I Live for this Ghibli Life

When Life Becomes a Cartoon

(All images have been generated by Sora)

Have you ever stepped outside and suddenly felt like you walked into a Studio Ghibli film? Or perhaps an enhanced psychedelic trip where life felt like a cartoon? Like the wind had a message for you, the trees were breathing and communicating through their movements, or the animals came to life in such a playful and magical way?

That’s the kind of magic I’ve been experiencing lately.

After too much time behind screens and feeling disconnected from my body, I took a much-needed break from technology to reconnect with the natural world—and what unfolded felt like something straight out of a dream. Or maybe… a Miyazaki movie. The kind of gentle wonder that reminds you the Earth is very much alive—and if you slow down enough, you'll start to see Her magic again.

Yes, I touched grass—literally.

While the rise of AI continues to grow in our collective awareness, while the geopolitical sphere is becoming more volatile each day that passes, while social media has taken hostage of our spare attention and care, while the stories of the world suck us in and take root in our minds, I think it’s more important than ever to breathe life back into our human bodies and ground ourselves in the natural world. After spending so much of the winter indoors, these last couple of weeks immersed in nature have been transformative and much needed. Being outside wasn’t just rejuvenating and inspiring—it reminded me that magic still lives out there, and exists all around us, waiting for us to unplug and open our hearts to it.

This link of events is another example of what happens when I follow my intuition, let go of the plan, and allow my body to lead the way. I decided to take some days to explore this city, minus my phone, a wallet, or anything else - I wanted to feel as free as possible. It may not be exciting for most people, but for me, it's a reminder in the quiet magic that exist in everyday life when you just roll with it, whispers of the universe that it is watching and present.

It all started last week with a walk across the street to pick up a vape pen. The fact that cannabis is now accessible in this city still amazes me. It wasn’t long ago that it was heavily stigmatized, and yet now, I can legally purchase it in a quiet little shop across from my home. Moments like this remind me that part of my dharma is to help educate others about plant medicine and its potential—especially cannabis. There’s still so much misunderstanding around its use, especially medicinally, and I hope to be part of the movement that helps shift that narrative.

As I left the shop, I passed Peter Fonseca’s office, although it is temporarily closed due to an arson attack. Seeing it reminded me to follow up with him, especially now that Bill 5 has passed—something I had actually written to him about in a recent letter. Life has a funny way of nudging you when it’s time to act again. I will follow up with this tomorrow.

I made my way to the duck pond, one of my favourite sanctuaries—especially because it’s been a sacred space I’ve shared with my niece and nephews since they were babies. As I sat there, three ducks waddled over to me in curiousity, and just chilled comfortably beside me during the entire visit. Their energy reminded me of my three cats—two of whom are now in spirit—and I couldn’t help but wonder: are they still with me, just in different forms? Could their essence be playing through other animals, quietly watching over me, reminding me of their presence in new ways? I’ve often had a similar thought about soulmates—that the essence of a soulmate is an energy, not just a person. And sometimes, when we merge with another physical being through relationship and love, it’s as if they step into that frequency—like tuning into a channel that’s always been there, waiting for the right connection.

Just as that thought crossed my mind, two bunnies began chasing each other nearby. They circled around me as they chased each other, wrestling and tumbling across the forest ground - when they finally noticed me standing there, they immediately stopped and stared at me for two seconds.

They darted off into the field and were soon joined by two more bunnies, all of them chasing one another in playful loops in front of everyone walking through the park. For a moment, life began to feel like a living cartoon—like the soft, vibrant reality you step into during a psychedelic journey. The trees seemed to breathe, exhaling life back into me. I could feel the animals sensing me, just as I was sensing them. Our energies—like the subtle exchange I’ve felt with my cats—began to vibrate in harmony, as though we were helping each other balance ourselves, while elevating our frequencies through simple presence. I could see the dance of life moving all around me again. Others started to take notice of the bunnies and recorded in their joy and excitement - it wasn't a sight anyone sees often.

The very next morning, I found myself thinking about those two bunnies, marveling at how rare and magical that sight had been. Just as that thought passed through me, I opened the front door—and across the street, as if summoned by my memory, two little bunnies came running out from the neighbour’s backyard, chasing each other once again.

