.67647L18.5002 4.26471M17.6179 8.67647L13.6473 6.91176M17.4995 12.1841C16.5378 15.2609 13.5967 17.5 10.1178 17.5C6.86118 17.5 4.07589 15.5379 2.94432 12.7632L2.41165 11.3235M2.41165 11.3235L1.5293 15.7353M2.41165 11.3235L6.38224 13.0882"></path></g></svg></button><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container view-image"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 24 24" fill="none" stroke="currentColor" stroke-width="2" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" class="lucide lucide-maximize2 lucide-maximize-2"><polyline points="15 3 21 3 21 9"></polyline><polyline points="9 21 3 21 3 15"></polyline><line x1="21" x2="14" y1="3" y2="10"></line><line x1="3" x2="10" y1="21" y2="14"></line></svg></button></div></div></div></a><figcaption class="image-caption">Sunrise in Birgu, Malta.  August 2026. </figcaption></figure></div><p class="button-wrapper" data-attrs="{&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https://trudinicola.substack.com/subscribe?utm_source=email&r=&quot;,&quot;text&quot;:&quot;Subscribe&quot;,&quot;action&quot;:null,&quot;class&quot;:null}" data-component-name="ButtonCreateButton"><a class="button primary" href="https://trudinicola.substack.com/subscribe?utm_source=email&r="><span>Subscribe</span></a></p><p></p><p></p>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title><![CDATA[Pause]]></title><link>https://trudinicola.substack.com/p/pause</link><guid isPermaLink="false">https://trudinicola.substack.com/p/pause</guid><dc:creator><![CDATA[Trudi Nicola]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Mon, 17 Aug 2026 07:36:46 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!MBqp!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fa9ab16b7-7666-4d31-9378-846430b12ec5_4032x2748.jpeg" length="0" type="image/jpeg"/><content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Before the sun</p><p>Before the heat</p><p>Before the day awakens</p><p>Cocooned in silence</p><p>So complete</p><p>Serenity unshaken </p><p>&#10024;</p><p>Before the tea</p><p>Before the toast</p><p>Before the morning paper</p><p>Absorbed in nothing</p><p>But the view</p><p>The rest can wait &#8216;til later</p><p>&#10024;</p><p>Before the grind</p><p>Before the drudge</p><p>Before the emails beckon</p><p>Take time to notice</p><p>Tiny glints </p><p>Of beauty in each second</p><p></p><div class="captioned-image-container"><figure><a class="image-link image2 is-viewable-img" target="_blank" href="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!MBqp!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fa9ab16b7-7666-4d31-9378-846430b12ec5_4032x2748.jpeg" data-component-name="Image2ToDOM"><div class="image2-inset"><picture><source type="image/webp" srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!MBqp!,w_424,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fa9ab16b7-7666-4d31-9378-846430b12ec5_4032x2748.jpeg 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!MBqp!,w_848,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fa9ab16b7-7666-4d31-9378-846430b12ec5_4032x2748.jpeg 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!MBqp!,w_1272,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fa9ab16b7-7666-4d31-9378-846430b12ec5_4032x2748.jpeg 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!MBqp!,w_1456,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fa9ab16b7-7666-4d31-9378-846430b12ec5_4032x2748.jpeg 1456w" sizes="100vw"><img src="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!MBqp!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fa9ab16b7-7666-4d31-9378-846430b12ec5_4032x2748.jpeg" width="4032" height="2748" data-attrs="{&quot;src&quot;:&quot;https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/a9ab16b7-7666-4d31-9378-846430b12ec5_4032x2748.jpeg&quot;,&quot;srcNoWatermark&quot;:null,&quot;fullscreen&quot;:null,&quot;imageSize&quot;:&quot;normal&quot;,&quot;height&quot;:2748,&quot;width&quot;:4032,&quot;resizeWidth&quot;:null,&quot;bytes&quot;:0,&quot;alt&quot;:null,&quot;title&quot;:null,&quot;type&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;href&quot;:null,&quot;belowTheFold&quot;:true,&quot;topImage&quot;:false,&quot;internalRedirect&quot;:null,&quot;isProcessing&quot;:false,&quot;align&quot;:null,&quot;offset&quot;:false}" class="sizing-normal" alt="" srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!MBqp!,w_424,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fa9ab16b7-7666-4d31-9378-846430b12ec5_4032x2748.jpeg 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!MBqp!,w_848,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fa9ab16b7-7666-4d31-9378-846430b12ec5_4032x2748.jpeg 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!MBqp!,w_1272,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fa9ab16b7-7666-4d31-9378-846430b12ec5_4032x2748.jpeg 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!MBqp!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fa9ab16b7-7666-4d31-9378-846430b12ec5_4032x2748.jpeg 1456w" sizes="100vw" loading="lazy"></picture><div class="image-link-expand"><div class="pencraft pc-display-flex pc-gap-8 pc-reset"><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container restack-image"><svg aria-hidden="true" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 20 20" fill="none" stroke-width="1.5" stroke="var(--color-fg-primary)" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><g><path d="M2.53001 7.81595C3.49179 4.73911 6.43281 2.5 9.91173 2.5C13.1684 2.5 15.9537 4.46214 17.0852 7.23684L17.6179 8.67647M17.6179 8.67647L18.5002 4.26471M17.6179 8.67647L13.6473 6.91176M17.4995 12.1841C16.5378 15.2609 13.5967 17.5 10.1178 17.5C6.86118 17.5 4.07589 15.5379 2.94432 12.7632L2.41165 11.3235M2.41165 11.3235L1.5293 15.7353M2.41165 11.3235L6.38224 13.0882"></path></g></svg></button><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container view-image"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 24 24" fill="none" stroke="currentColor" stroke-width="2" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" class="lucide lucide-maximize2 lucide-maximize-2"><polyline points="15 3 21 3 21 9"></polyline><polyline points="9 21 3 21 3 15"></polyline><line x1="21" x2="14" y1="3" y2="10"></line><line x1="3" x2="10" y1="21" y2="14"></line></svg></button></div></div></div></a><figcaption class="image-caption">Sunrise in Birgu, Malta, August 2026.  Photo by Trudi Nicola. </figcaption></figure></div><p class="button-wrapper" data-attrs="{&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https://trudinicola.substack.com/subscribe?utm_source=email&r=&quot;,&quot;text&quot;:&quot;Subscribe&quot;,&quot;action&quot;:null,&quot;class&quot;:null}" data-component-name="ButtonCreateButton"><a class="button primary" href="https://trudinicola.substack.com/subscribe?utm_source=email&r="><span>Subscribe</span></a></p><p></p>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title><![CDATA[Changeling]]></title><description><![CDATA[A lullaby]]></description><link>https://trudinicola.substack.com/p/changeling</link><guid isPermaLink="false">https://trudinicola.substack.com/p/changeling</guid><dc:creator><![CDATA[Trudi Nicola]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Fri, 14 Aug 2026 07:13:11 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1654139369517-ef8dc259703c?crop=entropy&amp;cs=tinysrgb&amp;fit=max&amp;fm=jpg&amp;ixid=M3wzMDAzMzh8MHwxfHNlYXJjaHwyN3x8aG9yc2VzaG9lfGVufDB8fHx8MTc4NjY5MTMxNnww&amp;ixlib=rb-4.1.0&amp;q=80&amp;w=1080" length="0" type="image/jpeg"/><content:encoded><![CDATA[<div class="preformatted-block" data-component-name="PreformattedTextBlockToDOM"><label class="hide-text" contenteditable="false">Text within this block will maintain its original spacing when published</label><pre class="text">Hush now my child
And fret no more
A horseshoe hangs
Over our door
The candlelight
Will keep you here
For flickering fire
Faeries may fear

Hush now my child
And welcome sleep
Beside your cradle
My watch, I keep
A daisy garland
Rests on your brow
They will not dare
To take you now

Hush now my child
And dream a while
Your cradle rocks
I see you smile
Soft tinkling bells
Chime as you stir
Malevolent spirits
Won't reach our door

Hush now my child
And know no harm
A sprinkling of salt
Will work its charm
Let faeries gaze
On your pretty face
For no changeling child
Shall take your place

