Barnacle Babes Magazine Vol 4 Issue 1 - The Ocean Photography Issue

Warrior Women of the Sea Connection | Conservation | Community

PADDLING

WITH GIANTS

Inspired CREATIVITY

HAMMERHEAD

Haven Vol. 4/No.1

Ocean

PHOTOGRAPHY

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Editorial Welcome to our Ocean Photography Issue! e! For me it’s all about the “creatives”.

Photographers are some of my most favourite peopl moment and capture the essence of the It takes a special skill to see the lines, recognize the model. I am in awe! g, of touching, of loving. What you have Aaron Siskind said, “Photography is a way of feelin things, long after you have forgotten caught on film is captured forever… It remembers little everything.” our special moments. It shows us our Indeed, it does! We remember our past, our loved ones, kind to ourselves and learn to see what vulnerabilities, it teaches us to love ourselves (or be wins, losses, and so much more! others see in us). It captures pain, love, joy, excitement, of her lens, and if she is compassion“If the photographer is interested in the people in front a but the photographer.” — Eve Arnold ate, it’s already a lot. The instrument is not the camer graphy Issue” are certainly compasThe female photographers featured in our “Ocean Photo subjects but also the greatest of subjects, sionate, change makers dedicated to not only their the ocean. ual connection and it’s my reason for Women have a special connection to the ocean, a spirit to be able to have these amazing women having started this magazine. I am beyond grateful showcase women within this beautiful share with us their stories and their photographs that element. nts captured in the ocean, send them to us What have been some of your most amazing mome tely an image captured by the talented at info@barnaclebabes.com? One of mine was defini Kona swimming with a Spinner Dolphin.

Susan Knight (our featured photographer) of me in This was truly a magically moment…

grapher is aware of the tiny moments in a Just remember, “A tear contains an ocean. A photo s person's life that reveal greater truths.” — Anonymou With much love and appreciation, making waves,

Jodi Mossop

you’ve s, about the articles you’ve read, the people As always, I love to hear from you, our reader e in our next includ we’ll GREAT, them find we if and stories your encountered and we would also love to hear es.com upcoming issues. Send all emails to Jodi@barnaclebab

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MAR 3

VANCOUVER INTERNATIONAL MOUNTAIN FILM FESTIVAL

VIMFF.ORG

"This publication was printed on Sugar Sheet - a 100% tree-free paper, created from the residue waste fibre of sugar cane. Barnacle Babes has selected Sugar Sheet as its paper of choice in an effort to measurably reduce deforestation and CO2 emissions."

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PHOTO: JIM MARTINELLO

FEB 22

Content 14 18 32 40 46 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |

08 Beckoned by the Sea Sylvia Taylor

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Paddling with Giants Aya Kristina Engel

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Hammerhead Haven Jillian Morris-Brake

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18 Hawaii Calling Susan Knight

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Lessons from the Ocean Rachel Braun

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28 The Urge to Breathe Sarah Specker

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Inspired Creativity Bryanna Bradley

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36 Babes Against Bullshit

Jodi Mossop interview’s Teri Hofford

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Experience the Present Moment Rachel ‘Rosie’ Young

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46 The Ocean, My Subject

Meghan Ogilvie

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Salty Warriors

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Barnacle Babes Vancouver, BC, Canada JODI MOSSOP

Publisher | Editor | Content Curator jodi@barnaclebabes.com

IVETA LEKESOVA

Graphic/Layout Designer design@barnaclebabes.com

SYLVIA TAYLOR

Editor sylvia@barnaclebabes.com

CONTRIBUTORS AND PHOTOGRAPHERS SARAH SPECKER, MD MEDICAL DOCTOR, CONSERVATIONIST & WORLD TRAVELLING SURFER AYA KRISTINA ENGEL HERBALIST, ACROBAT, CIRCUS PERFORMER JILLIAN MORRIS-BRAKE SHARK CONSERVATIONIST, FOUNDER SHARKS4KIDS, MARINE BIOLOGIST, PHOTOGRAPHER AND AUTHOR WWW.SHARKS4KIDS.COM MEAGHAN OGILVIE ARTIST & UNDERWATER PHOTOGRAPHER WWW.MEAGHANOGILVIE.COM RACHEL BRAUND SOCIAL WORKER, WRITER, AND OUTDOOR ENTHUSIAST. RACHEL YOUNG COMMUNICATIONS, TRAVEL, EDUCATION, WRITING, DESIGN, YOGA, SOCIAL JUSTICE WWW.THERACHELLAURENYOUNG.COM SUSAN KNIGHT BIOLOGIST & UNDERWATER PHOTOGRAPHER WWW.SUSANKNIGHTSTUDIOS.COM SYLVIA TAYLOR FREELANCE WRITER, EDITOR, EDUCATOR, AND COMMUNICATIONS SPECIALIST WWW.SYLVIATAYLOR.COM JODI MOSSOP FOUNDER, PUBLISHER, PRODUCER, WRITER, BLOGGER, AND STORY CURATOR FOR BARNACLE BABES MAGAZINE BRYANNA BRADLEY PHOTOGRAPHER, SURF INSTRUCTOR, AND COLD WATER MERMAID WWW.BRYANNABRADLEY.CA

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COVER PHOTO: Meaghan Ogilvie

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The Barnacle Babes Magazine is an informative and inspirational digital and print magazine platform with interviews, stories, conservation efforts and more.

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Thank You

Featured Article Susan Knight Susan Knight is a biologist, underwater photographer, and curious explorer. She has been involved in guiding, writing and teaching about the natural world and how important it is for our health and mental wellness for over 20 years. She has had the opportunity to take people hiking, scuba diving, snorkeling and organize meditation retreats in many locations around the world. Susan once heard a co-worker remark about her, that she would get in the water with anything. It made her ponder if that might not be a good idea. And then realize, those are the moments she is living for. Her current favorites are anything ocean and Hawaii’s active volcanoes. www.susanknightstudios.com

Contributors

RACHEL BRAUND Rachel is an ocean lover who wears many hats including social worker, writer, and outdoor enthusiast. This has led Rachel to discover the inextricable link between social justice and environmentalism. Rachel spends as much time as possible soaking up salt water, learning the art of surfing, and connecting with people around the world, sharing human experiences and embracing differences.

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MEAGHAN OGILVIE Meaghan Ogilvie is a Canadian photographer that uses her work to inspire us to have a better connection with nature.

For the past ten years her focus has been on water - collaborating on water conservation and personal projects around the world. She aims to travel to some of the most remote areas to help build a greater understanding of our responsibility to the earth.

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AYA KRISTINA ENGEL Aya Kristina Engel is passionate about everything in the water- from seaweed harvesting, to conversation awareness, paddle boarding, kitesurfing, diving -you name it! She is a Master Herbalist, and a professional acrobat, performing in circus productions. She currently lives in Vancouver BC and is pursuing her passion for alternative health care and studying Acupuncture.

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Beckoned by the Sea: Women at Work on the Cascadia Coast

Author: Sylvia Taylor Released: 2017 Publisher: Heritage House Publishing, Victoria, BC

“The sea is the Great Mother of the world. From her depths came the life that fills the earth and skies. Her house holds the highest mountains, the deepest valleys, the broadest plains, and to this day, much of the world’s life, and most of its water. She is still in charge, conjuring climate and weather and even the air we breathe.

When we are out on the sea, she strips away our artifice and devices and brings us down to our essential self. For those of us who love the sea, deep in our bones, our connection is transcendent. To be with her is to be utterly engaged with life and death, to be present in all the senses. She changes us forever.

