By Lara Vander Ploeg
Each issue, we are privileged to interview inspir-
ing people who are advocates, change-agents,
LADYOf THE DESERTS
authors, artists, entertainers, and so many others.
Every once in a while we meet someone whose
words and experiences touch and stir something
unique and deep within our consciousness. Carla
Perrotti is such a woman. In fact, her words were
so profound and her person so approachable, we
simply chose to let her words speak to you as
answered.
How ironic it is that her life-affirming words
come from this woman’s time in the deserts. In-
deed, ‘Lady of the Deserts’ is how she is known in
their steady rhythmic pace. If I have to name one
many places. She has crossed these vast expanses
moment when I fell in love with the desert, this
all over the world, accomplished what some have
would be it. Peace, inspiration, internal wholeness
never done, and dared to create opportunities for
and well being captured in one moment. This is
others to see the rich beauty and cleansing
when my dream of crossing deserts was born, and
solitude of the desert. As you read, imagine the
from here, with each crossing, my dreams grew.
pictures she paints with her words. Imagine the
good that a bit of desert therapy could do for you.
ADS: You have quite an impressive record of
crossings behind you. Is that what inspired you
ADS: Carla, what drew you to crossing deserts?
to move from one continent to another? The
Carla: Years ago, on a trip with my family in the
accomplishment itself?
desert, I fell in love with this magical place. One
Carla: I did not start crossing deserts looking to
day when we arrived at camp in the evening, my
achieve new records, conquer feats that no other
young son realized that he had lost his shoe while
person had, or do ‘extreme’ sports. I started, and
riding on a camel. I decided to go back and look
kept crossing deserts because it brought me
for it on my own. At a certain point I found myself
internal well-being and balance, I learned about
in the middle of the desert, alone in the peaceful
my personal limits, and discovered a strength
silence. A silence so complete it creates sound, a
inside myself I couldn’t have imagined existed.
humming almost. Sitting for a moment in this
ADS: Many think the desert is a barren place,
magical land, I saw a caravan of camels carrying
void of life and beauty. What would surprise
salt in the distance. I watched, mesmerized by
those who adhere to that stereotype?
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