</pre></div><div class="captioned-image-container"><figure><a class="image-link image2 is-viewable-img" target="_blank" href="https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1654139369517-ef8dc259703c?crop=entropy&amp;cs=tinysrgb&amp;fit=max&amp;fm=jpg&amp;ixid=M3wzMDAzMzh8MHwxfHNlYXJjaHwyN3x8aG9yc2VzaG9lfGVufDB8fHx8MTc4NjY5MTMxNnww&amp;ixlib=rb-4.1.0&amp;q=80&amp;w=1080" data-component-name="Image2ToDOM"><div class="image2-inset"><picture><source type="image/webp" srcset="https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1654139369517-ef8dc259703c?crop=entropy&amp;cs=tinysrgb&amp;fit=max&amp;fm=jpg&amp;ixid=M3wzMDAzMzh8MHwxfHNlYXJjaHwyN3x8aG9yc2VzaG9lfGVufDB8fHx8MTc4NjY5MTMxNnww&amp;ixlib=rb-4.1.0&amp;q=80&amp;w=1080 424w, https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1654139369517-ef8dc259703c?crop=entropy&amp;cs=tinysrgb&amp;fit=max&amp;fm=jpg&amp;ixid=M3wzMDAzMzh8MHwxfHNlYXJjaHwyN3x8aG9yc2VzaG9lfGVufDB8fHx8MTc4NjY5MTMxNnww&amp;ixlib=rb-4.1.0&amp;q=80&amp;w=1080 848w, https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1654139369517-ef8dc259703c?crop=entropy&amp;cs=tinysrgb&amp;fit=max&amp;fm=jpg&amp;ixid=M3wzMDAzMzh8MHwxfHNlYXJjaHwyN3x8aG9yc2VzaG9lfGVufDB8fHx8MTc4NjY5MTMxNnww&amp;ixlib=rb-4.1.0&amp;q=80&amp;w=1080 1272w, https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1654139369517-ef8dc259703c?crop=entropy&amp;cs=tinysrgb&amp;fit=max&amp;fm=jpg&amp;ixid=M3wzMDAzMzh8MHwxfHNlYXJjaHwyN3x8aG9yc2VzaG9lfGVufDB8fHx8MTc4NjY5MTMxNnww&amp;ixlib=rb-4.1.0&amp;q=80&amp;w=1080 1456w" sizes="100vw"><img src="https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1654139369517-ef8dc259703c?crop=entropy&amp;cs=tinysrgb&amp;fit=max&amp;fm=jpg&amp;ixid=M3wzMDAzMzh8MHwxfHNlYXJjaHwyN3x8aG9yc2VzaG9lfGVufDB8fHx8MTc4NjY5MTMxNnww&amp;ixlib=rb-4.1.0&amp;q=80&amp;w=1080" width="2667" height="4000" data-attrs="{&quot;src&quot;:&quot;https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1654139369517-ef8dc259703c?crop=entropy&amp;cs=tinysrgb&amp;fit=max&amp;fm=jpg&amp;ixid=M3wzMDAzMzh8MHwxfHNlYXJjaHwyN3x8aG9yc2VzaG9lfGVufDB8fHx8MTc4NjY5MTMxNnww&amp;ixlib=rb-4.1.0&amp;q=80&amp;w=1080&quot;,&quot;srcNoWatermark&quot;:null,&quot;fullscreen&quot;:null,&quot;imageSize&quot;:null,&quot;height&quot;:4000,&quot;width&quot;:2667,&quot;resizeWidth&quot;:null,&quot;bytes&quot;:null,&quot;alt&quot;:&quot;a wooden door with a sign on it&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:null,&quot;type&quot;:&quot;image/jpg&quot;,&quot;href&quot;:null,&quot;belowTheFold&quot;:false,&quot;topImage&quot;:true,&quot;internalRedirect&quot;:null,&quot;isProcessing&quot;:false,&quot;align&quot;:null,&quot;offset&quot;:false}" class="sizing-normal" alt="a wooden door with a sign on it" title="a wooden door with a sign on it" srcset="https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1654139369517-ef8dc259703c?crop=entropy&amp;cs=tinysrgb&amp;fit=max&amp;fm=jpg&amp;ixid=M3wzMDAzMzh8MHwxfHNlYXJjaHwyN3x8aG9yc2VzaG9lfGVufDB8fHx8MTc4NjY5MTMxNnww&amp;ixlib=rb-4.1.0&amp;q=80&amp;w=1080 424w, https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1654139369517-ef8dc259703c?crop=entropy&amp;cs=tinysrgb&amp;fit=max&amp;fm=jpg&amp;ixid=M3wzMDAzMzh8MHwxfHNlYXJjaHwyN3x8aG9yc2VzaG9lfGVufDB8fHx8MTc4NjY5MTMxNnww&amp;ixlib=rb-4.1.0&amp;q=80&amp;w=1080 848w, https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1654139369517-ef8dc259703c?crop=entropy&amp;cs=tinysrgb&amp;fit=max&amp;fm=jpg&amp;ixid=M3wzMDAzMzh8MHwxfHNlYXJjaHwyN3x8aG9yc2VzaG9lfGVufDB8fHx8MTc4NjY5MTMxNnww&amp;ixlib=rb-4.1.0&amp;q=80&amp;w=1080 1272w, https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1654139369517-ef8dc259703c?crop=entropy&amp;cs=tinysrgb&amp;fit=max&amp;fm=jpg&amp;ixid=M3wzMDAzMzh8MHwxfHNlYXJjaHwyN3x8aG9yc2VzaG9lfGVufDB8fHx8MTc4NjY5MTMxNnww&amp;ixlib=rb-4.1.0&amp;q=80&amp;w=1080 1456w" sizes="100vw" fetchpriority="high"></picture><div class="image-link-expand"><div class="pencraft pc-display-flex pc-gap-8 pc-reset"><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container restack-image"><svg aria-hidden="true" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 20 20" fill="none" stroke-width="1.5" stroke="var(--color-fg-primary)" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><g><path d="M2.53001 7.81595C3.49179 4.73911 6.43281 2.5 9.91173 2.5C13.1684 2.5 15.9537 4.46214 17.0852 7.23684L17.6179 8.67647M17.6179 8.67647L18.5002 4.26471M17.6179 8.67647L13.6473 6.91176M17.4995 12.1841C16.5378 15.2609 13.5967 17.5 10.1178 17.5C6.86118 17.5 4.07589 15.5379 2.94432 12.7632L2.41165 11.3235M2.41165 11.3235L1.5293 15.7353M2.41165 11.3235L6.38224 13.0882"></path></g></svg></button><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container view-image"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 24 24" fill="none" stroke="currentColor" stroke-width="2" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" class="lucide lucide-maximize2 lucide-maximize-2"><polyline points="15 3 21 3 21 9"></polyline><polyline points="9 21 3 21 3 15"></polyline><line x1="21" x2="14" y1="3" y2="10"></line><line x1="3" x2="10" y1="21" y2="14"></line></svg></button></div></div></div></a><figcaption class="image-caption">Photo by <a href="https://unsplash.com/@missmeg_mac">Meg MacDonald</a> on <a href="https://unsplash.com">Unsplash</a></figcaption></figure></div>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title><![CDATA[Would we recognise ourselves in a past life?]]></title><description><![CDATA[Soul reading]]></description><link>https://trudinicola.substack.com/p/would-we-recognise-ourselves-in-a</link><guid isPermaLink="false">https://trudinicola.substack.com/p/would-we-recognise-ourselves-in-a</guid><dc:creator><![CDATA[Trudi Nicola]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Wed, 05 Aug 2026 18:43:37 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1732046801426-f32529468176?crop=entropy&amp;cs=tinysrgb&amp;fit=max&amp;fm=jpg&amp;ixid=M3wzMDAzMzh8MHwxfHNlYXJjaHw1fHxkbmF8ZW58MHx8fHwxNzg1OTU1MzMzfDA&amp;ixlib=rb-4.1.0&amp;q=80&amp;w=1080" length="0" type="image/jpeg"/><content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Today&#8217;s example from my 2025 archive links to a number of questions asked around identity and recognition.  <em>Would we recognise ourselves if we saw ourselves in a past life?  Do we take on similar forms in each lifetime?  Do our facial features carry through?</em></p><p>I found these questions fascinating and couldn&#8217;t wait to find out what my Guides had to say in response!  I did not &#8216;see&#8217; any images this time as my Guides went straight to a written response.</p><p><em>The words I wrote:</em></p><p>Dear One</p><p>The answer is yes and no.<span> </span>Each lifetime and each embodiment is different, with different reasons for your soul&#8217;s incarnation.<span> </span>So let us explain - or try to.<span> </span>You may not have a physical body or features you would recognise as part of yourself in a lifetime, yet the essence of you - your energetic blueprint - remains constant. That does not change. It may shift in vibration as your soul evolves but your core being is utterly and totally unique.</p><p>Then at other times you might recognise yourself.<span> </span>The same eyes or mannerisms have been passed on through existences.<span> </span>In some cases, people look very much like a prior self. This is rare.<span> </span>But more often than not it is the energy we emit, our personal signal - the blueprint, that identifies us. This is how we know who is in our soul tribe and who we have soul lessons to learn with.</p><p>We are attracted to or repelled from other vibrations and energy patterns. You know who you feel comfortable with and who makes you feel unsafe. Pay attention to this. It is a deep soul signal.</p><p>So, we hope that answers your question. You will have lifetimes where you would recognise yourself and others where you would look and be entirely different but feel the same.<span> </span></p><p>Namaste.</p><p>Isn&#8217;t that fascinating?  I am curious to know what you think.  Do you reckon you would know yourself in a previous life?  Please share your thoughts in the comments!</p><p class="button-wrapper" data-attrs="{&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https://trudinicola.substack.com/p/would-we-recognise-ourselves-in-a/comments&quot;,&quot;text&quot;:&quot;Leave a comment&quot;,&quot;action&quot;:null,&quot;class&quot;:null}" data-component-name="ButtonCreateButton"><a class="button primary" href="https://trudinicola.substack.com/p/would-we-recognise-ourselves-in-a/comments"><span>Leave a comment</span></a></p><div class="captioned-image-container"><figure><a class="image-link image2 is-viewable-img" target="_blank" href="https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1732046801426-f32529468176?crop=entropy&amp;cs=tinysrgb&amp;fit=max&amp;fm=jpg&amp;ixid=M3wzMDAzMzh8MHwxfHNlYXJjaHw1fHxkbmF8ZW58MHx8fHwxNzg1OTU1MzMzfDA&amp;ixlib=rb-4.1.0&amp;q=80&amp;w=1080" data-component-name="Image2ToDOM"><div class="image2-inset"><picture><source type="image/webp" 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background&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:null,&quot;type&quot;:&quot;image/jpg&quot;,&quot;href&quot;:null,&quot;belowTheFold&quot;:true,&quot;topImage&quot;:false,&quot;internalRedirect&quot;:null,&quot;isProcessing&quot;:false,&quot;align&quot;:null,&quot;offset&quot;:false}" class="sizing-normal" alt="A close up of a cell phone with a blurry background" title="A close up of a cell phone with a blurry background" srcset="https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1732046801426-f32529468176?crop=entropy&amp;cs=tinysrgb&amp;fit=max&amp;fm=jpg&amp;ixid=M3wzMDAzMzh8MHwxfHNlYXJjaHw1fHxkbmF8ZW58MHx8fHwxNzg1OTU1MzMzfDA&amp;ixlib=rb-4.1.0&amp;q=80&amp;w=1080 424w, https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1732046801426-f32529468176?crop=entropy&amp;cs=tinysrgb&amp;fit=max&amp;fm=jpg&amp;ixid=M3wzMDAzMzh8MHwxfHNlYXJjaHw1fHxkbmF8ZW58MHx8fHwxNzg1OTU1MzMzfDA&amp;ixlib=rb-4.1.0&amp;q=80&amp;w=1080 848w, 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17.0852 7.23684L17.6179 8.67647M17.6179 8.67647L18.5002 4.26471M17.6179 8.67647L13.6473 6.91176M17.4995 12.1841C16.5378 15.2609 13.5967 17.5 10.1178 17.5C6.86118 17.5 4.07589 15.5379 2.94432 12.7632L2.41165 11.3235M2.41165 11.3235L1.5293 15.7353M2.41165 11.3235L6.38224 13.0882"></path></g></svg></button><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container view-image"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 24 24" fill="none" stroke="currentColor" stroke-width="2" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" class="lucide lucide-maximize2 lucide-maximize-2"><polyline points="15 3 21 3 21 9"></polyline><polyline points="9 21 3 21 3 15"></polyline><line x1="21" x2="14" y1="3" y2="10"></line><line x1="3" x2="10" y1="21" y2="14"></line></svg></button></div></div></div></a><figcaption class="image-caption">Photo by <a href="https://unsplash.com/@mjh_shikder">MJH SHIKDER</a> on <a href="https://unsplash.com">Unsplash</a></figcaption></figure></div><p></p>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title><![CDATA[How can we expand time?]]></title><description><![CDATA[Soul readings]]></description><link>https://trudinicola.substack.com/p/how-can-we-expand-time</link><guid isPermaLink="false">https://trudinicola.substack.com/p/how-can-we-expand-time</guid><dc:creator><![CDATA[Trudi Nicola]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Sun, 02 Aug 2026 18:28:55 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1729863149285-aa287ee04b5e?crop=entropy&amp;cs=tinysrgb&amp;fit=max&amp;fm=jpg&amp;ixid=M3wzMDAzMzh8MHwxfHNlYXJjaHwxfHxibHVlJTIwc2VycGVudHxlbnwwfHx8fDE3ODU2OTQ5NDV8MA&amp;ixlib=rb-4.1.0&amp;q=80&amp;w=1080" length="0" type="image/jpeg"/><content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>I returned to my archived notes today to look for something to share and came across this gem of a question posed to the Akashic Records in July 2025:</p><p><strong>How can we expand time or develop a different relationship with it?</strong></p><p>This question was the result of a conversation between me and <span class="mention-wrap" data-attrs="{&quot;name&quot;:&quot;Lori Ann Bloomfield&quot;,&quot;id&quot;:196841355,&quot;type&quot;:&quot;user&quot;,&quot;url&quot;:null,&quot;photo_url&quot;:&quot;https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/8d58f7f2-bc6f-4069-a806-a7a155d6cde4_916x1103.jpeg&quot;,&quot;uuid&quot;:&quot;d43692d3-5890-4be5-9f9f-de9c81558c7b&quot;}" data-component-name="MentionToDOM"></span> where we discussed, amongst other things, our seemingly never-ending need for sleep and a feeling that there was just never enough time for everything we wanted to do!  Sound familiar?  Well, perhaps the response from our guides in the Records will be helpful to you!</p><p><em>The images I saw:</em></p><p>I see an old-fashioned bed with a deep canopy above it and curtains that close to create complete darkness.</p><p>I see a poster with a grid on &#8211; dates and times &#8211; a planner.</p><p>A pyramid with a blue serpent slithering down its side.<span> </span>A pharaoh&#8217;s mask &#8211; black and gold &#8211; kohl-lined blue eyes.</p><p>Roses &#8211; red roses &#8211; by a gravestone.<span> </span>I hear &#8216;You are a long time dead.&#8217;</p><p><em>The words I wrote:</em></p><p>Dear Trudi and Lori</p><p>This is a good question. You have both discovered how much there is to learn and re-discover (as we know you already have the answers within you). We tell you this. You will need more sleep and of a higher quality. The reason is twofold. First, your physical bodies need the rest and recuperation to enable you to do all you do each day (physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually).<span> </span>Secondly, and more importantly, you need to reach deep levels of sleep to continue your learning during dream time. We, your guides and loved ones, need this time with you to help you to reconnect with all you already know. So, sleep is the first step in claiming back time.</p><p>Next, you both know where and when you waste time. We do not judge you for this but if you instead focus on resting or reading or meditating instead of zoning out, wandering or wondering, you will create more time.<span> </span>Time is a precious gift and, although it is more complex than the passing of your years, there will come a time when this mortal role will end.<span> </span>What do you need to have achieved by that point? This is not said to scare you but to help you sharpen your focus and think in terms of legacy. </p><p>What will you both leave behind to make the path clearer for those who follow? Just like the Egyptians (we are joking, but you understand)! </p><p>Namaste.</p><p><em>Reflections:</em></p><p>And so we were told, quite directly, that we were choosing to waste some time during our waking moments and also reminded that the quality of sleep we experience was of great importance in terms of &#8216;expanding&#8217; time.</p><p>The images were intriguing!  A search reveals that blue snakes symbolise transformation and wisdom, whilst the Egyptian mask is a link between death and the afterlife - which connects to the gravestone image and the phrase I heard.  The bed and planner were obvious links to the question posed - deep sleep and organising time more effectively.  The red roses signify love and friendship but also sacrifice and Divine, unconditional love.  Interesting.</p><p>As an aside, to access a &#8216;joint&#8217; reading like this, I first open my Akashic Records and then, with consent, open Lori-Ann&#8217;s.  This enables our guides to work together in responding to our shared question.  When leaving the Records, I &#8216;shut down&#8217; the connection with Lori-Ann&#8217;s first, before shutting down mine.  This is always done with gratitude for the wisdom shared.</p><p>Please let me know your interpretations of the images (and message) in the comments below!</p><p class="button-wrapper" data-attrs="{&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https://trudinicola.substack.com/p/how-can-we-expand-time/comments&quot;,&quot;text&quot;:&quot;Leave a comment&quot;,&quot;action&quot;:null,&quot;class&quot;:null}" data-component-name="ButtonCreateButton"><a class="button primary" href="https://trudinicola.substack.com/p/how-can-we-expand-time/comments"><span>Leave a comment</span></a></p><div class="captioned-image-container"><figure><a class="image-link image2 is-viewable-img" target="_blank" href="https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1729863149285-aa287ee04b5e?crop=entropy&amp;cs=tinysrgb&amp;fit=max&amp;fm=jpg&amp;ixid=M3wzMDAzMzh8MHwxfHNlYXJjaHwxfHxibHVlJTIwc2VycGVudHxlbnwwfHx8fDE3ODU2OTQ5NDV8MA&amp;ixlib=rb-4.1.0&amp;q=80&amp;w=1080" data-component-name="Image2ToDOM"><div class="image2-inset"><picture><source type="image/webp" srcset="https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1729863149285-aa287ee04b5e?crop=entropy&amp;cs=tinysrgb&amp;fit=max&amp;fm=jpg&amp;ixid=M3wzMDAzMzh8MHwxfHNlYXJjaHwxfHxibHVlJTIwc2VycGVudHxlbnwwfHx8fDE3ODU2OTQ5NDV8MA&amp;ixlib=rb-4.1.0&amp;q=80&amp;w=1080 424w, https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1729863149285-aa287ee04b5e?crop=entropy&amp;cs=tinysrgb&amp;fit=max&amp;fm=jpg&amp;ixid=M3wzMDAzMzh8MHwxfHNlYXJjaHwxfHxibHVlJTIwc2VycGVudHxlbnwwfHx8fDE3ODU2OTQ5NDV8MA&amp;ixlib=rb-4.1.0&amp;q=80&amp;w=1080 848w, https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1729863149285-aa287ee04b5e?crop=entropy&amp;cs=tinysrgb&amp;fit=max&amp;fm=jpg&amp;ixid=M3wzMDAzMzh8MHwxfHNlYXJjaHwxfHxibHVlJTIwc2VycGVudHxlbnwwfHx8fDE3ODU2OTQ5NDV8MA&amp;ixlib=rb-4.1.0&amp;q=80&amp;w=1080 1272w, 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data-attrs="{&quot;src&quot;:&quot;https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1729863149285-aa287ee04b5e?crop=entropy&amp;cs=tinysrgb&amp;fit=max&amp;fm=jpg&amp;ixid=M3wzMDAzMzh8MHwxfHNlYXJjaHwxfHxibHVlJTIwc2VycGVudHxlbnwwfHx8fDE3ODU2OTQ5NDV8MA&amp;ixlib=rb-4.1.0&amp;q=80&amp;w=1080&quot;,&quot;srcNoWatermark&quot;:null,&quot;fullscreen&quot;:null,&quot;imageSize&quot;:null,&quot;height&quot;:2780,&quot;width&quot;:4300,&quot;resizeWidth&quot;:null,&quot;bytes&quot;:null,&quot;alt&quot;:&quot;A close up of a blue snake skin&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:null,&quot;type&quot;:&quot;image/jpg&quot;,&quot;href&quot;:null,&quot;belowTheFold&quot;:true,&quot;topImage&quot;:false,&quot;internalRedirect&quot;:null,&quot;isProcessing&quot;:false,&quot;align&quot;:null,&quot;offset&quot;:false}" class="sizing-normal" alt="A close up of a blue snake skin" title="A close up of a blue snake skin" srcset="https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1729863149285-aa287ee04b5e?crop=entropy&amp;cs=tinysrgb&amp;fit=max&amp;fm=jpg&amp;ixid=M3wzMDAzMzh8MHwxfHNlYXJjaHwxfHxibHVlJTIwc2VycGVudHxlbnwwfHx8fDE3ODU2OTQ5NDV8MA&amp;ixlib=rb-4.1.0&amp;q=80&amp;w=1080 424w, https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1729863149285-aa287ee04b5e?crop=entropy&amp;cs=tinysrgb&amp;fit=max&amp;fm=jpg&amp;ixid=M3wzMDAzMzh8MHwxfHNlYXJjaHwxfHxibHVlJTIwc2VycGVudHxlbnwwfHx8fDE3ODU2OTQ5NDV8MA&amp;ixlib=rb-4.1.0&amp;q=80&amp;w=1080 848w, https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1729863149285-aa287ee04b5e?crop=entropy&amp;cs=tinysrgb&amp;fit=max&amp;fm=jpg&amp;ixid=M3wzMDAzMzh8MHwxfHNlYXJjaHwxfHxibHVlJTIwc2VycGVudHxlbnwwfHx8fDE3ODU2OTQ5NDV8MA&amp;ixlib=rb-4.1.0&amp;q=80&amp;w=1080 1272w, https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1729863149285-aa287ee04b5e?crop=entropy&amp;cs=tinysrgb&amp;fit=max&amp;fm=jpg&amp;ixid=M3wzMDAzMzh8MHwxfHNlYXJjaHwxfHxibHVlJTIwc2VycGVudHxlbnwwfHx8fDE3ODU2OTQ5NDV8MA&amp;ixlib=rb-4.1.0&amp;q=80&amp;w=1080 1456w" sizes="100vw" loading="lazy"></picture><div class="image-link-expand"><div class="pencraft pc-display-flex pc-gap-8 pc-reset"><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container restack-image"><svg aria-hidden="true" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 20 20" fill="none" stroke-width="1.5" stroke="var(--color-fg-primary)" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><g><path d="M2.53001 7.81595C3.49179 4.73911 6.43281 2.5 9.91173 2.5C13.1684 2.5 15.9537 4.46214 17.0852 7.23684L17.6179 8.67647M17.6179 8.67647L18.5002 4.26471M17.6179 8.67647L13.6473 6.91176M17.4995 12.1841C16.5378 15.2609 13.5967 17.5 10.1178 17.5C6.86118 17.5 4.07589 15.5379 2.94432 12.7632L2.41165 11.3235M2.41165 11.3235L1.5293 15.7353M2.41165 11.3235L6.38224 13.0882"></path></g></svg></button><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container view-image"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 24 24" fill="none" stroke="currentColor" stroke-width="2" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" class="lucide lucide-maximize2 lucide-maximize-2"><polyline points="15 3 21 3 21 9"></polyline><polyline points="9 21 3 21 3 15"></polyline><line x1="21" x2="14" y1="3" y2="10"></line><line x1="3" x2="10" y1="21" y2="14"></line></svg></button></div></div></div></a><figcaption class="image-caption">Photo by <a href="https://unsplash.com/@jgrant1">Jason Grant</a> on <a href="https://unsplash.com">Unsplash</a></figcaption></figure></div><p></p>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title><![CDATA[Portal ]]></title><link>https://trudinicola.substack.com/p/portal</link><guid isPermaLink="false">https://trudinicola.substack.com/p/portal</guid><dc:creator><![CDATA[Trudi Nicola]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Sat, 01 Aug 2026 08:49:53 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1613190419621-85c6e1763d08?crop=entropy&amp;cs=tinysrgb&amp;fit=max&amp;fm=jpg&amp;ixid=M3wzMDAzMzh8MHwxfHNlYXJjaHw1fHxwb3J0YWx8ZW58MHx8fHwxNzg1NjY1NjQ2fDA&amp;ixlib=rb-4.1.0&amp;q=80&amp;w=1080" length="0" type="image/jpeg"/><content:encoded><![CDATA[<div class="preformatted-block" data-component-name="PreformattedTextBlockToDOM"><label class="hide-text" contenteditable="false">Text within this block will maintain its original spacing when published</label><pre class="text">I stand at the edge of a portal

Feet rooted to the ground

The air is still

Earth holds her breath

Stars fracture without sound

&#9728;&#65039;

I stand at the edge of a portal

Words catching, not yet formed 

My eyes don&#8217;t see

Yet I perceive 

A welcome rite, performed 

&#9728;&#65039;

Stand at the edge of a portal

Sounds humming in my ears

A mantra, sweet

Inviting me

To cross, and shed all fear

&#9728;&#65039;

