Loto Journal
Including thoughtfully created blog content about somatic healing practices, nervous system self-regulation techniques, and faith-based spiritual practices, Loto Wellness Collective’s blog focuses on the art and science of rest and renewal, drawing inspiration from the life of Jesus, monastic wisdom, and modern science.
Through personal storytelling and letter writing, follow our Founder, Jennifer Axcell, as she travels the 🌎 globe as a digital nomad and Desert Mother, exploring cultural expressions of rest and self-care.
Reader’s Note: In the Loto Wellness Collective blog content, except for direct quotes, the pronouns often used for the One True God are They/Them in reference to the triune personhood of YHWH. When referencing Jesus specifically, the pronouns He/Him are used. In keeping with the canonical New Testament, God is also referred to as Father.
Easter Adventures
Sharing My Joy
Enjoying the Moment
Vacation
Your Digital Nomad Questions Answered
As a digital nomad, I get asked the same questions often: (1) What do I do professionally that allows me to travel so much? (2) How can I afford to travel so much? (3) What do I pack? (4) and Do I ever get lonely traveling alone?
If you’ve ever wondered these questions, you’re in luck because I will try to answer them in this week’s love letter.
Digital Detox
A Weapon Against Burnout
Chronic stress is the fast track to burnout. Our body's autonomic nervous system (ANS) is constantly scanning our internal and exterior environments for signals of "safety" or "unsafety" and sends chemical messages through the body in response. As a survival mechanism, when this unconscious system perceives a threat (stress), it activates our sympathetic nervous system through chemical/hormonal signals that move us into a state of fight/flight/freeze/fawn.
Scheduling Rest
I learned the hard way that not scheduling rest into my days, especially a weekly Sabbath practice, means my workload (and idol of self-reliance) will take over and lead me right back into burnout. I’ve been there too many times, and out of necessity and the Spirit’s persistence, Jesus and I have been cultivating a lifestyle that prioritizes rest over the last 5 years.
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
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.