Welcome back to Nomad podcast. I'm Anna Robinson and it's my pleasure to introduce this more

devotional style episode. We've invited a guest to share some thoughts and then I have drawn on

their words and created some time of reflection and guided meditation. So I invite you into a bit of slowing down, a bit of

contemplation, a bit of noticing what lands, and perhaps what's bringing life. We have the wonderful

artist, writer, spiritual director and practical theologian Vanessa Chamberlain sharing her experiences and her work around spirituality

and theology of the land and landscape and helping us to explore connection and relationship

to the land that we live, work and walk on. You can find out more about Vanessa's creative work

at Vanessachamplin.co.uk and her spiritual

directing at rockdove.org.org. Now, the music for this devotional episode has been written and

produced by John Bilbara, known musically as Wilderthorn. In order to connect more deeply with Vanessa's words, John traveled

with his recording gear to one of the places mentioned in her story, a retreat center called

the Royal Foundation of St. Catherine. There he recorded the vocals and sounds that you are about to hear

as a way of musically exploring our

relationship to the land. John has also included a field recording sent over by Mike Gordon from the

Holy Island of Iona, which is another place of significance in Vanessa's story. You can find a whole

wealth of Wilderthorn's music on his YouTube channel and follow news of his

performances on his Instagram.

Now getting to know many of the beloved listeners over the last few years through my work,

I know a lot of you like me listen to podcasts while doing other things, walking, driving,

washing up, running. But I just want you to be aware that other things, walking, driving, washing up, running.

But I just want you to be aware that this episode, the first half, is going to be Vanessa,

sharing fascinating insights, thoughts and theology.

...