Those of us who have been called by the sea and make our way to her feel a sense of rightness and connection, even

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when she is wild and dangerous. We feel a fierce protectiveness, especially now that she is threatened. When we are called to the sea, we answer by choice and according to our own purpose. We stay because we have found our home.

Love for the sea coexists with fear of it, joy with respect, courage with caution, beauty with despair. We have lost people and places and dreams, and sometimes nearly ourselves, in the sea.

This book is about women of the Cascadia coast, from Alaska to California, who have been called to the sea—to work with it and in it; to harvest it, protect it, explore it; to learn and teach about it. It is also a book about this place called Cascadia, about how it calls and informs us.

I was called to write this book in one precise and crystalline moment. In 2014, as the featured author for the Pacific Rim Arts Society’s annual Cultural Heritage Festival, I spent a glorious week on the tempestuous west coast of Vancouver Island, presenting writing-related workshops, reading from my historical memoir, and coaching authors’ book projects. During a festival event, a group of phenomenal women who had all loved and worked with the sea gathered around my book display table and soon launched into a whirl of storytelling. A part of me stood back and revelled in these accomplished, clever, sparky women, and in this part of the world that is like no other.

In that moment I knew I would bring their stories to the world.

I can also recall the moment the sea called me. I was born in an island nation. My first memory is as a toddler, standing thighdeep in the chilly North Sea waters of England’s east coast, on a pebbly grey beach, looking out at the endless grey horizon and down at my sturdy little legs braced against the wavelets. I turn to see my vivacious young mum and her sister chatting on the picnic blanket, two Mediterranean flowers in their summer dresses. Their bright smiles and happy waves beckoning me, I am suddenly aware of my separateness, and instead of waddling to shore, I turn back again to the water, in the direction of my father’s Nordic forebears who loved the sea and were ever drawn to it.

of it unexplored, it is no wonder ancient peoples believed the oceans contained many mysterious and dangerous creatures.

While some people say that women were forbidden on ships to avoid the unleashing of sexual tensions, others say this taboo stretches back to our earliest times when boats were dedicated to a goddess of a watery place, and bringing mortal women aboard could provoke her jealousy. Ironically, the figureheads of ships were almost always female, and often, a mermaid. As humans began to fear the sea less and understand it more, the mermaid icon shifted to a more benevolent figure.

Perhaps modern women reach for this mythic symbol because it represents all that is magical, untamed, and wild in us—the indomitable spirit of the women who are drawn to it. In the same way, Cascadia, too, has always been considered counterculture, liberated, transgressive, rebellious, transformative.”

As a child, I yearned to join the mermaids and other sea creatures. I would create my own personal ocean in the bottom of our claw-foot bathtub strewn with shells and pebbles. My coltish legs stuffed into one pyjama leg, I unravelled my long braids and blissfully wafted under the water.

The myths of sea goddesses and their sisters, the mermaids, have long enchanted us. Half fish, half human, half feared, half adored, mermaids represented the link between land and sea.

With nearly three-quarters of the Earth covered by water, much

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Paddling with

Giants

By Aya Kristina Engel

There’s nothing in life I love more than paddling to a remote island, harvesting seafood from the area and cooking it over a campfire, then sleeping on the beach. This is my happy place. So this summer, my friends and I decided to go to the northern tip of Vancouver Island to a place called the Broughton Archipelago. We launched from Telegraph Cove, a remote fishing village known for whale tours, big salmon runs and whales gal-ore!

We loaded our inflatable stand-up paddle board with everything needed for a week (including water). Camping gear, food, whiskey, hot chocolate; all the goods, and set off for adventure. Day 1 and 2 we sought out whales. We tuned our radios to channel 7 (the whale watching station) and paddled in the direction of humpback activity. We heard spouts and paddled closer, soon we were surrounded. For about three hours we had several pods of humpbacks circling us! We kept trying to get closer while still paddling cautiously, because you never really know where they are or what they’ll do next. And they are SO GIANT! It is intimidating. Standing on our boards, we could hear them moan, and sing!

Then all of a sudden, a humpback did a FULL BREACH (a full jump) out from the water, in front of mine and Ariane Tasca’s boards! We froze in shock of the enormity of this ancient giant creature being playful with us. Imagine a whale, the size of a semi-truck, jumping out of the water, while you are on a vulnerable inflatable paddle board. We had to react quickly because the breach caused waves in the water that could have easily knocked us over. I felt so small.

I’ll remember that moment for the rest of my life.

Day 3 we paddled east when Valtteri Rantala spotted a large black bear on the beach. We paddled right up and found him turning rocks, feasting on crabs. The bear couldn’t care less about our presence and was clearly focused on lunch.

Fun Fact: There is a narrow window of time when the eating is good for bears on the beach at very low tide, when the marine life is more exposed.

We left the bear breakfast scene, which felt like something right out of National Geographic, then 15 minutes later we spotted our first pod of dolphins! We paddled hard to get closer, and then THEY changed direction and came toward us! All of a sudden they were right beside our boards! But they were fast, and it all happened so quickly, then they were off again.

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Day 5 & 6 we paddled back west and got to see some more humpbacks. We camped on a famous channel called Blackfish Sound, known for its Orca activity; it’s basically an ocean highway for both whales and big boats. It was NOT quiet sleeping here. I timed it—a loud whale spout would go off “PPPPPPOOOOUUUUUUUUFFFFFFFFFF” would go off every 1 minute 30 seconds.

Our final day, we crossed a big channel and paddled back to Telegraph Cove. Most of my friends didn’t even know we have orcas, dolphins, humpbacks and sharks on the BC coastline. I guess it’s something usually associated with being in Mexico or Hawaii. But being wildlife spoiled in Canada, you can go in nearly any direction and see something remarkable. So naturally there are hundreds of relatively unknown secret gems to discover.

In the pitch black, I could hear so much commotion on the water; between huge sea lions splashing around, orcas singing, and humpbacks spouting. It was a West Coast orchestra at its best. Side note: that was the only night I had to wear earplugs to sleep.

For now, I have plenty more islands to paddle. I feel blessed to live on a coastline with so much wildlife. I believe it is important for people to get outside and experience the rugged wilderness. If you don’t, then you will never understand how special and precious it

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is. In southern Vancouver Island, the orca population is rapidly declining and the resident orcas are considered endangered. This is because of the heavy tanker traffic, the pollution, and the salmon being over fished.

If more people got outside and experienced the magic of a whale breach or paddled with dolphins, apathy would dissolve and people would protect our local waters more. I have paddled and surfed all across the world and there aren’t many places left that remain this wild and untouched.

BC coast line is a truly magical place and it is important we protect it for future generations. Please, get involved with your local wildlife activists!

Follow Barnacle Babes and get outside!

-Aya Kristina Engel #protecttheinlet

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Hammerhead

Haven

By Jillian Morris-Brake

By Sarah Specker

Photo:Jillian Morris-Brake 14 | www.barnaclebabes.com

you are a diver or shark lover or both, then this time of year your head is flooded with images of great hammerhead sharks. People from around the world flock to the tiny islands known as Bimini for a chance to see these amazing creatures up close.

As you kneel on the white sand bottom, a distinct silhouette approaches from the blue.

A twelve-foot hammerhead maneuvers with grace and an unexpected agility, moving down the line of divers. It’s a truly magical experience to slip beneath the surface in crystal clear water and see these incredible animals. The Bahamas is considered “the shark diving capital of the world,� and these sharks have definitely become an iconic species in the region. A study done by the Cape Eleuthera Institute determined sharks and rays contribute approximately 113.9 million USD annually to the Bahamian economy. This means sharks are worth far more alive than dead.