Synchronicity? Maybe. Or maybe just a gentle wink from the Universe, reminding me to stay open to magic.

---

The next day, I drove up to my favorite spot by the lake. I laid out my blanket, did some yoga, read my books, and wrote in my journals while absorbing as much sunshine as possible.

After soaking in the sun, I started to go for a walk around the grounds - at one point, I felt drawn to walk toward the rocks by the water and found a little natural groove nestled between the trees, a little nook that I try to visit any time I'm there.

Suddenly, the wind picked up—ferocious and wild, yet strangely warm, like a living spirit had wrapped itself around me. It wasn’t just a storm; it felt sentient. The kind of wind that doesn’t just pass through, but arrives with intention. I had never experienced this kind of energy in that spot before—no rain, no clouds, just this intense, swirling force growing stronger by the second. As I sat tucked into my little nature nook, thoughts of the world shifting surged through me. I couldn’t shake the feeling that something was changing—not just around me, but universally.

As the wind whipped louder through the trees and the waves of the lake crept closer to where I sat, I held my ground in my little nook—rooted but curious. The thought lingered: What if this wind is more than just air? What if it’s the echo of other universes brushing against ours—a ripple from overlapping dimensions playing out simultaneously? Maybe the wind isn’t just weather, but a messenger—chaotic when we’re chaotic, and calm when we’re at peace. I decided to test the theory. I softened my breath, stilled my thoughts, and anchored into my body. And as I did, the wild gusts softened too—like the wind was listening. Responding. Like it and I were in communion.

For a brief moment, I sensed I could influence it with my mind. The calmer my thoughts, the softer the wind became. When I focused on my breath and slowed everything down inside me, the gusts softened into a gentle breeze, as if nature was responding to my stillness.

I sat in that quiet harmony for a while, soaking it in—heart full, mind clear, breathing in the fresh spring air, and listening to the slight crash of the water against the rocks. And then, as if the moment had come to an end, a soft nudge in my body told me it was time to move. I stood up, brushed myself off, and followed the pull of curiosity down the rocks and along the lakeside path. That’s when I saw her—a mother duck gliding across the water, trailed by eight tiny ducklings paddling close behind. It was as if the universe had softened not just the wind, but the entire world around me, gifting me yet another glimpse of life's quiet magic.

My heart melted, and I chose to see it as a sign (of course lol). A soft but powerful reminder of the life I still dream of creating. I want to be a mother, and I’m aware that time moves quickly. But moments like that bring hope—they remind me that life continues to flow, and that spirit often speaks through nature when we’re quiet enough to listen. And maybe this is my reminder to quicken the pace 😉

---

Yesterday, I wandered into the forest near my home, deciding to greet everyone I passed with a smile or a simple hello. Halfway down the winding trail, I saw a man sitting alone on a park bench. I said hello, and he returned the greeting, asking how I was doing. Then, unexpectedly, he reached out put something in my hands - a handful of nuts.

Now, in 2025, taking food from a stranger’s bare hand is something we simply don't do—but I trusted the moment, and accepted his offering. We ended up sitting together for a while, using Google Translate to speak across a language divide. He told me he was from Iraq and has been living in Canada for the last 5 years. When I asked if his family was here with him, it was like a dark cloud slowly hovered over his head as his face drooped downward. He spoke into his phone and let me look at the translation: "My wife died in an explosion from a bomb, while 6 months pregnant". My heart sank while reading each word.

As he spoke, still in a language I didn't understand, tears welled in my eyes. He noticed, and gently motioned for me to sit beside him. He said something else to his phone that translated, "you have a very kind heart". We couldn’t understand most of each other’s words, but it didn’t matter. We understood something deeper—the shared ache of loss, the desire for connection, and the healing power of simple human kindness. And though I know I could never understand what he has seen or has gone through, I tried my best to be present for him in that moment, and to just be human. Once we had our moment, we said our goodbyes, and went our separate ways.

