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.
My Cup Runneth Over
Forest Church: Stillness is a Mirror for the Soul
"If what a tree or a bush does is lost on you, you are surely lost. Stand still. The forest knows Where you are. You must let it find you." —David Wagoner
Julian of Norwich: The Mystic Who Saw Love at the Center of It All
Julian of Norwich—a voice of profound hope, sacred vision, and tender intimacy with God.
Hildegard of Bingen: The Mystic Who Sang the Cosmos Awake
Hildegard of Bingen—the fierce visionary and endlessly creative.
Dreams Do Come True
This impromptu ceremony transcended language barriers (thanks to my translator) and culminated in a collective “surrender” water altar and blessing done in the natural pools—all of it in honor of the Sacred Feminine embodied by Mary Magdalene and experienced through water. I feel so blessed to have the opportunity to share and receive a timely reminder that dreams really do come true, sometimes in the most unexpected ways.
Mary Magdalene: Apostle to The Apostles
Janzu: A Rebirth
At its core, Janzu is a somatic journey: the facilitator cradles the receiver in body-temp water, guiding slow, rhythmic movements that coax the brain into deep Theta relaxation—a gateway to releasing stress, trauma, and emotional blockages while reawakening cellular memory and primal consciousness. This practice—often dubbed "rebirth therapy"—invites participants to revisit birth-like thresholds, fostering reconnection with the body and the Self.
Clare of Assisi: The Mystic of Radical Simplicity and Fierce Love
Clare of Assisi—the quiet strength and holy devotion of a woman who renounced the world to fall completely into the arms of God.
Margery Kempe: The Mystic Who Refused to Stay Silent
Margery Kempe’s story echoes through the centuries, especially for modern women who feel the pull to more. More intimacy with God. More honesty in their spiritual walk. More embodiment of their faith—unapologetically emotional, deeply sensory, and uncontainably alive.
To Travel is To Live - Day 5
Mexico City - On Friday afternoon, my local friend, Alac, took me to visit the Museo Nacional de Antropología and the Museo de Arte Moderno. I loved learning more about the Teotihuacan pyramids and the history of Mexico through their art.
To Travel is To Live - Day 4
CDMX Day 4 - If you’ve been following me on my adventures through the wilderness, you already know how much I love aguas termales (hot springs). Hands down, Grutas Tolantongo has been my favorite, even more than the Blue Lagoon in Iceland (which was also incredible)!
To Travel is To Live - Day 2
CDMX Day 2 - After a 3 a.m. wakeup, I ventured north to watch the sunrise over the pyramids of Teotihuacan from a hot air balloon. This ancient Mesoamerican city, Teotihuacan, is home to many of the most architecturally significant pyramids in the pre-Columbian Americas, the Pyramid of the Sun and the Pyramid of the Moon. This city predates the Aztec empire by centuries!
To Travel is To Live - Day 1
CDMX Day 1 - Over dinner, we were discussing my guide’s newly authored and translated book. We connected over our shared understanding that perception is our reality. In learning about modern neuroscience, I’ve come to understand that there is no single reality—our brains create a unique reality for each of us. Meaning, our individual experiences, perspectives, and beliefs shape how we perceive and interpret the world around us, rather than viewing things objectively.
Teresa of Ávila: The Mystic Who Made Prayer a Palace
Teresa of Ávila—Carmelite reformer, contemplative firebrand, and one of Christianity’s most beloved mystics.
Radical Community
Marguerite Porete: The Mystic Who Loved Beyond the Bounds
Marguerite Porete—Challenges us to trust Love with everything.
Hadewijch of Brabant: The Mystic Who Loved Without Measure
Hadewijch of Brabant—a mystic whose words still echo for the spiritually curious and creatively awakened women of Loto today.
Mechthild of Magdeburg: The Mystic Who Dared to Burn with Love
Mechthild of Magdeburg—a luminous, poetic voice of divine longing and holy boldness.
The Beguines: The Forgotten Women Who Lived a Life Set Apart
An invitation into the sacred lives of the Beguines, medieval and early Christian mystics—women who encountered the Living God through visions, ecstasies, suffering, and writing. Honoring their courage as women—often lay, often silenced—who listened to God and lived mysticism as a radical act of faith.
Test Me and See
This got me thinking about Joshua leading the Israelites into the promised land—conquering the walls of Jericho, not through weapons and might, but through trust and obedience. God had promised them a victory. They were to “fight” not for victory but from a place of victory. I was reminded that, as children of the One True King, we don’t have a battle to win; we have a victory to claim through faith.
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.