Great hammerheads are the largest species of hammerhead, reaching an estimated length of 20 feet (6.1 meters).They are easily identified by their hammer shaped cephalofoil (head) and large first dorsal fin. This migratory species is protected within the Bahamas shark sanctuary, but scientists at the Bimini Biological Field Station are studying both their regional and long distances migrations. Where do these sharks go when they are not in Bimini? They have long been prized game fish as well as being caught in commercial and recreational fisheries, placing them on the IUCN Red List as endangered.

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This shark is truly an evolutionary wonder, with highly visible sensory adaptations.

Their large cephalofoil increases surface area for Ampullae of Lorenzini. These tiny electroreceptors, which make the shark look like they have freckles, can detect the heartbeat of a stingray camouflaged in the sand. As the shark swims in an S shaped pattern, this sensory system is scanning the bottom like a metal detector looking for buried treasure.

Their wide set eyes usually have people asking how well they can actually see. In 2009, a study led by Dr. Mikki McComb, found these animals have exceptional vision. Each eye has a 180-degree field of view. Combined with their head movement during swimming, these sharks have increased binocular vision, depth perception and a full 360-degree view of their underwater world.

They are my favorite animal on the planet and every moment in the water with them is remarkable. I love seeing their personalities and behaviors. We see the same sharks year after year, which is really exciting. The Sharklab has named them which makes it easier for recording which individuals come to the provisioning site, how often and how long they are here in Bimini. My favorites are Amphitrite, Atlas and Scylla. Amphitrite is bold and often the first shark to appear on the dive. Atlas is one of the few male hammerheads seen, which is quite interesting. Scylla has been my favorite, but is now a regular at Tiger Beach, a region off Grand Bahama. I am hoping she makes a visit to Bimini this year.

Jillian with a great hammerhead in Bimini Picture Credit: Duncan Brake 16 | www.barnaclebabes.com

Their size and odd shape have earned great hammerheads a negative reputation.

“They're really dangerous, right?”

“Aren’t they known for being really aggressive?”

Yes, they are big and bold (some more than others), but they are not terrifying monsters. They are predators and deserve our utmost respect every moment, but when done with knowledgeable and experienced dive guides, you can have a completely mesmerizing interaction.

she’s a lot of fun to dive with. It’s quite fascinating seeing multiple large species interacting in the same space. Atlantic spotted and bottlenose dolphins have even cruised through, along with mahi mahi and tuna. It makes the experience even more remarkable.

I recommend this dive and encourage people to select local and responsible operators. It’s a shallow dive, ranging from 18-40 feet, making it accessible for a wide range of divers. You kneel on the bottom, watching the sharks move in and out towards the line. You will also see lots of nurse sharks and possibly a bull shark or two. Last season a tiger shark showed up and made regular appearances. Happy to report “Joker” is back and

We love Bimini Scuba Center because they work with the Sharklab and also support local education projects. Through our Sharks4Kids program we team up with them to provide field trips for students. We want kids in Bimini to grow up knowing why people come to see sharks and to be part of protecting them for the future. It’s important, no matter where you dive, to select responsible and eco minded operators. It’s worth doing the research, knowing you are supporting the community and conservation efforts.

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Hawaii Calling

by Susan Knight

Have you ever wondered what it would be like to run your own retreat? Perhaps you are unfamiliar with the area you wish to visit, don't quite know how or have the time to organize, book and plan logistics? Well, that is what I’m here for. To help you create an experience. A deep love and connection with nature began as a child and has flourished during many years as a professional photographer, biologist and guide. I’ve had the opportunity to take people hiking, scuba diving, snorkeling and organize meditation retreats in many locations around the world.

I’ve always been struck by the effort and commitment made by people to travel to a unique locale for retreat, and often end up with little time to truly explore the area. An area they may never travel to again.

From this came an interest in creating something that combines the power of inward reflection with the exhilaration of the open road. A Roadtrip Retreat. An Epic Roadtrip Adventure Retreat.

This story is about a trip to Hawaii.

There are several reasons people tend to go on retreat: a solo getaway, connecting on a different level with a group of friends, as a leader with inspirations to support others in growth and expansion, and for fun! Sometimes these are people who feel they have never really had a chance to step out of of life’s daily responsibilities, breathe, and check in to see if they might be missing something. Something that could truly fulfill and enhance their life.

Barnacle Babes founder Jodi Mossop was a good fit for a retreat collaboration. Plus, she has a deep love for the ocean which bonded us from the get go. As a business woman experienced with logistical planning of events, she was without the time or familiarity of a place she wanted to visit; Hawaii. She also was aware of the need for some personal down time from a busy year of projects, family responsibilities, and feeling like she could never slow down.

After discussing working together in this capacity, and aligning our intentions, Jodi provided me with a list of interests, locations and goals for the experience. Her main mission was to design something with the purpose of creating community and a connection with nature. Lovers of the ocean and the land, adventuring together.

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I felt happy with the final design. It evolved into an eight day roadtrip adventure retreat around the Big Island of Hawaii, focused on ocean discoveries, mermaiding and visits to the active volcanoes. Jodi approved and we posted the retreat. This particular trip became a women's retreat that attracted a mother and daughter to travel together, which was super cool and quite inspiring.

Here’s what Jodi, Karolina (Mom) and Maya had to say.

What were some of your favorite experiences?

Jodi: Some things that stood out was seeing a turtle for the first time, randomly being serenaded by a guitarists as we walked up a pathway from the beach one night, the gong bath on top of a hardened volcanic lava bed, snorkeling with mantas, making offerings to Pele.

Susan: Once we were on island, everyone in the group experienced a desire to prepare an offering to honour Pele the goddess of fire. This unfolded into a unique and beautiful afternoon at the rim of Halema’uma’u crater, the home of Pele.

Jodi: Also, pretending I was a mermaid, meditating on the volcanic fields, making a new friend with Karolina and deepening my

Mermaid Vyana and Susan Knight waiting for spinner dolphins in Honauna Bay

Maya McM urray posi ng in the win d in Hawa ii Volcanoe s Nationa l Park

ling Karolina McMurray snorke y Ba ’u alu at Kah

Mermaid Vyana

and spinner do

lphin in Honaun

a Bay

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other friendships. Experiencing the many different climates, terrain and going between land and sea was very cool!

Karolina: The black sand beach and the manta rays stood out for me. Mermaid Dreams bed and breakfast hosted by Mermaid Vyana. Spending 30 minutes hanging out with a sea turtle was one of my favorites.

Jodi: Having the logistics of everything taken care of was amazing.

We didn’t have to think about what was going to happen next, it was taken care of but appreciated some flexibility in the tour.

Maya: Everything about the trip was Awesome.

Did you learn anything new about Hawaii?

J: Yes! I was fascinated learning about Hawaiian history and the lack of predatory wildlife.

S: I remember driving a stretch of windy road at night and Jodi being amazed that we didn’t have to be on alert watching for large animals like bears, deer and moose.

J: How perfect the temperature is of both land and sea. I was fascinated with the volcanoes and learning about the islands shifting and the creation of new land, while destroying the old. I loved the energy of the land around Kilauea volcano.

K: I really liked how Susan was constantly giving us more information from different areas of the nature, culture, land and sea animals. I felt like if I went on my own I would not see half of what we saw. What struck me was learning how new the island is and that all the islands are moving.

