Travel Guide | Chapter Three | New Mexico
“The desert could not be claimed or owned–it was a piece of cloth carried by winds, never held down by stones, and given a hundred shifting names... Its caravans, those strange rambling feasts and cultures, left nothing behind, not an ember. All of us, even those with European homes and children in the distance, wished to remove the clothing of our countries. It was a place of faith. We disappeared into landscape.”
The desert calls to me often. Its quiet and vast spaces. The smells of Juniper and Ponderosa Pines in the high desert. The grounding down of my body as it really settles into the Earth, into rock and red sand which seems to cover everything, including my skin after a day out in the sunshine. The night sky which seems to be endless. The bats flying overhead at sunset. It’s romantic, healing, and oftentimes unforgiving.
New Mexico is mystical land and it elicits the same magical feelings I have when in Joshua Tree, CA. It’s a sacred space. A place where you can feel the ancestry and wisdom blowing in the wind around you, where you really feel connected to something. While I think we can find these feelings anywhere, it always seems more accessible in the desert for me, more at the surface.
New Mexico also happens to be on my Jupiter and Moons Node lines which probably has something to do with my affinity. Whether I move there or not, I will be bringing some of that magic with me wherever I land.
Here are just a few of the places that inspired and nourished me.
Harold in Taos
My B&B in town
Taos
This sweet B&B with local art on the walls as well as prints for sale. It had so many thoughtful details, was comfy, and close to everything in town.
This unique biotecture community.
Quick coffee in town or grab a table in the courtyard for some people watching.
The drive to Taos Ski Valley and the little community of Arroyo de Seco at the base. Grab a juice or one of the delicious bowls at the Wake and Take. This little market has some good finds as well.
This hike which is well worth the view of the lake.
For healthy shopping in Taos proper.
Some authentic New Mexican food.
The grilled radicchio and trout in the garden seating here.
The Enchanted Circle drive with a stop in Red River for a stroll.
Lunch at Manzanita Market.
This herb market.
Abiquiu
This magical bunk house on a horse ranch + the tree house (above) on the property for watching sunsets. I can’t say enough about how restorative this land and the animals were for me.
This wasn’t open while I was there but definitely on my list when I’m back in the area.
This sweet little catch all mercantile that’s been around forever. In one of the Georgia O’Keefe books I picked up, I read about her shopping there.
Finding Balance
I am a Quad Left in Human Design and this means living out of a suitcase, not having a stable space and disrupting my routines can be seriously ungrounding. One of the ways I counter this on the road is by renting places with kitchens so I can prepare my own food and stay balanced. Georgia O’Keefe has been an inspiration when it comes to routine and nourishing with whole foods. It was nice to tap into that wisdom while in her neck of the woods.
I love this cookbook with little tidbits about her life.
This article on her and other inspiring women’s routines.
This sweet book of short poems from her last secretary.
Driving through the desert at sunset, something she did everyday.
Reflecting on her work.
“I found I could say things with color and shapes that I couldn’t say any other way - things I had no words for.”
Continued below in Santa Fe…
Santa Fe Farmers Market finds
Santa Fe
While at the Farmers Market in Santa Fe I was flagged down by an organic, ethical meat vendor wanting to sell me a Bison filet. When I purchased it we got to talking about my journey, and he said when you eat the bison you should ask it for its wisdom around your roaming.
While I try to always remember to practice gratitude and intentional eating when I consume animal protein, or really all food in general, I had never really worked with this concept specifically. I think it’s such a lovely idea to tap into the spirit of the animal, to continue to deeply honor and connect with the web and wisdom of all life.
Sidenote: it was the best steak of my life. And one of my favorite Farmers Markets.
I made a special trip to the Farmers Market as I feel like it’s a great way to get to know the energy of a place, support the locals, and find some special goods native to the area. See the rest of my haul in the photo above: black garlic powder, local honey, unique greens, nettles and milky oats for infusions and jujubes, which were a first for me and if I had it to do over I would have tried the fresh as well as the dried.
Other spots I loved from my day in Santa Fe:
This spot near all the galleries on Canyon Road for a quick sandwich and coffee before checking out all the art.
This book shop.
My favorite little boutique.
I also picked up a stone from this magic shop.
On my list for my next stay for sure.
Some of my favorite tools for traveling:
Olive oil worth traveling with.
Cooking with some local ingredients. I picked up this spice in Taos which is quickly becoming a staple.
Portable art supplies.
The recipe I’ve made half a dozen times to bring with me on the road with gluten free crackers or romaine lettuce ‘wraps’.
Tumeric, black pepper and ghee for golden mylks.
Listened to this and some from this master storyteller.
The app for finding trails near you.
As a woman traveling alone I think it’s important to always have some form of protection (as well as being mindful of our surroundings) and I typically always at least have mace on my keychain, bear spray in my car and a pocket knife on me, especially when hiking.
Until next time!
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