Sorry for the silence...
but I've been busy growing
Hello. It has been such a long time since the last newsletter. Thank you for sticking around. Juggling care demands, the needs of my unruly body, and my creative life can prove difficult at times and sometimes, I need to let things rest in a fallow state for a while.
But out of the fallow state, lovely things can grow. Over the last year, the Wild Woman Web has welcomed new and wonderful spinners, each adding their unique threads to the ever-growing web. Thank you to Amanda Edmiston, Tamsin Grainger, Dr Louise Wilson, Clare Archibald, Dr Geeta Ludhra, Anna Itnere, Nicola Chester and Maya Kalaria for adding their inspiring, wide and wild-ranging stories to the web in 2022. It is beautiful to see these connections nourish new creative conversations and communities — and we still have four guest spinners left to go before the year closes.
On 1st September, we welcome Karen Penny, an amazing self-declared normal person who set off from her home in the Gower, Wales, on the 14th of January 2019 and walked 10,500 miles around the coast of Britain, Ireland, raising over £125,000 for Alzheimer’s Research.
Karen Penny, walking her way around the coastlines of Britain, Ireland and their islands in aid of Alzeimer’’s Research UK.
Other news…
On a personal level, things have grown too. After ten years of writing between the hours of care, my slow-grown debut memoir, All My Wild Mothers - a memoir of motherhood, loss and an apothecary garden, is due for release in February 2023. Grown out of grief, it is a story of resilience, radical hope, and a testimony to the beauty found in broken ground.
A haven in a cynical world – exactly the book we all need to read right now CATHERINE SIMPSON
(And in case you are in need of a pick-me-up, here is a brew for loving abundance, shared from the garden (and spice cupboard)…)
A hot infusion made from lavender, rosemary, basil, mint, starflower, nutmeg, angelica seed, star anise, cinnamon and orange. Cover with boiling water, pop lid on, and steep for at least 15 minutes. I tend to leave it all in and drink through the day, hot and cold.
What is next…?
The Wild Woman Life format is changing, bringing together my wild woman story with the wider wild woman community. I am excited to see how this new wild garden grows, and I am excited to explore it with you. I will be sending out the September issue soon.
A dip in the deck …
Today’s card is from the Hedgewitch Botanical Oracle deck, created by Siolo Thompson.
“This collection of forty elegant botanical cards draws inspiration from healers, helpers, and shaman who walk the thin places between one world and another. These wise folks find the plants of their practice at the edges of cultivated fields as well as deep in the woods, wilds, and along shorelines.”
Chamomile - Matricaria chamomilla
Water of Youth, Roman chamomile, German chamomile, pineapple weed
A card to remind us to care for ourselves, especially when things feel difficult or beyond our capacity. Whatever small space you have, take time to nourish your inner calm and connect with what helps you feel at peace, even if it is only for a moment in an otherwise demanding day.
What helps you reconnect with your peaceful centre?
What small thing can you do to nourish yourself today?
Chamomile is a good plant for soothing the mind and body. Relaxant, calming, and digestive, it can be prepared as an infusion or added to baths or balms.
(Remember, if you are pregnant or have additional medical issues, please consult a qualified herbalist and check the suitability of any plant before using).
The deck is available online. For more information, visit the creator’s website here
That’s all for now … see you all soon! And thanks for waiting for me to resurface…