I stand at the edge of a portal

I know the time has come

A silent roar

A golden haze

A prophecy undone 
</pre></div><div class="captioned-image-container"><figure><a class="image-link image2 is-viewable-img" target="_blank" href="https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1613190419621-85c6e1763d08?crop=entropy&amp;cs=tinysrgb&amp;fit=max&amp;fm=jpg&amp;ixid=M3wzMDAzMzh8MHwxfHNlYXJjaHw1fHxwb3J0YWx8ZW58MHx8fHwxNzg1NjY1NjQ2fDA&amp;ixlib=rb-4.1.0&amp;q=80&amp;w=1080" data-component-name="Image2ToDOM"><div class="image2-inset"><picture><source type="image/webp" srcset="https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1613190419621-85c6e1763d08?crop=entropy&amp;cs=tinysrgb&amp;fit=max&amp;fm=jpg&amp;ixid=M3wzMDAzMzh8MHwxfHNlYXJjaHw1fHxwb3J0YWx8ZW58MHx8fHwxNzg1NjY1NjQ2fDA&amp;ixlib=rb-4.1.0&amp;q=80&amp;w=1080 424w, https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1613190419621-85c6e1763d08?crop=entropy&amp;cs=tinysrgb&amp;fit=max&amp;fm=jpg&amp;ixid=M3wzMDAzMzh8MHwxfHNlYXJjaHw1fHxwb3J0YWx8ZW58MHx8fHwxNzg1NjY1NjQ2fDA&amp;ixlib=rb-4.1.0&amp;q=80&amp;w=1080 848w, https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1613190419621-85c6e1763d08?crop=entropy&amp;cs=tinysrgb&amp;fit=max&amp;fm=jpg&amp;ixid=M3wzMDAzMzh8MHwxfHNlYXJjaHw1fHxwb3J0YWx8ZW58MHx8fHwxNzg1NjY1NjQ2fDA&amp;ixlib=rb-4.1.0&amp;q=80&amp;w=1080 1272w, https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1613190419621-85c6e1763d08?crop=entropy&amp;cs=tinysrgb&amp;fit=max&amp;fm=jpg&amp;ixid=M3wzMDAzMzh8MHwxfHNlYXJjaHw1fHxwb3J0YWx8ZW58MHx8fHwxNzg1NjY1NjQ2fDA&amp;ixlib=rb-4.1.0&amp;q=80&amp;w=1080 1456w" sizes="100vw"><img src="https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1613190419621-85c6e1763d08?crop=entropy&amp;cs=tinysrgb&amp;fit=max&amp;fm=jpg&amp;ixid=M3wzMDAzMzh8MHwxfHNlYXJjaHw1fHxwb3J0YWx8ZW58MHx8fHwxNzg1NjY1NjQ2fDA&amp;ixlib=rb-4.1.0&amp;q=80&amp;w=1080" width="6720" height="3780" 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srcset="https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1613190419621-85c6e1763d08?crop=entropy&amp;cs=tinysrgb&amp;fit=max&amp;fm=jpg&amp;ixid=M3wzMDAzMzh8MHwxfHNlYXJjaHw1fHxwb3J0YWx8ZW58MHx8fHwxNzg1NjY1NjQ2fDA&amp;ixlib=rb-4.1.0&amp;q=80&amp;w=1080 424w, https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1613190419621-85c6e1763d08?crop=entropy&amp;cs=tinysrgb&amp;fit=max&amp;fm=jpg&amp;ixid=M3wzMDAzMzh8MHwxfHNlYXJjaHw1fHxwb3J0YWx8ZW58MHx8fHwxNzg1NjY1NjQ2fDA&amp;ixlib=rb-4.1.0&amp;q=80&amp;w=1080 848w, https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1613190419621-85c6e1763d08?crop=entropy&amp;cs=tinysrgb&amp;fit=max&amp;fm=jpg&amp;ixid=M3wzMDAzMzh8MHwxfHNlYXJjaHw1fHxwb3J0YWx8ZW58MHx8fHwxNzg1NjY1NjQ2fDA&amp;ixlib=rb-4.1.0&amp;q=80&amp;w=1080 1272w, https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1613190419621-85c6e1763d08?crop=entropy&amp;cs=tinysrgb&amp;fit=max&amp;fm=jpg&amp;ixid=M3wzMDAzMzh8MHwxfHNlYXJjaHw1fHxwb3J0YWx8ZW58MHx8fHwxNzg1NjY1NjQ2fDA&amp;ixlib=rb-4.1.0&amp;q=80&amp;w=1080 1456w" sizes="100vw" fetchpriority="high"></picture><div class="image-link-expand"><div class="pencraft pc-display-flex pc-gap-8 pc-reset"><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container restack-image"><svg aria-hidden="true" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 20 20" fill="none" stroke-width="1.5" stroke="var(--color-fg-primary)" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><g><path d="M2.53001 7.81595C3.49179 4.73911 6.43281 2.5 9.91173 2.5C13.1684 2.5 15.9537 4.46214 17.0852 7.23684L17.6179 8.67647M17.6179 8.67647L18.5002 4.26471M17.6179 8.67647L13.6473 6.91176M17.4995 12.1841C16.5378 15.2609 13.5967 17.5 10.1178 17.5C6.86118 17.5 4.07589 15.5379 2.94432 12.7632L2.41165 11.3235M2.41165 11.3235L1.5293 15.7353M2.41165 11.3235L6.38224 13.0882"></path></g></svg></button><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container view-image"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 24 24" fill="none" stroke="currentColor" stroke-width="2" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" class="lucide lucide-maximize2 lucide-maximize-2"><polyline points="15 3 21 3 21 9"></polyline><polyline points="9 21 3 21 3 15"></polyline><line x1="21" x2="14" y1="3" y2="10"></line><line x1="3" x2="10" y1="21" y2="14"></line></svg></button></div></div></div></a><figcaption class="image-caption">Photo by <a href="https://unsplash.com/@photosoflogan">Logan Gutierrez</a> on <a href="https://unsplash.com">Unsplash</a></figcaption></figure></div><p class="button-wrapper" data-attrs="{&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https://trudinicola.substack.com/subscribe?utm_source=email&amp;r=&quot;,&quot;text&quot;:&quot;Subscribe&quot;,&quot;action&quot;:null,&quot;class&quot;:null}" data-component-name="ButtonCreateButton"><a class="button primary" href="https://trudinicola.substack.com/subscribe?utm_source=email&amp;r="><span>Subscribe</span></a></p><p></p>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title><![CDATA[Direct questioning]]></title><description><![CDATA[Soul reading]]></description><link>https://trudinicola.substack.com/p/direct-questioning</link><guid isPermaLink="false">https://trudinicola.substack.com/p/direct-questioning</guid><dc:creator><![CDATA[Trudi Nicola]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Mon, 27 Jul 2026 19:04:19 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1706875179462-c1e0a50024a3?crop=entropy&amp;cs=tinysrgb&amp;fit=max&amp;fm=jpg&amp;ixid=M3wzMDAzMzh8MHwxfHNlYXJjaHw5MHx8YmxhY2slMjB1bWJyZWxsYXxlbnwwfHx8fDE3ODUxNzg2MzN8MA&amp;ixlib=rb-4.1.0&amp;q=80&amp;w=1080" length="0" type="image/jpeg"/><content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>I want to begin by thanking <span class="mention-wrap" data-attrs="{&quot;name&quot;:&quot;Tim Miller&quot;,&quot;id&quot;:12660987,&quot;type&quot;:&quot;user&quot;,&quot;url&quot;:null,&quot;photo_url&quot;:&quot;https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!XZQQ!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fb8cb0d67-1b2e-4fd2-8ccf-4deea0eedc86_551x551.png&quot;,&quot;uuid&quot;:&quot;63154af5-13aa-4a89-a5e6-fd74709baeff&quot;}" data-component-name="MentionToDOM"></span> for asking this question in response to my post yesterday: <em>Is it meaningful to ask what the storage mechanism is for the Akashic Records? Are they stored in the consciousness that is (I'm guessing) the source of all that exists? Can anyone access information in the records, or does someone have to do years of spiritual work first?</em></p><p>I will ask these questions of the Records for you, Tim.  But first, I will answer them myself - based on what I think, so you can compare my initial response to the response from my Guides.  People I have read for have commented on the shift in style and vocabulary when I write a channelled response.  See what you notice.</p><p><strong>Trudi&#8217;s responses:</strong></p><p>As far as I understand, the Akashic Records are not stored anywhere but are a source of energy that we can access from anywhere and at any time.  Time as we know it does not exist in the Records.  It is more spiral than linear and this makes it difficult to receive answers to time-based questions - so avoid asking &#8216;when&#8217;, as the response may not make sense!  I think they are linked to universal consciousness, yet they are also deeply personal and specific to each of us.</p><p>I believe that anyone can access their Records but many choose not to.  Part of what I am asked to do is remind others how easy it is to connect with your Guides and learn to receive messages and wisdom linked to your own soul.  There is a discipline involved, and in the book I followed (How to read the Akashic Records by Linda Howe), the recommendation is to visit the Records on 30 consecutive days, even if it is for a brief time.  This creates a strong link and allows you to get used to tuning in and noticing the messages.  </p><p>You need to be sober to access the Records and abstain from alcohol and recreational drugs for 24 hours before opening them.  Fortunately for me, I had already decided to stop drinking alcohol six months prior to starting my Akashic Records work.  Coincidence?  I&#8217;m not so sure!  In terms of years of spiritual work, I don&#8217;t think that matters as much as an open heart and pure intentions - a desire to do this work for the greater good.</p><p class="button-wrapper" data-attrs="{&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https://www.trudinicola.com/&quot;,&quot;text&quot;:&quot;Visit my website!&quot;,&quot;action&quot;:null,&quot;class&quot;:null}" data-component-name="ButtonCreateButton"><a class="button primary" href="https://www.trudinicola.com/"><span>Visit my website!</span></a></p><p><strong>The Akashic Records&#8217; responses:</strong></p><p><em>The images I saw:</em></p><p>I see a figure leafing through a book, surrounded by books that are floating behind them, pages open.  I see an open, black umbrella floating in a sky of stars.  The umbrella contains linked information and protects against overwhelm - it ensures there is some kind of filter, so not all information floods through at once.  I see a wallet with ID cards.  This is the access code for the Records.  The Records are as vast as Space and yet are supremely well-organised.  There are thin threads of light energy linking your Records to your identification.  I see a person carrying the black umbrella and walking along.  When they feel ready, they close the umbrella and their night sky is illuminated.  Their threads connect and the messages are shared.</p><p><em>The words I wrote:</em></p><p>Dear One</p><p>It is a meaningful question and one we will try to put into words, to do it justice.  The Records are nothing more than a vibration.  This is not a visible thing but you may sense it.  The Records are not stored anywhere specific, although the image of a database or library can be helpful for the human mind.  It is very difficult to comprehend that which you cannot see or perceive, but we shall try.</p><p>Just as we shared with you the vast sky of stars - a night sky so blindingly splendid there was a desire to shade from it and hide beneath a barrier (the umbrella), the Records contain vast, uncountable amounts of information linked to every soul on your planet, their many past incarnations and future possibilities.  All options exist and are there, held in space (as it were), to be deciphered as needed.  You become a person, you become a human and all of this vibrational energy from your soul&#8217;s journey is attached to you by these very light threads.  This can be a source of guidance for you, should you choose to access it.  Even if you remain unaware of it your whole (human) life, there it is, ready to guide your soul on this phase of the journey.</p><p>So this is where the access to the Records comes in.  You ask if this requires years of dedicated spiritual practice.  We think you mean in this lifetime.  The answer is yes and no.  There are people on the Earth today who have already lived deeply spiritual lives and are ready to connect quickly, and without ceremony, to the Records.  They can read them as easily as picking up today&#8217;s newspaper.  There are others who will believe they require special training to access the Records and will spend many years chasing this and paying handsomely for it.  Our message is much simpler.  Everyone can access their Records if they can dedicate the time, focus and energy to the task.  This is sacred work and needs to be honoured as such.  Many people try and then give up, as there are other distractions to be had.  But we tell you this.  If you learn how to access the Records for yourself and for others, you are doing key work for the improvement and empowerment of the collective soul, or spirit.  We would encourage all to try.</p><p>Namaste.</p><div class="captioned-image-container"><figure><a class="image-link image2 is-viewable-img" target="_blank" href="https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1706875179462-c1e0a50024a3?crop=entropy&amp;cs=tinysrgb&amp;fit=max&amp;fm=jpg&amp;ixid=M3wzMDAzMzh8MHwxfHNlYXJjaHw5MHx8YmxhY2slMjB1bWJyZWxsYXxlbnwwfHx8fDE3ODUxNzg2MzN8MA&amp;ixlib=rb-4.1.0&amp;q=80&amp;w=1080" data-component-name="Image2ToDOM"><div class="image2-inset"><picture><source type="image/webp" srcset="https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1706875179462-c1e0a50024a3?crop=entropy&amp;cs=tinysrgb&amp;fit=max&amp;fm=jpg&amp;ixid=M3wzMDAzMzh8MHwxfHNlYXJjaHw5MHx8YmxhY2slMjB1bWJyZWxsYXxlbnwwfHx8fDE3ODUxNzg2MzN8MA&amp;ixlib=rb-4.1.0&amp;q=80&amp;w=1080 424w, https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1706875179462-c1e0a50024a3?crop=entropy&amp;cs=tinysrgb&amp;fit=max&amp;fm=jpg&amp;ixid=M3wzMDAzMzh8MHwxfHNlYXJjaHw5MHx8YmxhY2slMjB1bWJyZWxsYXxlbnwwfHx8fDE3ODUxNzg2MzN8MA&amp;ixlib=rb-4.1.0&amp;q=80&amp;w=1080 848w, https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1706875179462-c1e0a50024a3?crop=entropy&amp;cs=tinysrgb&amp;fit=max&amp;fm=jpg&amp;ixid=M3wzMDAzMzh8MHwxfHNlYXJjaHw5MHx8YmxhY2slMjB1bWJyZWxsYXxlbnwwfHx8fDE3ODUxNzg2MzN8MA&amp;ixlib=rb-4.1.0&amp;q=80&amp;w=1080 1272w, https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1706875179462-c1e0a50024a3?crop=entropy&amp;cs=tinysrgb&amp;fit=max&amp;fm=jpg&amp;ixid=M3wzMDAzMzh8MHwxfHNlYXJjaHw5MHx8YmxhY2slMjB1bWJyZWxsYXxlbnwwfHx8fDE3ODUxNzg2MzN8MA&amp;ixlib=rb-4.1.0&amp;q=80&amp;w=1080 1456w" sizes="100vw"><img src="https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1706875179462-c1e0a50024a3?crop=entropy&amp;cs=tinysrgb&amp;fit=max&amp;fm=jpg&amp;ixid=M3wzMDAzMzh8MHwxfHNlYXJjaHw5MHx8YmxhY2slMjB1bWJyZWxsYXxlbnwwfHx8fDE3ODUxNzg2MzN8MA&amp;ixlib=rb-4.1.0&amp;q=80&amp;w=1080" width="5400" height="7200" data-attrs="{&quot;src&quot;:&quot;https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1706875179462-c1e0a50024a3?crop=entropy&amp;cs=tinysrgb&amp;fit=max&amp;fm=jpg&amp;ixid=M3wzMDAzMzh8MHwxfHNlYXJjaHw5MHx8YmxhY2slMjB1bWJyZWxsYXxlbnwwfHx8fDE3ODUxNzg2MzN8MA&amp;ixlib=rb-4.1.0&amp;q=80&amp;w=1080&quot;,&quot;srcNoWatermark&quot;:null,&quot;fullscreen&quot;:null,&quot;imageSize&quot;:null,&quot;height&quot;:7200,&quot;width&quot;:5400,&quot;resizeWidth&quot;:null,&quot;bytes&quot;:null,&quot;alt&quot;:&quot;a man standing in the rain holding an umbrella&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:null,&quot;type&quot;:&quot;image/jpg&quot;,&quot;href&quot;:null,&quot;belowTheFold&quot;:true,&quot;topImage&quot;:false,&quot;internalRedirect&quot;:null,&quot;isProcessing&quot;:false,&quot;align&quot;:null,&quot;offset&quot;:false}" class="sizing-normal" alt="a man standing in the rain holding an umbrella" title="a man standing in the rain holding an umbrella" srcset="https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1706875179462-c1e0a50024a3?crop=entropy&amp;cs=tinysrgb&amp;fit=max&amp;fm=jpg&amp;ixid=M3wzMDAzMzh8MHwxfHNlYXJjaHw5MHx8YmxhY2slMjB1bWJyZWxsYXxlbnwwfHx8fDE3ODUxNzg2MzN8MA&amp;ixlib=rb-4.1.0&amp;q=80&amp;w=1080 424w, https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1706875179462-c1e0a50024a3?crop=entropy&amp;cs=tinysrgb&amp;fit=max&amp;fm=jpg&amp;ixid=M3wzMDAzMzh8MHwxfHNlYXJjaHw5MHx8YmxhY2slMjB1bWJyZWxsYXxlbnwwfHx8fDE3ODUxNzg2MzN8MA&amp;ixlib=rb-4.1.0&amp;q=80&amp;w=1080 848w, https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1706875179462-c1e0a50024a3?crop=entropy&amp;cs=tinysrgb&amp;fit=max&amp;fm=jpg&amp;ixid=M3wzMDAzMzh8MHwxfHNlYXJjaHw5MHx8YmxhY2slMjB1bWJyZWxsYXxlbnwwfHx8fDE3ODUxNzg2MzN8MA&amp;ixlib=rb-4.1.0&amp;q=80&amp;w=1080 1272w, https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1706875179462-c1e0a50024a3?crop=entropy&amp;cs=tinysrgb&amp;fit=max&amp;fm=jpg&amp;ixid=M3wzMDAzMzh8MHwxfHNlYXJjaHw5MHx8YmxhY2slMjB1bWJyZWxsYXxlbnwwfHx8fDE3ODUxNzg2MzN8MA&amp;ixlib=rb-4.1.0&amp;q=80&amp;w=1080 1456w" sizes="100vw" loading="lazy"></picture><div class="image-link-expand"><div class="pencraft pc-display-flex pc-gap-8 pc-reset"><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container restack-image"><svg aria-hidden="true" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 20 20" fill="none" stroke-width="1.5" stroke="var(--color-fg-primary)" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><g><path d="M2.53001 7.81595C3.49179 4.73911 6.43281 2.5 9.91173 2.5C13.1684 2.5 15.9537 4.46214 17.0852 7.23684L17.6179 8.67647M17.6179 8.67647L18.5002 4.26471M17.6179 8.67647L13.6473 6.91176M17.4995 12.1841C16.5378 15.2609 13.5967 17.5 10.1178 17.5C6.86118 17.5 4.07589 15.5379 2.94432 12.7632L2.41165 11.3235M2.41165 11.3235L1.5293 15.7353M2.41165 11.3235L6.38224 13.0882"></path></g></svg></button><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container view-image"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 24 24" fill="none" stroke="currentColor" stroke-width="2" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" class="lucide lucide-maximize2 lucide-maximize-2"><polyline points="15 3 21 3 21 9"></polyline><polyline points="9 21 3 21 3 15"></polyline><line x1="21" x2="14" y1="3" y2="10"></line><line x1="3" x2="10" y1="21" y2="14"></line></svg></button></div></div></div></a><figcaption class="image-caption">Photo by <a href="https://unsplash.com/@malcolmovo">Malcolm Brostr&#246;m</a> on <a href="https://unsplash.com">Unsplash</a></figcaption></figure></div><p></p>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title><![CDATA[Seeking answers]]></title><description><![CDATA[Soul reading]]></description><link>https://trudinicola.substack.com/p/seeking-answers</link><guid isPermaLink="false">https://trudinicola.substack.com/p/seeking-answers</guid><dc:creator><![CDATA[Trudi Nicola]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Sun, 26 Jul 2026 18:49:31 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!R3yU!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F827523cb-01db-4ef6-bcd2-8e4cf2b7d34c_500x782.png" length="0" type="image/jpeg"/><content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>To continue with my explanation and exploration of the Akashic Records, I will share examples of questions asked and the responses given, both for myself and for others who give me their consent to share their readings.</p><p>Today&#8217;s example is linked to a lucid dream I had in February 2025.  It was a clear vision of a huge leopard, who looked directly at me.  I knew she meant something, or represented something important.  In fact, at the time, I wrote a poem about this dream, which I have included below.</p><p>Curious, I visited my Akashic Records and asked: <strong>What is the meaning of the leopard I saw?</strong></p><p>When I ask a question in the Records, the first thing I notice are a series of images, which I try to jot down as they appear.  This is what I wrote:</p><p><em>I see a leopard, golden furred, light emanating from her.  I can see her from above, as if I am a bird looking down as she prowls, slowly. She is luminous.  I see a green bird - a parrot? to my right.  A golden eagle to the left, hooded beak, clear gold eyes.  There is a dark lake or river, or an oxbow lake - the leopard stops to drink here.  The water is like the night sky.  Stars shimmer in its depths.  She is not looking my way today.  She is content to let me observe her.</em></p><p>After I see the images, information is shared via automatic writing.  Sometimes, this is in letter form, addressed to the one asking questions.  This writing occurs rapidly and oftentimes, it is difficult for me to read my own scrawl once the message has been delivered.  This is the message I received about the leopard:</p><p><em>Protection.  This leopard prowls the perimeter of your soul circle - your energy borders - and she keeps all darkness at bay.  You are safe thanks to her watchful eyes.  Your leopard plays an important role.  Without her, you would be fear ridden and no change would come for the better.  She gives you courage to transform and transmute.  You can change your spots!  Chameleon-like, you have survived this far by blending in.  No need to do this anymore.  Be yourself.  Gain bravery and courage from your leopard.  She gifts you the power to transform.</em></p><p>Eight months later, in October 2025, I participated in a one day introduction to shamanism, led by the wonderful <span class="mention-wrap" data-attrs="{&quot;name&quot;:&quot;Helen Laurence&quot;,&quot;id&quot;:111132182,&quot;type&quot;:&quot;user&quot;,&quot;url&quot;:null,&quot;photo_url&quot;:&quot;https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/ae06497d-1e83-472b-b89f-de8afe0bba11_96x96.jpeg&quot;,&quot;uuid&quot;:&quot;8af143ad-9e56-4420-bef3-6ed0c39532f2&quot;}" data-component-name="MentionToDOM"></span>.  As part of this day, we journeyed to meet our spirit guides.  And, perhaps unsurprisingly, my guide was none other than the leopard I saw in my lucid dream.</p><p>Here is the poem I wrote after that dream:</p><p><strong>Leopard</strong></p><p><strong>Trudi Nicola</strong></p><p><strong>Feb 16, 2025</strong></p><p>In the light</p><p>And half-light</p><p>Of early morning</p><p>Before I am</p><p>Fully awake and</p><p>Before my eyes open</p><p>I see bright colours</p><p>Spark in the darkness</p><p>Behind my eyelids</p><p>I follow their</p><p>Trajectory</p><p>Until they fade</p><p>And there,</p><p>Replacing the colours,</p><p>A leopard stands.</p><p>She turns her</p><p>Majestic head</p><p>And looks me</p><p>Straight in the eyes</p><p>She begins to move</p><p>Fluidly, like molten gold</p><p>Power in each step</p><p>I know not to show fear</p><p>For she is part of me.</p><p>The markings on her coat</p><p>The amber glow</p><p>In her eyes</p><p>The sheer unexpected</p><p>Size of her</p><p>Do not disturb me.</p><p>Tentatively,</p><p>I hold out a hand</p><p>She bends her regal crown</p><p>And allows me</p><p>To touch her</p><p>Before she turns</p><p>And leaves.</p><div class="captioned-image-container"><figure><a class="image-link image2 is-viewable-img" target="_blank" href="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!R3yU!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F827523cb-01db-4ef6-bcd2-8e4cf2b7d34c_500x782.png" data-component-name="Image2ToDOM"><div class="image2-inset"><picture><source type="image/webp" srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!R3yU!,w_424,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F827523cb-01db-4ef6-bcd2-8e4cf2b7d34c_500x782.png 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!R3yU!,w_848,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F827523cb-01db-4ef6-bcd2-8e4cf2b7d34c_500x782.png 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!R3yU!,w_1272,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F827523cb-01db-4ef6-bcd2-8e4cf2b7d34c_500x782.png 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!R3yU!,w_1456,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F827523cb-01db-4ef6-bcd2-8e4cf2b7d34c_500x782.png 1456w" sizes="100vw"><img src="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!R3yU!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F827523cb-01db-4ef6-bcd2-8e4cf2b7d34c_500x782.png" width="500" height="782" data-attrs="{&quot;src&quot;:&quot;https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/827523cb-01db-4ef6-bcd2-8e4cf2b7d34c_500x782.png&quot;,&quot;srcNoWatermark&quot;:null,&quot;fullscreen&quot;:null,&quot;imageSize&quot;:null,&quot;height&quot;:782,&quot;width&quot;:500,&quot;resizeWidth&quot;:null,&quot;bytes&quot;:917918,&quot;alt&quot;:null,&quot;title&quot;:null,&quot;type&quot;:&quot;image/png&quot;,&quot;href&quot;:null,&quot;belowTheFold&quot;:true,&quot;topImage&quot;:false,&quot;internalRedirect&quot;:&quot;https://trudinicola.substack.com/i/208587202?img=https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F827523cb-01db-4ef6-bcd2-8e4cf2b7d34c_500x782.png&quot;,&quot;isProcessing&quot;:false,&quot;align&quot;:null,&quot;offset&quot;:false}" class="sizing-normal" alt="" srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!R3yU!,w_424,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F827523cb-01db-4ef6-bcd2-8e4cf2b7d34c_500x782.png 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!R3yU!,w_848,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F827523cb-01db-4ef6-bcd2-8e4cf2b7d34c_500x782.png 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!R3yU!,w_1272,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F827523cb-01db-4ef6-bcd2-8e4cf2b7d34c_500x782.png 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!R3yU!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F827523cb-01db-4ef6-bcd2-8e4cf2b7d34c_500x782.png 1456w" sizes="100vw" loading="lazy"></picture><div class="image-link-expand"><div class="pencraft pc-display-flex pc-gap-8 pc-reset"><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container restack-image"><svg aria-hidden="true" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 20 20" fill="none" stroke-width="1.5" stroke="var(--color-fg-primary)" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><g><path d="M2.53001 7.81595C3.49179 4.73911 6.43281 2.5 9.91173 2.5C13.1684 2.5 15.9537 4.46214 17.0852 7.23684L17.6179 8.67647M17.6179 8.67647L18.5002 4.26471M17.6179 8.67647L13.6473 6.91176M17.4995 12.1841C16.5378 15.2609 13.5967 17.5 10.1178 17.5C6.86118 17.5 4.07589 15.5379 2.94432 12.7632L2.41165 11.3235M2.41165 11.3235L1.5293 15.7353M2.41165 11.3235L6.38224 13.0882"></path></g></svg></button><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container view-image"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 24 24" fill="none" stroke="currentColor" stroke-width="2" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" class="lucide lucide-maximize2 lucide-maximize-2"><polyline points="15 3 21 3 21 9"></polyline><polyline points="9 21 3 21 3 15"></polyline><line x1="21" x2="14" y1="3" y2="10"></line><line x1="3" x2="10" y1="21" y2="14"></line></svg></button></div></div></div></a></figure></div><p class="button-wrapper" data-attrs="{&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https://trudinicola.substack.com/p/seeking-answers/comments&quot;,&quot;text&quot;:&quot;Leave a comment&quot;,&quot;action&quot;:null,&quot;class&quot;:null}" data-component-name="ButtonCreateButton"><a class="button primary" href="https://trudinicola.substack.com/p/seeking-answers/comments"><span>Leave a comment</span></a></p><p></p>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title><![CDATA[Something new]]></title><description><![CDATA[Soul readings]]></description><link>https://trudinicola.substack.com/p/something-new</link><guid isPermaLink="false">https://trudinicola.substack.com/p/something-new</guid><dc:creator><![CDATA[Trudi Nicola]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Sat, 25 Jul 2026 11:36:32 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1534447677768-be436bb09401?crop=entropy&amp;cs=tinysrgb&amp;fit=max&amp;fm=jpg&amp;ixid=M3wzMDAzMzh8MHwxfHNlYXJjaHwxNXx8c3RhcnxlbnwwfHx8fDE3ODQ5MTk2MDR8MA&amp;ixlib=rb-4.1.0&amp;q=80&amp;w=1080" length="0" type="image/jpeg"/><content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>For some time, I have been exploring the connection we can have with what is known to many as the Akashic Records.  