Was there anything that surprised you?

J: Watching Maya come out of her shell and how colorful and beautiful the fish are!

K: The connection with wild animals, manta rays, turtles, dolphin games and the diversity of the island. How cold it could be at 4000 ft above sea level, even though we were told, even though it was hot and sunny at sea level. I thought it would be Hawaii cold, not Vancouver cold. How avocado and wild orchids look. I was amazed to see people building already on new land. In earth time, that lava flow just now happened.

S: We met some incredible people in our travels. One can never plan for that. I really enjoyed the friendships that developed, the laughter and what I learned from the knowledge and sharing of the other women. The group synergy was amazing. Everyone truly was so into helping each other out and up for any adventures. Maya and I spontaneously decided to get up before 6 am one morning to photograph sunrise at the crater in Volcanoes National Park. What an epic morning. I was also super happy to see everyone become more and more comfortable in the water and capture some once in a lifetime images.

M: Being more steady with my gopro. I had assumed everything would be smooth because it was in water. Not only do you have to swim but also take video. There was lots of practise as I got to document what we saw.

S: I was impressed with Maya’s packing skills. It was well thought out. She had everything she needed in a tiny backpack; clothing for a multitude of climates, small sleeping pad, as well as all her camera and video equipment. Karolina is a massage therapist.

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the d Maya in na, Jodi an ya id V a id rm a e m rm Me with ing to swim B&B pool learn ms rmaid Drea tails at Me

Susan a while nd Maya th on ro Sea Q a snorkeli wing some ng ad uest R ventu shakas afting re wit h

From left to right, Jodi, Maya and Karolina

One night she just reached over and started rubbing my feet. Wow did that feel amazing.

I feel like I can already give her a great testimonial. For Jodi, her youthful exuberance every day and openness to talk about anything.

People getting excited about exploration really gets me even more excited.

Did you discover anything new and interesting about yourself?

J: That I don’t allow myself enough feeling…I feel a lot and I shut it down. I need to allow myself to feel what I feel and be ok with it.

Also…the importance of intention setting.

One morning, Maya and I set an intention of swimming with dolphins. It was a dream of mine. When we got there, there seemed to be dolphins. But when we got into the water, they were gone. So, once again, Maya came to me and asked to meditate together on the dolphins, while doing so she began to sing softly too. And…they came back! Susan took photos of us meditating floating together in the water and with the dolphins. The experience of playing with the one dolphin for about 20 minutes is something I’ll never forget. It was magical and affirming that we all have the ability and opportunity to create what we want and experience “magic”.

Maya McMurray looking for fish with her GoPro in Kealakekua Bay

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M: How much I like Hawaii and warm weather.

K: I went on this trip with my daughter that is 20 years young, and it was wonderful to see her and experience her as an adult, experiencing/observing the shift from teenager to adult. I feel like, after the trip, she is more mature in her life decisions and more confident. She is discovering a love of travel. I am also observing myself as a parent shifting from wanting to hold on to learning to let her go.

Maya holding a “Warrior Pose” on a Pahoehoe Lava Field

What was it like having a professional photographer accompany your group?

J: Having Susan there to take photos during the trip and have images afterwards absolutely sets this trip apart. I think that when you go away on an epic adventure, you’re looking to share yourself in your best light. Especially in this day of social media. She was able to capture us in a beautiful and authentic way. To be able to enjoy the moment and have someone else capture it is priceless.

K: I started to look at things differently by how they were pointed out. Try looking at it this way, notice the light and such. It was awesome for Maya as it was her first time diving under the water with video. She had the freedom to experiment, like having a course.

M: It was cool because I got to learn new things about photography along the way at a bunch of places. Susan saw a different perspective. It’s not like being on a tour with random people talking facts. This felt natural. It just flowed.

When pondering one’s life, sometimes we don’t even know what questions to ask or where to ask them. I am convinced again and again the answers are in nature. Simply be in nature. Sometimes, all you need is an open mind, a sense of adventure and a special place to be you again. Thank you Hawaii.

Watch for the next Barnacle Babes hosted retreat in the coming year! And ask Jodi about the dolphin leaf game if you get a chance.

Interested in hosting a retreat? Contact Susan to co-create a retreat or sign up with a listed retreat. You can also have Susan join your existing retreat as a photographer and/or nature guide.

Susan Knight Connect with nature. Find the stillness. Sea yourself. susan@susanknightstudios.com Breakfast

treat at M erm

aid Dream

s B& B

Karolina, Maya and Jodi at the Magical Lava Temple in the town of Kalapana

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Lessons from the Ocean

By Rachel Braun

I had been looking forward to this for almost a year; I finally made it to the land of surf, reef breaks and sunshine. But as I lie staring at the ceiling from my bed in a small homestay, the honking of moped horns in the background, I am in disbelief of my body having failed me this moment, when I had finally made it to paradise. Instead of the sun on my skin, I am here - with weak muscles and overwhelming nausea. To make it worse, I had no one to blame but me. I had run myself ragged and now I was crashing.

A few days later I mustered up enough strength to attempt the surfing I had come for and I hired a local pro to show me the ropes. He was slow in his movements and words, graceful, shouting the occasional “yew” when someone caught a good wave or “ay yai yai” when a big wave was about to break in front of us.

My arms were already burning, and my lats numb as I paddled out. “You eat more rice”, he commented with a grin. Part of me giggled because the local staple of rice and pork was not exactly helping my body heal.

The other part of me snapped at this graceful man. I was angry that my body wasn’t doing what I wanted it to do and battling my need to school him on scientific

facts about nutrition. Not to mention feeling the pressure to make the most of my trip, that I would soon be returning home to a landlocked, wintery Canada.

I paddled over to him, pulled from my thoughts which were having a dance party in my head. He pointed to an area, “paddle”, he said. I understood that the current was taking us somewhere we didn’t want to go, and that I needed to paddle. Between the occasional “come” and “paddle”, our communication was limited. I wasn’t sure if he understood some of the words when we spoke earlier but that was okay because I was pretty miserable, letting my thoughts run loose.

I was determined to soak up this paradise and force my body, albeit angrily, to ignore the muscle weakness and nausea that was welling up and just enjoy this moment.

People say there is something magical about the ocean. As I reached the calm behind the waves and sat in the water waiting, I noticed the turquoise blue water and silky feeling the salt leaves on the skin. Still determined, I got ready to do what I came here for – to surf in the Philippines. The ocean had other plans www.barnaclebabes.com | 25

though, and suddenly I was caught under a big wave, holding my breath. A thousand swear words running through my mind as my body churned in the massive washing machine of the wave. Just when I thought I couldn’t hold my breath anymore and wondered if this was the day I would die, it released me. My first gasp of air reminded me how delicate I am. Frustrated and determined to get the next one, I paddled back. This happened again and again. Each time I came back, the graceful Filipino was there, laughing at how the ocean was teaching me and then following up with a question to check that I was okay. I felt defeated. The Filipino man, wiser than I, spoke in broken English but I got the gist. Feel the ocean and work with it. Stop fighting.

Through gritted teeth I pondered how this could be applicable in several areas of my life and rolled my eyes, grateful that my close friends weren’t there to hear this. However, after repeatedly being reminded of my fragility, I had nothing left to lose. I closed

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my eyes and felt the water rise and fall under me again and again. Before I knew it, I was dancing on it, riding wave after wave with a smile on my face.

Three hours later, completely exhausted, I swam back to the boat and gave my body a break, watching others ride long waves with big smiles on their faces.

