Psychology., a feeling of happiness, confidence, or well-being sometimes exaggerated in pathological states as mania.
a state of intense happiness and self-confidence.
As we welcomed 2025, global headlines highlight a range of events and behaviors that offered insights into human nature and societal dynamics—most of them disturbing. I wasn’t going to look at the news, I spent a wonderful morning observing all my firsts…the first flower I saw in 2025, the first kiss, the first breakfast, the first card from my Art of Life Inspiration Deck, the first of many beautiful things.
I wondered, “what will first newspaper headline? What will the newspapers report?” And it was a malestrom of horrors—from family violence, road rage, violent assaults and more. And then an email from James Clear, author of Atomic Habits, arrived in my inbox, offering a ‘secret’ chapter:
“The secret chapter is titled “The Biology of Bad Behavior” and it explains some of the biological underpinnings behind bad habits and what scientists are doing about it. This chapter was cut from the final manuscript, but now you can get access to it.”
Have you ever wondered why some people seem to default to “bad” behavior while others excel at making better choices? Is it all about willpower, or is there something deeper at play? To understand the biology of bad behavior, we must examine how our habits form, how biology and environment influence us, and what science says about changing harmful patterns.
As James Clear writes in his bestselling book Atomic Habits, “Habits are the compound interest of self-improvement.” But what about the habits that aren’t so beneficial? The ones that lead us to lash out in anger, procrastinate on important tasks, or indulge in self-destructive behaviors? To address these questions, we need to dig into the roots of behavior — from our brain chemistry to the systems that drive our decision-making.
Human behavior, both good and bad, is deeply influenced by our biology. Key factors include….
On a more joyful note I began the year leaning into true joy with my New Years Day release, The Great Guinness Heist: A Hilarious Holiday Caper)
As I began this story on New Year’s Day 2025, I found myself scanning the news headlines in search of something uplifting. Most of what I read only confirmed the messy state much of the world is in—stories of division, loss, and uncertainty. But then, tucked among the gloom, I saw a headline in The Guardian that made me smile: Great Guinness Heist: Thieves Stole Truck Carrying 35,000 Pints.
Intrigued, I shared the story with my partner. Without missing a beat, he quipped, “That’ll be The Travellers,” referencing a scene in the Netflix series The Gentleman. The comment, though lighthearted, got me thinking. How awful it must feel to always be blamed—whether you’re involved or not. And, as writers do, I wondered: What if there was another version of the truth?
From that seed of curiosity grew this story—a madcap Christmas tale where stolen Guinness becomes the foundation for an unlikely community bond. In a time when division often feels louder than connection, perhaps a little festive mischief and shared humanity are exactly what we need to remind us of the good.
Here’s the blurb:
The Great Guinness Heist: A Hilarious Holiday Caper
When a truck carrying 35,000 pints of Guinness disappears just before Christmas, chaos erupts in the Midlands. Barry, a beleaguered pub landlord, faces the festive season with taps running dry and a rowdy crowd demanding their beloved “black stuff.” But when rumors of balaclava-clad thieves rolling kegs onto a canal barge surface, the locals band together to track the culprits in a merry misadventure filled with pints, pratfalls, and plenty of laughs.
From Jim, the cantankerous conspiracy theorist who blames The Travellers for everything from missing dentures to stolen stout, to Sheila, the voice of reason who’s had enough of his nonsense, this mismatched group of pub regulars stumbles into a Christmas caper they’ll never forget.
Will they uncover the truth behind the Guinness shortage? Or will their quest for justice turn into another pint-sized disaster?
Perfect for fans of small-town humor, festive shenanigans, and a good pint of Guinness, this laugh-out-loud comedy is the holiday escape you didn’t know you needed.
Pour yourself a pint, settle in by the fire, and join the Midlands’ most unlikely heroes for a Christmas story as rich as the stout they’re hunting. Cheers!
AMAZON:
US: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DRZ8TFD3
CA: https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B0DRZ8TFD3
UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0DRZ8TFD3
AU: https://www.amazon.com.au/dp/B0DRZ8TFD3
iBOOKS, BARNES & NOBLE AND OTHER GREAT BOOKSTORES:
https://books2read.com/u/bpVpK6
What Love Is
(both these paintings sold in 2025)
Studio vibes on the second of January: surrounded by vibrant energy and soulful creativity. These works-in-progress remind me of the beauty that arises from chaos and the power of color to lift our spirits.
Each stroke tells a story, each canvas a journey—and I’m so grateful to share this space with you.
Lyrical Beauty, Cassandra Gaisford, 2025. SOLD
The month ended with the creation of this beauty. Lyrical Beauty began her journey as a color-field painting, saturated with rain water and peachy tones, and ended with loops of blue and green. I had such joy and happiness creating this piece. Can you tell!
Finished on Jan 30, with the cosmic flow of a New Moon in Aquarius trining Jupiter. A celebration of celestial movement, rhythm, and vibrancy, this piece invites you to feel the flow of life in every brushstroke.
