About The Mindful Wellness Traveler

Photo collage of Sarah smiling in a pink floral jacket and standing next to a traditional statue outdoors, featured on the About page.

Hi, I’m Sarah.
The path that led me here has never been a straight line — and that’s exactly what makes it worth sharing.

Through solo travel, personal healing, spiritual exploration, and my background in archaeology and heritage studies, I’ve spent years tracing both the landscapes of the world and the landscapes within. Every step — from ancient ruins in the Middle East to the vortexes of Sedona — has taught me that travel isn’t just about seeing new places. It’s about transforming from the inside out.

The Mindful Wellness Traveler was born out of a simple but powerful belief: that real journeys weave together mind, body, and spirit — and that the roads we walk, both literal and symbolic, shape who we become.

This isn’t a blog about ticking destinations off a list.
It’s a living map for those craving depth, authenticity, and meaning.
It’s for those who want to travel not just farther, but deeper.

Here, you’ll find tools for intentional travel, self-discovery, holistic wellness, and personal transformation — plus guides that blend ancient wisdom, historical insights, and soulful reflection.

Whether you’re navigating a major life shift, seeking healing, or simply yearning for more purpose in your travels, you’re in the right place.
Welcome to the journey. 🌍 🧭

Want to explore the heart behind The Mindful Wellness Traveler?

Discover my own story — and how I mapped it onto the timeless Hero’s Journey framework with journal prompts so you can write your own— in The Hero’s Journey: Your Story, Too.

MWT Philosophy

Vintage style gold pocket compass sitting on a polished wooden surface.

At The Mindful Wellness Traveler, travel is more than movement across a map — it’s movement across the soul.

I believe every journey holds the seeds of transformation, if we slow down enough to gather them.
Here, solo travel becomes a sacred practice: a way to deepen your presence, your healing, and your connection to the world within and around you.

This space offers a framework for traveling not just to new places, but into new layers of yourself —
So you return carrying more than memories:
You return carrying meaning.

Your journey doesn’t end when you unpack your bags.
It begins again — inside you.

🌀 The Meaning Behind the Labyrinth Logo

Metallic labyrinth logo - The Mindful Wellness Traveler

The labyrinth represents the journey inward — one of self-reflection, growth, and personal transformation. Unlike a maze, a labyrinth has no wrong turns; it’s a continuous path leading toward deeper understanding.

🌀🌊🦋☀️ The Symbols That Guide This Site

These aren’t just icons — they’re invitations.
Each one represents a theme you’ll find woven through my writing, travels, and shop: grounding, flow, transformation, and rebirth.
Together, they form the Field Guide to the Sacred Symbols — part travel map, part soul map, and the heart of my e-book, The Power of Four.
Want to discover which symbol speaks to you?

✨ Meet the four core symbols woven through this site and my e-book:

✨ The Deeper Travel Planner ✨

Bare tree on the shoreline in Raiatea, French Polynesia looking out over the ocean on a clear day with picturesque clouds

Most trip planners focus on where you’re going.

But this one starts with why.

I created the Deeper Travel Planner to help you figure out what kind of journey your soul is really craving — whether it’s rest, healing, adventure, or a mix of all three.

It’s a different kind of travel tool — one that helps you align your trip with what matters most, so you can plan with purpose from the inside out.

    My Sacred Travel Goals

    Sarah sitting at an outdoor restaurant with a view of the Pyramids in Giza, Egypt.
    Visiting the Great Pyramid in Giza in 2021.

    From ancient times to today, certain places on Earth have been known for their unique energy. What we now call vortex sites or Earth’s chakra points have long been recognized by indigenous cultures and ancient traditions as powerful, transformative spaces.

    I’ve felt that energy in places like Israel and Sedona—places that stirred something deeper in me and stayed with me long after I left. That’s why I started creating this list. Not just to keep track of where I’ve been, but to follow where this energy leads me next.

    Want to dive deeper into why these places feel so powerful?

    🔹Joshua Tree, California

    🔹Mount Mitchell, North Carolina

    🔹Sedona, Arizona

    🔹Big Sur, California

    🔹Mount Shasta, California 

    🔹Crater Lake, Oregon 

    🔹Ojai, California

    🔹Monument Valley, Arizona – Utah border

    🔹Taos, New Mexico

    Ancient traditions associate each chakra with different aspects of our physical and spiritual well-being. I became fascinated by the idea that the Earth itself has energy centers—and that visiting them can mirror or catalyze our own internal healing.

    🔴 Root Chakra → Mount Shasta, CA
    🟠 Sacral Chakra → Lake Titicaca, Peru/Bolivia
    🟡 Solar Plexus Chakra → Uluru, Australia
    💚 Heart Chakra → Glastonbury, UK
    🔵 Throat ChakraGreat Pyramid, Egypt
    🟣 Third Eye Chakra → Stonehenge, UK
    Crown Chakra → Mount Kailash, Tibet

    Places I’ve Visited & Lived

    Sarah digging at Masada in Israel.
    Digging at Masada in 2019.