Somewhere between carrying my surfboard in the water and bringing it back out, I had been schooled and brought to my knees by the power of nature and the wisdom of a man, who, in the West we would consider uneducated. Thank you for reminding this Westerner to slow down, close my eyes, and feel instead of think.

Until next time, Siargao.

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The Urge to Breathe

By Sarah Specker

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To improve your level of surfing, you have to push your limits in many different ways: physically, mentally, spiritually, socially, financially, and sometimes even technically. Bigger, faster, hollower, longer, all are common superlatives for any wave junkie in pursuit of their own improvement.

But pushing or exceeding these limits comes at a price.

Every surfer has experienced the ultimate primal fear: the fear of drowning. No matter your experience, skill level or the size of the waves, a decent hold-down or smash to the bottom whilst having all the air being pushed out of your lungs, is an inescapable torturous ordeal inextricably linked to the sport.

After feeling like you've danced with death underwater, the first breath will leave you humbled and grateful to be alive. And even though most of us know any such experience probably ‘only’ lasted 15-20 seconds, it surely feels like a lifetime below the surface.

The only way to recover is like the proverbial fall off the horse, bike, or in this case, wave: you're gonna have to pull yourself back up and try again. But once fear of drowning has been ingrained into your memory, it can—potentially—become downright paralyzing.

Simply put, fear of drowning comes down to fear of running out of breath. So, what if you could learn to extend that breath hold?

Could this mean you can learn to face and maybe even control this fear?

Or better, could it even become a pleasurable experience?

To avoid losing my stamina whilst not surfing—in the past, sometimes for weeks or months on end—I would do swim training: following a self-made training schedule that involved long distance and sprint freestyle swimming, as well as laps under water.

Knowing wipe-outs can be horrid, I would force myself to swim up to 50 metres underwater (horizontally, not vertically) in one go, just to ‘learn to deal with it’. But I wondered, could I push these limits even further too? And if so, how? And better yet, what could it potentially do for my surfing ability?

In the tropical Gili Islands group in Indonesia, I found the answer: a freediving course.

The human body is—like all air-breathing vertebrates—equipped with the mammalian dive reflex: a set of physiological responses to immersion in water (or any fluid, for that matter) aimed to redistribute oxygen optimally to the vital organs (heart-lungs-brain-kidneys) to prolong the possible duration of submersion. The reflex is so strong that it overrules the basic homeostatic reflexes. When water touches our face whilst we hold our breath, it instantly suppresses the breathing reflex, therefore, we instinctively hold our breath. In infants un-

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der six months, the trachea or air pipe is also automatically closed by the vocal chords, completely preventing water from entering the lungs. It also induces several circulatory reactions like peripheral vasoconstriction, spleen constriction (leading to extra release of red blood cells into the circulation) and a lowered heart rate, all enabling maximum oxygen conservation. The accumulation of carbon dioxide eventually forces us to come up for air again: the urge to breathe.

The urge to breathe is often described as a burning sensation in the chest, involuntary diaphragmatic contractions and a tendency to swallow, all caused by the accumulation of carbon dioxide, making you feel ‘out of breath’.

This is our body's safety mechanism—even when these symptoms occur, there is still quite some time left before you are REALLY out of oxygen.

It's exactly this tolerance to carbon dioxide accumulation (before the urge to breathe occurs) that can be increased by practice and learning specific breathing techniques. And that is exactly what a freediving course aims to teach you.

After one day of theory and intensive pool-training you get the opportunity to practice your newly acquired skills in the actual Big Blue. Now, I am no stranger to oceanic adventures, but this was a whole new challenge all in itself.

Left somewhere far out at sea, whilst clinging to an inflatable buoy and staring down into the murky blackness is a strange, slightly unnerving experience. No reef, rocks or points of reference—just a dark abyss.

Maintaining an upright seated position whilst clinging to a rope, you slowly and manually descend into the deep: five metres, ten, (fifteen if you were a fish in your previous life), all whilst practicing different breathing and equalizing techniques. Once you get the hang of it, you can attempt this in an inverted position—ears, breath and sea sickness permitting.

Usually there will be several groups of varying levels practicing at the same time, all connected by their buoys. This allows for some inspirational, if not intimidating spectacles. I have been an avid SCUBA diver for several years, but it wasn't until this course that I became aware of how deep 30 to 60 metres actually is!

The end result? A deep respect for professional freedivers, a strong awareness of my own detest for the 'pure' abyss and an improved tolerance to wipe-outs.

Has breath-holding become a pleasurable experience now? Well, not really... but I have managed to push beyond my limits. Now let's see how much further I can go.

For anyone interested in a similar challenge, freediving courses are now being held in numerous locations worldwide. Depending on your monetary situation and tolerance to cold water you can basically choose to go wherever you want.

Regardless of how deep you will be able to go, learning different breathing and swimming techniques is an enrichment for any water-lover.

C U in the Big Blue!

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INSPIRED

Creativity

by Bryanna Bradley

Lydia Ricard in Tofino, BC

From a young age, my love for the ocean is something that was undeniably engraved deep into my being. But my affection for photography has been nothing short of a tumultuous ride of love and hate.

Following high school in Ottawa, Ontario, I attended college for photojournalism with no prior knowledge of photography. I loved the news industry: the excitement the diversity and the challenge. After college, I had the fortunate opportunity to freelance for a large daily newspaper in Montreal, Canada. But at twenty-one, I was not happy. I could see my life heading in a direction that was unhealthy and detrimental. I was presented with many opportunities to shoot many soul-fulfilling images, but there were also many life-altering situations I had to photograph that didn't feel right to me. I did not find the support I needed in those circumstances, felt alienated and alone, blaming my camera for the loss I felt.

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I became fixated on the ocean and how it made me feel, so I booked a one-way ticket to Hawaii, telling friends and family I had given up on journalism and was becoming a surf photographer. I contacted a few famous surf photographers to inquire about the industry only to receive nothing but negative replies.

One even said,

"I would not quit a perfectly good job and try to find work in the surf scene. It’s almost impossible to get work. I just wanted to let you know this before you made a foolish move."�

Jennith James, Tofino, BC

Lydia Ricard, Tofino, BC

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When I got to Hawaii I put down my camera and picked up a surfboard. I quickly fell deeply in love with surfing. I felt home. I felt accepted. I felt like I was exactly where I needed to be.

I did not anticipate how long my break from photography would be. I travelled around the world for nearly three years, working various jobs in order to scuba dive and surf and falling deeper into a relationship with salt water. My desire to be in the ocean became a necessity. However, my dream to shoot surfing never went away and without my camera I felt unsatisfied and undeniably lost. I had drifted so far from the industry. I felt anger towards photography and getting back into shooting was simply too overwhelming.

When I arrived back in Canada I applied to a school for holistic nutrition and quickly tried to erase any evidence I had ever been involved in photography. I wanted to sell everything. The burden and guilt were too difficult to bear and without camera gear I would no longer feel guilty for not taking photos. My parents intervened and encouraged me to hold onto the gear just in case, and I am thankful for that advice every day.

During my earlier travels, many people told me I should go to Tofino on the west coast of Vancouver Island, which is famous for surfing. So I decided to spend my summer break from school, there, and drove out in the late spring to meet with the Surf Sister Surf School owner, Krissy Montgomery. Little did I know that interview would be a pivotal point in my life.

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Once I began working at Surf Sister Surf School, with an all-female staff of surf instructors, I was drawn into one of the most inspiring and unique communities I have ever come across. A thriving sisterhood of women living unconventional lives to fulfill their need of being in the ocean and surfing.

