In the early years of the new millennium, Dan Buettner, a National Geographic explorer, and his team began to discover that some places on the world’s canvas held secrets of longevity. They called them “Blue Zones” — areas in the world where people live significantly longer and above all healthier lives, often well into their 90s and even 100s.

Two of the five original “Blue Zones” are found in Mediterranean realms, which isn’t too surprising. In Sardinia, Italy, especially the mountain villages in the Nuoro province, there’s a high number of centenarian men, partly due to lifestyle, genetics, active daily routines and a Mediterranean diet rich in whole grains, beans, vegetables and wine in moderation. In Ikaria, Greece, there are very low rates of dementia and chronic disease. People follow a Mediterranean diet rich in olive oil, vegetables and herbal teas. They take naps and maintain active social lives. The three remaining “Blue Zones” were found in Okinawa (Japan), Nicoya Peninsula (Costa Rica) and Loma Linda (California).

There are a few lifestyle traits they all have in common:
They practise natural movement by staying active through daily life, such as walking, gardening or doing manual work, rather than hitting the gym. They are aware of their purpose and have a strong reason to get up in the morning (“Ikigai” or “plan de vida”). They follow regular rituals to unwind — prayer, naps, happy hour, etc… Being part of a faith or spiritual community gifts them a deep sense of belonging. They have close family ties, caring for their elders, and they’re sustained by supportive friendships.

Not all “Blue Zones” can be found on a map — but somewhere deep inside you lies a coastline where life feels endless. You know you have arrived there when your shoulders drop, your breath slows and your heart remembers…

We may never walk the quiet, winding streets of Nuoro at dawn, where time slows beneath the ancient stone walls and the scent of wild myrtle drifts through the air. Who knows if we’ll ever get to feel the warm ocean breeze of the Nicoya Peninsula? Yet, we too can find the sacred corners of our own existence… If we close our eyes for some instants and dare to dive deeply into our inner realms, we might see them — those moments in time that have kept us alive, shimmering like islands on a blue horizon.

Today, I invite you to try a little ritual that’s both profound and creative. You can make it as small or as big as you feel like:

Take your art supplies out and choose all the blues you can find. If you have nothing at hand and can’t borrow any supplies right now, this is a great moment to cultivate your adventurousness and crush some fresh blueberries, using the juice as a soft, watercolor-like paint — though it’s delicate and fades quickly, it is perfect for gentle, intuitive brushstrokes. If you’re familiar with Cyanotype and the alchemy that happens through sunlight, your “Blue Zones” are definitely a wonderful project to explore!

Get in the mood and connect with your inner sanctuary as it best works for you. This can be as simple as placing your hands on your heart, closing your eyes and breathing deeply in and out a few times, whispering your own name.

… And now you start to reflect on your unique “Blue Zones” that cannot be found on any map. You can paint them, write them down and give them a simple, yet heartfelt expression to honor them in a special way. This unique piece of art can serve you as a gentle reminder for challenging times and should definitely be a part of your “Soul Medicine” collection.

I would always strongly encourage you to be totally open and trust your intuition, see what comes up, dive into the flow of the moment and let your soul speak… But if you need some glimpses of inspiration today, may this be a gentle guidance for you to dive deeply:

Delve into the awareness of something you would identify as your “Blue Tribe” — the people that keep you deeply rooted and light at the same time. Do you have such souls in your life already? If not, how do you imagine these people to be?

Sometimes we need small islands in time in order to escape the often harsh rhythm of our society and time. What’s something you enjoy so much that it makes you lose the sense of time passing?

Imagine yourself as a very old person, far in your nineties, sharing your secrets around a late autumn bonfire — a few or even a few dozens, if you can handle that well, of younger people looking at you with great curiosity and asking: “So… What is it that kept you going during all these years?” You smile, and your answers start arising from the depth of your being.

Is, or was there someone in your family who is the keeper of a “recipe”, belief or piece of wisdom that holds the secret to living a long and healthy life? What’s their secret? How could you honor this person today, being aware of the gift they gave to you?

If your very own “Blue Zone” was a place, no matter if real or not, what would it look like?

Imagine the calmest, softest, coziest place where you can rest and just be in the moment for a while. If you feel so, paint it in the middle of your canvas or page. What shade of blue would you choose? Is there a word, or even a phrase you could use as a mantra when you desperately need calmness in your life? I’ll share mine with you… It is: “EN EL FONDO DEL MAR REINA LA CALMA ABSOLUTA.” I was gifted these words some years ago during a retreat in a very special place, an ancient monastery. Eduardo, one of the facilitators, has a voice that is predestined to guide meditations, to soothe the tired soul, to listen to for felt ages. We went for a silent walk, slowly, very mindfully, and then, without the need of a word, stopped and placed ourselves around an old tree. In the middle of this silent space, Eduardo, with his uniquely warm and gentle voice, said this one phrase. I still get goosebumps as I write it down here and now. It’s one of those hidden gifts you might only recognize as time goes by… Gracias, Eduardo. Te envío, silenciosamente, una lluvia de calma, gratitud y bendiciones.