This is a non-physical plane, or realm, often described as a library recording the lifespans of each and every soul and all events through time.  &#8216;Akasha&#8217; comes from the Sanskrit for &#8216;ether&#8217; and this perfectly illustrates the &#8216;everywhere and everything&#8217; nature of this source of wisdom.</p><p>My introduction to the Records was strange.  I had never heard of them, when Solarah of <span class="mention-wrap" data-attrs="{&quot;name&quot;:&quot;MATERIA STELLARIS&quot;,&quot;id&quot;:503524516,&quot;type&quot;:&quot;user&quot;,&quot;url&quot;:null,&quot;photo_url&quot;:&quot;https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/ff302372-b76c-4028-a48c-266a43a4b058_1024x1024.png&quot;,&quot;uuid&quot;:&quot;aa33ceb6-9d1f-492d-ab87-fec6f8cc554f&quot;}" data-component-name="MentionToDOM"></span>, back in December 2024, suggested that I might look into these, as I had a role to play in reading them.  So I did.  I bought a book and popped it on my shelf, promptly forgetting about it.  That was until, in February 2025, <span class="mention-wrap" data-attrs="{&quot;name&quot;:&quot;Lori Ann Bloomfield&quot;,&quot;id&quot;:196841355,&quot;type&quot;:&quot;user&quot;,&quot;url&quot;:null,&quot;photo_url&quot;:&quot;https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/8d58f7f2-bc6f-4069-a806-a7a155d6cde4_916x1103.jpeg&quot;,&quot;uuid&quot;:&quot;a031afdc-3a3f-4022-814f-28bd0c6d0a59&quot;}" data-component-name="MentionToDOM"></span> spotted the book on a picture I shared of my writing desk.  Lori-Ann had the same book (How to Read the Akashic Records by Linda Howe) and a deal (and friendship) was struck: we would both commit to reading the book and share our experiences with each other.  And so, something new was born.</p><p>Over the months, I have regularly visited the Records, for myself and for others, to seek guidance on questions and to connect with the team of guides who support their soul&#8217;s growth.  This has been inspiring and humbling work.  I have been touched and amazed by the compassion and love shared with each reading and stunned at the accuracy of images and facts shared linked to people I do not have a prior connection with.  The biggest lesson for me in this journey has been learning to trust.  How can I be sure I am not just making things up?  How will I know if this connection is real?  What if it fails - if I fail - and there are no messages to share?  Time and time again, I have been proven wrong to doubt and have seen people deeply moved by the messages shared.</p><p>So, why write about this now?  I have shared a couple of &#8216;readings&#8217; previously, linked to my own experiences, including one about my conversation with a past life expert and another about what we can learn from our dreams (attached below).  But it wasn&#8217;t until I struck up a conversation with <span class="mention-wrap" data-attrs="{&quot;name&quot;:&quot;Carrie Dancing Bear&quot;,&quot;id&quot;:96926335,&quot;type&quot;:&quot;user&quot;,&quot;url&quot;:null,&quot;photo_url&quot;:&quot;https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/e31a76b1-a2d5-4944-b50b-fee073eda24d_1168x876.jpeg&quot;,&quot;uuid&quot;:&quot;90b898e6-5a9c-471b-9973-4e6b75604933&quot;}" data-component-name="MentionToDOM"></span> this week, that I was prompted to consider sharing my experiences more widely.  Although this is very different from the poetry I regularly write and share (which comes from the same source as the messages), it is important to open up this conversation, as perhaps there are other people like me who are wondering - what is this that I am exploring?  How do I know the messages and coincidences are real?  How can I learn more?  And I think, now is the time for more of us to step into the open and connect with each other.</p><p>I look forward, in anticipation, for how this will land.  Please leave a comment if you have an experience to share of channelling, communicating with guides and spirit and understand the path of the lightworker.  With much love, Trudi.</p><div class="captioned-image-container"><figure><a class="image-link image2 is-viewable-img" target="_blank" href="https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1534447677768-be436bb09401?crop=entropy&amp;cs=tinysrgb&amp;fit=max&amp;fm=jpg&amp;ixid=M3wzMDAzMzh8MHwxfHNlYXJjaHwxNXx8c3RhcnxlbnwwfHx8fDE3ODQ5MTk2MDR8MA&amp;ixlib=rb-4.1.0&amp;q=80&amp;w=1080" data-component-name="Image2ToDOM"><div class="image2-inset"><picture><source type="image/webp" srcset="https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1534447677768-be436bb09401?crop=entropy&amp;cs=tinysrgb&amp;fit=max&amp;fm=jpg&amp;ixid=M3wzMDAzMzh8MHwxfHNlYXJjaHwxNXx8c3RhcnxlbnwwfHx8fDE3ODQ5MTk2MDR8MA&amp;ixlib=rb-4.1.0&amp;q=80&amp;w=1080 424w, https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1534447677768-be436bb09401?crop=entropy&amp;cs=tinysrgb&amp;fit=max&amp;fm=jpg&amp;ixid=M3wzMDAzMzh8MHwxfHNlYXJjaHwxNXx8c3RhcnxlbnwwfHx8fDE3ODQ5MTk2MDR8MA&amp;ixlib=rb-4.1.0&amp;q=80&amp;w=1080 848w, https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1534447677768-be436bb09401?crop=entropy&amp;cs=tinysrgb&amp;fit=max&amp;fm=jpg&amp;ixid=M3wzMDAzMzh8MHwxfHNlYXJjaHwxNXx8c3RhcnxlbnwwfHx8fDE3ODQ5MTk2MDR8MA&amp;ixlib=rb-4.1.0&amp;q=80&amp;w=1080 1272w, https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1534447677768-be436bb09401?crop=entropy&amp;cs=tinysrgb&amp;fit=max&amp;fm=jpg&amp;ixid=M3wzMDAzMzh8MHwxfHNlYXJjaHwxNXx8c3RhcnxlbnwwfHx8fDE3ODQ5MTk2MDR8MA&amp;ixlib=rb-4.1.0&amp;q=80&amp;w=1080 1456w" sizes="100vw"><img src="https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1534447677768-be436bb09401?crop=entropy&amp;cs=tinysrgb&amp;fit=max&amp;fm=jpg&amp;ixid=M3wzMDAzMzh8MHwxfHNlYXJjaHwxNXx8c3RhcnxlbnwwfHx8fDE3ODQ5MTk2MDR8MA&amp;ixlib=rb-4.1.0&amp;q=80&amp;w=1080" width="6000" height="3894" data-attrs="{&quot;src&quot;:&quot;https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1534447677768-be436bb09401?crop=entropy&amp;cs=tinysrgb&amp;fit=max&amp;fm=jpg&amp;ixid=M3wzMDAzMzh8MHwxfHNlYXJjaHwxNXx8c3RhcnxlbnwwfHx8fDE3ODQ5MTk2MDR8MA&amp;ixlib=rb-4.1.0&amp;q=80&amp;w=1080&quot;,&quot;srcNoWatermark&quot;:null,&quot;fullscreen&quot;:null,&quot;imageSize&quot;:null,&quot;height&quot;:3894,&quot;width&quot;:6000,&quot;resizeWidth&quot;:null,&quot;bytes&quot;:null,&quot;alt&quot;:&quot;black sailing boat digital wallpaper&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:null,&quot;type&quot;:&quot;image/jpg&quot;,&quot;href&quot;:null,&quot;belowTheFold&quot;:false,&quot;topImage&quot;:true,&quot;internalRedirect&quot;:null,&quot;isProcessing&quot;:false,&quot;align&quot;:null,&quot;offset&quot;:false}" class="sizing-normal" alt="black sailing boat digital wallpaper" title="black sailing boat digital wallpaper" srcset="https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1534447677768-be436bb09401?crop=entropy&amp;cs=tinysrgb&amp;fit=max&amp;fm=jpg&amp;ixid=M3wzMDAzMzh8MHwxfHNlYXJjaHwxNXx8c3RhcnxlbnwwfHx8fDE3ODQ5MTk2MDR8MA&amp;ixlib=rb-4.1.0&amp;q=80&amp;w=1080 424w, https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1534447677768-be436bb09401?crop=entropy&amp;cs=tinysrgb&amp;fit=max&amp;fm=jpg&amp;ixid=M3wzMDAzMzh8MHwxfHNlYXJjaHwxNXx8c3RhcnxlbnwwfHx8fDE3ODQ5MTk2MDR8MA&amp;ixlib=rb-4.1.0&amp;q=80&amp;w=1080 848w, https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1534447677768-be436bb09401?crop=entropy&amp;cs=tinysrgb&amp;fit=max&amp;fm=jpg&amp;ixid=M3wzMDAzMzh8MHwxfHNlYXJjaHwxNXx8c3RhcnxlbnwwfHx8fDE3ODQ5MTk2MDR8MA&amp;ixlib=rb-4.1.0&amp;q=80&amp;w=1080 1272w, https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1534447677768-be436bb09401?crop=entropy&amp;cs=tinysrgb&amp;fit=max&amp;fm=jpg&amp;ixid=M3wzMDAzMzh8MHwxfHNlYXJjaHwxNXx8c3RhcnxlbnwwfHx8fDE3ODQ5MTk2MDR8MA&amp;ixlib=rb-4.1.0&amp;q=80&amp;w=1080 1456w" sizes="100vw" fetchpriority="high"></picture><div class="image-link-expand"><div class="pencraft pc-display-flex pc-gap-8 pc-reset"><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container restack-image"><svg aria-hidden="true" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 20 20" fill="none" stroke-width="1.5" stroke="var(--color-fg-primary)" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><g><path d="M2.53001 7.81595C3.49179 4.73911 6.43281 2.5 9.91173 2.5C13.1684 2.5 15.9537 4.46214 17.0852 7.23684L17.6179 8.67647M17.6179 8.67647L18.5002 4.26471M17.6179 8.67647L13.6473 6.91176M17.4995 12.1841C16.5378 15.2609 13.5967 17.5 10.1178 17.5C6.86118 17.5 4.07589 15.5379 2.94432 12.7632L2.41165 11.3235M2.41165 11.3235L1.5293 15.7353M2.41165 11.3235L6.38224 13.0882"></path></g></svg></button><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container view-image"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 24 24" fill="none" stroke="currentColor" stroke-width="2" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" class="lucide lucide-maximize2 lucide-maximize-2"><polyline points="15 3 21 3 21 9"></polyline><polyline points="9 21 3 21 3 15"></polyline><line x1="21" x2="14" y1="3" y2="10"></line><line x1="3" x2="10" y1="21" y2="14"></line></svg></button></div></div></div></a><figcaption class="image-caption">Photo by <a href="https://unsplash.com/@jplenio">Johannes Plenio</a> on <a href="https://unsplash.com">Unsplash</a></figcaption></figure></div><p class="button-wrapper" data-attrs="{&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https://trudinicola.substack.com/p/something-new/comments&quot;,&quot;text&quot;:&quot;Leave a comment&quot;,&quot;action&quot;:null,&quot;class&quot;:null}" data-component-name="ButtonCreateButton"><a class="button primary" href="https://trudinicola.substack.com/p/something-new/comments"><span>Leave a comment</span></a></p><h1><strong>If you met your past life self, what would you ask?</strong></h1><h3>A visit to the Akashic Records</h3><p><strong><a href="https://substack.com/@trudinicola"><span>Trudi Nicola</span></a></strong></p><p><strong>Aug 11, 2025</strong></p><p><span>In meditation the other week, I reflected on the idea of having a past life expert who could help me understand my current life context. This came through my discovery of Linda Howe&#8217;s book, &#8216; How to Read the Akashic Records: Accessing the Archive of the Soul and its Journey&#8217; (2009), a book I have been studying since February this year. My introduction to the Akashic Records came through a series of suggestions and coincidences. Prior to this, I had never heard of them. With encouragement from </span><a href="https://open.substack.com/users/196841355-lori-ann-bloomfield?utm_source=mentions"><span>Lori Ann Bloomfield</span></a><span> I decided to dip my toes in and explore this pool of wisdom. I am so glad I did.</span></p><p>For those of you who are wondering, as I did, what the Akashic Records are, Howe describes them as &#8216;a dimension of consciousness that contains a vibrational record of every soul and its journey&#8217; (2009, p.3). This fascinated me and I was quickly drawn into a daily practice of mediation and stillness that led me to accessing this rich archive. At first, tentative, I was unsure if I was making up the images that appeared or planning the words that ran onto the page as my pencil seemed to take on a life of its own. But over time, and through accessing the Records of people I had no prior connection with, I began to trust what I was sensing. Trust, it seems, is the most important component of this strange and enchanting journey. I guess it is a kind of faith in action.</p><p><span>So, what about the past life questions? I was curious about this and decided to seek the answer to the following question: </span><strong>How can I increase abundance in my life financially and in terms of contentment and fulfilment?</strong></p><p>A fairly typical question. I was expecting a former version of me who had experienced worldly success to share some nuggets of wisdom that I&#8217;d missed on the road to middle age. I was not expecting a 15th Century Benedictine nun.</p><p>Here are the notes I scribbled during my initial meeting with my past life self:</p><p><em>I see a nun in a black habit she says her name is Sister Mary, she is a Benedictine nun Italy? 15th century? She&#8217;s showing me the gardens she tends to - a plethora of colours -flowers and plants to eat. She is kneeling in prayer in a Chapel, such a sense of peace.</em></p><p><em>She&#8217;s showing me I already have all I need I just need to take care of it. Manage my family finances and show more restraint. Spend time in nature and time in solitude praying or meditating. She says these simple treasures are the true path to fulfilment. Don&#8217;t go chasing pots of gold! Live wisely and within your means. You have the key to an abundant life already - just choose to notice it.</em></p><p>And these are the questions (taken from Howe&#8217;s book) I asked her in our meditative conversation:</p><p><em><strong>What happened during your lifetime to cause you to be successful?</strong></em></p><p><em>I woke up! I knew I did not want to belong to anyone and that my one true path to freedom would be to cloister myself so I chose to do that, thereby ensuring my success. I worked hard and rose up the ranks. I tend to the gardens, my reading and prayer and ensure I care for all those who choose this way of life. I am content and fulfilled. I can see daily the difference I make.</em></p><p><em><strong>What qualities do you possess that contributed to your success?</strong></em></p><p><em>Patience. Yes, you have this! And a quick mind for learning plus a kind heart. When dealing with people you have these, alongside sensitivity to spirit. That is why a quieter role suits you better.</em></p><p><em><strong>Can you help me avoid any pitfalls?</strong></em></p><p><em>Certainly. Stay away from roles that demand you to lead people who are not as committed as you, as this drains your energy. Focus on the tasks that fill you with joy.</em></p><p><em><strong>What can I do to ensure my earthly success in the future?</strong></em></p><p><em>Continue to pray. Meditate. Work on elevating your spirit. Speak often with those who share your beliefs and stay connected to source. You are on the right path. Stay disciplined.</em></p><p><em><strong>How can my soul achieve maximum growth from this situation?</strong></em></p><p><em>Remember how to be quiet and how to retreat within. Honour your need for quietude. Surrender to peace and stay always connected to source. Open your heart and let the energy flow through you.</em></p><p>Following that encounter, I felt stunned at the simplicity and obviousness of the truth shared. I already have everything I need. A life of simplicity suits me. I was also curious to find out if the image I saw and the description shared with me were based on anything accurate or had I just made it all up? A search revealed that there were Benedictine nuns in 15th Century Italy and many of their numbers were made up of noble woman who wished to avoid marriage. They were educated and philanthropic, contributing to society through acting as scribes, teachers, scholars and artisans. The threads seemed to knot together as I read and I felt a strong connection to this past version of me, however strange that may seem.</p><p>Exploring the Akashic Records is an investment of time and energy. I guess it could be seen as a spiritual practice. What I am learning is that it brings with it an undeniable sense of peace and of self-acceptance. Which cannot be a bad thing!</p><div class="captioned-image-container"><figure><a class="image-link image2 is-viewable-img" target="_blank" href="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!o_FT!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F867e630b-ea94-4ec4-a58b-fc57363830ee_425x752.png" data-component-name="Image2ToDOM"><div class="image2-inset"><picture><source type="image/webp" srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!o_FT!,w_424,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F867e630b-ea94-4ec4-a58b-fc57363830ee_425x752.png 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!o_FT!,w_848,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F867e630b-ea94-4ec4-a58b-fc57363830ee_425x752.png 848w, 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class="pencraft pc-display-flex pc-gap-8 pc-reset"><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container restack-image"><svg aria-hidden="true" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 20 20" fill="none" stroke-width="1.5" stroke="var(--color-fg-primary)" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><g><path d="M2.53001 7.81595C3.49179 4.73911 6.43281 2.5 9.91173 2.5C13.1684 2.5 15.9537 4.46214 17.0852 7.23684L17.6179 8.67647M17.6179 8.67647L18.5002 4.26471M17.6179 8.67647L13.6473 6.91176M17.4995 12.1841C16.5378 15.2609 13.5967 17.5 10.1178 17.5C6.86118 17.5 4.07589 15.5379 2.94432 12.7632L2.41165 11.3235M2.41165 11.3235L1.5293 15.7353M2.41165 11.3235L6.38224 13.0882"></path></g></svg></button><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container view-image"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 24 24" fill="none" stroke="currentColor" stroke-width="2" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" class="lucide lucide-maximize2 lucide-maximize-2"><polyline points="15 3 21 3 21 9"></polyline><polyline points="9 21 3 21 3 15"></polyline><line x1="21" x2="14" y1="3" y2="10"></line><line x1="3" x2="10" y1="21" y2="14"></line></svg></button></div></div></div></a></figure></div><h1><strong>What can you learn from your dreams?</strong></h1><h3>Trusting guidance</h3><p><strong><a href="https://substack.com/@trudinicola"><span>Trudi Nicola</span></a></strong></p><p><strong>Sep 14, 2025</strong></p><div class="captioned-image-container"><figure><a class="image-link image2 is-viewable-img" target="_blank" href="https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1598975867827-5af9a51683fc?crop=entropy&amp;cs=tinysrgb&amp;fit=max&amp;fm=jpg&amp;ixid=M3wzMDAzMzh8MHwxfHNlYXJjaHwxMXx8cGVyZWdyaW5lJTIwZmFsY29ufGVufDB8fHx8MTc1Nzg1MTkzM3ww&amp;ixlib=rb-4.1.0&amp;q=80&amp;w=1080" data-component-name="Image2ToDOM"><div class="image2-inset"><picture><source 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https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1598975867827-5af9a51683fc?crop=entropy&amp;cs=tinysrgb&amp;fit=max&amp;fm=jpg&amp;ixid=M3wzMDAzMzh8MHwxfHNlYXJjaHwxMXx8cGVyZWdyaW5lJTIwZmFsY29ufGVufDB8fHx8MTc1Nzg1MTkzM3ww&amp;ixlib=rb-4.1.0&amp;q=80&amp;w=1080 1456w" sizes="100vw"><img src="https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1598975867827-5af9a51683fc?crop=entropy&amp;cs=tinysrgb&amp;fit=max&amp;fm=jpg&amp;ixid=M3wzMDAzMzh8MHwxfHNlYXJjaHwxMXx8cGVyZWdyaW5lJTIwZmFsY29ufGVufDB8fHx8MTc1Nzg1MTkzM3ww&amp;ixlib=rb-4.1.0&amp;q=80&amp;w=1080" width="1080" height="1620" 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srcset="https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1598975867827-5af9a51683fc?crop=entropy&amp;cs=tinysrgb&amp;fit=max&amp;fm=jpg&amp;ixid=M3wzMDAzMzh8MHwxfHNlYXJjaHwxMXx8cGVyZWdyaW5lJTIwZmFsY29ufGVufDB8fHx8MTc1Nzg1MTkzM3ww&amp;ixlib=rb-4.1.0&amp;q=80&amp;w=1080 424w, https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1598975867827-5af9a51683fc?crop=entropy&amp;cs=tinysrgb&amp;fit=max&amp;fm=jpg&amp;ixid=M3wzMDAzMzh8MHwxfHNlYXJjaHwxMXx8cGVyZWdyaW5lJTIwZmFsY29ufGVufDB8fHx8MTc1Nzg1MTkzM3ww&amp;ixlib=rb-4.1.0&amp;q=80&amp;w=1080 848w, https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1598975867827-5af9a51683fc?crop=entropy&amp;cs=tinysrgb&amp;fit=max&amp;fm=jpg&amp;ixid=M3wzMDAzMzh8MHwxfHNlYXJjaHwxMXx8cGVyZWdyaW5lJTIwZmFsY29ufGVufDB8fHx8MTc1Nzg1MTkzM3ww&amp;ixlib=rb-4.1.0&amp;q=80&amp;w=1080 1272w, https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1598975867827-5af9a51683fc?crop=entropy&amp;cs=tinysrgb&amp;fit=max&amp;fm=jpg&amp;ixid=M3wzMDAzMzh8MHwxfHNlYXJjaHwxMXx8cGVyZWdyaW5lJTIwZmFsY29ufGVufDB8fHx8MTc1Nzg1MTkzM3ww&amp;ixlib=rb-4.1.0&amp;q=80&amp;w=1080 1456w" sizes="100vw" loading="lazy" fetchpriority="high"></picture><div class="image-link-expand"><div class="pencraft pc-display-flex pc-gap-8 pc-reset"><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container restack-image"><svg aria-hidden="true" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 20 20" fill="none" stroke-width="1.5" stroke="var(--color-fg-primary)" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><g><path d="M2.53001 7.81595C3.49179 4.73911 6.43281 2.5 9.91173 2.5C13.1684 2.5 15.9537 4.46214 17.0852 7.23684L17.6179 8.67647M17.6179 8.67647L18.5002 4.26471M17.6179 8.67647L13.6473 6.91176M17.4995 12.1841C16.5378 15.2609 13.5967 17.5 10.1178 17.5C6.86118 17.5 4.07589 15.5379 2.94432 12.7632L2.41165 11.3235M2.41165 11.3235L1.5293 15.7353M2.41165 11.3235L6.38224 13.0882"></path></g></svg></button><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container view-image"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 24 24" fill="none" stroke="currentColor" stroke-width="2" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" class="lucide lucide-maximize2 lucide-maximize-2"><polyline points="15 3 21 3 21 9"></polyline><polyline points="9 21 3 21 3 15"></polyline><line x1="21" x2="14" y1="3" y2="10"></line><line x1="3" x2="10" y1="21" y2="14"></line></svg></button></div></div></div></a><figcaption class="image-caption"><span>Photo by </span><a href="https://unsplash.com/@delaneyvan">Delaney Van</a><span> on </span><a href="https://unsplash.com/">Unsplash</a></figcaption></figure></div><p>We were on holiday in Cyprus. Time to relax, unwind and let the worries go. Dean woke one morning and told me he had had a particularly vivid dream. What struck him more, was that it was a version of the same dream he has been having for years. A recurring dream about a house.</p><p>This time, the house was perfect - a beautifully renovated old property complete with original features. But Dean knew, as he surveyed it, that something was not quite right. There appeared to be a large hole in the roof that had been letting in water for a long time, unnoticed or ignored. When he touched the pristine wallpaper, it crumpled, revealing sodden plaster and rotten wood beneath. The whole house was an elaborate illusion. It looked immaculate in everyway but, in reality, was ready to collapse.</p><p>Dean felt this was linked to a need for security yet entangled within this was his constant desire for freedom. He could trace this dream back to his childhood and a persistent anxiety around the scale of the work needed and how achieving this was beyond his control. This time, however, he recognised the extent of the problem but did not feel concerned or worried about it. The fear from the past no longer controlled him.</p><p>I offered to take the dream to the Akashic Records and ask for an interpretation. This is what Dean&#8217;s guides revealed:</p><pre><code><code>Dear Dean
You know this dream?  Please consider how you feel when you are in the dream, as this contains part of the message.
You say everything you see in the dream is perfect on the surface but you touch it and it reveals the flaws that lie beneath, concealed.  This shows that you are aware of the illusions in life and are not easily fooled by them.  You see where there is rot and you call it such, despite this making you unpopular with those who fear the truth.
You worry about the roof and the structure of this dream home and the impact it will have financially to put everything right.  This can seem an overwhelming task.  You can focus on one aspect at a time to rebuild a dream house (the house representing any form of security &#8211; think four of wands) but really we tell you that you can turn away from it and say &#8216;no &#8211; this project is not mine &#8211; it is too unwieldy&#8217; and find something more stable, more reliable, less flashy.  Follow the path of less is more.
But in all honesty, your dream returns to remind you that, in this life, there is no point in placing your hopes and dreams in material wealth and riches, as it will all fade away and decay in time.  Focus on the structures within you.  These will see you through &#8211; your heart, your mind, your soul, your breath.  Ensure all are aligned and you will not suffer any threatening leaks.  Internal strength is your answer.  Namaste.
</code></code></pre><p>Interestingly, prior to the message coming through (I write these as they arrive like channeled letters) I saw a clear image of a bird of prey balanced precariously on a wire. I heard &#8216;peregrine falcon&#8217; and the bird turned its head and looked directly at me.</p><p>Curious as to what this might mean, we searched what the peregrine falcon represents. I could not believe what we found, as it resonated with Dean&#8217;s feelings around his dream. It was a strong lesson to me to trust the guidance I am shown. What do you think?</p><pre><code><code>1. Freedom
Birds, especially falcons, are the number one symbol of freedom.