To say I was inspired was an understatement. These women lived and breathed the wild west coast of Canada. They found beauty and strength in our cold waters, while building a deep understanding of the ocean and the importance of a strong female community.

I fell in love with it all and as I became more familiar with Canada’s surf scene, I realized there wasn’t nearly enough focus on these dedicated women. I wanted to have tangible evidence of this magical experience I had found in Tofino that had quickly become my reality.

Since moving to Vancouver Island and being back in school, I had begun shooting very briefly, however, when I decided I wanted to dive deep into surf photography a dream I had for so long,

For so long I had been haunted by my past experiences in photography, but the ocean became a vessel of healing for me and my relationship with my camera. I felt like all my years since high school finally made sense. I made up my mind and returned to my long-time dream of diving deep into surf photography.

My work has given me much more than I could ever articulate. It has made me grow, heal and find my creativity again. It has helped me work through fears in the water and on land. It has taken my life and refashioned it in the most poetic way and I feel like the luckiest girl in the world.

Without ever taking for granted my journey and the opportunities I have had, my goal is to invigorate people with my images to get outside. To find the part of nature that makes them feel strong, confident and inspired. Because when you do, I can promise it will change your life.

Lydia Ricard, Tofino, BC

Leah Dawson , Tofino, BC

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Babes Against

Bullshit Jodi Mossop interviews Teri Hofford of Teri Hofford Photography I came across an amazing photo on Facebook a bit ago and immediately had to find out more about the woman that took it. I truly believe that it is very important to have full representation in the media of all body types and support women loving their bodies no matter what size they are. Myself included in that as I too am one that has gained a great deal of weight in the last two years. However, beating myself up about it isn’t helping. When I see images like Teri’s photographs, it reminds me that we are all beautiful, each in our own and unique ways and at every stage of our life.

I reached out to Teri to find out a bit more and this is what she shared.

When did you buy your first camera? And what was it?

My VERY first camera was a random Kodak Point & Shoot :P, but other than that, I inherited my Dad’s Olympus E-Volt 500 back around 2007 when he passed.

Why photography? What is it about the art that you enjoy or love so much?

I’ve always been drawn to photography, even as a kid. I used to pose kids on the playground at school (with my kodak film camera) like I had seen in my mom’s pattern books or Sears Catalogues. I think for me, it allows me to collect moments. It has the ability to tell the truth, to showcase reality, more than many other mediums I think.

What makes your pictures different?

Well, for the type of work I do now, I got into it because there was no representation of fatter bodies anywhere in the photography industry... NOT EVEN IN WEDDINGS! People were

maybe shooting them, but they definitely weren’t showing them and that made me mad, so I set out to photograph as many body types as possible! I think for me, I have the ability to get people naked sooner than they think (#terieffect) but not just in the physical form, also vulnerability wise.

Some of you pictures of women in or near the water are amazing! I love that you shoot every day, real women and allow them to be themselves. Is this something you always intended to do?

I really only started the empowerment photography within the last four years...prior to that, I say I was technically trained with weddings and portraits. I had no idea how powerful photography could be in changing people’s lives, until I did a project.

The interesting thing is, I think it’s less about the photography than people think. Photography is a safe reason to do something uncomfortable... or at least, I think it feels safer, than going to a psychologist or talking about the deep shi. ...BUT we do end up doing that, once we’ve gotten physically vulnerable, it’s easier to get emotionally vulnerable I think.

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Model: Jess Williams (boudoir photographer from Florida)

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Model: Jess Williams

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What is it about the female body? #1: I have one, so it’s easy for me to see how it works and moves and the types of experiences the female body encounters in her lifetime. I know the pressures we are put under every day, that we aren’t enough, or ironically, too much, for people. I also think the female body is fucking magical. Like, the whole process of childbirth is amazing to me (not something I want to do, but freaking miraculous). Our bodies are capable of so much amazingness.

And what are some of the most important attributes you like to capture when shooting women both in boudoir photos and your natural outdoor photos?

For a long time, I’m not gonna lie, I stuck to the standard and what I thought women wanted in their photos. But last year I fell into a bit of depression and part of it I attribute to that because I knew I had the power to really affect change, but I was still contributing to the problem. So, this year I said fuck it and really moved more towards therapeutic photography instead of “sexy photos for the husby”. I think I want to show women as who they ARE, not who they think they should be. If they want to wear makeup, do it, if not, don’t. You wanna go outside and hug a tree, let’s do it, want to dress up like a model on the catwalk, c’mon!

Who and what have been your biggest influence on your style and why?

My self-studies in body image and the psychology of women because I am able to help them see their photos in a way they never thought of before, and this allows me to create images that showcase their amazingness without shrinking or hiding them, regardless of their size. As far as photographers, my friend Boon Ong is amazing and he always said “stop trying to fit people into the boudoir box, instead build the box around your client” and that really resonated with me this year. I just needed the guts to do it.

Women and body acceptance…do you believe we will get there?

Can we truly learn to love ourselves for who we are and not what society believes we should be or tells us what we should be?

Man, sometimes it’s frickin’ hard to think we will ever get there... but the best thing that I can do is focus on one person at a time.

Every time I do a speaking engagement, my hope is to help one woman, any more than that is a bonus. Every time I do a photography workshop or a photo-shoot, it’s the same thing. I like to think I can be the drop in the ocean, and everyone is the ripple to go forward and help create some freedom. As far as loving ourselves, we have come a looong way and there will always be people who try to make you feel smaller, but I think my soul purpose is to help people find their confidence so it’s easier to ignore those voices. I also think, once we can deal with our body

image bullshit, then we can TRULY start to find out what we are capable of. It’s nothing but a distraction to be honest.

I would guess that your beautiful pictures help women to love themselves as they are. Do you get many individuals sharing with you about their transformations in their beliefs about their bodies because of your photos?

Yah! Absolutely! I love hearing that just seeing a photo of one of my brave babes or the words I have written have helped someone...it means the world to me and reminds me that my work isn’t done and my work IS valuable. Being an entrepreneur is relatively thankless, so it’s nice to remember why you start.

What is Babes Against Bullshit?

Babes Against Bullshit started as my closed group for my boudoir clients, but then it grew to really encompass anyone who wanted to be empowered, inspired, and educated. We are a group of women that bring light to issues that make us angry and come together to come up with solutions to lift each other up and affect positive change. We also share a lot of positive things and diverse bodies doing incredible things because representation is absolutely key.

And…tell us a bit about your Body Image Bootcamp Gone Wild and why should one attend.

Oh, Body Image Bootcamp!! I created this after realizing that about two percent of my clients couldn’t see their beauty and amazingness, despite have an incredible photo-shoot done.

I realized that we needed to really dig deep below the surface and find out what the hell was going on. So I self-studied the psychology of body image, took courses on positive psychology, and created an epic workshop that walks people through their body image issues, taking a look at the past, present and future, providing techniques, resources, and coping mechanisms to move forward with a healthy relationship with their body. BIBC Gone Wild currently is for anyone who wants to facilitate Body Image Bootcamp, so we do the course and then I teach them how to teach, so they can go forward and empower the women in their own communities! This helps me fulfill my mission of helping as many women as possible!

I think people should attend if A) they want to bond with some bad ass women B) they want to dig into their body image issues C) they want to go forward and help OTHER people dig through body image and D) love to travel and explore new places! (We are doing one in Mexico and one in Australia this year!)

For more information and to find Teri go to www.terihoffordphotography.com Thank you, Teri, Barnacle Babes appreciates your work.

