“One’s destination is never a place, but a new way of seeing things.” – Henry Miller

© Lord Coltrane Iphone Photo: "Dreaming" in Lake Como, Italy

I love to travel.  I believe travel opens our minds and hearts.  It allows us to respect our differences and celebrate our similarities.  We learn how to live.

Lake Como, Italy is visually stunning and diverse, the culture graceful and elegant, the vibe slow and dreamy.  And the food, of course, is amazing.  Life on this beautiful lake town is both high-end and laid back.  It’s pretty luscious (you might even bump into yummy George Clooney!)...but you have to get here first.

A Dreamy Traveler’s Secret

Traveling is not always a fluid experience.  On my way to Italy via London, I was accosted by an ATM scam artist, practically crushed by a group of tourists with no concept of personal space, and bogged down with way too much luggage.

But I worry not! Any woman who wants a continuous, dreamy flow through life (especially while traveling), needs only a feather and a sensual playlist to accomplish this goal.

The Light Feather Touch:

One secret to travel flow is to always pack a single feather.  It can be any color, any size. 

Stroking your bare skin with the ends of a feather, morning and night, will calm your nerves. You will get into a state of ecstasy.  It feels divine if your partner is willing to do the feathering for you (take turns if you’re not too greedy!). Studies show that a loving touch promotes emotional, physical, mental and spiritual well-being.  Babies need it to survive.

Using a “feather touch” will produce a tingling sensation that remains long after it has moved off your body.  You will embody a dream-like flow throughout your travel day.

A Sensual Playlist:

You might appear a little strange stroking yourself with a feather in public, so I suggest you also create a sensual playlist on your smart phone.

When your luggage is delayed, or you have a pack of eager tourists desperately trying to cut in front of you, just pop on the earphones. Or, you can pick one of the songs and hum it to yourself.  You’ll be able to relax into your body and sway internally, while everyone around you remains frantic. 

Music is known to calm the nerves; the power lies in its unique link to our emotions.  The right kind of music can slow your heart rate, lower blood pressure, and decrease stress hormones.  By creating a sensual playlist, you are not only calming your body, you are opening it up to receive pleasure in every way.

Here is my sensual playlist for this European visit. I hope it gets you through the rough spots, and takes you to a dreamy place as it does me.

La Vie en Rose – Grace Jones

Feeling Good – Nina Simone or Muse

Slow Dance – John Legend

Dream a Little Dream of Me – Ella Fitzgerald or Eddie Vedder

Girl from Ipanema – Astrud Gilberto & Stanz Getz or Amy Winehouse

Giving Him Something He Can Feel – En Vogue

(You Make Me Feel) Like a Natural Woman – Aretha Franklin

I Want a Little Sugar in My Bowl – Nina Simone

Secret – Maroon 5

Loving You – Paolo Nutini

4 And 20  - Joss Stone

At Last – Etta James or Beyoncé

I want you – Kings of Leon

Son of Preacher Man – Dusty Springfield

Sunshine of Your Love – Ella Fitzgerald

Can’t Take My Eyes Off of You – Lauryn Hill

If you have more sensual music suggestions, please share them!