In this conversation, Emma Simpson shares her journey from being an air traffic controller to becoming a writer. She discusses the healing power of open water swimming and how it led her to explore women's relationships with water globally. Emma reflects on the impact of grief in her life, particularly the loss of her brother, and how it shaped her writing. The discussion also touches on cultural perspectives on grief, the challenges of writing authentically, and the importance of community in t...
Mar 05, 2025•32 min
Words and imagery that encourage you to retreat to be kind to yourself, express yourself, find inner peace and become strong again. Taking your place in the world. Strong, calm and needed Margaret x Get full access to Quiet Moments at margaretsoraya.substack.com/subscribe
Feb 12, 2025•2 min
Debbie Hartmann shares the incredible stories of her photography projects that helped her mum as she was experiencing Parkinson's disease and Dementia and her friend with brain cancer. Debbie turned her creativity into positive, fun projects that lift both her and others during difficult times in a natural and intuitive way. Her enthusiasm for life and helping others is contagious. This episode is possibly one of the most heartwarming stories of humanity and love tied up in photography projects....
Jan 31, 2025•33 min
In this episode, I take a reflective winter walk in January's snowfall to share my thoughts on slowing down and the challenge of balancing that with content creation. Substack has given me one cohesive platform where I can share my writing, images, video and audio and that has helped me feel less overwhelmed. This episode is about my journey towards a more fulfilling, less pressured approach to sharing my life and work. And how that has brought about my concept of visual meditations. If you’d li...
Jan 17, 2025•13 min
Dear readers, I hope you enjoy this meditation, which I wrote while thinking about a time of year when there can be many pressures. It is accompanied by a video from my home in Harris, and the music was a commissioned piece by Will Collant. Sending love, Margaret Get full access to Quiet Moments at margaretsoraya.substack.com/subscribe
Dec 21, 2024•2 min
Send us a text A. S. Apothecary is a crofting enterprise based on the Isle of Harris. Their work is deeply rooted in the ethos of therapeutic plant work. Join Margaret as she talks to Amanda who is the founder, plantswoman and gatherer, distiller and creative force behind A.S Apothecary. This chat gently guides you through the process of how they cultivate a diverse range of therapeutic plants on their croft organically. They grown lush plants on the croft and in a huge greenhouse which 'meander...
Aug 29, 2024•29 min
Send us a text Dr Marie-Lise Schlappy joins me to chat about HSP's ( Highly Sensitive Persons.) HSP, is a term coined by psychologist Elaine Aron who has written several books on the subject. You can find more on her website https://hsperson.com/ We chat about how the traits are different to introversion, but a large proportion of introverts are HSP's Sign up to the next Creative Light Festival here: https://creative-light.co.uk/ Sign up to my newsletter to hear first about new retreats: Follow ...
Aug 17, 2024•37 min
Send us a text A solo episode from Margaret recorded out by the water with bird sounds in the background. Living more slowly and in tune with nature and how silence and nature sounds help soothe the nervous system. Cooking and baking and other creative activities that help slow down and live better. Documenting the wildlife and flowers that surrounds me in a small area around my house. Why creativity is important - it gives you the tools for coping and releasing emotions during difficult times i...
Jun 28, 2024•16 min
Send us a text In this conversation, Margaret Soraya interviews Bill Ward about his approach to photography, specifically his use of intentional camera movement (ICM) and his connection to water. They discuss the importance of being open and generous in the photography community, as well as the role of movement in both acting and photography. Bill explains how movement is central to his photography and how intentional camera movement allows him to add his own unique touch to his images. They als...
Jun 12, 2024•57 min
Send us a text Out on the kayak on the Isle of Harris, Margaret shares her thoughts along with the sounds of the birds and the water all around. Immerse into the peace and quiet of the early morning on the island with Margaret. Margaret shares thoughts about overwhelm and how to narrow down which channels to use for yourself. A comment on Neale James' recent podcast with Sean Tucker where they chat about overthinking and how to learn to listen to your own intuition and not be distracted by wheth...
May 09, 2024•18 min
Send us a text Listen in to Margaret as she shares her thoughts on this period of rest, regeneration, and self-compassion that she has been practicing recently. She covers numerous topics and, in her own unique way, explains how she has consciously slowed her life down, prioritizing rest recuperation and meditation, which she instinctively knows is needed for her well-being. Sometimes, that space to breathe and not to be doing, reading and mindful activities can really spark creativity and thoug...