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Experience the Present Moment IN 3 LIFE-CHANGING STEPS

By Rachel ‘Rosie’ Young

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We have a proposition. This year, instead of making resolutions, let’s make intentions. Manifestations. Let’s focus on graceful, detached actions that make us feel good, not subpar.

Let’s make it an energy thing, not a ‘did you hit the mark’ thing.

A ‘did you lose the weight’ thing. A ‘did you make the money’ thing. Your value can not be placed somewhere on the scale of ‘winning’ and ‘losing,’ you exist somewhere beyond it — or in the middle of it — but it’s exquisitely unique and simply, utterly you. Now, doesn’t that feel much better?

encourage our minds to do the difficult work. If you’re in downward facing dog, you’ll get a nice stretch in your hamstrings, for sure… but if you let your monkey mind wander free (what Buddhists call restless thoughts), then you’re missing a majority of yoga’s magic. If your hip is tight, don’t belabor your body for what it (one day) might be; instead, accept your body for where it is at and send it unconditional love. Holding a yoga pose is no small feat, and very little of that work is actually done by our muscles, fascia and tendons!

What you just did, right there, was experience the present moment. Reading those sentences, it did not matter what happened yesterday, or what may happen tomorrow. You were in a place where regret and anxiety couldn’t touch you. Now, admit it; it was nice.

This is also meditation’s goal, stripped of yoga’s physical movements. In many ways, this can more difficult for people.

There are countless aspects of yoga that give you a reason to focus inwards, from alignment, dristi, bandhas, energetic cycles as well as the euphoric experience of gently expanding your body’s limits. With meditation, it’s just you and your mind.

With no music or instruction from a teacher, how is it possible to control where your thoughts go and what your mind thinks about? The answer is as simple as inhaling and exhaling. When you’ve realized that your mind has wandered, without guilt or judgement, simply encourage it back to the breath — as you would with an innocent child who became distracted by a butterfly. With your inhale, you take everything around you into your body, and when you exhale, you surrender a little bit of yourself to the universe. At the same time, you withdraw your sense and give into the beauty of everything around you — you’re no longer a person in the room, but the room itself and all the air, space matter and energy that makes it real. This is oneness with reality, in the present. You are nothing, yet at the same time you are everything, and in that you can find a true sense of comfort and belonging. All this magic happens simply because you are breathing. Because you are alive.

That’s the true power of presence. The present moment lies at the core of wellness. We can almost promise you that the secret to happiness lies there, too. There’s no plan as foolproof as this! Being able to access the present moment is something akin to magic — it steadies your heart rate and calms your mind, effectively bridging the mind-body gap that grows and grows and grows when we move too fast, or when we simply stagnate. Humans are not meant to operate at such extremes, and there are so many benefits to balancing somewhere in the middle; in the present.

That’s why we’ve declared ‘presence’ as our New Year manifestation — or did we settle on intention? Either way, let’s explore several ways to harness this secret and make it so that by the next year, we’ll be [vibrationally] unrecognizable and infinitely more content.

Yoga and Meditation

“When you just sit in silence the wind blows through you, the sun shines in you, and you realize you are not your body; you are everything.” -Anita Krizzan Experienced yogis will not be surprised to hear this one; but if you are new to yoga or haven’t yet felt the desire to dive into the ocean of meditation, this might be interesting idea to conceive! At the surface, what looks like simply sitting (meditation) or stretching (yoga asana) is a somewhat humanistic internal process that binds body to mind, and mind to body. Think this isn’t a big deal? We want you to imagine how often your breath controls your mood, and vice versa. When you’re angry, do you not breath faster and shallower? When you’re frightened, does your entire body not seize up? Now, imagine if you could control these reactions and not be a needless victim of the parts of life we can’t change.

That’s what yoga teaches us. When we put our bodies into different shapes, as complex or straightforward as they may be, many different thoughts come to mind. An untrained mind might immediately jump to a thought that will distract oneself from the discomfort — it’s much easier to think about our boss annoyed us this morning than to confront the reality that our fingers can’t reach our feet — and it’s not wrong of us to do so.

In fact, that’s the whole point! We put ourselves in situations that challenge our ability to be fully present and then gently

The breath is everything, here. The breath transcends almost everything — worries, regret, even time itself. We live in a vastly future-oriented society, where everything is goal and set against a timeline, but that’s a breeding ground for dissatisfaction and yearning. The present moment isn’t good, and it isn’t bad, it just is. When a 1-hour yoga class feels like 15 minutes, you know what I mean. It’s a chance for your body and breath to lead your mind, instead of the other way around. When that happens, you feel it. That contentment you feel at the end of yoga class? You freaking earned that.

Surf and the Ocean

“Quiet the mind and the soul will speak.” -Ma Jaya Sati The ocean is the elixir of life. It covers more of the earth than dry land itself. The waters conceal mountains taller than Everest and trenches deeper than the Grand Canyon. Hidden within the world’s oceans are life-forms of almost infinite variety, in shapes and colors that even our most creative imaginations couldn’t fathom. In fact, humanity knows so little about the sea that it continues to be steeped in mystery and wonder despite our species’ greatest efforts.

In a plane of existence where we have walked on the moon and explored the reaches of the galaxy, the ocean persists as one of the universe’s greatest kept secrets, and it exists right in our backyard. How lucky are we?

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We know nothing about the ocean, yet we do know that our very existence depends on it. It feeds us, gifts us with oxygen to breath and controls the earth’s climate. The ocean’s waters can help to heal wounds and soothe ragged souls. The ocean connects the moon to earth, as tides are evidence of this powerful movement of energy, and similarly it also stirs energy within us. The ocean’s affects are different to each person: some people feel centered and content, while others feel inspired and gregarious — emboldened by a close proximity to the ceaseless crashing of waves. Immersed in the rhythm of the ocean, one can find themselves closer than ever to their truest self, whatever that may be.

If being near the ocean can inspire profound insight, then imagine what riding it can do. Surfing, put simply, is an activity filled with joy. It builds a connection with the sea that few others can because, to surf well, you must find and maintain a direct focus on nature itself. Looking at the ocean is only half the battle — you’ve got to feel it. You’ve got to let the sea into your very core and let it move your limbs for you. Steep yourself in the ocean’s ancient wisdom and see how it guides you across walls of water and through barreling waves, with a neat and effortless ease. Energy from the wave must travel from the ocean’s hand, through the board and into yourself — then, you are the wave. You are surfing. The true act of surfing might only be a few seconds out of any session, so we cannot discredit surfing’s team players: paddling and maneuvering your board, as well as sitting on your surfboard in the lineup for a wave, are huge parts of this art each have their own lessons to teach us. Wondering what those lessons are? They’re unique and perfect for every different person, so jump on a board and see what secrets mother earth whispers in your ear.

When you learn to ride the waves of the ocean, you also learn to ride the waves of life — but it’s not all about the successes, as addictive as those may be. Falling is a fact of our human existence.

Falling is scary at first, as many things are, but we cannot let that trepidation stymie us. If we fall off of our board, we fall into the water — we learn that the universe always has a cushion for us, and to trust that it’s there even if we don’t see it. If we fall off our path in our lives, or in our careers or relationship, it’s usually because we’re busy falling into something even better. The ocean is also a great equalizer; it washes away everything that is unessential and leaves us stripped bare. In the face of such greatness, who are we?

We are simply passengers in this world, and supremely lucky to be here. In this way, the ocean is able to show us our ego and then gives us a way to neutralize it. We are present, we are one.