When I created Lyrical Beauty, I wasn’t just painting; I was releasing. Each stroke was an act of letting go, a surrender to the unpredictable flow of creativity. The electric greens and deep blues merge and dance together, dripping like rain meeting soil, evoking a symphony of nature’s most vital elements. This piece is my attempt to capture the harmony of life—the ebb and flow, the moments of chaos, and the serenity that often follows.
A New Earth of Love” is off to its new home in Rangiora!
There’s nothing quite like the joy of seeing my art find its perfect place, and this radiant piece is heading to a wonderful collector in the heart of Rangiora—a town known for its charm, creativity, and vibrant community. This is my first sale of 2025 and the naming of the painting feels very significant.
“A New Earth of Love” was born from a moment of deep artistic rediscovery, embracing my first love of pastel painting and the soul-enriching delight of flowers and luminous color. Created under the nurturing energy of the pink flower new moon in Taurus (ruled by Venus, the goddess of love), this piece was inspired by an ancient Camellia in the garden—a whisper of beauty from the past, blooming into the present.
I adore creating these smaller works of heART—perfect for curating a cozy corner, brightening a beloved bookcase, or bringing a splash of joy to your space. And of course, they make meaningful, heartfelt gifts.
If you’re drawn to the magic of color and the poetry of pastels, you may find another piece that speaks to your soul in my collection:
Explore available works here
https://shop.thejoyfulartist.co.nz/product-category/art/works-on-paper
And if you’re dreaming of something bespoke, commissions are always welcome! Let’s bring your vision to life with color and joy.
Flower Beauty, just sold too! Now both paintings are going to their new home together, forever.
This is one of the books I am most proud of writing. Nobody is untouched by alcohol harm in the world today, and so many people who want to stop or reduce their drinking don’t know how. My grandmother grew up in foster care and turned to alcohol in her later years. My mother told me she didn’t recall her mother ever being sober when she came home from school.
SOBER CURIOUS OR WORRIED ABOUT YOUR DRINKING?
A Crazy Little Thing Called Love, Cassandra Gaisford, 2022
Sold today (04 March) via Saatchi Art to a US collector. Oh, happy days!
This painting was inspired by the beauty of blooms, real and imagined. This beauty glows. Big is my jam. I never want to play small again. An audience of one? I painted this piece just for me. Why? Because it made me happy. And guess what? It made others happy, too.
“A Crazy Little Thing Called Love”This piece now lives in Los Angeles, with a beautiful collector rebuilding after the fires.There’s something quietly powerful about art finding its way into tender places—into healing hearts and homes ready to bloom again.
So many are restoring not just spaces, but their sense of beauty, love, and self.And I’m honored my work gets to be part of that journey
What joy super collectors bring! Spark of Fun will be joining Star Dust in Brian’s beautiful home.
Spark of Fun began its journey inn 2023, over the period of the Covid feardemic, the baseboard was the workbench used by all the people that attended my Create Amazing Abstract Courses….each one of them leaving the spark of joy and pure fun they had in my happy gallery (Art@Rangitane).
This truly original piece radiates pure joy ….these lovely memories of happiness are fused protectively within layers of pure beeswax and pure-pigmented coloured beeswax to create a love-capsule of joyful memories and provide the most amazing scent and shine.
I am so grateful to all the collectors who keep loving my work!!!! AGAIN, I shall always treasure and be thankful that Brian and his family were early pioneers in supporting my creativity and my gallery, art@rangitane—being the first people to visit when I first opened. They taught me courage and belief and faith in my truly original artworks—Spark of Fun being the latest
#ResilientSoul #InnerStrength #KeepGrowing #RiseAbove #PersonalGrowth #EmbraceChange #EvolveAndGrow #LifeLessons #encaustic #beeswax #sold #artforsalebyartist
I am loving detoxing like a duchess. Excess weight is peeling off, my sleep is vastly improved, and success shining.
A Fun, Joyous, and Frisky Guide to Ditching Alcohol with Elegance and Flair
Darling, if you’ve ever wondered whether you really need that glass of wine to unwind—or if there’s a way to live life even more fabulously without the fog of alcohol—then congratulations, you’ve just stumbled upon your royal decree.
This is not your standard doom-and-gloom detox book. No dreary lectures, no wagging fingers, and absolutely no boring rules. Instead, Detox Like a Duchess is about swapping hangovers for high vibes, sloppiness for sophistication, and tipsy regrets for total self-possession.
Think of it as your playful, joyous, and ever-so-frisky guide to stepping into your power—fully awake, fully radiant, and fully you. This book will show you how to:
✨ Ditch the drama and reclaim your sparkle—without losing an ounce of fun.
✨ Glow up from the inside out—because alcohol-free is the ultimate beauty elixir.
✨ Be the life of the party—sober, sexy, and sharper than ever.
✨ Romance yourself like the queen you are—because true indulgence has nothing to do with a glass of Merlot.
✨ Make this choice joyous, playful, and empowering—not restrictive or dull.