Apr 26, 2024•16 min
Join Margaret whilst she chats with Laurence Winram, a professional photographer from Aberdeen and now based in Edinburgh. It's fascinating to hear how he balances his diverse commercial and unusual creative work. Laurence describes in detail how he creates his beautiful land art At these times, he is embracing the moment, whilst practising gratitude and mindfulness. He loves the connection to nature. He creates his design, takes the image and within hours the scene can degrade and be returned t...
Apr 05, 2024•35 min
Send us a text Join Margaret as she introduces us to some sounds, thoughts and feelings she experienced during her recent trip to Kerala, India. Since 2016, she has regularly headed to India for Ayurvedic treatments and the time felt right for her to return this March . She explains how her time there helped with ongoing feelings of grief, gave her space to write and to think and, as always, use creativity as an outlet. A calming, thoughtful reflection of her time at this retreat. Sign up to the...
Mar 23, 2024•18 min
Anni Townend is a Leadership Partner, Coach and Mentor to Executive Teams and Senior Leaders, as well as being an Author, Facilitator, and Entrepreneur and Podcast Host of Leaders in Conversation with Anni Townend.Join Margaret as they talk about the benefits of walking and talking. Anni explains that walking is one of the ways in which she renews herself and this has always been a criteria for her when deciding where she lives.They further explore the equation of creativity, collaboration and c...
Mar 04, 2024•40 min
Send us a Text Message. Listen in to Margaret explain how she is navigating the various stages of grief she is experiencing. As always she instinctively turns to creativity and nature, whilst at all times listening to what her body needs, tuning in to what makes her feel better. Sign up to the next Creative Light Festival here: https://creative-light.co.uk/ Sign up to my newsletter to hear first about new retreats: Follow me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/margaretsoraya/ Join my online ...
Feb 03, 2024•9 min
Send us a text Thoughts around self-care and well-being at Christmas - a solo episode with Margaret Sign up to the next Creative Light Festival here: https://creative-light.co.uk/ Sign up to my newsletter to hear first about new retreats: Follow me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/margaretsoraya/ Join my online Creative Haven community : https://creative-haven.newzenler.com Get full access to Quiet Moments at margaretsoraya.substack.com/subscribe...
Dec 23, 2023•9 min
Send us a text A roundup of the Creative Light Festival, its speakers, masterclasses, and activities. Snippets from Christina Golian's 'Spark Your Creativity' masterclass, an extract from Lisa Paulson and an exciting announcement about future festival dates that you can look forward to - the 2024 event at Broughton Sanctuary and a community-focused 2025 event in Harris. You can see details of the new festivals here Sign up to the next Creative Light Festival here: https://creative-light.co.uk/ S...
Dec 08, 2023•20 min
Send us a text Join Margaret as she shares her thoughts whilst navigating an emotional and overwhelming time in her life. She expresses her gratitude for the many acts of kindness she has received and, as always for her, how her art is instrumental in helping her cope. You can see Broughton Santuary here And see details for Creative light at Broughton here Sign up to the next Creative Light Festival here: https://creative-light.co.uk/ Sign up to my newsletter to hear first about new retreats: Fo...
Nov 28, 2023•18 min
Send us a text I am talking with the amazing Joe Cornish, a landscape photographer known for his woodland images at this years creative light festival. Joe gave a talk and led some outdoor workshops during the festival and it was his spirit of kindness and generosity that really grabbed me. We also talk about how community and connection can inspire and influence our creative process, a concept embodied at the Creative Light Festival. Talking through the importance of gratitude and generosity in...
Nov 10, 2023•12 min
Send us a text This episode features Elizabeth Hockney, a part-time doctor, whose passion for photography has added colour and vibrancy to her life. She shares her journey to creating more abstract and painterly images. Elizabeth talks about the importance of finding a group of like-minded people - your tribe - to share and grow with, Sign up to the next Creative Light Festival here: https://creative-light.co.uk/ Sign up to my newsletter to hear first about new retreats: Follow me on Instagram: ...
