Welcome to paradise

In the heart of the Mediterranean, a sisterhood gathers to pray, paint watercolours and pursue peace through spiritualism. MEDINA TREVATHAN reflects on the heaven to be found within The Women Sanctuary

- MEDINA TREVATHAN

On the Aeolian island of Filicudi in Sicily, I set a few pomegranates in the centre of a circle. To the 10 women who make up this circle, I say, "Forget everything you know about pomegranates. Pretend like you've never seen them before. Now, open your eyes and marvel." Living in a time where we feel compelled to optimise every second of our day, it can be easy to overlook the magic in the mundane. It is only when we take the time to truly observe that we realise that pomegranates are ruby-like jewels encrusted in perfect round cases bursting with sweetness. I tell the women how the ancient city of Granada in southern Spain was named after this fruit, how the Quran lists it as one of the fruits that will be found in paradise. Soon, they begin sharing memories of their own-of relishing their grandmother's pomegranate molasses, of painstakingly cleaning the white membrane off the little arils, of wincing when the seeds were unexpectedly sour.

Teaching a class on plants of the Quran, my main goal is not to simply list the properties of individual plants. Instead, I want to inspire a sense of wonder and guide those around me to elevate their surface-level interactions with the natural world. My philosophy resonates with Rym Nur, who set up The Women Sanctuary as an exclusive female-led retreat, rooted in Islamic tradition and sisterhood but resonating with women of all faiths, even non-believers. Attendees come from far and wide Brooklyn, Amsterdam, Cairo, Bahrain and London, even Mumbai. They lead busy urban lives back home, waking up with the blare of the alarm clock, chasing deadlines through the day and falling asleep to the blue light from their phone screen. For them, intentionally slowing down is as much a necessity as it is a desire.