By the time you’re done, you won’t just be fine without alcohol—you’ll be thriving. This is about saying yes to MORE—more energy, more self-love, more delicious experiences, and a clear-eyed, hangover-free life that feels utterly indulgent.
AMAZON:
US: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0F12X5RDZ
CA: https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B0F12X5RDZ
UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0F12X5RDZ
AU: https://www.amazon.com.au/dp/B0F12X5RDZ
iBOOKS, BARNES & NOBLE AND OTHER GREAT BOOKSTORES:
https://books2read.com/u/boxrov
AUDIO
AUDIBLE:
US: https://www.amazon.com/Detox-Like-Duchess-Ditching-Elegance/dp/B0F1L1MPBV
I’ve been finding so much joy playing my guitar. And local folk have been so helpful
Joyous Wonder. it was so joyous, delivering her yesterday to my lovely patrons, and to share laughs and stories about the beauty art, flowers and friendship bring to our lives.
this painting is sold. commissions welcome www.thejoyfulartist.co.nz
This beauty is hanging in pride of place at Marsden Estate Winery in the sister piece was selected for the collectible art exhibition at the Auckland International Art Centre in Auckland and SOLD
I am thrilled with the reviews of my astro-inspired love story, Awakened By The Sheikh
She Radiates Love, is also cosmos-inspired
My passion is inflamed with fierce joy!
Right Harmony!
Exclusive to AMAZON:
US: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FHXYR55D
CA: https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B0FHXYR55D
UK: https://www.amazon.com.au/dp/B0FHXYR55D
AU: https://www.amazon.com.au/dp/B0FHXYR55D
AUDIOBOOK COMING SOON
There is a sacred hush that settles over the world when the rest of it is asleep.
It’s the time when stars still shimmer and dreams haven’t yet dissolved in the light of day. When the veil is thin, and the soul speaks in whispers. These are the liminal hours—the quiet space between night and morning, between endings and beginnings, between what was and what’s about to be.
This is where magic lives.
I used to dread these in-between moments—the 3:03 wakeups, the feeling of floating in a world not fully formed, the aching awareness of things unresolved. But I’ve come to understand them differently. Now, I love the in-between. I cherish the stillness, the not-knowing, the soft, golden ambiguity of becoming.
In the liminal, I meet my truest self.
She is raw.
Unrushed.
Unapologetically intuitive.
Here, I don’t create for applause. I create to remember. To reconnect. To realign.
The brush touches canvas not to impress, but to transmute.
The words flow not to explain, but to evoke.
When I surrender to these early hours, I feel guided—not by deadlines or expectations, but by something older and wiser. Sometimes I call her Spirit. Sometimes Magdalene. Sometimes simply, Me.
The liminal hours are not a void. They are a portal.
A portal to the inner wellspring.
A place to honour what’s stirring.
A place to let go of what no longer serves.
A place to listen.
If you’ve been waking at 2:22, 3:33, or 4:44, this is not a coincidence.
This is a call.
To write.
To paint.
To weep.
To pray.
To remember.
So next time you find yourself wide awake in the dark, don’t reach for distraction.
Reach inward.
Sit with your breath.
Light a candle.
Ask your soul:
What wants to be born through me now?
Because this—the in-between—is where your becoming begins.
And I am loving the in between of the house sale. Still being in the home I love. Tidying and polishing like the rare gem she is. Waiting for the right person to recognise her value.
On 27 July, just after the new moon in Leo and as we enter Lions Gate energies, I released the first book in my Playbook Series. Rooted in myth, personal memoir, and Machiavellian strategy, The Princess is a bold, liberating guide for reclaiming your power in a world full of smiling liars and false kings.
You’ll learn:
✔️ How to spot emotional manipulation and gaslighting tactics
✔️ Why “nice girls” get targeted—and how to stop being one
✔️ How to reclaim your truth, your power, and your peace
✔️ That fierce joy is your birthright, not a luxury
Whether you’ve experienced narcissistic abuse, betrayal in business or love, or simply want to stop being taken advantage of—The Princess is your call to arms.
AMAZON l APPLE l KOBO l BARNES & NOBLE
Great fun to write and a series using my triumphs in the face of injustice and the playbook I used! My intention and hope is that others will benefit from my hard-earned lessons.
It’s fun too, to be creating some Banksy inspired art so I have a healthy outlet to express my righteous rage—and boy have I got a lot to rant about.
You may enjoy my blog post where I share how seeing the Banksy exhibit in Auckland lit a match—activism can be fun! Why Banksy Inspires My Creativity (and Why I Can’t Wait for the Exhibition This Morning)
Max Gimblett and I in Wellington sharing a joke….quite a rude one!
One of my fabulous collector couples—who once owned a very prominent accountancy firm—often joke, “We’re collecting paintings now while we can afford them.” Their words always make me smile, and I couldn’t agree more!
I’m thrilled to share that two of my most significant works are being offered in the upcoming International Art Centre Collectable Art Auction in Auckland this month.