Oct 30, 2023•23 min
Send us a text A solo episode around the idea of making mistakes and moving on rather than dwelling. Why we beat ourselves up about the small things. Then onto a recording made at home in Harris in front of the fire where I speak about taking the pressure off and how taking small steps in your creative time can lead to happier and more joyous moments. Sign up to the next Creative Light Festival here: https://creative-light.co.uk/ Sign up to my newsletter to hear first about new retreats: Follow ...
Oct 01, 2023•11 min
Leadership and life coach, Kate Jones chats with me on this weeks podcast. We explore the value of seeking out support, and not just when you’re in crisis. Coaching and mentoring aren’t just for therapy, but can be the guidance you need to create something new in your life. Sharing personal experiences, we shed light on the differences between therapy and coaching, and the importance of finding the right mentors. Trusting the process of change and transformation can be challenging, but it’s a cr...
Sep 15, 2023•36 min
Recorded on the beach with the backdrop of crashing waves, I wanted to talk about comparing our progress with others and feeling inadequate with how much we are doing. And It's okay to not be doing as much as others. We all have different lives, commitments, and work paces. The important thing is taking small steps forward. Get full access to Quiet Moments at margaretsoraya.substack.com/subscribe...
Sep 02, 2023•5 min
Send us a text A solo mini episode about my passion for creativity and how it has not just shaped my life, but also become a cornerstone in my family's ethos. I discuss my own creative pursuits - painting, writing a book, and managing this podcast, each laden with its share of self-doubt and perseverance. I chat about " How far have you come" and Morgan Harper Nichols' empathetic poems. Sign up to the next Creative Light Festival here: https://creative-light.co.uk/ Sign up to my newsletter to he...
Aug 27, 2023•9 min
Eric Heimon is a talented music and sound producer, and we chat about the reality of pursuing a creative profession. His transition from performing musician to a successful freelance composer and producer is not only inspiring but is also filled with practical advice. He discusses the balancing act between creative expression and earning a living, and why he prefers commissioning custom music pieces over generic ones.Eric's journey is a tale of unlearning and discovering joy in new creative aven...
Aug 18, 2023•1 hr 12 min
Send us a Text Message. After a recent workshop led by Kate Jones from Neon Living in my Creative Haven community, I wanted to share some of my own thoughts on how I work with my own inner critic. Join me on an early morning walk on the Outer Hebrides with Skye my whippet, as I talk about whats happening in my life at the moment as well as how I cope with my inner critic! Sign up to the next Creative Light Festival here: https://creative-light.co.uk/ Sign up to my newsletter to hear first about ...
Aug 11, 2023•10 min
Send us a text Join me as I chat with Adele and Max Warner Tate about making YouTube videos. We discuss how creating video content for personal enjoyment can help overcome the intimidation of public critique. We talk about of working with a partner,and how this eases the workload. Talking through why there arent more females on YouTube. Talking about time constraints and the delicate balancing act between personal and professional commitments. Tune in for our tips on carving out space for passio...
Aug 04, 2023•29 min
Send us a text From the depths of self-reflection to the height of imagination, I recount my recent struggles and triumphs in this episode. An in-water photography exhibition, my new book "Within Hebridean Seas," and the upcoming Creative Light Festival in Scotland. Plus, I've got some exciting news on an offer from Creative Haven to help you find your voice. On location on the Isle of Hoy, I talk about insights from Deepak Chopra , helping us to focus on our purposes, passions, and gratitude. A...
Jul 13, 2023•13 min
Send us a text Listen in to hear Margaret reflect upon her inspiring day which began with a chat with Claire Walsh for next week's upcoming podcast, moved on to a photography teaching session with the delightful Keela and culminated in some evening beach down time and swim. Chatting about what she learned from both experiences, Margaret gives an insight into her life, health and battles. An incredible free spirit, Claire explained that to create freely, you must create for yourself alone. Powerf...
Jul 07, 2023•9 min
Send us a text Being alone often fosters my most innovative thoughts and it's a necessity for me to spend some quiet time each morning, letting my mind wander and create. However, creativity isn't just about enjoying solitude, it's about finding the right balance of alone time and meaningful interactions. Engaging in deep, thought-provoking conversations, whether it's during my podcast interviews or within my online community, can also spark a wave of creative ideas. It's not uncommon for you to...
Jun 29, 2023•19 min