Peregrine falcons are known to migrate across the globe whenever necessary. As such, they are required to mold themselves according to their surroundings.

Being great and dangerous predators, falcons are not easy to control; nor do they want to be controlled. People with falcons as their spirit animal value their freedom above everything else. They are not bound to any community, doing as they wish.</code></code></pre>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title><![CDATA[Madonna of the Stars]]></title><description><![CDATA[Michael Newberry Space series Poetry]]></description><link>https://trudinicola.substack.com/p/madonna-of-the-stars</link><guid isPermaLink="false">https://trudinicola.substack.com/p/madonna-of-the-stars</guid><dc:creator><![CDATA[Trudi Nicola]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Fri, 24 Jul 2026 06:41:04 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!e--H!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Ff3bf2f7b-1aa6-4c9b-9dbc-117eb57fc0b5_580x792.png" length="0" type="image/jpeg"/><content:encoded><![CDATA[<div class="preformatted-block" data-component-name="PreformattedTextBlockToDOM"><label class="hide-text" contenteditable="false">Text within this block will maintain its original spacing when published</label><pre class="text">Star of evening

Star of morn

Blessed infant

Of thy womb, born

Sacred mother

Of heav&#8217;n and earth

All hearts united 

Through his birth 

Humbly, we gaze

Upon thy face

Illuminated 

By holy grace

Kindness, compassion 

Fill thine eyes

Reflections of

The star-filled skies

A thousand sparks

Of shining light

Are drawn to you

In darkest night

Each tiny star

A soul who knows

Where true light gathers

True love grows

Divine Madonna

To you we pray

When evening falls 

And at break of day

Let us remember

In blackest night

Your presence lingers

In each starry light 
</pre></div><div class="captioned-image-container"><figure><a class="image-link image2 is-viewable-img" target="_blank" href="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!e--H!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Ff3bf2f7b-1aa6-4c9b-9dbc-117eb57fc0b5_580x792.png" data-component-name="Image2ToDOM"><div class="image2-inset"><picture><source type="image/webp" srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!e--H!,w_424,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Ff3bf2f7b-1aa6-4c9b-9dbc-117eb57fc0b5_580x792.png 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!e--H!,w_848,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Ff3bf2f7b-1aa6-4c9b-9dbc-117eb57fc0b5_580x792.png 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!e--H!,w_1272,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Ff3bf2f7b-1aa6-4c9b-9dbc-117eb57fc0b5_580x792.png 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!e--H!,w_1456,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Ff3bf2f7b-1aa6-4c9b-9dbc-117eb57fc0b5_580x792.png 1456w" sizes="100vw"><img src="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!e--H!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Ff3bf2f7b-1aa6-4c9b-9dbc-117eb57fc0b5_580x792.png" width="580" height="792" data-attrs="{&quot;src&quot;:&quot;https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/f3bf2f7b-1aa6-4c9b-9dbc-117eb57fc0b5_580x792.png&quot;,&quot;srcNoWatermark&quot;:null,&quot;fullscreen&quot;:null,&quot;imageSize&quot;:null,&quot;height&quot;:792,&quot;width&quot;:580,&quot;resizeWidth&quot;:null,&quot;bytes&quot;:849214,&quot;alt&quot;:null,&quot;title&quot;:null,&quot;type&quot;:&quot;image/png&quot;,&quot;href&quot;:null,&quot;belowTheFold&quot;:false,&quot;topImage&quot;:true,&quot;internalRedirect&quot;:&quot;https://trudinicola.substack.com/i/208171100?img=https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Ff3bf2f7b-1aa6-4c9b-9dbc-117eb57fc0b5_580x792.png&quot;,&quot;isProcessing&quot;:false,&quot;align&quot;:null,&quot;offset&quot;:false}" class="sizing-normal" alt="" srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!e--H!,w_424,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Ff3bf2f7b-1aa6-4c9b-9dbc-117eb57fc0b5_580x792.png 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!e--H!,w_848,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Ff3bf2f7b-1aa6-4c9b-9dbc-117eb57fc0b5_580x792.png 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!e--H!,w_1272,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Ff3bf2f7b-1aa6-4c9b-9dbc-117eb57fc0b5_580x792.png 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!e--H!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Ff3bf2f7b-1aa6-4c9b-9dbc-117eb57fc0b5_580x792.png 1456w" sizes="100vw" fetchpriority="high"></picture><div class="image-link-expand"><div class="pencraft pc-display-flex pc-gap-8 pc-reset"><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container restack-image"><svg aria-hidden="true" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 20 20" fill="none" stroke-width="1.5" stroke="var(--color-fg-primary)" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><g><path d="M2.53001 7.81595C3.49179 4.73911 6.43281 2.5 9.91173 2.5C13.1684 2.5 15.9537 4.46214 17.0852 7.23684L17.6179 8.67647M17.6179 8.67647L18.5002 4.26471M17.6179 8.67647L13.6473 6.91176M17.4995 12.1841C16.5378 15.2609 13.5967 17.5 10.1178 17.5C6.86118 17.5 4.07589 15.5379 2.94432 12.7632L2.41165 11.3235M2.41165 11.3235L1.5293 15.7353M2.41165 11.3235L6.38224 13.0882"></path></g></svg></button><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container view-image"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 24 24" fill="none" stroke="currentColor" stroke-width="2" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" class="lucide lucide-maximize2 lucide-maximize-2"><polyline points="15 3 21 3 21 9"></polyline><polyline points="9 21 3 21 3 15"></polyline><line x1="21" x2="14" y1="3" y2="10"></line><line x1="3" x2="10" y1="21" y2="14"></line></svg></button></div></div></div></a><figcaption class="image-caption">Madonna of the Stars by <a href="https://substack.com/@michaelnewberry/p-205636218">Michael Newberry</a></figcaption></figure></div><div class="preformatted-block" data-component-name="PreformattedTextBlockToDOM"><label class="hide-text" contenteditable="false">Text within this block will maintain its original spacing when published</label><pre class="text">
</pre></div><p class="button-wrapper" data-attrs="{&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https://www.amazon.co.uk/Little-Sparks-Light-Poetry-soul/dp/1919501002/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0&quot;,&quot;text&quot;:&quot;Take a peek at my book!&quot;,&quot;action&quot;:null,&quot;class&quot;:null}" data-component-name="ButtonCreateButton"><a class="button primary" href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/Little-Sparks-Light-Poetry-soul/dp/1919501002/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0"><span>Take a peek at my book!</span></a></p><p></p><p></p>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title><![CDATA[Ordinary Moments]]></title><link>https://trudinicola.substack.com/p/ordinary-moments</link><guid isPermaLink="false">https://trudinicola.substack.com/p/ordinary-moments</guid><dc:creator><![CDATA[Trudi Nicola]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Sun, 19 Jul 2026 07:29:22 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!GfVu!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fd14c95d0-63d1-46a4-bd6f-76b79ebdd65e_3024x4032.jpeg" length="0" type="image/jpeg"/><content:encoded><![CDATA[<div class="preformatted-block" data-component-name="PreformattedTextBlockToDOM"><label class="hide-text" contenteditable="false">Text within this block will maintain its original spacing when published</label><pre class="text">This is what
Happiness feels like -