Among them is a collaborative piece created with renowned New York-based artist Max Gimblett, which we painted together in Maui when I won an art award, just before his Guggenheim exhibition. You may enjoy my blog about our time together: Max Gimblett Inspires
Alongside this, you’ll find Euphoria, a large and glorious work close to my heart.
If you’ve never taken part in an art auction before, it’s such a fun and exciting experience—and surprisingly easy. Richard and the International Art Centre team in Auckland is wonderful to deal with, and who knows—you may just snatch yourself a piece of history.
TWO of my collectable paintings will be starring alongside Banksy in this month’s International Art Centre Collectable Art Auction!
Euphoria I – acrylic on canvas, 122 x 122cm (2024)
Maui 2008 – in collaboration with Max Gimblett, sumi ink on Japanese handmade paper, 50 x 92cm
Register & View the Catalogue Now → View Catalogue
https://auctions.internationalartcentre.co.nz
Thrilled to share that Euphoria I has SOLD to a discerning collector at the International Art Centre Collectable Art Auction!
Euphoria I – acrylic on canvas, 122 x 122cm (2024) – SOLD
Thank you to all my wonderful new collectors! It means so much to know my paintings have found loving homes where they will bring joy and beauty every day.
“I honestly was on such a high about the painting all evening! I can’t wait to see it… I have just the spot. I could have picked so many of your paintings… love your craft! My house is full of art, it is my weakness for spending money on, and I already have spots picked for them! It has been such a pleasure buying them from you, so thank you! I like the art I buy to have a story too, and this, even though purchased online, has a nice one just from our communications and the background you have about each piece. Thank you, thank you, thank you! I will be saving up for a really big one now as my next purchase.”
How much joy it was to bring Heather’s dream of publishing her short stories to the world. And with such lovely reviews for her too.
Celebrate Small-Town Stories from the Heart of New Zealand
If you love uplifting, country-themed tales filled with laughter, resilience, and friendship, here’s your chance to dive into a heart-warming collection of short stories—straight from the heart of rural New Zealand.
For a limited time, you can grab your copy for just $0.99!
Perfect if you want to:
Support a debut author
Escape into fun, authentic small-town adventures
Enjoy stories that will make you laugh, tear up, and feel connected
Don’t miss this special offer—download today and join the celebration!
AMAZON
US: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FPZPP3XQ
CA: https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B0FPZPP3XQ
UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0FPZPP3XQ
AU: https://www.amazon.com.au/dp/B0FPZPP3XQ
iBOOKS, BARNES & NOBLE & OTHER GREAT STORES
https://books2read.com/u/meOdZr
Grab your copy today and celebrate the joy of country life through these wonderful short stories!
I loved her feedback for me also!
“Can you write a creative story?
“Can you write a book? If you asked me those questions last year, I would have said maybe and definitely no. Ask me now and I can confidently say, YES and YES. What’s the difference?
One very special lady, Cassandra Gaisford, The Joyful Artist. She is so much more than that. She has the wonderful ability to successfully identify potential in people. She knows how to ask the right questions, how to encourage and support towards total success. In such a nice way Cassandra nudged me along, building my confidence in myself as a writer and now a published writer. I would encourage others to check in with Cassandra and find out she can support them to success too. I love how much I am enjoying writing and being creative now and I am so grateful to Cassandra for being the magic ingredient in my journey.”
Want more soulful inspiration and creative courage in your life?
Sign up for my newsletter here to receive reflections, behind-the-scenes insights, and heart-led guidance straight to your inbox.
And if you’d love to dive deeper into stories that heal, uplift, and speak to the power of the human spirit, I invite you to explore my full collection of books here:
https://www.thejoyfulartist.co.nz/book-collections/
I’m honoured to have my painting Triumph of Venus included in the Silent Auction at this year’s premier fundraising gala:
Saturday 18th October 2025
5:30 PM – Midnight
Turner Centre, 43 Cobham Road, Kerikeri
Hosted in support of vital local charities, this glittering evening brings together art lovers, community leaders, and changemakers. Every bid helps make a difference — and your chance to take home Triumph of Venus is also a chance to give back with heart.
Inspired by beauty, love, and renewal, Triumph of Venus celebrates the divine feminine rising — a reminder that light always returns.
Together, let’s make art do what it does best — heal, inspire, and transform lives.
As Above So Below, Sold during my Art For The Heart Leaving Sale, 2025
When I took this photo I asked “what is your favourite word. Luca, said it was “flowers.” I loved that so much I asked him to chose one of my Joyous Wee Gems—my gift to him.
He chose “You Feed My Soul Deeply.“
You May Enjoy:
Why Tina Turner Inspires Me: choosing peace over pain
What joy to see this fav painting of mine go home with an Auckland interior designer and her husband to furnish their very cool Bay of Islands holiday home.
