At the Well... June 2026 Newsletter

Picture 1 -From the left: Alison Rust, Jacqui Zanetti, Deepa Vargis I Pictures courtesy of Jacqui Zanetti

When I last wrote in The Well newsletter, I was standing at the base of the Pyrenees, about to embark on the first chapter of the Camino de Santiago. If you missed that issue, go read it quickly - we’re moving at pace here!

Now, I usually like to be the one in the know, but for this trip, I happily elected myself a follower. I packed John Brierley’s famous guidebook and promptly never opened it. By day seven, that book was still in pristine condition. My plan was simple: follow my brilliant, effortlessly fit friends, and let them do the navigating. But God clearly has a sense of humor. As it turns out, my friends are nimble and fast. I, on the other hand, am not. Facing rolling hills, rocky paths, and a casual 4,200 ft ascent in fog and spitting rain, I quickly realized I was outpaced. At a few points on the trail, I insisted my friends go on ahead so they could keep their natural pace while I settled into mine - happily cheering them forward rather than slowing them down. Yet, being spaced out on the trail - and subsequently crammed together in tiny hostel rooms, sharing bathrooms with complete strangers and snuggling into narrow sleeping bags - only brought us closer. My friends are absolute gold. They walked with patience, loved with grace, and our bond was tested and forged into something truly unbreakable.

When I was solo, navigating blind in the dense fog, I managed to approach two separate forks in the trail completely oblivious to the danger. Right on cue, God stationed literal "Camino angels" at the exact inflection points to point me in the right direction. Over seven days, we marched for 8 to 10 hours daily, conquering 140 km of forests, waterfalls, wheat fields, and olive groves. There was even a wall where wine literally flowed from the stone (highly regulated by the locals, which was incredibly wise on their part). Naturally, blisters and muscle aches were galore. I’d be lying if I said we didn't temporarily pause our holy asceticism mid-way for a desperately needed hair wash and massage. A pilgrim has to survive, after all! Armed with freshly blow-dried hair, I joined the masses in ancient churches along the way-including the cathedral in Pamplona (see photo!).

Without the distraction of phones, music, or podcasts, the trail became a sanctuary. I communed deeply with my Father, my Abba. When my heart was palpitating and my legs were ready to give out, He audibly encouraged me. Most importantly, He reminded me of what The Well truly is. While we now have a phenomenal strategy on paper (with a massive thank you to a wonderful Friend of Well), God reminded me to be genuinely intentional, operating with depth and substance rather than just running on a treadmill of activity. On behalf of the Board of Advisors and myself, I am thrilled to share that our strategy is firmly anchored in four pillars:

• Welcomed

• Encountered

• Liberated

• Launched

  
  

Moving forward, we are committing to a quarterly event to serve you better and so save the date for our next event, an online event on 24 September 2026 at 6.30 p.m. on a topic centred on 'Encountered' pillar. Our passion is to help you weave deep spiritual disciplines directly into your leadership behaviours at your workplace.

Aside from the joy of trekking with my incredible friends, the ultimate highlight was a vivid dream God gave me on the trail. For three weeks, I sat on it, entirely unable to decode its meaning. That was until last Saturday at The Well’s workshop in collaboration with Global Invictus Prophetic on Hearing the Voice of God. (If you missed it, you can catch the recording of Jamie Phear’s brilliant teaching on discernment and decision paralysis). During the session, Heather Clayton from Global Invictus taught us the fundamentals of dream interpretation. Suddenly, it was like cracking open a piñata. The symbols shattered open to reveal a literal blueprint for something I had been praying about for months. Why did God make me wait three weeks just to hand me the key? Because sometimes, He makes us wait so that we are actually ready to carry what we receive.

Lessons from the Camino: Character and the Creator

Here are three reflections on character building and the nature of God from the dusty paths of the trail:

1. God’s Character: When we are blind to the forks in the road ahead of us - whether due to the fog of life or our own lack of preparation - God is already there. He doesn't just watch us wander off cliffs; He strategically places "angels" and course-correctors at our critical inflection points. He is a hands-on Father who protects our blind spots.

2. Character Building: True character and deep community aren't built in isolation or comfort. They are forged in the friction of shared suffering -like walking 140 km with blisters or sharing cramped quarters with strangers. Embracing the discomfort rather than running from it refines our patience and turns good friendships into pure gold.

3. God’s Character & Character Building: God is an intentional communicator, but He rarely rushes the reveal. Giving a dream on the trail but withholding the interpretation for three weeks serves a dual purpose: it builds our spiritual stamina and ensures our hearts are properly postured to receive the answer. The delay is never a denial; it is the preparation required to handle the blueprint.

If you have similar stories, especially stories of encounter with God that led to a transformation of your heart or life, drop us a note as we would love to hear these stories.

We begin praying into Wise Well Woman 2027 on 17 April 2026, and we’ve opened our ‘Very Early Bird’ tickets at just £20 for 72 hours. This isn’t just a discount - it’s a chance to sow into the future of Well at a pivotal moment. The price rises on 6 July 2026, and we don’t want you to miss the window. If life shifts and you’re no longer able to attend, refunds are available. But if your heart is stirred now, don’t wait. Step in early, stand with us, and help shape what God is building.

We’re also working on something special behind the scenes, and we’d love your voice in it. What is the one biggest challenge in your life right now? Drop us a note at info@womenlifeleadership.org by 8 July 2026.

Wishing you a restful summer.

With love and blessings,

Deepa and The Well Board of Advisors