A quiet contentment
An appreciation for
A sky of perfect blue
A soft and gentle breeze
Time to gaze
At green spaces
And contemplate
Anything, or nothing at all
The anticipation
Of a journey home
Time with those we love

This is what
Happiness feels like -

When awareness allows
Ordinary moments
To become extraordinary</pre></div><div class="captioned-image-container"><figure><a class="image-link image2 is-viewable-img" target="_blank" href="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!GfVu!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fd14c95d0-63d1-46a4-bd6f-76b79ebdd65e_3024x4032.jpeg" data-component-name="Image2ToDOM"><div class="image2-inset"><picture><source type="image/webp" srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!GfVu!,w_424,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fd14c95d0-63d1-46a4-bd6f-76b79ebdd65e_3024x4032.jpeg 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!GfVu!,w_848,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fd14c95d0-63d1-46a4-bd6f-76b79ebdd65e_3024x4032.jpeg 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!GfVu!,w_1272,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fd14c95d0-63d1-46a4-bd6f-76b79ebdd65e_3024x4032.jpeg 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!GfVu!,w_1456,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fd14c95d0-63d1-46a4-bd6f-76b79ebdd65e_3024x4032.jpeg 1456w" sizes="100vw"><img src="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!GfVu!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fd14c95d0-63d1-46a4-bd6f-76b79ebdd65e_3024x4032.jpeg" width="1456" height="1941" data-attrs="{&quot;src&quot;:&quot;https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/d14c95d0-63d1-46a4-bd6f-76b79ebdd65e_3024x4032.jpeg&quot;,&quot;srcNoWatermark&quot;:null,&quot;fullscreen&quot;:null,&quot;imageSize&quot;:null,&quot;height&quot;:1941,&quot;width&quot;:1456,&quot;resizeWidth&quot;:null,&quot;bytes&quot;:5940419,&quot;alt&quot;:null,&quot;title&quot;:null,&quot;type&quot;:&quot;image/jpeg&quot;,&quot;href&quot;:null,&quot;belowTheFold&quot;:false,&quot;topImage&quot;:true,&quot;internalRedirect&quot;:&quot;https://trudinicola.substack.com/i/207632445?img=https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fd14c95d0-63d1-46a4-bd6f-76b79ebdd65e_3024x4032.jpeg&quot;,&quot;isProcessing&quot;:false,&quot;align&quot;:null,&quot;offset&quot;:false}" class="sizing-normal" alt="" srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!GfVu!,w_424,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fd14c95d0-63d1-46a4-bd6f-76b79ebdd65e_3024x4032.jpeg 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!GfVu!,w_848,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fd14c95d0-63d1-46a4-bd6f-76b79ebdd65e_3024x4032.jpeg 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!GfVu!,w_1272,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fd14c95d0-63d1-46a4-bd6f-76b79ebdd65e_3024x4032.jpeg 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!GfVu!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fd14c95d0-63d1-46a4-bd6f-76b79ebdd65e_3024x4032.jpeg 1456w" sizes="100vw" fetchpriority="high"></picture><div class="image-link-expand"><div class="pencraft pc-display-flex pc-gap-8 pc-reset"><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container restack-image"><svg aria-hidden="true" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 20 20" fill="none" stroke-width="1.5" stroke="var(--color-fg-primary)" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><g><path d="M2.53001 7.81595C3.49179 4.73911 6.43281 2.5 9.91173 2.5C13.1684 2.5 15.9537 4.46214 17.0852 7.23684L17.6179 8.67647M17.6179 8.67647L18.5002 4.26471M17.6179 8.67647L13.6473 6.91176M17.4995 12.1841C16.5378 15.2609 13.5967 17.5 10.1178 17.5C6.86118 17.5 4.07589 15.5379 2.94432 12.7632L2.41165 11.3235M2.41165 11.3235L1.5293 15.7353M2.41165 11.3235L6.38224 13.0882"></path></g></svg></button><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container view-image"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 24 24" fill="none" stroke="currentColor" stroke-width="2" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" class="lucide lucide-maximize2 lucide-maximize-2"><polyline points="15 3 21 3 21 9"></polyline><polyline points="9 21 3 21 3 15"></polyline><line x1="21" x2="14" y1="3" y2="10"></line><line x1="3" x2="10" y1="21" y2="14"></line></svg></button></div></div></div></a><figcaption class="image-caption">An extraordinary, ordinary tree, Canterbury.  Photo by Trudi Nicola, July 2026.</figcaption></figure></div><p class="button-wrapper" data-attrs="{&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https://www.amazon.co.uk/Little-Sparks-Light-Poetry-soul/dp/1919501002/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0&quot;,&quot;text&quot;:&quot;Check out my book!&quot;,&quot;action&quot;:null,&quot;class&quot;:null}" data-component-name="ButtonCreateButton"><a class="button primary" href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/Little-Sparks-Light-Poetry-soul/dp/1919501002/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0"><span>Check out my book!</span></a></p>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title><![CDATA[Will-O’-the-wisp]]></title><link>https://trudinicola.substack.com/p/will-o-the-wisp</link><guid isPermaLink="false">https://trudinicola.substack.com/p/will-o-the-wisp</guid><dc:creator><![CDATA[Trudi Nicola]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Mon, 13 Jul 2026 13:19:24 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!IdQc!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F5cf8334f-115f-4d44-a0d7-2560fd6a46f8_1170x1052.jpeg" length="0" type="image/jpeg"/><content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>I watch, I wait</p><p>In grim delight</p><p>For weary travellers </p><p>In the night</p><p>I do not care</p><p>From whence they came</p><p>I only seek</p><p>To play my game</p><p>&#10024;</p><p>I listen out</p><p>For distant sounds</p><p>Hoofbeats or footfall</p><p>On the ground</p><p>I hover silent</p><p>As the grave</p><p>To snatch the souls </p><p>Of Lord or knave</p><p>&#10024;</p><p>I sniff the air</p><p>And dance in glee</p><p>My quarry draws</p><p>Now close to me</p><p>When I am certain</p><p>That they are near</p><p>My strength increases</p><p>With their fear</p><p>&#10024;</p><p>I sense confusion </p><p>Which way to go?</p><p>I know my lantern</p><p>Now must glow</p><p>My luminescence </p><p>Flickers bright</p><p>Come hither, quickly!</p><p>Trust my light!</p><p>&#10024;</p><p>I taste success </p><p>Yet need not shout</p><p>This foolish flame</p><p>Will flicker out</p><p>Bereft of guidance </p><p>Each soul now lies</p><p>In swampy darkness</p><p>All doomed to die</p><p></p><div class="captioned-image-container"><figure><a class="image-link image2 is-viewable-img" target="_blank" href="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!IdQc!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F5cf8334f-115f-4d44-a0d7-2560fd6a46f8_1170x1052.jpeg" data-component-name="Image2ToDOM"><div class="image2-inset"><picture><source type="image/webp" srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!IdQc!,w_424,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F5cf8334f-115f-4d44-a0d7-2560fd6a46f8_1170x1052.jpeg 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!IdQc!,w_848,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F5cf8334f-115f-4d44-a0d7-2560fd6a46f8_1170x1052.jpeg 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!IdQc!,w_1272,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F5cf8334f-115f-4d44-a0d7-2560fd6a46f8_1170x1052.jpeg 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!IdQc!,w_1456,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F5cf8334f-115f-4d44-a0d7-2560fd6a46f8_1170x1052.jpeg 1456w" sizes="100vw"><img src="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!IdQc!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F5cf8334f-115f-4d44-a0d7-2560fd6a46f8_1170x1052.jpeg" width="1170" height="1052" data-attrs="{&quot;src&quot;:&quot;https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/5cf8334f-115f-4d44-a0d7-2560fd6a46f8_1170x1052.jpeg&quot;,&quot;srcNoWatermark&quot;:null,&quot;fullscreen&quot;:null,&quot;imageSize&quot;:&quot;normal&quot;,&quot;height&quot;:1052,&quot;width&quot;:1170,&quot;resizeWidth&quot;:null,&quot;bytes&quot;:0,&quot;alt&quot;:null,&quot;title&quot;:null,&quot;type&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;href&quot;:null,&quot;belowTheFold&quot;:true,&quot;topImage&quot;:false,&quot;internalRedirect&quot;:null,&quot;isProcessing&quot;:false,&quot;align&quot;:null,&quot;offset&quot;:false}" class="sizing-normal" alt="" srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!IdQc!,w_424,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F5cf8334f-115f-4d44-a0d7-2560fd6a46f8_1170x1052.jpeg 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!IdQc!,w_848,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F5cf8334f-115f-4d44-a0d7-2560fd6a46f8_1170x1052.jpeg 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!IdQc!,w_1272,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F5cf8334f-115f-4d44-a0d7-2560fd6a46f8_1170x1052.jpeg 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!IdQc!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F5cf8334f-115f-4d44-a0d7-2560fd6a46f8_1170x1052.jpeg 1456w" sizes="100vw" loading="lazy"></picture><div class="image-link-expand"><div class="pencraft pc-display-flex pc-gap-8 pc-reset"><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container restack-image"><svg aria-hidden="true" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 20 20" fill="none" stroke-width="1.5" stroke="var(--color-fg-primary)" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><g><path d="M2.53001 7.81595C3.49179 4.73911 6.43281 2.5 9.91173 2.5C13.1684 2.5 15.9537 4.46214 17.0852 7.23684L17.6179 8.67647M17.6179 8.67647L18.5002 4.26471M17.6179 8.67647L13.6473 6.91176M17.4995 12.1841C16.5378 15.2609 13.5967 17.5 10.1178 17.5C6.86118 17.5 4.07589 15.5379 2.94432 12.7632L2.41165 11.3235M2.41165 11.3235L1.5293 15.7353M2.41165 11.3235L6.38224 13.0882"></path></g></svg></button><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container view-image"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 24 24" fill="none" stroke="currentColor" stroke-width="2" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" class="lucide lucide-maximize2 lucide-maximize-2"><polyline points="15 3 21 3 21 9"></polyline><polyline points="9 21 3 21 3 15"></polyline><line x1="21" x2="14" y1="3" y2="10"></line><line x1="3" x2="10" y1="21" y2="14"></line></svg></button></div></div></div></a><figcaption class="image-caption">Photo by Trudi Nicola, 2019</figcaption></figure></div><p></p><p class="button-wrapper" data-attrs="{&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https://trudinicola.substack.com/subscribe?utm_source=email&amp;r=&quot;,&quot;text&quot;:&quot;Subscribe&quot;,&quot;action&quot;:null,&quot;class&quot;:null}" data-component-name="ButtonCreateButton"><a class="button primary" href="https://trudinicola.substack.com/subscribe?utm_source=email&amp;r="><span>Subscribe</span></a></p><p></p><p></p>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title><![CDATA[When]]></title><link>https://trudinicola.substack.com/p/when</link><guid isPermaLink="false">https://trudinicola.substack.com/p/when</guid><dc:creator><![CDATA[Trudi Nicola]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Sun, 05 Jul 2026 08:07:22 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!0ijh!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F4e534951-0981-458d-a7ea-f35ff277d70e_3024x4032.jpeg" length="0" type="image/jpeg"/><content:encoded><![CDATA[<div class="preformatted-block" data-component-name="PreformattedTextBlockToDOM"><label class="hide-text" contenteditable="false">Text within this block will maintain its original spacing when published</label><pre class="text">When the match won't strike
And the flame won't burn
When the walk's a hike
And the world won't turn
When the dark clouds win
And the rain pours down
When you can't begin
And each smile's a frown
When your luck runs dry
And the cash runs out
When you wonder why
What this is all about
When you see no sense
And each day feels long
There's no recompense
And the fit is wrong
When there's no will to strive
And no urge to try
When you're drained of life
And you wonder why

Stop and take a look
At the nearest tree
Notice each gnarled nook
How it's wild and free
Listen to the birds
Singing overhead
They don't care if they're heard
They don't live in dread
Focus on one thing
That will bring you joy
Cause your soul to sing
And your smile, employ
When your heart wakes up
And recognises all
When love fills your cup
It matters not how small
When your gratitude
Leads to openness
And your attitude
Leads you to success
Then it matters not
When the sun won't shine
For you know you've got
A link to the Divine
</pre></div><p class="button-wrapper" data-attrs="{&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https://trudinicola.substack.com/subscribe?&quot;,&quot;text&quot;:&quot;Subscribe now&quot;,&quot;action&quot;:null,&quot;class&quot;:null}" data-component-name="ButtonCreateButton"><a class="button primary" href="https://trudinicola.substack.com/subscribe?"><span>Subscribe now</span></a></p><div class="captioned-image-container"><figure><a class="image-link image2 is-viewable-img" target="_blank" href="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!0ijh!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F4e534951-0981-458d-a7ea-f35ff277d70e_3024x4032.jpeg" data-component-name="Image2ToDOM"><div class="image2-inset"><picture><source type="image/webp" srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!0ijh!,w_424,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F4e534951-0981-458d-a7ea-f35ff277d70e_3024x4032.jpeg 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!0ijh!,w_848,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F4e534951-0981-458d-a7ea-f35ff277d70e_3024x4032.jpeg 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!0ijh!,w_1272,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F4e534951-0981-458d-a7ea-f35ff277d70e_3024x4032.jpeg 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!0ijh!,w_1456,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F4e534951-0981-458d-a7ea-f35ff277d70e_3024x4032.jpeg 1456w" sizes="100vw"><img 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srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!0ijh!,w_424,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F4e534951-0981-458d-a7ea-f35ff277d70e_3024x4032.jpeg 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!0ijh!,w_848,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F4e534951-0981-458d-a7ea-f35ff277d70e_3024x4032.jpeg 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!0ijh!,w_1272,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F4e534951-0981-458d-a7ea-f35ff277d70e_3024x4032.jpeg 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!0ijh!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F4e534951-0981-458d-a7ea-f35ff277d70e_3024x4032.jpeg 1456w" sizes="100vw" fetchpriority="high"></picture><div 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stroke="currentColor" stroke-width="2" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" class="lucide lucide-maximize2 lucide-maximize-2"><polyline points="15 3 21 3 21 9"></polyline><polyline points="9 21 3 21 3 15"></polyline><line x1="21" x2="14" y1="3" y2="10"></line><line x1="3" x2="10" y1="21" y2="14"></line></svg></button></div></div></div></a><figcaption class="image-caption">Photo by Trudi Nicola, June 2026</figcaption></figure></div><div class="preformatted-block" data-component-name="PreformattedTextBlockToDOM"><label class="hide-text" contenteditable="false">Text within this block will maintain its original spacing when published</label><pre class="text">



</pre></div>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title><![CDATA[The Seed]]></title><description><![CDATA[A wedding verse]]></description><link>https://trudinicola.substack.com/p/the-seed</link><guid isPermaLink="false">https://trudinicola.substack.com/p/the-seed</guid><dc:creator><![CDATA[Trudi Nicola]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Sun, 28 Jun 2026 07:57:25 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1583263840577-b174af9ac796?crop=entropy&amp;cs=tinysrgb&amp;fit=max&amp;fm=jpg&amp;ixid=M3wzMDAzMzh8MHwxfHNlYXJjaHw3OXx8c2VlZHxlbnwwfHx8fDE3ODI2MzMzNzZ8MA&amp;ixlib=rb-4.1.0&amp;q=80&amp;w=1080" length="0" type="image/jpeg"/><content:encoded><![CDATA[<div class="preformatted-block" data-component-name="PreformattedTextBlockToDOM"><label class="hide-text" contenteditable="false">Text within this block will maintain its original spacing when published</label><pre class="text">Many years ago
When each day felt free
Life was lived for love
And there was space to be
A seed was planted
Within two hearts
Destined to lay dormant
During years apart
 
As the seasons changed
And the clock hands turned
As mistakes were made
And new lessons, learned
Still, the seed remained
Waiting patiently
For the time and place
For serendipity
 
When the stars aligned
And the time was right
Two paths crossed once more
Setting sparks alight
Deep within each heart
A tiny seed unfurled
Intertwining roots
As they faced the world
 
Over time, it thrived
Including family
Fed with hope and joy
Unconditionally
Through tough times and good
Still the seed grows strong
Nourished by this love
Ensuring all belong
 
Many years ago
Did the hand of fate
Plant that tiny seed &#8211;
Watch it germinate?
Are we here today
Not just to celebrate
But bear witness to
The path that true love takes?
 
