Loto Journal
Through personal storytelling and letter writing, follow our Founder, Jennifer Axcell, as she travels the 🌎 globe as a digital nomad and Desert Mother, exploring Consciousness, rest, and Self-care.
Including thoughtfully created blog content about somatic healing practices, nervous system regulation techniques, and contemplative practices, Loto Wellness Collective’s blog focuses on the art and science of rest and renewal, drawing inspiration from Christian mystics, monastic wisdom, modern neuroscience, and depth psychology.
Reader’s Note: In an attempt to bring a conscious sense of responsibility to our language (where inclusivity and equality matter), in our Loto Wellness Collective blog content, except for direct quotes, the pronouns often used for God are They/Them in reference to I AM. When referring to Jesus specifically, the pronouns He/Him are used. Also, we have taken the liberty of capitalizing the term “True Self” so you will know that we are not referring to the “false self” (psychological egoic self), but the foundational self that we are in God.
Come Back to Your First Love
I was asked recently how I choose the places I stay in (ie- the expat commune in San Miguel) Like when I was dating, I have a list of “Must-Haves,” “Nice-to-Haves,” and “Red Flags.” And on the “Must-Haves” list is walkable access to nature. In addition to an oven, private bath, fast WiFi, outdoor space I can work from, and access to a market, I have to be able to walk into an open space of some kind for my afternoon dates with God (literally scheduled on my calendar that way).
Love is a Person
I truly believe that the greatest legacy we leave behind is how we demonstrate love for God, ourselves, and others. In Mark 12:30, Jesus tells us that the greatest commandment is to love God with all of our soul, mind, and strength (Love is the connective thread through the mind-body-spirit connection). So learning to demonstrate love begins with our ability to love (and be loved) by God.
Poetry of Love: Rediscovering The Song of Songs
God has a heart of Love for all of us and longs for our hearts in return, and this can be found all across the Scriptures. While the Psalms are probably more familiar to you, have you ever read the Song of Songs (also known as the Song of Solomon)? There are multiple ways to interpret this book in the Old Testament, and because of its erotic and sensual language, you won’t often hear it being preached from the pulpit—So much so that new priests are sometimes banned from even reading the book.
Practicing The Way of Love
I want to inspire you to create your own practice of The Way by embracing the power of these spiritual disciplines: silence and solitude, Sabbath, simplicity, and stillness. Reimagine your quiet time with God and create a lifestyle of rest and refilling, where intimacy can thrive and you can flourish.
Cortisol Overload: 5 Signs of Elevated Stress Hormones and How to Detox Your Mind, Body, and Spirit
It’s easy to dismiss stress as just another part of life, but when it lingers too long, it begins to reshape not just our emotions but also our bodies. The hormone cortisol plays a significant role in how we respond to stress, regulating energy, metabolism, and immune function. However, when stress becomes chronic, excess cortisol can lead to physical and emotional imbalances—showing up in ways we might not even recognize at first.
Imposter Syndrome and Hurry
The Sensate: Encountering God Through the Senses
For Sensates, aesthetics are not mere ornamentation; they are conduits to God’s presence. The aroma of anointing oil recalls the sacred rituals of old, a piece of sacred music can move the heart to weep, a stained-glass window drenched in morning light can speak of resurrection without a single word. The physical world, rather than distracting from God, becomes the very means through which He is experienced.
Moving Slowly
A Transcendent Experience at The Feuerle Collection 🇩🇪
Goodbye, London
Beauty That Heals: My Journey with Creative Prayer and Art Therapy 🎨
Looking Back: Gratitude for 2024
Bucket List
Immanuel, God IN Us
The “Ick”: Somatic Warning Signs from the Subconscious Mind
Ever feel like a day/week/month/year goes by you so fast that you can't believe it (or remember it)? Often wonder, "Where did the time go?" If so, please allow me to introduce you to what I call auto-pilot sleepwalking.
Walking in The Way of Jesus: The Desert Mothers and Fathers
The Desert Fathers and Mothers were early Christian mystics and ascetics in the 4th and 5th centuries AD, who lived in the deserts of Egypt, Palestine, Syria, and Arabia, renouncing the world to follow God's call. “Desert Mother” is a feminist theological neologism that compares these women to the Desert Fathers.
Advent 2024
Letting Go of Resolutions: Choosing a "Word of the Year"
Every January, the pressure to craft a list of task-based New Year’s resolutions can feel both obligatory and overwhelming. The excitement of a fresh start often gives way to the guilt of unmet goals by mid-February (click here to learn why your New Year’s resolution to join the gym is doomed to fail). What if this year, instead of striving for perfection through task-based resolutions, you chose a gentler, more meaningful approach to guide your year?
Looking Ahead to 2025
A Thanksgiving Note
Contributors & Collaborators
Loto Living and Loto Journal, would not be possible without the ongoing support and generous contributions from an incredible team of writers, artists, healers, editors, creatives, and pastors.