A luminous celebration of colour and intuition, Colour Pop is a large-scale abstract expressionist work inspired by the ever-changing natural landscape, the bold vision of Helen Frankenthaler’s 1960s colour field paintings, and the stunning sea views from my gallery studio in New Zealand. While filming a documentary on my creative process, I was intuitively moved to add a vibrant pop of Pyrrole Orange—infusing the composition with a burst of life and energy.
With its sweeping washes of turquoise, citrus green, and oceanic blue, this piece invites viewers into a joyful, meditative experience. Perfect for contemporary interiors, coastal homes, and collectors seeking vibrant, emotionally resonant statement art.
View more available works here:
https://shop.thejoyfulartist.co.nz/product…/art/available
#TheJoyfulArtist#ArtSale#ClosingDownSale#RelocationSale#StudioClearance#KerikeriArt#NZArtist#AbstractArt#FloralArt#ColourfulArt#ArtThatHeals#ArtForJoy#OriginalArtForSale#SupportLivingArtists#MakeMeAnOffer#CollectorsWelcome#BuyOriginalArt#HomeDecorInspo#ArtForYourHome#NewBeginnings
Colour Pop: Storm painting!
The flag of Panama is a rectangle divided into four quarters, with a blue star in the top-left white square and a red star in the bottom-right white square. The colors represent the historical Liberal (red) and Conservative (blue) parties, with white symbolizing peace and purity. The blue star stands for purity and honesty in the country’s civic life, and the red star represents the authority and law that upholds these virtues.
“‘Doesn’t she look AMAZING.”
Nettie and Baz came to my leaving sale with a view to purchasing one painting, and now have 7. Butterfly Lovers preceded ‘Passion’ which they came back for!
Dear Cassie,
This testimonial has been a long time coming as there are too many wonderful comments to say and I am more of a numbers chick than a word smith, so putting a concise meaning to my/our thoughts has been a bit of a challenge.
Honestly Cassie, you are a shining star who shares your talent, knowledge, energy and wisdom generously, and in such a kind, nurturing, thoughtful and even subtle manner . Thank you xx
We absolutely love your paintings in our home. They are food for our soul, bringing vitality & a positive energy, creating infectious smiles.
They are bold and gentle, lively and calming, bright and joyful yet peaceful and subtle –Your paintings are like yin and yang, totally different yet perfectly matched, nurturing harmony.
We will treasure your paintings always.
Nettie & Baz”
Soul Rising
it’s quite lovely that this little painting possibly was the last painting that sold before we move away. I love that it was this ladies special birthday and I had seen her early at my local spa when I was getting a pedicure!
I’m also gifting “sweetheart” to my good friend of Judy Owen to thank her for her amazing friendship. Also, because her husband is going to be going through a bit of an ordeal because he has bowel cancer he’s 59 years old and he has bowel cancer. They’re concerned about his lymph nodes as well, so he’s gonna be having chemotherapy, and I thought this painting infused with light might look really beautiful and be healing too.
I’ve also sold three of Cathy’s sculptures.
We booked the flights today – returning to love. Through the dark night of the soul!
8 weeks – not 12, with flexi dates if we want to stay longer….and Laurie’s friends in Panama guiding. Feels aligned. Inspired.
Everything feels better. Something wonderful to look forward to with a whole different vibe about everything.
But I leaned into joy. I did what Dr David Clements and Pam Gregory advise and leaned into joy and bliss. I went to my studio. I worked on Judy’s hydrangea painting. I tidied the studio. I loved the quiet.
Laurie had been pursuing booking via the US and my intuition told me to go via South America.
“a very good deal for you.
Based on:
You made an excellent choice.
Based on your profile:
Auckland → Santiago → (optional) Panama
…has FAR better energy than:
Auckland → LAX → chaos → Houston → chaos → Panama
The US is notoriously:
Santiago is:
For your nervous system, this is the right choice.
well we did it. We endured massive stress leading up to moving out of the house,a last minute flurry ,realising we didn’t have enough space in our car and fearing settlement would be confirmed before 9am.
A prayerful call to our friends ensued to use storage space in their garage and arrange for a courier to put stuff in the lock-up, as we ourselves drove to Auckland with the car full of stuff to go in the lock-up and the fuel gauge empty as arrived into Auckland.
Our fuel was empty too. Burnout doesn’t describe it!
I was so tired, so fatigued even when we arrived at our layover in Chile there were three times I nearly just fell asleep and Laurie worried I might fall asleep in our beautiful risotto.
But now we are in Panama and the Gamboa rainforest Rainforest Reserve, a unique nature-focused resort and eco-tourism destination set deep within the Soberanía National Park on the banks of the Chagres River where it meets the Panama Canal — about 30 minutes from Panama City
This is much more than a hotel — it’s an immersive rainforest experience with activities such as:
It is magical when we arrive. The Christmas tree all lit up and sparkling beneath a towering canopy of hardwood. Sitting on the deck overlooking the river, lightning illuminating the the water and the sky and the jungle jungle right in front of us as we sit on the deck, the only ones here enjoying a big bowl of gin and a cold beer.