As the seasons change
As the clock hands turn
May this seed of love
Keep you free from harm
May the winds of change
Bring you peace and bliss
And as you walk through life &#8211;
Know that love exists
</pre></div><div class="captioned-image-container"><figure><a class="image-link image2 is-viewable-img" target="_blank" href="https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1583263840577-b174af9ac796?crop=entropy&amp;cs=tinysrgb&amp;fit=max&amp;fm=jpg&amp;ixid=M3wzMDAzMzh8MHwxfHNlYXJjaHw3OXx8c2VlZHxlbnwwfHx8fDE3ODI2MzMzNzZ8MA&amp;ixlib=rb-4.1.0&amp;q=80&amp;w=1080" data-component-name="Image2ToDOM"><div class="image2-inset"><picture><source type="image/webp" srcset="https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1583263840577-b174af9ac796?crop=entropy&amp;cs=tinysrgb&amp;fit=max&amp;fm=jpg&amp;ixid=M3wzMDAzMzh8MHwxfHNlYXJjaHw3OXx8c2VlZHxlbnwwfHx8fDE3ODI2MzMzNzZ8MA&amp;ixlib=rb-4.1.0&amp;q=80&amp;w=1080 424w, https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1583263840577-b174af9ac796?crop=entropy&amp;cs=tinysrgb&amp;fit=max&amp;fm=jpg&amp;ixid=M3wzMDAzMzh8MHwxfHNlYXJjaHw3OXx8c2VlZHxlbnwwfHx8fDE3ODI2MzMzNzZ8MA&amp;ixlib=rb-4.1.0&amp;q=80&amp;w=1080 848w, https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1583263840577-b174af9ac796?crop=entropy&amp;cs=tinysrgb&amp;fit=max&amp;fm=jpg&amp;ixid=M3wzMDAzMzh8MHwxfHNlYXJjaHw3OXx8c2VlZHxlbnwwfHx8fDE3ODI2MzMzNzZ8MA&amp;ixlib=rb-4.1.0&amp;q=80&amp;w=1080 1272w, https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1583263840577-b174af9ac796?crop=entropy&amp;cs=tinysrgb&amp;fit=max&amp;fm=jpg&amp;ixid=M3wzMDAzMzh8MHwxfHNlYXJjaHw3OXx8c2VlZHxlbnwwfHx8fDE3ODI2MzMzNzZ8MA&amp;ixlib=rb-4.1.0&amp;q=80&amp;w=1080 1456w" sizes="100vw"><img src="https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1583263840577-b174af9ac796?crop=entropy&amp;cs=tinysrgb&amp;fit=max&amp;fm=jpg&amp;ixid=M3wzMDAzMzh8MHwxfHNlYXJjaHw3OXx8c2VlZHxlbnwwfHx8fDE3ODI2MzMzNzZ8MA&amp;ixlib=rb-4.1.0&amp;q=80&amp;w=1080" width="2008" height="3570" data-attrs="{&quot;src&quot;:&quot;https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1583263840577-b174af9ac796?crop=entropy&amp;cs=tinysrgb&amp;fit=max&amp;fm=jpg&amp;ixid=M3wzMDAzMzh8MHwxfHNlYXJjaHw3OXx8c2VlZHxlbnwwfHx8fDE3ODI2MzMzNzZ8MA&amp;ixlib=rb-4.1.0&amp;q=80&amp;w=1080&quot;,&quot;srcNoWatermark&quot;:null,&quot;fullscreen&quot;:null,&quot;imageSize&quot;:null,&quot;height&quot;:3570,&quot;width&quot;:2008,&quot;resizeWidth&quot;:null,&quot;bytes&quot;:null,&quot;alt&quot;:&quot;green plant with water droplets&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:null,&quot;type&quot;:&quot;image/jpg&quot;,&quot;href&quot;:null,&quot;belowTheFold&quot;:false,&quot;topImage&quot;:true,&quot;internalRedirect&quot;:null,&quot;isProcessing&quot;:false,&quot;align&quot;:null,&quot;offset&quot;:false}" class="sizing-normal" alt="green plant with water droplets" title="green plant with water droplets" srcset="https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1583263840577-b174af9ac796?crop=entropy&amp;cs=tinysrgb&amp;fit=max&amp;fm=jpg&amp;ixid=M3wzMDAzMzh8MHwxfHNlYXJjaHw3OXx8c2VlZHxlbnwwfHx8fDE3ODI2MzMzNzZ8MA&amp;ixlib=rb-4.1.0&amp;q=80&amp;w=1080 424w, https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1583263840577-b174af9ac796?crop=entropy&amp;cs=tinysrgb&amp;fit=max&amp;fm=jpg&amp;ixid=M3wzMDAzMzh8MHwxfHNlYXJjaHw3OXx8c2VlZHxlbnwwfHx8fDE3ODI2MzMzNzZ8MA&amp;ixlib=rb-4.1.0&amp;q=80&amp;w=1080 848w, https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1583263840577-b174af9ac796?crop=entropy&amp;cs=tinysrgb&amp;fit=max&amp;fm=jpg&amp;ixid=M3wzMDAzMzh8MHwxfHNlYXJjaHw3OXx8c2VlZHxlbnwwfHx8fDE3ODI2MzMzNzZ8MA&amp;ixlib=rb-4.1.0&amp;q=80&amp;w=1080 1272w, https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1583263840577-b174af9ac796?crop=entropy&amp;cs=tinysrgb&amp;fit=max&amp;fm=jpg&amp;ixid=M3wzMDAzMzh8MHwxfHNlYXJjaHw3OXx8c2VlZHxlbnwwfHx8fDE3ODI2MzMzNzZ8MA&amp;ixlib=rb-4.1.0&amp;q=80&amp;w=1080 1456w" sizes="100vw" fetchpriority="high"></picture><div class="image-link-expand"><div class="pencraft pc-display-flex pc-gap-8 pc-reset"><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container restack-image"><svg aria-hidden="true" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 20 20" fill="none" stroke-width="1.5" stroke="var(--color-fg-primary)" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><g><path d="M2.53001 7.81595C3.49179 4.73911 6.43281 2.5 9.91173 2.5C13.1684 2.5 15.9537 4.46214 17.0852 7.23684L17.6179 8.67647M17.6179 8.67647L18.5002 4.26471M17.6179 8.67647L13.6473 6.91176M17.4995 12.1841C16.5378 15.2609 13.5967 17.5 10.1178 17.5C6.86118 17.5 4.07589 15.5379 2.94432 12.7632L2.41165 11.3235M2.41165 11.3235L1.5293 15.7353M2.41165 11.3235L6.38224 13.0882"></path></g></svg></button><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container view-image"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 24 24" fill="none" stroke="currentColor" stroke-width="2" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" class="lucide lucide-maximize2 lucide-maximize-2"><polyline points="15 3 21 3 21 9"></polyline><polyline points="9 21 3 21 3 15"></polyline><line x1="21" x2="14" y1="3" y2="10"></line><line x1="3" x2="10" y1="21" y2="14"></line></svg></button></div></div></div></a><figcaption class="image-caption">Photo by <a href="https://unsplash.com/@artem_makarov">Artem Makarov</a> on <a href="https://unsplash.com">Unsplash</a></figcaption></figure></div><p class="button-wrapper" data-attrs="{&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https://trudinicola.substack.com/subscribe&quot;,&quot;text&quot;:&quot;Become a Spark of Light!&quot;,&quot;action&quot;:null,&quot;class&quot;:null}" data-component-name="ButtonCreateButton"><a class="button primary" href="https://trudinicola.substack.com/subscribe"><span>Become a Spark of Light!</span></a></p>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title><![CDATA[Valley]]></title><link>https://trudinicola.substack.com/p/valley</link><guid isPermaLink="false">https://trudinicola.substack.com/p/valley</guid><dc:creator><![CDATA[Trudi Nicola]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Sat, 20 Jun 2026 13:43:41 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!9HKM!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fc0efa07d-d572-4ab1-b34d-415bb10bdda4_3024x4032.jpeg" length="0" type="image/jpeg"/><content:encoded><![CDATA[<div class="preformatted-block" data-component-name="PreformattedTextBlockToDOM"><label class="hide-text" contenteditable="false">Text within this block will maintain its original spacing when published</label><pre class="text">Let me rest my eyes
On the rugged horizon
As heat washes over
This sun parched land
Here, in the valley
Wild waters flow
Rapidly erasing
All traces of time
Blessed breeze
Caresses my skin
Here, trees take root
They do not wither
But dig deep
Their shade 
A welcome respite
From the morning sun
</pre></div><div class="captioned-image-container"><figure><a class="image-link image2 is-viewable-img" target="_blank" href="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!9HKM!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fc0efa07d-d572-4ab1-b34d-415bb10bdda4_3024x4032.jpeg" data-component-name="Image2ToDOM"><div class="image2-inset"><picture><source type="image/webp" srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!9HKM!,w_424,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fc0efa07d-d572-4ab1-b34d-415bb10bdda4_3024x4032.jpeg 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!9HKM!,w_848,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fc0efa07d-d572-4ab1-b34d-415bb10bdda4_3024x4032.jpeg 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!9HKM!,w_1272,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fc0efa07d-d572-4ab1-b34d-415bb10bdda4_3024x4032.jpeg 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!9HKM!,w_1456,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fc0efa07d-d572-4ab1-b34d-415bb10bdda4_3024x4032.jpeg 1456w" sizes="100vw"><img src="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!9HKM!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fc0efa07d-d572-4ab1-b34d-415bb10bdda4_3024x4032.jpeg" width="1456" height="1941" data-attrs="{&quot;src&quot;:&quot;https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/c0efa07d-d572-4ab1-b34d-415bb10bdda4_3024x4032.jpeg&quot;,&quot;srcNoWatermark&quot;:null,&quot;fullscreen&quot;:null,&quot;imageSize&quot;:null,&quot;height&quot;:1941,&quot;width&quot;:1456,&quot;resizeWidth&quot;:null,&quot;bytes&quot;:6018972,&quot;alt&quot;:null,&quot;title&quot;:null,&quot;type&quot;:&quot;image/jpeg&quot;,&quot;href&quot;:null,&quot;belowTheFold&quot;:false,&quot;topImage&quot;:true,&quot;internalRedirect&quot;:&quot;https://trudinicola.substack.com/i/202842335?img=https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fc0efa07d-d572-4ab1-b34d-415bb10bdda4_3024x4032.jpeg&quot;,&quot;isProcessing&quot;:false,&quot;align&quot;:null,&quot;offset&quot;:false}" class="sizing-normal" alt="" srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!9HKM!,w_424,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fc0efa07d-d572-4ab1-b34d-415bb10bdda4_3024x4032.jpeg 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!9HKM!,w_848,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fc0efa07d-d572-4ab1-b34d-415bb10bdda4_3024x4032.jpeg 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!9HKM!,w_1272,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fc0efa07d-d572-4ab1-b34d-415bb10bdda4_3024x4032.jpeg 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!9HKM!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fc0efa07d-d572-4ab1-b34d-415bb10bdda4_3024x4032.jpeg 1456w" sizes="100vw" fetchpriority="high"></picture><div class="image-link-expand"><div class="pencraft pc-display-flex pc-gap-8 pc-reset"><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container restack-image"><svg aria-hidden="true" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 20 20" fill="none" stroke-width="1.5" stroke="var(--color-fg-primary)" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><g><path d="M2.53001 7.81595C3.49179 4.73911 6.43281 2.5 9.91173 2.5C13.1684 2.5 15.9537 4.46214 17.0852 7.23684L17.6179 8.67647M17.6179 8.67647L18.5002 4.26471M17.6179 8.67647L13.6473 6.91176M17.4995 12.1841C16.5378 15.2609 13.5967 17.5 10.1178 17.5C6.86118 17.5 4.07589 15.5379 2.94432 12.7632L2.41165 11.3235M2.41165 11.3235L1.5293 15.7353M2.41165 11.3235L6.38224 13.0882"></path></g></svg></button><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container view-image"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 24 24" fill="none" stroke="currentColor" stroke-width="2" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" class="lucide lucide-maximize2 lucide-maximize-2"><polyline points="15 3 21 3 21 9"></polyline><polyline points="9 21 3 21 3 15"></polyline><line x1="21" x2="14" y1="3" y2="10"></line><line x1="3" x2="10" y1="21" y2="14"></line></svg></button></div></div></div></a><figcaption class="image-caption">Atlas mountains valley, Morocco, June 2026.  Photo by Trudi Nicola.</figcaption></figure></div><div class="preformatted-block" data-component-name="PreformattedTextBlockToDOM"><label class="hide-text" contenteditable="false">Text within this block will maintain its original spacing when published</label><pre class="text">
</pre></div><p class="button-wrapper" data-attrs="{&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https://www.amazon.co.uk/Little-Sparks-Light-Poetry-soul/dp/1919501002/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0&quot;,&quot;text&quot;:&quot;Take a peek at my book!&quot;,&quot;action&quot;:null,&quot;class&quot;:null}" data-component-name="ButtonCreateButton"><a class="button primary" href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/Little-Sparks-Light-Poetry-soul/dp/1919501002/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0"><span>Take a peek at my book!</span></a></p>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title><![CDATA[Desert Sunset]]></title><link>https://trudinicola.substack.com/p/desert-sunset</link><guid isPermaLink="false">https://trudinicola.substack.com/p/desert-sunset</guid><dc:creator><![CDATA[Trudi Nicola]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Wed, 17 Jun 2026 16:59:33 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!8-Fz!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F1a7b0334-7d86-4cd9-8306-ab01849b9337_4032x2426.jpeg" length="0" type="image/jpeg"/><content:encoded><![CDATA[<div class="preformatted-block" data-component-name="PreformattedTextBlockToDOM"><label class="hide-text" contenteditable="false">Text within this block will maintain its original spacing when published</label><pre class="text">Dust clouds rise
And dissipate
Rock formations
Contemplate
An intense heat
That radiates
Across this
Barren landscape

Centuries
Converge and rise
Rugged hilltops
Colonise
As lonely palm trees
Scratch the skies
Across this
Barren landscape

Winds whip up
A choking haze
Upon the evening star
We gaze
As sun descends
And ends this day
Across this 
Barren landscape
</pre></div><p class="button-wrapper" data-attrs="{&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https://trudinicola.substack.com/subscribe&quot;,&quot;text&quot;:&quot;Become a Spark of Light!&quot;,&quot;action&quot;:null,&quot;class&quot;:null}" data-component-name="ButtonCreateButton"><a class="button primary" href="https://trudinicola.substack.com/subscribe"><span>Become a Spark of Light!</span></a></p><div class="captioned-image-container"><figure><a class="image-link image2 is-viewable-img" target="_blank" href="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!8-Fz!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F1a7b0334-7d86-4cd9-8306-ab01849b9337_4032x2426.jpeg" data-component-name="Image2ToDOM"><div class="image2-inset"><picture><source type="image/webp" 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stroke="currentColor" stroke-width="2" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" class="lucide lucide-maximize2 lucide-maximize-2"><polyline points="15 3 21 3 21 9"></polyline><polyline points="9 21 3 21 3 15"></polyline><line x1="21" x2="14" y1="3" y2="10"></line><line x1="3" x2="10" y1="21" y2="14"></line></svg></button></div></div></div></a><figcaption class="image-caption">Photo by Trudi Nicola, Agafey Desert, June 2026</figcaption></figure></div><div class="preformatted-block" data-component-name="PreformattedTextBlockToDOM"><label class="hide-text" contenteditable="false">Text within this block will maintain its original spacing when published</label><pre class="text">
</pre></div>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title><![CDATA[Souk]]></title><link>https://trudinicola.substack.com/p/souk</link><guid isPermaLink="false">https://trudinicola.substack.com/p/souk</guid><dc:creator><![CDATA[Trudi Nicola]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Mon, 15 Jun 2026 18:04:40 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!CNFq!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F8b9a8d9b-d021-4676-a554-ff78e3b8ced6_3024x4032.jpeg" length="0" type="image/jpeg"/><content:encoded><![CDATA[<div class="preformatted-block" data-component-name="PreformattedTextBlockToDOM"><label class="hide-text" contenteditable="false">Text within this block will maintain its original spacing when published</label><pre class="text">I followed the soul of my uncle
My footsteps echoed his
Through myriad hues
Which route to choose
All pathways lead to bliss

I followed the soul of my uncle
As lamps glowed overhead
Laced filigree
Swayed delicately
Containers of prayers unsaid

I followed the soul of my uncle
As hagglers reached their price
A lamp of old
In stories told
Will grant you wishes thrice

I followed the soul of my uncle
A sensory overload
The scent of spice
Mint tea with ice
Tanned leather, silk and gold

I followed the soul of my uncle
Through ancient passageways
Beneath the sounds
Here, can be found
The wisdom of old ways

