It’s already good

Dear friends,

Here is a message from founding mother Zoe at Amiglia.

We have been here for two months now, and living at Amiglia is so intense that I find it hard to look at it from a distance. It feels like a wave that keeps rolling—sometimes not as planned, sometimes slower, sometimes unexpectedly fast—and all I can do is surrender. Occasionally, I try to control things or wish they were different. At times, it feels like too much or not enough. Yet I always return to the point of letting go. I give up—not in defeat, but by withdrawing from wanting, controlling, or worrying. I step back from identifying with this project and simply let it unfold.

“It’s already good,” Michiel, a long-term guest, sometimes reminds me—and he’s right. It’s already so good. There is so much to enjoy and to be grateful for. Amiglia is a vibrant and wonderful place. We have a beautiful home with a stunning view from our terrace. Most days are sunny, and November has been entirely rain-free, making it delightful to have lunch outside. Beautiful, loving, and inspiring people come by to help build Amiglia.

A steady daily morning practice forms the heart of life here. For me, this is the nucleus of Amiglia. This morning, I felt especially moved by it—how fortunate we are to gather every morning in our cozy winter meditation room and enter that dimension where we (are open to) remember our true nature.

One of the many unexpected blessings here has been our connection with the neighbors. In no other place I’ve lived have I known and felt supported by so many neighbors. Most of them are elderly Italian men who generously lend us what we need and share helpful advice.

Another blessing is the landscape. The view from our terrace is lovely, but when we go for walks, the beauty, vastness, and stillness of nature are even more striking. Monferrato is such a beautiful region.

And yes—the fruit trees are planted! With guidance from Niba and help from Dario and his scavatore, we planted 20 fruit trees and 20 berry bushes. We’ve also prepared the vegetable garden soil and look forward to welcoming chickens and sheep to help manage the grass on the steeper parts of the garden. It seems Amiglia is becoming a farm as well.

Alongside the work, we cherish creativity at Amiglia. I’m especially looking forward to embracing this during our New Year’s week, where we welcome those who want to uncover more of their unique expression and creative potential.

Find more information here.

See the latest picture of life at Amiglia here.

With love,
Zoe