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Now on to this week’s musings…
A new year has begun. At midnight, as the clocks changed over, we said goodbye to 2023. It was a tough year. I had some incredible highlights, chief among them the Aesthetica Prize, exhibiting with the National Trust, my Mum turn 60, Kim release A Wild and True Relation, and having Finn come into my life. But much of the year was a struggle, financially, emotionally, physically, 2023 was hard. Any year that involves having major surgery twice is one I am glad to see the back of. As a result, welcoming the new year feels particularly special, as though the simple changing of the calendar offers a chance to leave behind some of what I’d been carrying, to reflect, to dream, to transform.
I went to Rogue Theatre a few days ago, and among the glory of the winter woods I felt the profound possibility of the new year. Following the lights along the path, and after passing the heart tree and the fire fairy, we came upon Old Man Winter and the Wishing Fairy. There is an ancient Celtic tradition in Cornwall called a Clootie Tree, trees that grow by fresh springs or wells to which people tie wishes. Though there is no well or spring in Tehidy Woods, but Rogue Theatre transform a patch of the woodland into incredible wishing trees. Listening to Old Man Winter, my scrap of white fabric clutched in my hand, I was reminded of the power of wishing.
‘Hope is the mother of change, and making wishes gives us hope. Wishes are like water; a single trickle of silver water can carve a canyon. And remember, a wish followed by action has every hope of coming true.’
I tied my wish to the Clootie Tree in the Winter Wood, and now I share it with you all, as a promise to myself that 2024 will bring a year of action so that my wishes might just come true.
I wish to walk standing straight and tall,
to face my world with courage,
Finn by my side.
I wish for new art, embodied art,
art of the wild world, art made real and
no longer cycling around in my mind.
I wish to learn new crafts
for the joy of my heart and the pleasure of my hands.
I wish for a Home of my own,
in all its safest and bravest forms.
I wish for new horizons
and to walk the path to reach them
with integrity.
I usually reserve my monthly Photo from the Archives for paid subscribers, but this month I have chosen a photograph everyone. It was taken in Tehidy Woods on Christmas Day, 2022. My Mum and I had taken my van out for a Christmas adventure and a blessed walked alone among the magic of Rogue Theatre. These are the Clootie Trees, looking otherworldly and mythic when caught on high contrast film. The wishes seem to vibrate from within the frame, glowing among the dark trunks and silver leaves. I wasn’t sure when taking the photograph if it would work. The film was an experimental one, and my camera was crying out for more light that the weak filter of winter sun through the canopy of branches. But I took the shot anyway and will forever be glad I did.
For anyone interested, prints of this photograph are available by following the button.
I would love to know your wishes for 2024. Let this space be a virtual clootie tree and hang your wishes here so that we can wish them all together. I look forward to sharing my journey as I put my wishes into action.
Bring it on.