{"id":2691,"date":"2022-10-12T14:32:44","date_gmt":"2022-10-12T04:32:44","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/mountainashchapter.com.au\/?p=2691"},"modified":"2022-10-12T14:32:44","modified_gmt":"2022-10-12T04:32:44","slug":"the-sanctuary","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/mountainashchapter.com.au\/?p=2691","title":{"rendered":"The Sanctuary"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Down the lane from the Macclesfield Road, the hooves thud in the sand;
Below the canopy of wind-swept gums, into this sanctuary you unexpectedly land.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Pony mad girls, big and small, mount their rides, a sense of calm instilled;
For on these majestic animals cantering around, their hearts are somehow fulfilled.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What is it about these four legged beasts that offers an unwitting therapy?
For my daughter, the horse is a constant in her life, a feeling that will forever be.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As a horse mum, I spend much time here or travelling to and fro;
And yet, if my daughter didn’t ride, it’s not a place I would normally go.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And in that moment of revelation, I can’t imagine it’s a place I’d never be;
for even me, who doesn’t ride at all, this place is a kind of sanctuary.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Away from the hustle and bustle of everyday life, the paddock commands its own ebb and flow;
The feeling doesn’t change at all, whether covered in spring wattle or under sleet and snow.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The ritual of stable life, a peaceful whinny and the swish of a tail;
Reminds me of what is important in life, and the sense of calm never fails.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sanctuaries can come in all shapes and sizes, but they all share one thing;
And that is the therapy they give you, and the sense of quiet they bring.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Do you love the world of Bethany Sinclair-Giardini? Read more of her works here; https:\/\/mountainashchapter.com.au\/?author=12<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Down the lane from the Macclesfield Road, the hooves thud in the sand;Below the canopy of wind-swept gums, into this sanctuary you unexpectedly land. Pony …<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":12,"featured_media":2692,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"advanced_seo_description":"","jetpack_seo_html_title":"","jetpack_seo_noindex":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"{title}\n\n{excerpt}\n\n{url}","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":false,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2},"_wpas_customize_per_network":false,"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[4,19],"tags":[68,190,192,191],"class_list":["post-2691","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-mountain-life","category-poetry","tag-bethany-sinclair-giardini","tag-horses","tag-macclesfield","tag-sanctuary"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/mountainashchapter.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/eberhard-grossgasteiger-38_XHFO6ycI-unsplash-scaled.jpg?fit=1707%2C2560&ssl=1","jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/pff1uY-Hp","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":4229,"url":"https:\/\/mountainashchapter.com.au\/?p=4229","url_meta":{"origin":2691,"position":0},"title":"In The Shadow of the Mountain","author":"Bethany Sinclair-Giardini","date":"March 1, 2024","format":false,"excerpt":"Amidst the gum trees on the mountain, a profound sense of solace envelops the soul. The crisp mountain air carries whispers of eucalyptus, creating a symphony with the rustling leaves. As sunlight filters through the branches, casting a dappled glow on the earth below, a serene calm settles in. Surrounded\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Memory Book"","block_context":{"text":"Memory Book","link":"https:\/\/mountainashchapter.com.au\/?cat=120"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/mountainashchapter.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/colin-meg-m9GG-ssELBE-unsplash.jpg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/mountainashchapter.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/colin-meg-m9GG-ssELBE-unsplash.jpg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/mountainashchapter.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/colin-meg-m9GG-ssELBE-unsplash.jpg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/mountainashchapter.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/colin-meg-m9GG-ssELBE-unsplash.jpg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/mountainashchapter.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/colin-meg-m9GG-ssELBE-unsplash.jpg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":2308,"url":"https:\/\/mountainashchapter.com.au\/?p=2308","url_meta":{"origin":2691,"position":1},"title":"My Mother was Six Foot One","author":"Amanda Gambas","date":"September 10, 2022","format":false,"excerpt":"My mother was six foot one. When she was nineteen she had fall from her horse and suffered terrible spinal injuries. After two years of rehab, she made a full recovery, to be walking. The staff would say she had a will of steel. Mother would say she had a\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Stories"","block_context":{"text":"Stories","link":"https:\/\/mountainashchapter.com.au\/?cat=5"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/mountainashchapter.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/paula-palmieri-s1B0_SB66uM-unsplash-scaled.jpg?fit=800%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/mountainashchapter.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/paula-palmieri-s1B0_SB66uM-unsplash-scaled.jpg?fit=800%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/mountainashchapter.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/paula-palmieri-s1B0_SB66uM-unsplash-scaled.jpg?fit=800%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/mountainashchapter.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/paula-palmieri-s1B0_SB66uM-unsplash-scaled.jpg?fit=800%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":4375,"url":"https:\/\/mountainashchapter.com.au\/?p=4375","url_meta":{"origin":2691,"position":2},"title":"Stone Yard Devotional by Charlotte Wood read by Ailsa Piper- A Review","author":"Maggie McLaren","date":"April 16, 2024","format":false,"excerpt":"The narrator made this book come alive for me. Her style was easy and at times meditative. The whole book was like a meditation. The story wove itself through me and was indeed like a service of worship as the name suggested. As I sat and listened each day it\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Review"","block_context":{"text":"Review","link":"https:\/\/mountainashchapter.com.au\/?cat=23"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/mountainashchapter.