Rediscovering Our Truth: Portugal 2024
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At Deniyal Jewellery, my mission is to celebrate women, sisterhood, and the deep, timeless connection to the earth. I believe in the power of reclaiming our authentic selves, embracing our natural beauty, and empowering one another to redefine womanhood on our own terms. Recently, I had the privilege of holding a workshop with a group of incredible women in the stunning landscape of Central Portugal, and I’d like to share a piece of that transformative experience with you.
The day began with the warm sun on our faces and the promise of a journey that was as much about inner discovery as it was about reconnecting with nature. As we gathered together, we chose to strip away not just our clothes, but also the layers of shame, expectations, and judgments that society has ingrained in us over time. Standing in the sun, our skin exposed, there was a quiet, almost reverent moment as we each felt the weight of the world’s gaze fall away. For the first time, we could hear the whispers of our true selves.
The workshop wasn’t just about being naked in nature, it was about undressing the layers of self-doubt and insecurity that we all carry within. It was a courageous act of returning to ourselves, free from the narratives that the world imposes upon us. As we ventured further into nature, we explored the uncomfortable truths that have held us captive for far too long—the voice that echoes in our minds, telling us we are too much or too little, too this or too that. We confronted the messages that have defined beauty for generations, the toxic comparisons that strip away our confidence and sense of self-worth.
One of the most powerful practices we did that day was a breathing exercise designed to help us confront and release the judgment we carry about our bodies. We each chose a part of ourselves we were most unhappy with—the places where we felt most criticised, most broken, most wrong according to the world’s standards. As we breathed deeply into those parts of our bodies, we allowed ourselves to feel the full weight of that judgment. We breathed into the discomfort, into the anger, into the shame, and we sat with it as deeply as we could.
And then, together, we let it out. We let out a collective scream of release, a cathartic expression of liberation. It was a moment of pure, unfiltered energy—shedding years of internalised criticism and reclaiming our power. As we screamed, we let go of the destructive voices that had held us down for far too long, and we welcomed in a new, clearer voice: our true, authentic voice. The voice that is free from comparison, free from judgment, and free to exist in its fullness.
Taking photos of each other during the process wasn’t just about capturing the moment, it was a way to document our feelings, to express what we were going through as we challenged the negative self-talk and reclaimed our power. We spoke openly about our insecurities, shedding light on the voices that have been the loudest in our minds, and began to recognise something powerful: those voices—the ones that tell us we’re not enough, that we don’t belong, that we’re not beautiful unless we fit a narrow standard—were not our own.
They were the voices of the world, the critics, the cultural narratives, the expectations. And the more we tuned out these destructive voices, the more we discovered something profound: a quiet freedom beneath the noise. Below that critical, judgmental voice, there was a true voice—our voice. It was a voice that was not about flaw or comparison, but about comfort, liberation, and connection. When we allowed ourselves to drop beneath the weight of the world’s criticism, we found ourselves in a space of deep acceptance.
There was a sense of relief that washed over us, a coming home to our bodies in their most natural form. We began to feel the beauty of simply being, of occupying space without apology. Our curves, our scars, our imperfections—they became symbols of resilience, strength, and authenticity. We realised that our bodies, in their purest form, are not meant to be hidden or minimised; they are meant to be celebrated, loved, and embraced exactly as they are.
As the workshop drew to a close, we gathered in a circle beneath the canopy of an ancient tree—its roots deep in the earth, its branches reaching toward the sky. Together, we channeled the healing, the vulnerability, and the love we had experienced into something tangible: a talisman. Using our hands, we drew an intention in the soil, carving a symbol that represented everything we had uncovered, shared, and healed that day. This talisman was not just a mark in the earth, but a sacred imprint to commemorate our experience and to set an intention for the future. It was a commitment to carry the strength of this healing and this sisterhood forward, to hold ourselves and one another in love, and to live from a place of authentic power.
The talisman was a reminder that the healing we experienced wasn’t a fleeting moment—it was a foundation for the path ahead. With each step forward, we would carry the energy of this circle, this space of truth, this bond of sisterhood, and the deep-rooted knowledge that we are enough, just as we are.
In that moment, I could feel the connection not just between us as women, but also to the earth beneath our feet, the sun above us, and the vast, boundless sky. Nature, in all its wisdom, teaches us that we are enough. We are not the sum of our insecurities or the judgments others place upon us. We are so much more. We are powerful, we are whole, we are connected to everything around us—and we are deserving of taking up space in the world, as we are.
This experience was a reminder that empowerment doesn’t come from the approval of others, nor does it lie in meeting external expectations. It is found in rediscovering our authenticity, in embracing our uniqueness, and in trusting the quiet, liberated voice within. When we listen to that voice—free from the noise of comparison—we step into our true power.
