My Top Picks From 2025
Looking back through my 2025 calendar, I notice a theme. That most of my special moments and top picks are by, about, or involve the company of women. Courageous, fascinating, flaws-and-all women. Inspiring women. Of all ages and dispositions. An underlying theme … so obvious, it was invisible.
The powerful feminine.
I love men. I love living and working with them, and their gentle vulnerability – when they also display the powerful feminine in themselves. As contrast and complement. As who they are when meeting themselves in their heart and soul – and their fullness. And, I can’t get away from the fact that I really like people (which hasn’t always been the case :))
Which is to say, hindsight shows 2025 for me as a year of balance … of raising, melding and bringing the energies into balance within myself – and therefore within my outer reality, too. It’s an observation which inspires me … because if it’s happening to me, it must also be happening to others. And then the collective frequency can shift :)
Here are a few of my highlights of 2025:
Favourite book: A Room of One’s Own - Virginia Woolf. This was my first reading of the influential English 20th-century modernist writer – and I loved it: the stream of consciousness, her insight … daring for the times and just as relevant now; and, as I settled down to write my book this year, the relatability of her words.
Favourite podcast: According to Spotify, I listened to 8488 minutes of podcasts this year (for context, that’s 141 hours). Usually when driving or travelling. Rick Rubin’s Tetragrammaton (loved the M.I.A. episode) is a favourite, as is The Telepathy Tapes (I strongly recommend listening from the beginning so the information can build and layer) – it’s a paradigm shifter. More recently, I’ve been listening to Desert Island Discs. Too many great guests to mention, but recent ones I have enjoyed include Sally Mann (photographer and writer) and Mary Greenwell (makeup artist).
Favourite film: This year I don’t have a film to recommend (I’m not a big TV or film person, being super-sensitive to violence and aggression). So instead, I am recommending a new series I occasionally dip into: Open Minds on Gaia.com. Because the presenter, Regina Meredith, is fab – I love her :)
Favourite concert: 2025 has been a bit of a dry year for music concerts. But in June I had a lovely weekend in Falmouth, Cornwall and got to see folk singer-songwriter Martha Tilston in her home county. As always, beautiful and uplifting.
Favourite song: In 2025 my Spotify listening went up to 31,039 minutes, apparently. According to ‘Spotify Wrapped’ my favourite genre was ‘Freak Folk’ (who knew such a genre existed? :)) and of the 240 genres, 1437 songs and 834 artists I listened-to, Iluminar by Porangui was my most listened to. I also recommend Shortline (and many other tracks) by RY X. And if you like a bit of an easy electronic vibe, Smile for You and Las Parañas by Mees Dierdrop are great. Too many to recommend, so here is a rather eclectic (work-in-progress) playlist of songs which have come into my orbit this year.
Favourite city: This year I visited Lisbon, Portugal for a long weekend – and loved it. (A tour of the city on Tram 28 was great fun). Definitely a country I wish to return to and explore more of.
Favourite walk: I love walking – and I love walking alone (with nature and my thoughts for company). But my favourite walk this year (and with no big walking adventures had) was a gentle amble from the pub back to a friend’s house in the Cotswolds. It was early evening on a hot June day – the wildflower meadows buzzing with wildlife and soft golden rays. It was pure magic – as was the energy between our little group of friends. These happenstance walks form part of the fabric of a beautiful life.
Enjoy the suggestions which call to you … I would love to hear your top picks and any recommendations you have.
With love for the end of 2025,
Delilah
28 December 2025