    All the places I’ve lived and traveled to have expanded my worldview and deepened my understanding of both myself and the world around me. Sedona shifted my energy and perspective in ways I didn’t expect. Living in Israel—studying archaeology, navigating life in a new culture, and facing challenges on my own—pushed me to grow in ways I never could have imagined.

    Below is a list of where I’ve been, each contributing to my path in its own way:

    🇨🇾 Cyprus: Limassol
    🇩🇰 Denmark: Copenhagen
    🇩🇲 Dominica
    🇪🇬 Egypt: Cairo, Giza, Luxor, Aswan, Alexandria
    🇫🇷 France: Paris
    🇵🇫 French Polynesia (spent 5.5 weeks exploring): Tahiti, Raiatea, Huahine, Moorea
    🇬🇷 Greece: Athens, Crete (Kournas, Chania), Aegina, Kalamata
    🇮🇱 Israel: Tel Aviv & Yafo (lived there for 1.5 years), Haifa (5 months), Jerusalem

    • Northern District: Tzfat, Kinneret/Galilee, Akko, Caesarea, Bet She’an + more
    • West Bank: Bethlehem, Herodium, Jericho, Qumran
    • Negev & Southern Sites: Dead Sea, Ein Gedi, Masada, & excavation sites across the country

    🇮🇹 Italy: Florence, Trezzo Sul’Adda, Milan, Naples, Pompeii, Rome
    🇯🇴 Jordan: Amman, Petra, Wadi Rum, Dead Sea & more sites
    🇳🇴 Norway: Oslo
    🇷🇴 Romania: Bucharest, Castle Peles, Castle Bran & more sites
    🇸🇪 Sweden: Gothenburg
    🇹🇷 Turkey: Istanbul
    🇬🇧 United Kingdom: London

    I’ve traveled through 32+ states and lived in multiple places, including:

    • Williamsburg, Virginia (where I currently live when not traveling)
    • New Orleans, Louisiana (where I lived off and on for over 8 years until recently)
    • New York City (lived there for a year among many visits)
    • North Carolina (grew up in the Raleigh area, Asheville and Charlotte areas, completed my undergrad in Boone and internship in Winston-Salem)
    • Kansas (I was born in the state and grew up visiting family yearly)
    • Florida, Tennessee & South Carolina (lived and worked there in the past besides visits to family in each state)
    • Other states I’ve explored: California, Texas, Arizona, Colorado, Wyoming & many more.

    The MWT Ebook: The Power of Four

    Power of Four Compass

    What started as a personal reflection on ancient patterns became the foundation for my entire blog—and eventually, this e-book.

    The Power of Four weaves together timeless frameworks—from the four elements to spiritual cycles, sacred directions, and healing journeys—into a modern guide for personal transformation. It’s the thread that ties together my symbols, stories, and travel philosophy across the site.

    Whether you’re navigating change, seeking balance, or simply curious about the deeper wisdom beneath your path, this e-book offers a soulful starting point.

    The MWT Store: Carry Your Journey

    The MWT store began with a simple idea: what if the items we wear or carry could act as modern-day amulets—reminders of the journey we’re on?

    Each design is rooted in symbolism. From the labyrinth to the scarab to the airplane snowflakes (yes – you read that right), every piece reflects a part of the transformational path you’ll find throughout my blog.

    In the shop, you’ll find unique travel accessories like passport covers, stickers, keychains & more items like t-shirts, totes and beach towels, all with one-of-a-kind designs for travel lovers.

    My Mind, Body, Spirit & Travel Essentials

    Two photos overlapping - one is a traveler at an archaeological site wearing a hat, travel outfit and shoulder bag; the other is a flat-lay photo of a map on a table with someone writing on it

    I’ve put together a curated space for all things solo travel, wellness, and spirituality—featuring my go-to tips, favorite products, and must-have travel essentials. Whether you’re looking for mindful packing recommendations, wellness tools, or inspiration for your journey, you’ll find it all here.

    🛤️ Begin Your Hero’s Journey

    My blog weaves together ancient frameworks and personal growth—and the Hero’s Journey is one of the biggest ones. It’s not just my story. It’s yours too.

    Throughout this post, you’ll find unique reflection prompts to help you explore your own path. Whether you’re in the middle of a transformation or just beginning, this piece will help you map your next step.

    🌱 Join the Community

    💬 Want to connect with like-minded travelers on a similar journey?
    Join my private Facebook group — a space for solo travelers, wellness seekers, and soulful explorers to share resources, stories, and support.

    📩 Get My Latest Reflections + Travel Insights

    Want to receive inspiration, travel tips, and soulful tools directly in your inbox?
    Sign up for mindful updates and resources to support your journey—wherever you are on the path.

      📬 Need to Reach Me?

      Have a question, or want to collaborate?

      Prefer not to click? You can reach me directly at sarah.simon [at] mindfulwellnesstraveler [dot] com.

      🔍 Ready to find your symbol?

      🌀🌊🦋☀️

      Each of these symbols is more than a design—they’re invitations.
      Take the Travel Archetype Quiz to discover which one matches your current path.