I followed the soul of my uncle
And heard him whisper clear
Turn your back on strife
Your breath is the life
Hold close all you hold dear</pre></div><div class="captioned-image-container"><figure><a class="image-link image2 is-viewable-img" target="_blank" href="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!CNFq!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F8b9a8d9b-d021-4676-a554-ff78e3b8ced6_3024x4032.jpeg" data-component-name="Image2ToDOM"><div class="image2-inset"><picture><source type="image/webp" srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!CNFq!,w_424,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F8b9a8d9b-d021-4676-a554-ff78e3b8ced6_3024x4032.jpeg 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!CNFq!,w_848,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F8b9a8d9b-d021-4676-a554-ff78e3b8ced6_3024x4032.jpeg 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!CNFq!,w_1272,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F8b9a8d9b-d021-4676-a554-ff78e3b8ced6_3024x4032.jpeg 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!CNFq!,w_1456,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F8b9a8d9b-d021-4676-a554-ff78e3b8ced6_3024x4032.jpeg 1456w" sizes="100vw"><img src="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!CNFq!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F8b9a8d9b-d021-4676-a554-ff78e3b8ced6_3024x4032.jpeg" width="1456" height="1941" 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stroke="currentColor" stroke-width="2" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" class="lucide lucide-maximize2 lucide-maximize-2"><polyline points="15 3 21 3 21 9"></polyline><polyline points="9 21 3 21 3 15"></polyline><line x1="21" x2="14" y1="3" y2="10"></line><line x1="3" x2="10" y1="21" y2="14"></line></svg></button></div></div></div></a><figcaption class="image-caption">Photo by Trudi Nicola, Marrakech, June 2026</figcaption></figure></div><div class="preformatted-block" data-component-name="PreformattedTextBlockToDOM"><label class="hide-text" contenteditable="false">Text within this block will maintain its original spacing when published</label><pre class="text">
</pre></div><p class="button-wrapper" data-attrs="{&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https://trudinicola.substack.com/subscribe&quot;,&quot;text&quot;:&quot;Become a Spark of Light!&quot;,&quot;action&quot;:null,&quot;class&quot;:null}" data-component-name="ButtonCreateButton"><a class="button primary" href="https://trudinicola.substack.com/subscribe"><span>Become a Spark of Light!</span></a></p>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title><![CDATA[Storms]]></title><link>https://trudinicola.substack.com/p/storms</link><guid isPermaLink="false">https://trudinicola.substack.com/p/storms</guid><dc:creator><![CDATA[Trudi Nicola]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Sat, 06 Jun 2026 07:45:32 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1509711575058-3967b95ff004?crop=entropy&amp;cs=tinysrgb&amp;fit=max&amp;fm=jpg&amp;ixid=M3wzMDAzMzh8MHwxfHNlYXJjaHwxNnx8c3Rvcm15JTIwc2VhfGVufDB8fHx8MTc4MDczMTgxNHww&amp;ixlib=rb-4.1.0&amp;q=80&amp;w=1080" length="0" type="image/jpeg"/><content:encoded><![CDATA[<div class="preformatted-block" data-component-name="PreformattedTextBlockToDOM"><label class="hide-text" contenteditable="false">Text within this block will maintain its original spacing when published</label><pre class="text">Storms rage within my soul
No harbour safe I see
All is dark and all is lost
As waves wash over me

Thundering water pounds the shore
As tempests reign supreme
A ragged breath I try to take
No energy to scream

Lightning flashes overhead
Illuminating all
A devastated landscape
Bears witness to my fall

Storms rage within my soul
They tear my world apart
Find me a rock where I might cling
And rest my broken heart</pre></div><div class="captioned-image-container"><figure><a class="image-link image2 is-viewable-img" target="_blank" href="https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1509711575058-3967b95ff004?crop=entropy&amp;cs=tinysrgb&amp;fit=max&amp;fm=jpg&amp;ixid=M3wzMDAzMzh8MHwxfHNlYXJjaHwxNnx8c3Rvcm15JTIwc2VhfGVufDB8fHx8MTc4MDczMTgxNHww&amp;ixlib=rb-4.1.0&amp;q=80&amp;w=1080" data-component-name="Image2ToDOM"><div class="image2-inset"><picture><source type="image/webp" srcset="https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1509711575058-3967b95ff004?crop=entropy&amp;cs=tinysrgb&amp;fit=max&amp;fm=jpg&amp;ixid=M3wzMDAzMzh8MHwxfHNlYXJjaHwxNnx8c3Rvcm15JTIwc2VhfGVufDB8fHx8MTc4MDczMTgxNHww&amp;ixlib=rb-4.1.0&amp;q=80&amp;w=1080 424w, https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1509711575058-3967b95ff004?crop=entropy&amp;cs=tinysrgb&amp;fit=max&amp;fm=jpg&amp;ixid=M3wzMDAzMzh8MHwxfHNlYXJjaHwxNnx8c3Rvcm15JTIwc2VhfGVufDB8fHx8MTc4MDczMTgxNHww&amp;ixlib=rb-4.1.0&amp;q=80&amp;w=1080 848w, 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srcset="https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1509711575058-3967b95ff004?crop=entropy&amp;cs=tinysrgb&amp;fit=max&amp;fm=jpg&amp;ixid=M3wzMDAzMzh8MHwxfHNlYXJjaHwxNnx8c3Rvcm15JTIwc2VhfGVufDB8fHx8MTc4MDczMTgxNHww&amp;ixlib=rb-4.1.0&amp;q=80&amp;w=1080 424w, https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1509711575058-3967b95ff004?crop=entropy&amp;cs=tinysrgb&amp;fit=max&amp;fm=jpg&amp;ixid=M3wzMDAzMzh8MHwxfHNlYXJjaHwxNnx8c3Rvcm15JTIwc2VhfGVufDB8fHx8MTc4MDczMTgxNHww&amp;ixlib=rb-4.1.0&amp;q=80&amp;w=1080 848w, https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1509711575058-3967b95ff004?crop=entropy&amp;cs=tinysrgb&amp;fit=max&amp;fm=jpg&amp;ixid=M3wzMDAzMzh8MHwxfHNlYXJjaHwxNnx8c3Rvcm15JTIwc2VhfGVufDB8fHx8MTc4MDczMTgxNHww&amp;ixlib=rb-4.1.0&amp;q=80&amp;w=1080 1272w, https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1509711575058-3967b95ff004?crop=entropy&amp;cs=tinysrgb&amp;fit=max&amp;fm=jpg&amp;ixid=M3wzMDAzMzh8MHwxfHNlYXJjaHwxNnx8c3Rvcm15JTIwc2VhfGVufDB8fHx8MTc4MDczMTgxNHww&amp;ixlib=rb-4.1.0&amp;q=80&amp;w=1080 1456w" sizes="100vw" fetchpriority="high"></picture><div class="image-link-expand"><div class="pencraft pc-display-flex pc-gap-8 pc-reset"><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container restack-image"><svg aria-hidden="true" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 20 20" fill="none" stroke-width="1.5" stroke="var(--color-fg-primary)" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><g><path d="M2.53001 7.81595C3.49179 4.73911 6.43281 2.5 9.91173 2.5C13.1684 2.5 15.9537 4.46214 17.0852 7.23684L17.6179 8.67647M17.6179 8.67647L18.5002 4.26471M17.6179 8.67647L13.6473 6.91176M17.4995 12.1841C16.5378 15.2609 13.5967 17.5 10.1178 17.5C6.86118 17.5 4.07589 15.5379 2.94432 12.7632L2.41165 11.3235M2.41165 11.3235L1.5293 15.7353M2.41165 11.3235L6.38224 13.0882"></path></g></svg></button><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container view-image"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 24 24" fill="none" stroke="currentColor" stroke-width="2" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" class="lucide lucide-maximize2 lucide-maximize-2"><polyline points="15 3 21 3 21 9"></polyline><polyline points="9 21 3 21 3 15"></polyline><line x1="21" x2="14" y1="3" y2="10"></line><line x1="3" x2="10" y1="21" y2="14"></line></svg></button></div></div></div></a><figcaption class="image-caption">Photo by <a href="https://unsplash.com/@louhill">Louise Hill</a> on <a href="https://unsplash.com">Unsplash</a></figcaption></figure></div><p class="button-wrapper" data-attrs="{&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https://trudinicola.substack.com/subscribe?&quot;,&quot;text&quot;:&quot;Subscribe now&quot;,&quot;action&quot;:null,&quot;class&quot;:null}" data-component-name="ButtonCreateButton"><a class="button primary" href="https://trudinicola.substack.com/subscribe?"><span>Subscribe now</span></a></p>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title><![CDATA[Poppy]]></title><link>https://trudinicola.substack.com/p/poppy</link><guid isPermaLink="false">https://trudinicola.substack.com/p/poppy</guid><dc:creator><![CDATA[Trudi Nicola]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Sat, 30 May 2026 08:16:13 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!1N6v!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fdaef8f5e-becb-4865-bbe1-278579b635c4_1532x2815.jpeg" length="0" type="image/jpeg"/><content:encoded><![CDATA[<div class="preformatted-block" data-component-name="PreformattedTextBlockToDOM"><label class="hide-text" contenteditable="false">Text within this block will maintain its original spacing when published</label><pre class="text">Your presence surprised me
Early one morning
On my way to work
There you were
Solitary
Proud
Your back against the wall
Scarlett petals blazing
In the morning sun

Triffid-like,
Multiple heads of 
Unblossomed potential
Surround you
You defy convention
Taking root between
Pavement and wall
Standing boldly erect
A symbol
Of survival</pre></div><div class="captioned-image-container"><figure><a class="image-link image2 is-viewable-img" target="_blank" href="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!1N6v!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fdaef8f5e-becb-4865-bbe1-278579b635c4_1532x2815.jpeg" data-component-name="Image2ToDOM"><div class="image2-inset"><picture><source type="image/webp" srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!1N6v!,w_424,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fdaef8f5e-becb-4865-bbe1-278579b635c4_1532x2815.jpeg 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!1N6v!,w_848,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fdaef8f5e-becb-4865-bbe1-278579b635c4_1532x2815.jpeg 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!1N6v!,w_1272,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fdaef8f5e-becb-4865-bbe1-278579b635c4_1532x2815.jpeg 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!1N6v!,w_1456,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fdaef8f5e-becb-4865-bbe1-278579b635c4_1532x2815.jpeg 1456w" sizes="100vw"><img src="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!1N6v!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fdaef8f5e-becb-4865-bbe1-278579b635c4_1532x2815.jpeg" width="1456" height="2675" data-attrs="{&quot;src&quot;:&quot;https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/daef8f5e-becb-4865-bbe1-278579b635c4_1532x2815.jpeg&quot;,&quot;srcNoWatermark&quot;:null,&quot;fullscreen&quot;:null,&quot;imageSize&quot;:null,&quot;height&quot;:2675,&quot;width&quot;:1456,&quot;resizeWidth&quot;:null,&quot;bytes&quot;:2179506,&quot;alt&quot;:null,&quot;title&quot;:null,&quot;type&quot;:&quot;image/jpeg&quot;,&quot;href&quot;:null,&quot;belowTheFold&quot;:false,&quot;topImage&quot;:true,&quot;internalRedirect&quot;:&quot;https://trudinicola.substack.com/i/199842756?img=https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fdaef8f5e-becb-4865-bbe1-278579b635c4_1532x2815.jpeg&quot;,&quot;isProcessing&quot;:false,&quot;align&quot;:null,&quot;offset&quot;:false}" class="sizing-normal" alt="" srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!1N6v!,w_424,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fdaef8f5e-becb-4865-bbe1-278579b635c4_1532x2815.jpeg 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!1N6v!,w_848,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fdaef8f5e-becb-4865-bbe1-278579b635c4_1532x2815.jpeg 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!1N6v!,w_1272,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fdaef8f5e-becb-4865-bbe1-278579b635c4_1532x2815.jpeg 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!1N6v!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fdaef8f5e-becb-4865-bbe1-278579b635c4_1532x2815.jpeg 1456w" sizes="100vw" fetchpriority="high"></picture><div class="image-link-expand"><div class="pencraft pc-display-flex pc-gap-8 pc-reset"><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container restack-image"><svg aria-hidden="true" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 20 20" fill="none" stroke-width="1.5" stroke="var(--color-fg-primary)" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><g><path d="M2.53001 7.81595C3.49179 4.73911 6.43281 2.5 9.91173 2.5C13.1684 2.5 15.9537 4.46214 17.0852 7.23684L17.6179 8.67647M17.6179 8.67647L18.5002 4.26471M17.6179 8.67647L13.6473 6.91176M17.4995 12.1841C16.5378 15.2609 13.5967 17.5 10.1178 17.5C6.86118 17.5 4.07589 15.5379 2.94432 12.7632L2.41165 11.3235M2.41165 11.3235L1.5293 15.7353M2.41165 11.3235L6.38224 13.0882"></path></g></svg></button><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container view-image"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 24 24" fill="none" stroke="currentColor" stroke-width="2" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" class="lucide lucide-maximize2 lucide-maximize-2"><polyline points="15 3 21 3 21 9"></polyline><polyline points="9 21 3 21 3 15"></polyline><line x1="21" x2="14" y1="3" y2="10"></line><line x1="3" x2="10" y1="21" y2="14"></line></svg></button></div></div></div></a><figcaption class="image-caption">Poppy by Trudi Nicola May 2026</figcaption></figure></div><div class="preformatted-block" data-component-name="PreformattedTextBlockToDOM"><label class="hide-text" contenteditable="false">Text within this block will maintain its original spacing when published</label><pre class="text">
</pre></div><p class="button-wrapper" data-attrs="{&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https://www.amazon.co.uk/Little-Sparks-Light-Poetry-soul/dp/1919501002/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0&quot;,&quot;text&quot;:&quot;Take a peek at my book!&quot;,&quot;action&quot;:null,&quot;class&quot;:null}" data-component-name="ButtonCreateButton"><a class="button primary" href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/Little-Sparks-Light-Poetry-soul/dp/1919501002/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0"><span>Take a peek at my book!</span></a></p>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title><![CDATA[Too Sensitive]]></title><link>https://trudinicola.substack.com/p/too-sensitive</link><guid isPermaLink="false">https://trudinicola.substack.com/p/too-sensitive</guid><dc:creator><![CDATA[Trudi Nicola]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Sat, 23 May 2026 08:28:32 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!LQU-!,w_256,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F3bb1f4b8-3dbd-4f4f-90dd-a806d0f9a295_499x499.png" length="0" type="image/jpeg"/><content:encoded><![CDATA[<div class="preformatted-block" data-component-name="PreformattedTextBlockToDOM"><label class="hide-text" contenteditable="false">Text within this block will maintain its original spacing when published</label><pre class="text">I would say, in my defence
That sensitivity is a strength
For those who maybe disagree
Try put yourself in place of me

You will find that how I live
Is focused on how to forgive
How to let go, let others be
So, in time, I can be free

To reconcile, learn to atone
Is a tricky skill to hone
Your heart must remain open wide
Revealing all you hold inside

Such vulnerability is raw
My inner world, an open door
But this is how I sense the light
See what is wrong, and what is right

I understand how it may seem
As if I'm living in a dream
And in a way, that's how it is
Sensitive souls know joy and bliss

Yet, at times, this world is cruel
Withdrawal is my only tool
Blocking out the noise and din
Allows me to retreat within

And once I'm in my sanctuary
I can restore tranquility
If this means I'm too sensitive -
There are no more cares that I can give
</pre></div><p class="button-wrapper" data-attrs="{&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https://trudinicola.substack.com/subscribe&quot;,&quot;text&quot;:&quot;Become a Spark of Light!&quot;,&quot;action&quot;:null,&quot;class&quot;:null}" data-component-name="ButtonCreateButton"><a class="button primary" href="https://trudinicola.substack.com/subscribe"><span>Become a Spark of Light!</span></a></p><div class="captioned-image-container"><figure><a class="image-link image2 is-viewable-img" target="_blank" href="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!6mkD!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F980edffe-7645-49c6-9562-8ec7d41d7336_240x320.jpeg" data-component-name="Image2ToDOM"><div class="image2-inset"><picture><source type="image/webp" srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!6mkD!,w_424,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F980edffe-7645-49c6-9562-8ec7d41d7336_240x320.jpeg 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!6mkD!,w_848,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F980edffe-7645-49c6-9562-8ec7d41d7336_240x320.jpeg 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!6mkD!,w_1272,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F980edffe-7645-49c6-9562-8ec7d41d7336_240x320.jpeg 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!6mkD!,w_1456,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F980edffe-7645-49c6-9562-8ec7d41d7336_240x320.jpeg 1456w" sizes="100vw"><img src="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!6mkD!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F980edffe-7645-49c6-9562-8ec7d41d7336_240x320.jpeg" width="240" height="320" data-attrs="{&quot;src&quot;:&quot;https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/980edffe-7645-49c6-9562-8ec7d41d7336_240x320.jpeg&quot;,&quot;srcNoWatermark&quot;:null,&quot;fullscreen&quot;:null,&quot;imageSize&quot;:null,&quot;height&quot;:320,&quot;width&quot;:240,&quot;resizeWidth&quot;:null,&quot;bytes&quot;:35979,&quot;alt&quot;:null,&quot;title&quot;:null,&quot;type&quot;:&quot;image/jpeg&quot;,&quot;href&quot;:null,&quot;belowTheFold&quot;:false,&quot;topImage&quot;:true,&quot;internalRedirect&quot;:&quot;https://trudinicola.substack.com/i/198940645?img=https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F980edffe-7645-49c6-9562-8ec7d41d7336_240x320.jpeg&quot;,&quot;isProcessing&quot;:false,&quot;align&quot;:null,&quot;offset&quot;:false}" class="sizing-normal" alt="" srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!6mkD!,w_424,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F980edffe-7645-49c6-9562-8ec7d41d7336_240x320.jpeg 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!6mkD!,w_848,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F980edffe-7645-49c6-9562-8ec7d41d7336_240x320.jpeg 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!6mkD!,w_1272,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F980edffe-7645-49c6-9562-8ec7d41d7336_240x320.jpeg 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!6mkD!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F980edffe-7645-49c6-9562-8ec7d41d7336_240x320.jpeg 1456w" sizes="100vw" fetchpriority="high"></picture><div class="image-link-expand"><div class="pencraft pc-display-flex pc-gap-8 pc-reset"><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container restack-image"><svg aria-hidden="true" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 20 20" fill="none" stroke-width="1.5" stroke="var(--color-fg-primary)" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><g><path d="M2.53001 7.81595C3.49179 4.73911 6.43281 2.5 9.91173 2.5C13.1684 2.5 15.9537 4.46214 17.0852 7.23684L17.6179 8.67647M17.6179 8.67647L18.5002 4.26471M17.6179 8.67647L13.6473 6.91176M17.4995 12.1841C16.5378 15.2609 13.5967 17.5 10.1178 17.5C6.86118 17.5 4.07589 15.5379 2.94432 12.7632L2.41165 11.3235M2.41165 11.3235L1.5293 15.7353M2.41165 11.3235L6.38224 13.0882"></path></g></svg></button><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container view-image"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 24 24" fill="none" stroke="currentColor" stroke-width="2" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" class="lucide lucide-maximize2 lucide-maximize-2"><polyline points="15 3 21 3 21 9"></polyline><polyline points="9 21 3 21 3 15"></polyline><line x1="21" x2="14" y1="3" y2="10"></line><line x1="3" x2="10" y1="21" y2="14"></line></svg></button></div></div></div></a><figcaption class="image-caption">Photo by Trudi Nicola, Vimy Ridge, France 2014</figcaption></figure></div>]]></content:encoded></item></channel></rss>