At first, I thought the nuts he handed me were for the squirrels and chipmunks—but when I looked down, I saw they were pretty fancy nuts: Brazil nuts, pistachios, macadamias… so I popped a couple in my mouth.

Right then, as if on cue, a cute guy appeared out of nowhere, smiled at me, and said, “So, you’re a nature lover too, eh?”

I was mid-chew, cheeks full of nuts like I chipmunk, so I just smiled awkwardly, nodded, and kept walking. 😂 The Universe keeps tossing me bones… and lately, I just keep tossing them right back.

I walked to my meditation spot—a path of rough rocks that crosses the creek into the heart of the forest—and began to move through my own blend of yoga, tai chi, and freeform movement. The moment was almost surreal: I stood on a rock as the creek water flowed steadily toward me, carrying delicate white petals that had just fallen like soft rain from the blossoms above. The sunlight filtered gently through the trees, casting gold onto the water, the rocks, and my skin.

As I moved through different poses, absorbing the warmth of the sun, I felt my body start to activate. My feet grounded, my spine aligned, and my energy began to sync with the Earth’s. Then, without thinking, I started to leap from one rock to another—running, jumping, laughing. My body came back to life. My wild, primal self came back online.

Just as I was silently thanking the Universe for that moment, a yellow swallowtail butterfly danced above me, fluttering from tree to tree. Then I heard a sudden rustle to my left—a sound that reminded me of my cats chasing each other. I turned quickly and caught sight of two bunnies frozen in place, one of them curiously sniffing my backpack.

Lately, it feels like the spirit of the rabbit has been gently but persistently hopping into my path. Over the last two years, I’ve seen them show up again and again—whether in dreams, during meditations, or in real life, like they did that day. And I no longer want to ignore it. The rabbit, as a spirit animal, is a powerful symbol of rebirth, intuition, fertility, and gentleness. It reminds us to be still yet alert, soft yet brave, and to move with both curiosity and trust through the unknown.

After meditating by the creek, I started to make my trek back home - though since I went through paths I've never seen before, I did get lost along the way, and walked further down the forest while zig-zagging across the creek to find a familiar area. Once I finally made it out of the forest, I found myself at a bridge overlooking the creek and forest, surrounded by the forest trees. The golden rays of the setting sun pierced through the many layers of leaves, casting a mesmerizing tapestry of light and shadow all around me.

I stood there, absorbing the rays of the sun, gently holding on to a tree branch, while listening to the leaves rustle in the wind. I took the moment to commune with the trees and earth around me, to say thank you for the beauty that surrounds us, the magic that we tend to take for granted. I thanked Mother Earth for supporting us in ways we don't always see, and listening to our prayers even though we may be praying to differnent deities in different languages - because in the end, all our prayers go back to the Earth for Her to listen.

These little adventures—walking through forests, meditating by the water, connecting with strangers, animals, and spirit—have reawakened something deep inside me. I feel like I’m coming back to myself, remembering the joy and wisdom that exists when I’m fully grounded in nature. This is the version of me I want to share with the world. This is the magic I want to pass down—especially to children—so they know how to listen to the earth, to feel their own aliveness, and to remember that we are all part of something much greater than we’ve been taught.

🌿 Your Turn to Live the Ghibli Life 🌿

You don’t need a plane ticket to enter a world of wonder—sometimes, it’s just one mindful step outside your door.

Here are a few prompts to help you embark on your own Studio Ghibli-style adventure:

✨ 1. Follow your curiosity. Let your feet guide you without a destination. Where do you end up? Who or what do you meet?

🦋 2. Spend a full afternoon in nature without technology. Just observe. The sounds, the smells, the textures. What animals or signs show up for you?

🌬️ 3. Listen to the wind. What might it be whispering to you today?

🐾 4. Notice the small, magical moments. A butterfly that pauses near you, a stranger offering kindness, an animal crossing your path—what do these moments stir in you?

🌕 5. Reflect: What spirit animal or symbol has been following you lately? What might it be trying to teach you?

Let your next walk, park visit, or quiet moment outside be a doorway into your own enchanted story. ✨Until next time, sweet Muse, may you follow your intuition towards the magic that the Universe has in store for you!

xoxox

One Love Always💞