Stories
Sommer's story: painting myself free
Sommer had not painted for many years. After her first retreat at The Magic Garden she picked up a brush again, and the watercolour here is what came of it. She took part in two retreats. Here she tells you herself what it was like to be met, what the music did, and how things from the garden found their way into the picture.
Being met
Sommer's own words
Describing The Magic Garden in words feels almost impossible, because the experience is not only something you think about – it is something you feel. My time with Jacob, Ecaterina, and the beautiful souls who hold the space at The Magic Garden has stayed with me in a very deep and meaningful way.
I felt so warmly welcomed, so gently supported, and so sincerely met. The care, presence, and dedication in the space touched me profoundly. It felt like a place where I could fully arrive, exhale, and reconnect with something essential within myself.
Picking up the brush again
Sommer's own words
After my first journey in the Roundhall, something quietly began to awaken in me. I picked up a paintbrush again after many years without painting or completing anything creative. Finishing this watercolour felt like a small miracle and a personal victory at the same time. The painting came through intuition – only the mother and child were sketched beforehand. Everything else unfolded through colour, trust, and surrender to the process.
The mother and child represent a deep and universal love – the love that nurtures, protects, and connects. There is also the blood moon and the woman in her cycle, descending into the sea of feeling and reuniting with nature and her own strength.
The music in the room
Sommer's own words
The live music during the journey was extraordinary. It felt alive, listening, and deeply attuned to the atmosphere in the room. The music moved with both the tender and the intense moments, holding them with sensitivity and presence. For me, it became an essential part of the experience.
The garden in the picture
Sommer's own words
The inspiration for the artwork came directly from The Magic Garden. The ivy, the grapes, the plants, and the moth – all elements that feel woven into the garden's unique spirit – found their way into the painting. I felt surrounded by their beauty and allowed them to speak through my brushstrokes. It was as if the garden itself was quietly participating in the creative process. They reminded me of how deeply connected we are to nature, and how much strength lives in quiet, organic life.
A thank you
Sommer's own words
Today, I feel as though I have painted something free within myself. For me, this artwork is a thank you – for the music, the support, and the experience of returning to something true within. It moves me deeply.
If you feel drawn to experience The Magic Garden for yourself, I can only say that it is a truly special place to encounter music, presence, and connection.
With loveSommer Andersen