This workshop was a gift, not just to me, but to every woman who joined me in this journey. Together, we are creating a new narrative—one that celebrates our fullness, our complexity, and the sacredness of our bodies. We are redefining what it means to be a woman, not through the lens of the world’s standards, but through our own. And in doing so, we are becoming the women we were always meant to be: powerful, authentic, and free.
Love Deni
The day began with the warm sun on our faces and the promise of a journey that was as much about inner discovery as it was about reconnecting with nature. As we gathered together, we chose to strip away not just our clothes, but also the layers of shame, expectations, and judgments that society has ingrained in us over time. Standing in the sun, our skin exposed, there was a quiet, almost reverent moment as we each felt the weight of the world’s gaze fall away. For the first time, we could hear the whispers of our true selves.
The workshop wasn’t just about being naked in nature, it was about undressing the layers of self-doubt and insecurity that we all carry within. It was a courageous act of returning to ourselves, free from the narratives that the world imposes upon us. As we ventured further into nature, we explored the uncomfortable truths that have held us captive for far too long—the voice that echoes in our minds, telling us we are too much or too little, too this or too that. We confronted the messages that have defined beauty for generations, the toxic comparisons that strip away our confidence and sense of self-worth.
One of the most powerful practices we did that day was a breathing exercise designed to help us confront and release the judgment we carry about our bodies. We each chose a part of ourselves we were most unhappy with—the places where we felt most criticised, most broken, most wrong according to the world’s standards. As we breathed deeply into those parts of our bodies, we allowed ourselves to feel the full weight of that judgment. We breathed into the discomfort, into the anger, into the shame, and we sat with it as deeply as we could.
And then, together, we let it out. We let out a collective scream of release, a cathartic expression of liberation. It was a moment of pure, unfiltered energy—shedding years of internalised criticism and reclaiming our power. As we screamed, we let go of the destructive voices that had held us down for far too long, and we welcomed in a new, clearer voice: our true, authentic voice. The voice that is free from comparison, free from judgment, and free to exist in its fullness.
Taking photos of each other during the process wasn’t just about capturing the moment, it was a way to document our feelings, to express what we were going through as we challenged the negative self-talk and reclaimed our power. We spoke openly about our insecurities, shedding light on the voices that have been the loudest in our minds, and began to recognise something powerful: those voices—the ones that tell us we’re not enough, that we don’t belong, that we’re not beautiful unless we fit a narrow standard—were not our own.
They were the voices of the world, the critics, the cultural narratives, the expectations. And the more we tuned out these destructive voices, the more we discovered something profound: a quiet freedom beneath the noise. Below that critical, judgmental voice, there was a true voice—our voice. It was a voice that was not about flaw or comparison, but about comfort, liberation, and connection. When we allowed ourselves to drop beneath the weight of the world’s criticism, we found ourselves in a space of deep acceptance.
There was a sense of relief that washed over us, a coming home to our bodies in their most natural form. We began to feel the beauty of simply being, of occupying space without apology. Our curves, our scars, our imperfections—they became symbols of resilience, strength, and authenticity. We realised that our bodies, in their purest form, are not meant to be hidden or minimised; they are meant to be celebrated, loved, and embraced exactly as they are.
As the workshop drew to a close, we gathered in a circle beneath the canopy of an ancient tree—its roots deep in the earth, its branches reaching toward the sky. Together, we channeled the healing, the vulnerability, and the love we had experienced into something tangible: a talisman. Using our hands, we drew an intention in the soil, carving a symbol that represented everything we had uncovered, shared, and healed that day. This talisman was not just a mark in the earth, but a sacred imprint to commemorate our experience and to set an intention for the future. It was a commitment to carry the strength of this healing and this sisterhood forward, to hold ourselves and one another in love, and to live from a place of authentic power.
The talisman was a reminder that the healing we experienced wasn’t a fleeting moment—it was a foundation for the path ahead. With each step forward, we would carry the energy of this circle, this space of truth, this bond of sisterhood, and the deep-rooted knowledge that we are enough, just as we are.
In that moment, I could feel the connection not just between us as women, but also to the earth beneath our feet, the sun above us, and the vast, boundless sky. Nature, in all its wisdom, teaches us that we are enough. We are not the sum of our insecurities or the judgments others place upon us. We are so much more. We are powerful, we are whole, we are connected to everything around us—and we are deserving of taking up space in the world, as we are.
This experience was a reminder that empowerment doesn’t come from the approval of others, nor does it lie in meeting external expectations. It is found in rediscovering our authenticity, in embracing our uniqueness, and in trusting the quiet, liberated voice within. When we listen to that voice—free from the noise of comparison—we step into our true power.
This workshop was a gift, not just to me, but to every woman who joined me in this journey. Together, we are creating a new narrative—one that celebrates our fullness, our complexity, and the sacredness of our bodies. We are redefining what it means to be a woman, not through the lens of the world’s standards, but through our own. And in doing so, we are becoming the women we were always meant to be: powerful, authentic, and free.
Love Deni