So far, I love everything about Panama, the lights all the streets are lit up with Christmas lights in the high rises are dripping with gold and silver, and singing Christmas with their cheerful adornment.
Laurie’s friend Simon arranged for a VIP pick up for us the whole thing was so smooth so despite the stress of having had the last row on the flight from Santiago to Panama right down by the back of the toilet everything the minute we touchdown was smooth.
Laurie even found his sunglasses that he feared he had lost – miraculously they tuned up even though we had pretty much turned the suitcase inside out looking for them before arriving in Panama.
This morning, our first day here, as we sat around the pool, and I reached for my notebook, Laurie asked me what I was going to write, and I said “the gentleness of the sloth eating the red hibiscus flower.”
“For your book”, he says “how I would you describe it?”
So here’s what I wrote
The sloth was named because it was said to be lazy, always sleeping, but perhaps Mary-Anne thought, looking at the sloth’s soft golden fur and gentle brown eyes, perhaps it was wise. When did she ever stop to smell the flowers? She ran her hand through her long brown hair, once soft like the sloth, but now brittle with stress.
‘Or eaten a flower?’ she thought, watching as the sloth was enticed by the tour guide from his slumber by a plump, strawberry-red hibiscus flower. It gently reached its long-nailed paw toward the flower, curled its nails around the petals, then floated the flower toward its mouth and drew it into its lips. A whisper, a soft breeze, a puff, and the flower was gone.
‘The sloth is so gentle,’ she thought. Calm and soft, like she yearned for her life one day to be. And then, like a blessing, the sky opened, and rain fell in a steady shower of sparkling light as if the stars were sending a blessing from heaven, a christening of water just as she reached the Butterfly Sanctuary.
While others ran for shelter, she stood beneath the rain, smiling as bright blue iridescent luminous butterflies circled around her, and a hummingbird darted between flowers.
She watched the tourists throw makeshift plastic ponchos over clothes, then leap across puddles in long white socks and sandals. While they took great care not to get wet, Mary-Anne splashed through the puddles in her jeweled beach sandals and laughed as the rain ran through her hair, down her shoulders, her breasts, her stomach, and for a moment she thought of him.”
I hope you enjoyed this wee excerpt from my current WIP Love in Panama!
Well, we have been in Panama now for gosh, it really is only one week. We spent four nights in Gamboa, and we are now in Boquete, which I love so much.
I love the river. I love the rhythm. I love the beautiful place we’re staying, with the large windows and the reasonable quiet. You can never really escape a bit of noise when you are around people, and there are a lot of retired people here with pristine gardens that need looking after.
I am grateful to be able to do that. When we lived back in New Zealand on a 9 acre property, downtime felt so rare. I do, of course, miss my friends. I miss the familiarity of things, the tidiness and order of things, but then the gift of being here in Boquete, as I don’t really want to shop. I don’t really want to buy very many things. I have everything I need.
I listened to some astrology reports last night, which were really around going with the winds of change, the whole letting go, not needing to know the answers, trust, and the great unfolding. I don’t know where we will land or where we will live, but just for today I will not worry. We have our health, our wellbeing, our relationship, our passion. And I do know that it is very beautiful and special here and everyone has been so kind.
Laurie and I first night in Boquete at the Rock restaurant
The volcanic rock, Finca Lerida, Boquete
12:00 pm and confirmation of going with the flow came in. My intuition guided me this morning to email Finca Lerida to see if we could find the ‘missing’ night we needed of Boxing Day, and then to my delight and relief it came through.
“Hola Cassandra,
Thank you for your response.
What we can do is switch rooms. On December 26th, you can stay in the Deluxe Queen at a nightly rate of $242 + 10% taxes. The following day, you would switch to the Chimney King, at a nightly rate of $289 + 10% taxes.
Please note that this involves a check-out/check-in process, so the first room must be vacated by 11:00 AM, and the next room will be ready at 3:00 PM. Our colleagues will assist you with the process, and we will do our best to have the room ready earlier if possible.
Please let me know if you would like to proceed with this arrangement.
Best regards,”
And now, as I write, all I can hear is the sound of the river washing over riverstones.
Cover Reveal + Exclusive Teaser
I’m so excited to finally share this moment with you.
Today, I’m revealing the cover for my upcoming novel Love in Panama, a slow-burn, later-in-life destination romance set high in the emerald hills of Boquete, Panama—where coffee plantations cling to volcanic soil and transformation arrives when you least expect it.
This is a story about reinvention.
About desire that deepens with age.
And about the courage it takes to say yes when life offers you a second beginning.
Set among mist-wrapped coffee plantations and tropical heat, the cover of Love in Panama captures the heart of the novel: beauty, mystery, and the moment just before everything changes.
Panama is more than a backdrop in this story—it is a living, breathing force. A place where hummingbirds flash between flowers, butterflies circle after rain, and the land itself seems to whisper truths long buried.
This is the kind of setting made for romantic escapism, perfect for readers who love international romance, exotic locations, and emotionally rich storytelling.
