The Pilgrim

„A person remains on a journey only as long as they refuse to stop believing in their dreams."

Journeys, both external and internal, are among the primary ways Marie connects with the wellspring of pure inspiration. Long before terms like shamanic traveling and lucid dreaming entered the mainstream, she was fascinated by the soul’s wanderings through time and space. Even in early childhood, her dreams were so vivid that it was difficult to tell where dream ended and reality began. The experiences from her dreamscapes felt so vital that they may well have been the very reason she learned to draw—so she could share them with the world.

Inspiration comes not only from wandering through inner realms but also from the simple act of walking. She loves going on foot, preferably barefoot, though she only enjoys this in nature, never in the city. The human pace of walking allows her to take in the subtle details of the world around her, while the rhythm of her steps sparks literary inspiration. In fact, she has "written" most of her books while on the move.

Marie also uses walking as an oracle. Every year in the early spring, she eagerly anticipates her "Journey for the Sun." Before the lush vegetation begins to sprout, she and her husband set out at dawn and spend the entire day following the sun's path across the sky. Moving off the beaten path, across fields and through woods, they discover countless hidden surprises.

Marie freely admits that she dislikes traveling abroad. Instead, she finds profound joy in exploring her homeland, a pilgrimage that inspired her acclaimed art series The Soul of Czech Rivers.

Yet, to her, the most beautiful form of any journey is the return. There is nothing she loves more than returning to the places where she can meet her own memories.