Travel and Remote Experiences

“Dwell on the beauty of life. Watch the stars and see yourself running with them.” -Marcus Aurelius If anything is clear at this point, then it is that we must train our minds to live in the present moment. It doesn’t just happen naturally, although that’s what our society might have us believe. Our human nature is hell-bent on survival, but in a world where our survival isn’t at stake, these safety measures can go a bit kooky.

We have to become friends with ourselves and tame our monkey minds with love — then, we find the present moment — and only once we’ve found the present, can we then test ourselves and strengthen our ability to simply be as we are.

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Travel isn’t all gilded museums and delectable dining, although a large part of it is. For some, travel is a treat and for others, travel is a way of life — but the concept of it appeals to these very different people for the very same reason. If yoga challenges us to connect to ourselves, and surfing challenges us to connect to nature, then travel challenges us to connect to other people. We have to turn outwards, by turning inwards. If that sounds impossible, it really isn’t.

We all know the feeling of being comfortable. It’s nice to know what is going to happen every hour of every day, and not because you can tell the future — it’s because you designed it that way, down to the very minute, even with your smallest and (seemingly inconsequential) choices. You know how much money to expect in your direct deposit at 11:59 pm on Thursday, biweekly. You know which faces you’ll see in the office, and the various 15-minute intervals at which they all arrive in the morning. Hearing the same language spoken in the grocery store is very securing too, might we add. There’s my bank, my daily commute, my coffee cup. The idea of travel turns the ideas of “mine” on its head. Outside of your comfort zone, nothing is yours and nothing ever goes according to plan, and you never really become more aware of your small place in the world than when you travel and see that every single person — yes, every single person from the smallest baby, to the beggar on the street corner, to guy brewing your coffee — has a life equally as complex and vivid and interesting as your own.

Getting away from your daily routine through travel can be one of the most cleansing experiences that money can buy. It wipes your ego clean and at the same time, alleviates you from worrying about the past or the future because if you focus elsewhere, the present moment is gone. With that moment, imagine how many infinite, colorful, cultural experiences you’ve missed!

Think of the people you might have met, or the smiles you could have exchanged. Travel is so much more than a mad dash from meal to meal, or wi-fi hotspot to wi-fi hotspot. It’s a chance to put yourself in uncomfortable situations not because you’re a glutton for punishment, but because you see beauty in all things — the small things, and the present moment, included.

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BARNACLE BABES

Jewellery

Inspired by our powerful oceans, protecting the deepest treasures of our planet, we present to you the Barnacle Babes Jewellery Collection. Starting with the necklace, we have created you a talisman intended to amplify your heart, propelling you to speak your truth fearlessly! Each piece is handcrafted in Vancouver, BC to the highest quality out of sterling silver featuring a fresh water pearl. From our hearts to yours, we wish to empower you, inspire you, support you, and cherish you. Together, we are strong. Together, we are Barnacle Babes.

This collection is a collaboration between Ethos Myth Design and Barnacle Babes.

ETHOS MYTH DESIGN INC WWW.ETHOSMYTH.COM

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The Ocean, My Subject

by Meghan Ogilvie

There is so much that I love about water. The complexity of it—subtle yet charming, strong yet calm.

I love the rush of adrenaline before I dive into the ocean. I love the beautiful and strange marine life. I love the different patterns on the surface and the unique landscapes and infinity beneath.

I love that it makes me feel so free and curious. I love the smell of the ocean. I love that it never stands still and is constantly changing shape. It is so beautiful as a subject to photograph.

When I’m in it, I feel like I’m home and when I’m away from it I feel a longing to get back to it. Words are not enough to tell the depth of meaning I attach to the happiness I feel when I’m in it or on it. Swimming has never been just a physical activity for me. It goes much deeper than physicality—it’s an experience of the spirit and heart. For me, being in water is a way of coping in an imperfect world. Occasionally I suffer from anxiety and being in water helps me manage it. It makes me feel whole and balanced, but what I love most is its ability to connect everything.

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I have always been considered a water-baby and I had a dream of being an Olympic swimmer when I was younger and a National Geographic photographer. I would spend hours in a pool or lake until my skin was shriveled and pruned, shivering from the cold, but never wanting to get out. Water made me feel incredible!

I could float, fly, I could explore, and most importantly, I could shut out the noise. It was just me, body and mind, working in unison. No distractions and only infinity around me.

Through my work I’ve seen people of all ages and ethnicities join together to protect water. One of the most courageous people I’ve met is Josephine Mandamin, an Anishinaabe grandmother who has walked over 10,900 miles around each of the Great Lakes. She is known as the “Water Walker.” She has walked this distance to raise awareness of the importance of our waterways.

She began walking alone and has now created a wave of activism around the world.

Travelling and meeting people like Grandmother Josephine has shaped the direction of my work. I started photographing in swimming pools in Toronto, but as I began to travel my passion for water conservation grew.

I have shot people in many different environments, from Indigenous women on the Great Lakes in Ontario to the Palau archipelago of islands in Micronesia. I have developed a unique skill set, from equipment knowledge and shooting in unpredictable environments, to scuba diving, freediving and sailing.

I’ve collaborated with organizations like The Seabin Project that has created bins to extract oils and plastics from our oceans and The Great Lakes 2016 Expedition—a group of women testing for microplastics in our lakes.

Most recently, I sailed in the Caribbean aboard Diatomée, a collective residency raising awareness of ocean conservation through art and science.

I used my photography to promote all these amazing organizations.

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The images I create are poetic interactions between people and nature. Nature is the inspiration behind my work and over the past ten years my focus has been on water—understanding both the beauty and plight of our relationship to it. Through creative portraits, seascapes and landscapes I show the strength and tranquility of my subjects and environments. My goal is to link the emotional connection between them. I want people to explore their own role in these interactions and use the images as a way to spread awareness of environmental issues as well as encourage a love for the ocean and waterways.

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A big influence to my work came from collaborating with Anishinaabe women in Ontario and learning about their relationship and responsibility to water. They changed my perspective and helped me realize the urgency to protect water. I felt there needed to be something ambitious done—imagery that went beyond traditional photojournalism and instead, used art photography that could be seen as a new way of discussing the topic.

I am excited to learn and share so much more. My goal for the next ten years is to travel to some of the most remote areas of the world to help build a greater awareness of our responsibility to the earth.

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Please note that not all products will be available everywhere and to everyone.

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HUDDIE BENNETT

Bocas del toro

KRISTEN RATZLAFF

Safety stop with and deployed smb waiting for 3 mins enjoying the view.

Salty

Warriors

Shannon Kimminauis standing on board Lauren Llacera on boogie Photo is Federico from Liquid Barrel

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LUCIA DE MICHELE

Lucia de MIchele aboard her boat, Athena I in Sardinia, Italy

Jenny Swing in Bimini, with wild Atlantic Spotted Dolphins

Jenny Swing off the coast of Maine

JENNY SWING LAUREN LLACERA Lauren Llacera and Anjali Ohri Rote Indonesia

Lauren Llacera with Karma top on, back is Louellen Coker is red top and Shannon Kimminau in the right - Shot by Liquid Barrel

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IN WAVES PRODUCTION SUPPORTED BY ALEX ROSLYAKOV

DIRECTOR & PRODUCER INNA BLOKHINA

WWW.BARNCLEBABES.COM/SHE-IS-THE-OCEAN

VANCOUVER FEB 24, 2019

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FEB 28, 2019

VICTORIA

MAR 2 & MAR 3, 2019

TORONTO MAR 7, 2019