At the centre of Love in Panama is Mary-Anne, a 44-year-old woman standing at a crossroads.
Tired of shrinking.
Tired of surviving.
Tired of giving everything and receiving too little in return.
When an unexpected inheritance draws her to Panama, she steps into a world that challenges everything she believes about love, security, and desire—and asks her to risk far more than she ever has before.
This is a later-in-life romance for women who know that passion doesn’t fade with age—it deepens.
While others ran for shelter, she stood beneath the rain, smiling, as blue butterflies circled and a hummingbird flashed between flowers—a reminder that transformation often arrives on the smallest wings.
And then there is him.
A powerful man who has built an empire from emeralds and land.
A man shaped by loss, discipline, and restraint.
A man who understands rarity—until he meets a woman who cannot be owned, extracted, or controlled.
What begins as recognition becomes temptation.
What feels like fate quickly turns dangerous.
This is not a safe love story.
It’s a true one.
Love in Panama is about listening when life whispers now.
About honouring the joy you once had—and daring to reclaim it.
And about the kind of love that doesn’t arrive neatly wrapped, but asks you to step into the unknown.
This love story is about courage. About listening when life whispers now!
And about the kind of love that doesn’t arrive safely—but truthfully.
I cannot wait to share more with you soon.
With love and anticipation,
P.S.
Here is the writing room today—quiet, light-filled, and waiting patiently for my laptop, where I’ll be putting the final touches on Love in Panama.
And yes… I’m really here.
I’m in Boquete, Panama.
It’s my first time in this beautiful country, and I can honestly say I understand now why this story insisted on being written here. The air feels different. Softer. Charged. There are hummingbirds darting past the windows, coffee plants heavy with fruit on the hillsides, and a sense—hard to explain, but unmistakable—that change is not only possible, it’s encouraged.
So much of Love in Panama was born from this feeling.
The idea of a woman arriving at a crossroads later in life.
The courage it takes to leave what is familiar—even when it no longer fits.
The quiet, dangerous pull of a place that asks you to become more of who you really are.
Walking these hills, sitting with my notebook and coffee, listening to the rain move through the trees, I’ve felt deeply connected to Mary-Anne’s journey. Her longing. Her hesitation. Her hope that joy might return—not loudly, but honestly.
This story has been shaped by travel, by landscape, and by that moment we all face eventually, when life whispers: now.
I’m so close to finishing it, and I can’t wait to share what has emerged here with you.
A Christmas Greeting from Panama
Sending you Christmas wishes from the tropics—where the air is warm, the light is golden, and the spirit of the season feels quietly expansive.
This Christmas finds me, standing beneath a tree lit not by winter’s cold, but by warmth, color, and possibility. It feels fitting somehow—celebrating the season of light in a place that has reminded me how much joy can still be found when we allow ourselves to step into the unfamiliar.
As the year draws to a close, I’m holding gratitude close: for stories still being written, for courage found late rather than early, and for the gentle truth that it’s never too late to begin again.
This video captures a gentle Christmas Eve at Valle Escondido Resort, where rest comes naturally and creativity returns without force. Soft light, hummingbirds, sketching, and the simple pleasure of being present. After years of rushing, noise, and emotional labour, there is something profoundly healing about slowing down enough to listen to the body. When the nervous system finally rests, creativity doesn’t need to be chased — it arrives. This is a Christmas Eve without urgency. Without performance. Without pressure. Just colour pencils, quiet companions, mountain air, and gratitude. If you’re craving a slower Christmas, creative restoration, or a glimpse of life in Boquete during the holidays, this moment is for you.
When the nervous system rests, creativity returns. Filmed in Valle Escondido, Boquete, Panama #LoveInPanama #TropicalRomance #EnemiesToLovers #MarriageOfConvenience #SlowBurnRomance #Panama #BehindTheScenes #ChristmasInPanama
Wherever you are in the world—whether wrapped in summer light or winter quiet—I wish you a Christmas filled with peace, beauty, and the small, luminous moments that remind us what truly matters.
With love from Panama,
wWell, we are back in Boquete at our beautiful loft,and it was really lovely to come back feeling like home. The lights were on , there was music playing,a nd we went to one of our favourite restaurants. Laurie had trout and I had fish of the day.
It’s really peaceful and beautiful, and there are no storms like I read about back home, learning just to lean into the art of allowing because there is serenity in acceptance. Sometimes I do look back at my old life because I was so happy there, we had so many joyous moments in the years that I spent in Kerikeri, but a lot has changed. A lot will continue to change. And we must change.
I am reminded of the quote about the caterpillar thinking it is the end of its life. Where in fact it is just the beginning.
So we are one day out from the New Year and who knows what the future will hold but one thing is for sure it will involve peace and love and beauty.
We spent three magical nights tucked away in the mountains at Finca Lerida, Boquete, Panama, and it was everything the soul needed. Sunny mornings, misty evenings, world-class coffee grown right outside the window, warm conversations with travelers from all over the world — and the kind of quiet that lets you breathe again.
