First Journey Day 8: Tidal Beliefs

Today's Artwork: Tidal Beliefs — inspired by Oran’s shoreline and the quiet pull of belief.

Date: September 1, 2023
Location: Oran, Algeria

In Oran, on Algeria’s Mediterranean edge (Algeria), the day opened to clear skies and a salt-bright breeze. Between Berber patterns, Andalusian echoes, and seaside light, I looked for how belief moves here—quietly, like the tide.

Under Oran’s Mediterranean Sky

Today was a day of spiritual exploration in Oran. I decided to visit a local astrologer, intrigued by the idea of experiencing a different cultural lens on spirituality. The astrologer's space was adorned with intricate Berber rugs and the air was filled with the scent of incense. As he read my chart, he spoke of destiny, choices, and the interconnectedness of it all, but in a way that felt unique to Algerian traditions.

Incense and Constellations

The reading left me contemplative, pondering the universality and yet the cultural specificity of spiritual beliefs. It was a stark contrast to my experience in Morocco, yet there were threads of similarity that wove the two experiences together. It was like looking at the same sky but from different corners of the Earth.

Quiet Moments along the Corniche

After the reading, I took a solitary walk along the Corniche, Oran's scenic coastline. The Mediterranean Sea was a tapestry of blues, each wave reflecting the sky and yet holding the depth of the ocean. It felt like a metaphor for my journey—each day a reflection of the ones before and yet uniquely its own.

Choosing Stillness Over Sketching

As I stood there, I felt grateful for the tapestry of experiences that this trip is becoming. Each day adds a new color, a new texture, and the picture is becoming richer for it. I can't wait to see what tomorrow brings.

A City in Sync with the Sea

Oran hums at a shore’s pace—belief, tide, and evening light keeping time together. The sea seems to hold its own chart, and tonight it felt like mine aligned with it.

Travel Notes

• Weather: Clear sky, 75°F; a mild, dry breeze off the Mediterranean and long, honeyed light at sunset.
• Scents: Resinous incense in the astrologer’s room; later, sea-salt and a hint of coffee from kiosks near the Corniche.
• Sounds: Soft surf and gulls, light evening traffic, and the distant rise of the call to prayer.
• Reflection: Belief changes its accent from place to place, yet the questions remain the same—and somehow kinder by the water.

Continue the Journey

You may also enjoy the previous day’s notes from Algiers—“Scented Symphony”, or revisit an earlier brush with the stars in Marrakech’s “The Zodiac Bazaar.”