Lens-Artists Weekly Photo Challenge #108: Sanctuary

close up of river stones in clear, fast-flowing water

Create a sanctuary within yourself where you can go anytime you want to
(Shakti Gawain)

an ancient pine overhanging a mountain stream with a wooden bridge behind it

Your sanctuary is your ideal place of relaxation, tranquillity and safety and you can create it exactly as you want it (Shakti Gawain)

Welcome to the Lens-Artists Weekly Photo Challenge, where Patti, Tina, Amy and Ann-Christine kindly invited me to guest-host this week.

Here in the Scottish Highlands we spent more than a hundred days in lockdown where both our home and our community became our sanctuary during the Covid-19 crisis.

We are blessed that we live in a loving home and in a caring community. We have been reaching out to those who are less fortunate, those for whom home is not the safest place to be.

two swans with three young cygnets on the river

These people have been offered sanctuary with another loving family, with extended family members, neighbours, teachers or in solitude.

thistles, wild wheat and grasses in the dunes

Sanctuary can be found and created in a garden, a park, a field of wild flowers and by the sea …

a house sparrow feeding on wild wheat

… watching wildlife, listening to birdsong …

Cairngorms National Park in Summer, a view across Glenmore

… along the forest trails and in the mountains.

This week we invite you to share what Sanctuary means to you, where you find it or how you create your place of calm and healing. In your post, please make sure you include a link to this challenge and use the Lens-Artists tag so we can find your post in the WP Reader.

Last week, you shared your wonderful images of Winter for Ann-Christine’s challenge. Many thanks Ann-Christine for hosting last week’s challenge and to all of you who contributed your amazing images of this beautiful season of snow and contemplation.

Have you seen these?

  • Abrie (Abrie Dink Hardop) takes us on a breath-taking Winter expedition in South Africa and shares a potential front cover for his memoir in Conquering Africa – A Winter Expedition
  • Yan Balczewski (From Hiding to Blogging) shares some beautiful frost flowers in Polar Vortex
  • Rupali (mazeepuran) shows us a magical Norwegian Winter and a poignant sculpture titled ‘Peace is a Promise of the Future’ in Fred er løfte om fremtid

What’s up next week? Stay tuned on 8 August when Amy will be hosting LAPC #109.

Wishing you all a wonderful and creative week ahead and I look forward to your submissions!

With love from Xenia xxx

Photographs by Xenia Tran, edited in lr.

Lens-Artists Weekly Photo Challenge #108: Sanctuary

Word of the Day Challenge: Introducing

Author: Tranature - quiet moments in nature

The stories, poems and photographs on Tranature are the original creative work of Xenia Tran, inspired by the natural surroundings of the Scottish Highlands.

239 thoughts on “Lens-Artists Weekly Photo Challenge #108: Sanctuary”

  1. Pingback: Lens-Artists Photo Challenge #108: Sanctuary – P.A. Moed

    1. Thank you so much for your kind words Siobhan and for sharing your beautiful sanctuary with us here 🧡

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    1. Thank you so much for your kind words dear LolaWi and for sharing your beautiful sanctuary with us here 🤗💚

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  7. Pingback: Lens-Artists Weekly Photo Challenge # 108: SANCTUARY | Kanlaon

    1. Thank you kindly dear Marianne and thank you so much for sharing your beautiful sanctuary with us here 🧡

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        1. Thank you kindly, it’s lovely to see such a beautiful variety of sanctuaries and sacred places to replenish the soul 💜

          Liked by 1 person

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    1. Thank you so much for your kind words dear Lisa and for your magical contribution – such a treat to see the dragonflies and discover this beautiful park! 🤗💖

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    1. Thank you so much for your contribution Ulli, it’s lovely to see a contribution from the Lower-Bavarian countryside! Your pingback seems to be fine too 🙂

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        1. Thank you Ulli! That sounds like a wonderful place for a safe holiday. I visited Badheilbrun and the area near the Tegernsee as a child and loved it there. Enjoy the rest of your stay and may you and yours stay safe and well too 🙏

          Liked by 1 person

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  17. A beautiful post, Xenia 🙂 🙂 I’m lucky too in where I lay my head, and the local community have tried hard to provide food and shelter for those who are without. Times have been very unkind to some. Here’s hoping for better times ahead.

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    1. Thank you so much for your kind words dear Jo and so lovely to hear about the good work in your community 💜 May you all stay safe and well and here’s hoping for better times too 🙏 xxx

      Liked by 1 person

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    1. Thank you so much for your kind words dear Jez and for sharing your beautiful sanctuary with us here 🤗

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    1. Thank you so much for your kind words dear Sylvia and for sharing your beautiful sanctuaries with us here 🤗💜

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  31. Pingback: Lens-Artists Photo Challenge #108: Sanctuary – Cee's Photo Challenges

    1. Thank you so much for sharing dear Cee, I love your entry and your photographs are beautiful as always 🤗🧡 xxx

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  33. Pingback: Lens Artists Challenge 108 – Sanctuary – norasphotos4u

  35. Your photographs are gorgeous, especially the swans and the sparrow(?) you live in a beautiful part of the world. I will join you on Friday with the place which has been my sanctuary for the past four years, but especially so since March this year, so please look out for the link. Many thanks for hosting this week’s Lens-Artists challenge, an opportunity for me to meet you.
    Jude xx

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    1. Thank you so much for your kind words dear Jude and lovely to meet you here! I look forward to seeing the place which has been your sanctuary for the past four years and in our recent, extraordinary times. Take care and I shall watch out for your link 💜

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  36. Pingback: Lens-Artists #108 – Sanctuary – lil bit of everything

    1. Thank you so much for your kind words and your beautiful contribution dear Lily, I love the scent and sight of wildflowers 💜

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