There’s something deeply grounding about simple pleasures:
a hot water bottle, a roaring fire, soft mountain air, and the gentle hum of nature all around.
One morning, I woke to hummingbirds dancing just outside the window, their wings catching the light like living jewels. Moments like that remind you how little you actually need to feel full again.
It was a wonderful way to spend the last few days of 2025 — slowing down, breathing deeply, and remembering that joy often lives in the smallest moments.
This is slow travel.
This is presence.
This is the kind of beauty that lingers long after you leave.
If you’re dreaming of Panama, mountain retreats, soulful travel, or simply a softer way of living — this place will steal your heart.
In a few days, we shall journey to The Golden Frog and do some more exploring, too. And today I am leaning into an attitude of gratitude and this includes travelling around Valle Escondido in the owner of the Loft’s, golf buggy and also booking a massage at the beautiful hotel below, just as Laurie suggested.
It’s December 31 here in Boquete, Panama and the end of 2025 is fast approaching – just half a day away as I write this post, and I’m reflecting on how fortunate I am to end the year in such a beautiful, peaceful place.
People are friendly and embrace the art of slow living, everything is beautiful, inspired by nature. People are unhurried. The food is amazing, the architecture beautiful, the contrast rich and splendid. We began our time here during the Christmas season, and now there are more celebrations as the New Year approaches.
Many moons ago, I once heard some lyrics which inspired my own midlife career rescue, and those words were, “I dream I’m on vacation-it’s the perfect career for me.”
Achieving this meant letting go of everything that no longer fit our life, that no longer gave us life, that just took life and energy from us. Letting go is not always easy. I’ve read of so many people who would love to downsize, to have less and live and love more, and yet they are unable to part with their possessions.
So much in my life has departed over the last few years. Not all my choice and yet strangely of my choice because as I realised that people were taking more than giving, that in prioritizing others wellbeing, my health was being compromised, I had to firm up my boundaries. As I wrote in one of my books, sometimes getting to yes means saying a lot of no.
AMAZON l APPLE l KOBO l BARNES & NOBLE and MORE
A season of renewal, expansion, and creative metamorphosis
There comes a moment in every artist’s life when the soul whispers,
“It’s time.”
Time to step beyond the familiar.
Time to dissolve the old stories, the old roles, the old landscapes.
Time to wander into the wide-open unknown where new colours, new visions, and new creations are waiting.
For me, that moment is now.
The Joyful Artist studio is officially on sabbatical as I transition from New Zealand to Panama—
a pilgrimage of light, liberation, and creative rebirth.
This is not an ending.
It is an unfolding.
A deep exhale.
A resetting of the compass toward wonder.
Because creativity needs room.
Because the muse becomes louder when life becomes quieter.
Because after years of giving, building, holding, and tending, my spirit asked for a season of:
I am following that call.
During this sabbatical:
My website will remain alive, but in a state of serene stillness—
a sanctuary of past works, stories, and inspiration while I gather the next chapters.
From the misty mornings of Kerikeri to the rainforest skies of Panama, this sabbatical is both a physical relocation and a symbolic one:
A journey from one life to the next.
A movement from effort to ease.
From striving to allowing.
From holding on… to letting go.
Panama will be my muse.
Boquete my sky temple.
The tropics my colour palette.
The unknown my creative guide.
When and if I return, The Joyful Artist will not be the same—
and neither will I!
You can expect:
New art infused with tropical light
New stories of courage, joy, and reinvention
A refreshed creative practice
A new series exploring the art of letting go
A transformed version of myself, ready to share the discoveries
Perhaps even a memoir of this wild, wholehearted leap
This is a chrysalis season.
The butterfly always comes after.
If you’d like to receive the occasional inspiration-drenched missive from the sabbatical trail, you can stay on the newsletter list—
but there will be no noise, no clutter, no pressure, only soul-led updates when the muse speaks.
You’re welcome to walk beside me.
Your support, your presence, your love of beauty—
they have carried me farther than you know.
Now it’s time to explore what waits beyond the edge of the map.
I’ll return with stories.
With art.
With magic.
Until then—
may you follow the quiet whisper inside you too.
With love,
Cassandra — The Joyful Artist
On Sabbatical,
Becoming something new.
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I Look Back And It Seems Surreal—2021 in Review
I look back and it seems like magic—2020 in review
Destiny Decided: The Minute That Changed My Life—2018 in Review
My New Year Solutions 2017- some notes
LOVE STORIES: A COLLECTION OF VIBRANT MEMORIES AND PAINTINGS BY CASSANDRA GAISFORD FROM 2019-to 2023
Posted in: Blog
ABOUT CASSANDRA
I am an artist, storyteller, intuitive guide, mentor and Reiki master. All my creations are infused with positive energy , inspiration, and light. I believe in magic and the power of beauty, joy, love, purpose, and creativity to transform your life. My greatest joy is helping your realize your dreams. That makes my soul sing!
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