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/maxresdefault-e1713221060489.jpg?fit=600%2C338&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/mountainashchapter.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/maxresdefault-e1713221060489.jpg?fit=600%2C338&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/mountainashchapter.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/maxresdefault-e1713221060489.jpg?fit=600%2C338&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":4469,"url":"https:\/\/mountainashchapter.com.au\/?p=4469","url_meta":{"origin":2691,"position":3},"title":"The Funeral Celebrant","author":"Judie Mitchell","date":"May 10, 2024","format":false,"excerpt":"The funeral celebrant He didn\u2019t know him, of courseThe deceasedInstead he stitched together\u00a0a homespunCloth of many huesA wifely tale or twoA child\u2019s distant memoriesA mate\u2019s amusing anecdote He didn\u2019t know him, the deceasedWasn\u2019t privy to inside infoCouldn\u2019t know the fault linesOf a flawed and fractured life. He wasn\u2019t told the\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Poetry"","block_context":{"text":"Poetry","link":"https:\/\/mountainashchapter.com.au\/?cat=19"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/mountainashchapter.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/AdobeStock_631587878_Preview-e1715341211269.jpeg?fit=600%2C400&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/mountainashchapter.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/AdobeStock_631587878_Preview-e1715341211269.jpeg?fit=600%2C400&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/mountainashchapter.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/AdobeStock_631587878_Preview-e1715341211269.jpeg?fit=600%2C400&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":4684,"url":"https:\/\/mountainashchapter.com.au\/?p=4684","url_meta":{"origin":2691,"position":4},"title":"Seasonal Sentinel","author":"Bethany Sinclair-Giardini","date":"October 31, 2024","format":false,"excerpt":"English countryside,whispers roamA solitary treecalls it home. Branches reach out,a simple embracePathways wandered,time and space. The tales it could weaveGiven half the chanceOf lovers entwined,in a tender dance. Or travellers passing,with burdens to bear,Finding solace beneathits branches fair. From the Canterbury Talesof Chaucer\u2019s hand,This mighty treebelongs to the land. Across\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Mountain Life"","block_context":{"text":"Mountain Life","link":"https:\/\/mountainashchapter.com.au\/?cat=4"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/mountainashchapter.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/johann-siemens-EPy0gBJzzZU-unsplash.jpg?fit=1200%2C795&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/mountainashchapter.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/johann-siemens-EPy0gBJzzZU-unsplash.jpg?fit=1200%2C795&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/mountainashchapter.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/johann-siemens-EPy0gBJzzZU-unsplash.jpg?fit=1200%2C795&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/mountainashchapter.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/johann-siemens-EPy0gBJzzZU-unsplash.jpg?fit=1200%2C795&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/mountainashchapter.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/johann-siemens-EPy0gBJzzZU-unsplash.jpg?fit=1200%2C795&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":3988,"url":"https:\/\/mountainashchapter.com.au\/?p=3988","url_meta":{"origin":2691,"position":5},"title":"And so it goes","author":"Judie Mitchell","date":"November 21, 2023","format":false,"excerpt":"The mess on the tableThreatens methe haphazard papers balding pens useless blunt scissorsmurky mugs open dusty laptops tissues scrawled on coffee stained calendarcards for this or that doctor gardener dentist handyman In a swirl of energy I clean it upI put things backI tell them to stayBut they don't and\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Mountain Life"","block_context":{"text":"Mountain Life","link":"https:\/\/mountainashchapter.com.au\/?cat=4"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/mountainashchapter.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/samantha-gades-LA6XfeVI5_c-unsplash.jpg?fit=1200%2C801&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/mountainashchapter.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/samantha-gades-LA6XfeVI5_c-unsplash.jpg?fit=1200%2C801&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/mountainashchapter.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/samantha-gades-LA6XfeVI5_c-unsplash.jpg?fit=1200%2C801&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/mountainashchapter.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/samantha-gades-LA6XfeVI5_c-unsplash.jpg?fit=1200%2C801&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/mountainashchapter.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/samantha-gades-LA6XfeVI5_c-unsplash.jpg?fit=1200%2C801&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/mountainashchapter.com.au\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2691","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/mountainashchapter.com.au\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/mountainashchapter.com.au\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mountainashchapter.com.au\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/12"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mountainashchapter.com.au\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=2691"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/mountainashchapter.com.au\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2691\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2693,"href":"https:\/\/mountainashchapter.com.au\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2691\/revisions\/2693"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mountainashchapter.com.au\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/2692"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/mountainashchapter.com.au\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=2691"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mountainashchapter.com.au\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=2691"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mountainashchapter.com.au\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=2691"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}