Something a little bit more personal for this lovely Tuesday evening. 

A few years ago I read a book called Brida by Paulo Coelho.  Something in that book really stuck with me - and that was a little theory on soul mates.

Now you must know - I consider myself quite a romantic (I blush in a BIG way!), but have never really been a believer in 'soul mates' or a 'one true love'.  There are many many wonderful people in the world and a few I have been lucky enough to meet.  Some have left a real impression on my soul and allowed me to feel more whole - and this is my experience of a soul mate.  I can only hope that I continue to cross more beautiful souls on my journey of life...allowing me to feel more connected to the Universe and myself.

From Brida:

'We are eternal because we are all manifestations of God,' Wicca said.  'That is why we go through many lives and deaths, emerging out of some unknown place and going towards another equally unknown place.  You must get used to the fact that there are many things in magic which are not and never will be explained.  God decided to do certain things in a certain way and why He did this is a secret known only to Him.'

'The Dark Night of Faith,' thought Brida.  So it existed in the Tradition of the Moon as well.

'The fact is that when this happens,' Wicca went on.  'And when people think of reincarnation, they always come up against a very difficult question: if, in the beginning, there were so few people on the face of the Earth, and now there are so many, where did all those new souls come from?'

Brida held her breath.  She had asked herself this question many times.

'The answer is simple,' said Wicca, after pausing to savour the young girl's eager silence.  'In certain reincarnations, we divide into two.  Our souls divide as do crystals and stars, cells and plants.'

'Our soul divides in two, and those new souls are in turn transformed into two and so, within a few generations, we are scattered over a large part of Earth.'

'And does only one of those parts know who it is?' asked Brida.  She had many questions to ask, but she wanted to ask them one at a time, and this seemed the most important.  

'We form part of what the alchemists call the Anima Mundi, the Soul of the World,' said Wicca, without replying to the question.  'The truth is that if the Anima Mundi were merely to keep dividing, it would keep growing, but it would also become gradually weaker.  That is why, as well as dividing into two, we also find ourselves.  And that process of finding ourselves is called Love.  Because when a soul divides, it always divides into a male part and a female part.'

'That's how the book of Genesis explains it: the soul of Adam was split in two, and Eve was born out of him.'

Wicca stopped suddenly and sat looking at the cards scattered on the table.

'There are many cards,' she said, 'but they're all part of the same deck.  In order to understand their message, we need them all, all are equally important.  So it is with souls.  Human beings are all interlinked, like the cards in this deck.

'In each life, we feel a mysterious obligation to find at least one of these Soulmates.  the Greater Love that separated them feels pleased with the Love that brings them together again.'

'But how will I know who my Soulmate is?' Brida felt that this was one of the most important questions she had ever asked in her life.
 
I chanced upon this cute little beach spot while looking for a bonfire that my friends where meant to have been at.  I didn't find the bonfire, but was thrilled to find a new location. Yippee! 

Congrats to Shiksha and Pravesen on their engagement. Thank you for putting up with that sneaky sea breeze...I know it crept naughtily up your skirt a few times Shiksha. You were very patient. :) 
 
Clint and Tracey got married at the cutest little chapel at Champagne Sports Resort - which was followed by a reception at the Dragon Peaks resort in the Midlands.  WOW - the Autumn leaves.  We just don't get them down here on the coast.  What inspiration!

Everything about this day was chilled. Clint shaved outside at his camp site after writing his speech.  Tracey did her own make up while her Mother-in-law worked on her hair.  The wedding march was left at the tent, the best man's shoes were left in Durban - yet no one fretted!!

Clint and Tracey and their two beautiful children were an absolute pleasure to photograph and 'hang out' with.  Thanks for the breakfast the other day you two.  It was a lovely treat and so enjoyable watching you struggle with which pics to feature in your Book. :)
 
If you were asked to rate your stress level right now out of 5 (5 being the ‘I-want-to-curl-up-in-a-ball-and-die’ kind of stress) what would you say??

Yesterday I was treated to a facial, and the beautician started my session with a questionnaire.  I ticked the stress level box a 2 out of 5.  She looked up at me and said ‘Really?!’

According to my beautician, NO ONE ever ticks lower than 4.  This is BIZARRE! What are you people doing with your lives??? Life is hard, and a recently read article told me that South Africans have it even harder given our political situation, crime rate, unemployment levels etc. But I refuse to be a victim.

I work hard, I make sacrifices for my clients and I aim to deliver more than I promise.  I am in the developing stages of my career and I know that the moves I make now count.  BUT I also drink a lot of coffee and laugh with children and greet people on the road and watch movies alone and dance wildly and cry to soulful music – and it’s a full wonderful life!  

Something I plan not to change.

 
Now HOW gorgeous are these kids?? 

While editing the Cadman's photos over a cup of coffee at Vida, I found my laughter uncontrollable as Jack peered at me from my Macbook. "Derryn, you better be putting your heart and soul into these photos - we are after all, the cutest children in Durban!!" 

This was such an enjoyable shoot that we went over time to 1.5 hours. I couldn't believe that I still had Holly's attention after all the running, singing and fairy searching I had her do. What a little champion!!