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Serpent in a fig tree. Roman fresco, Pompeii, circa. 1st Century BCE

Then again, if it's love you're after, or love you have lost, come to the fig, 
always the fig.

— Elif Shafak (2021) The Island of Missing Trees

Hello and welcome. 

It is a bright and crisp autumnal morning and I am in Paris. The cafe where I write is nestled into a cobble stoned street and the dappled light of a chestnut tree ripples over my table, reaching towards me like a dream. I’m reminded of Rumi when he writes ما تبحث عنه يبحث عنك — loosely translated from the Farsi as, “that which you seek is seeking you.”

It is from this place, amongst ripples and shadow, that I begin Under a Fig Tree, my Substack. This will be an archive of my essays, poems, independent research, stories, and reflections that I hope will embroider your heart as they do mine. 

I share two kinds of writing here:

• A free monthly essay + audio recording on the first Sunday of the month

• And for the paid community, weekly Sunday essays with audio recordings

This is the main archive of my work and a platform for all my new writings sent directly to your inbox.

What You’ll Find Here:

• Essays, poetry, and stories

• Field notes from my research of ancient spiritual traditions

• Guided practices and dreamwork prompts

• Invitations to live gatherings, guided rituals, and seasonal events

• Q&A Column to deepen into the themes explored here — see The Ochre Papers

• Letters and more personal reflections on the creative process and the path of sacred work

All my work is reader-funded, so a very special thanks to subscribers who pay for my publication! 

I hope you will consider joining me here.

With every good and fruitful wish to you and yours,

Gabriela

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La Seine, Paris, October 2022

To find out more about this publication, you can read more on the About tab.