Exploring stories, beauty, and imagination.

Welcome to My Journal

Here I share the stories behind my books and artwork, together with the ideas, discoveries,
and moments of wonder that continue to shape my creative world and the world of Fantaeryn.

 

9/25/2026 7:29:55 PM

What Makes a Living Garden

Carol Walden / Comment on this

What makes a garden truly alive? Perhaps it is more than the plants growing within it. From companion planting and biodiversity to the less manicured gardens I encountered in India, I have become fascinated by the relationships that allow living systems to flourish. If difference creates possibility and relationship creates resilience, perhaps a garden can teach us something profound about the Living Field, and about our own place within it. [...]

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9/4/2026 7:46:37 PM

The Self-Contained Human

Carol Walden / Comment on this

We think of ourselves as individuals, contained within the boundaries of our own bodies. But how independent is a human being, really? The closer we look, the more relationships appear—and perhaps individuality and interdependence were never opposites at all. [...]

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9/4/2026 5:09:21 PM

We Were Never Outside Nature

Carol Walden / Comment on this

We speak of going *into* nature, reconnecting *with* nature, even getting *back* to nature—as though nature were somewhere else. But what if the separation we feel is not the same as actual separation? Perhaps we have never been outside the living world at all. Perhaps we have simply learned to see ourselves that way. [...]

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8/12/2026 6:38:26 PM

What If Evolution Selects Relationships, Not Just Organisms?

Carol Walden / Comment on this

What if evolution has not only been selecting organisms, but relationships? The Living Field Hypothesis explores the possibility that life becomes more resilient, complex and capable through the connections between living things, and asks what might change if humans learned to become conscious participants in those relationships. [...]

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7/18/2026 7:58:40 PM

Why I Wrote "The Whispered Horse"

Carol Walden / Comment on this

More than a fantasy novel, The Whispered Horse grew from a lifelong relationship with nature, imagination, and the living world. Discover the inspiration behind the Fantaeryn series and the philosophy that continues to shape my stories, my art, and my life. [...]

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7/17/2026 7:57:23 PM

The Five Great Turnings of Fantaeryn

Carol Walden / Comment on this

Discover the ancient legend that shapes the world of The Whispered Horse. The Great Turnings of Fantaeryn explore our connection with nature, the consequences of separation, and humanity's relationship with the living world, revealing the deeper philosophy behind this ecological fantasy series. [...]

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7/2/2026 8:03:39 PM

What Makes The Whispered Horse Different from Traditional Fantasy?

Carol Walden / Comment on this

Although the story is filled with ancient forests, Elves, forgotten prophecies, and extraordinary creatures, its true heart lies elsewhere. Rather than asking who will conquer the world, it asks what happens when a world begins to forget its own song. Discover why I describe The Whispered Horse as an ecological fantasy, how a lifetime of loving horses shaped Nyxara, and why wonder, relationship, and harmony lie at the centre of the Fantaeryn series. [...]

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6/20/2026 8:08:31 PM

The Real Power Is in the Heart

Carol Walden / Comment on this

Modern research suggests that the heart influences far more than physical health. It may help explain why gratitude, creativity, community, and connection matter so deeply—and why the philosophy behind Fantaeryn imagines a world sustained by coherence rather than domination. [...]

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6/6/2026 12:40:36 AM

The Pattern Beneath Things: Art, Pattern and the Living World

Carol Walden / Comment on this

Virginia Woolf once wrote that "behind the cotton wool is hidden a pattern." It is a simple observation, yet one that has shaped much of my thinking as both an artist and a writer. We often experience life as a series of separate events, people, and problems. Yet the longer I spend painting, writing, gardening, and observing the natural world, the more convinced I become that reality is less a collection of isolated things and more a living pattern of relationships. Art has a unique ability to reveal those hidden connections, helping us see what is already there but often overlooked. This idea has also become one of the philosophical foundations of my fantasy series, Fantaeryn, where healing begins not through conquest or control, but through the restoration of relationship. Read more... [...]

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7/3/2025 9:03:43 PM

Conservation Art: How Creativity Fuels the Fight to Protect Nature

Carol Walden / Comment on this

Conservation artists champion the cause of preserving life itself, translating Earth's beauty and vulnerability into art that awakens the soul. Through serene landscapes, intricate wildlife studies, and sustainable creations, they invite us to witness, reflect, and act. Discover how these artists—and the collectors who support them—are weaving a legacy of harmony between humanity and nature. (P.S. Don't miss the story of Australia's trailblazing Scott sisters, whose 19th-century illustrations still inspire reverence today.) [...]

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