No. 9

On Monday 9th December, I hosted my first Wild Writers’ Web, Creative Circle on my Instagram. The prompt for the session was the number nine:

“And nine, nine rings were gifted to the race of Men, who above all else desire power.”

The number nine is associated with power, truth, the breath, cycles, and endings. The number nine has been significant in my own story. When I was nine, I moved across the world and started a whole new life. When I stopped living with my little sister for the first time, she moved into a house with the number nine. The fact I started my creative circle on 9th December, well… the prompt/theme had to be nine. The universe was already saying it.

As well as the number nine being a recurring theme in Lord of the rings…

“Nine companions. So be it. You shall be the fellowship of the ring.”

The number nine is present in many stories across time. In Norse mythology, there are nine worlds linked by the world tree, Yggdrasil. The god Heimdallr was born from nine mothers. The Norse god, Odin hung himself from Yggdrasil, to gain mystical knowledge, for nine days and nine nights:

“I know that I hung on a windy tree
nine long nights,
wounded with a spear, dedicated to Odin,
myself to myself,
on that tree of which no man knows
from where its roots run.”

Within some cultures, it is believed that the number nine is a cursed number, associated with witchcraft and dark magic. In Macbeth, the number is used as foreshadowing of what is to become of the king

“The Weird Sisters, hand in hand,

Posters of the sea and land,

Thus do go about, about,

Thrice to thine and thrice to mine

And thrice again, to make up nine.

Peace, the charm’s wound up.”

So, nine was the theme for our circle, and the most extraordinary thing happened…

When I started to write, I set out writing an epistolary poem. My mind was had a hard time focusing, as though my brain was flicking through channels on a TV set. It irritated me, which made my concentration deteriorate even more. The whole point of this circle was to have a free space, connect with other creatives, to let my imagination flow. Instead, my mind was haywire and that judgemental voice turned up, to tell me off and criticise me. It wasn’t working.

I took a deep breath and connected with my heart. After a moment of stillness, a wonderful warm sensation in my chest rose and calm washed over me. I felt into this sense of presence more, deepened my connection to gratitude for this group of creative folks, and the more I connected the more I could feel my heart warming. The stillness grew into vast space and then, an image of a tree appeared in my mind eye. Suddenly, I could write, and it was just flowing and flowing.

At the end of the session, we all shared what we wrote about. Here’s the incredible thing, we all wrote about trees in some form. And here’s the even more incredible thing, we all started out writing a letter of some form too! We all connected in that way, without discussing it beforehand. I was blown away because my intention for the circle was to create a space for connection and creativity and it all happened in the first session.

I also learned a lot about myself and the way that I work best. In the past I would struggle at school because when a teacher set a task, everyone else would get to it straight away, but I had nothing, my mind would just be blank until much later. It wasn’t all the time, but it made me appear distracted and lazy. I would watch how other people worked and try to emulate them, but still I got stuck a lot of the time. This trend carried on into my exams, which did not serve me well at all. At university, I was diagnosed with dyslexia and I learned how I learn best. I need time and stillness for my brain to conjure things into existence. No notes, plans, et cetera just to sit with the idea and allow it to emerge.

Before the writing circle, I hadn’t made this connection with my creativity. One the circle was closed, I reflected on my experience. I often sit down to write and expect for myself to just begin. After Monday’s session, I realised, like when learning, I need to allow myself the time and space to dream up what I am about to write. My brain works a little different, so when I allow myself to create in the way that works best for me, I achieve so much more! The best part is, I have so much more fun in the process.

The next Wild Writers’ Web, Creative Circle is 23rd December at 11am GMT on my Instagram page. Looking forward to having you there!

Wild Writers Web

I am excited to announce the launch of the Wild Writers Web. This is a Creative Circle where for one hour we come together to be creative.

We often get caught up in the nonsense of life. Well, not nonsense, the chores, the busy parts. We go to work, clean the house, do the school run, wash our clothes, cook the meals etc. The merry-go-round keeps turning and we lose ourselves in the process. I wanted to hold a creative space with intention. A place where we set aside a piece of time to just let creativity flow. There doesn’t need to be an end goal, unless you want there to be.

I believe intention is very important, especially when wanting to express ourselves creatively. When we gather in circle, with the same intention, it empowers us tenfold. It is called the Wild Writers Web because mostly I write, but if you want to bring art, or even crafts to the circle, please do! Webs are symbols of creativity and when we are wild and free, our creativity flows with abundance.

So, where will you find the Wild Writers Web? I will host an Instagram live on my page Tick Rowley, every 2nd and 4th Monday of the month. We will start on the 9th December, 11am GMT. I will hold space for an hour. Bring your pens, paper and a cup of coffee or tea. I cannot wait to see what we create together.

Love of My Life

She’s the love of my life

I’ve known her a long time

Together we have traversed

many bright skies

plummeted into thick shadows

sometimes a frenzy of adventure

sometimes deep day dreams

but always rising lighter, stronger, wilder

We were plucked ripe and ready

for this world

delicate fruit from the highest bough

faerûn alive in our veins

you can taste our souls

by simply hearing our songs

She’s the love of my life

I’ve known her a long time

She’s a wonder and so am I

only, it’s solely my eyes

you can see glistening hazel

under the dappled green

of our guardian trees

both of us here, both of us free

She is the vines

her body entwined inside mine

holding onto our osmosis by proffering

her red mystery all around me

turning me into a fertile bed

where the fae meet the earth

She’s the love of my life

I’ve known her a long time

Imbolc

Imbolc Blessings!

Today marks midwinter, the halfway point between winter solstice and spring equinox. We don’t need to religiously stick to a date in the diary. Even though we tend to observe Imbolc on February 1st, something I like to practice is to observe these seasonal celebrations depending on a feeling. Like today, where I live, it has been bright, crisp, and fresh; I even found my first crocus! So, in that sense today FEELS like Imbolc. Nature doesn’t follow our calendar; seasons are not concrete.  I believe it’s important to celebrate when we can, if we can, and consider how we can, enabling us to enjoy the festivities without pressure or limitations.

 Imbolc is about waking up from winter, taking that bold, brave step out of our wintery rest. We dare to brave the chill, the icy breeze, like the snow drops who courageously springs out of the cold, dark earth. Take her presence as a sign that it is safe out there and join her in the celebration of the light of the sun.

How do I celebrate? Sing like the birds in greeting to the change of seasons. Light a candle in honour of the longer lasting light. Greet each being whether it’s a budding tree, blooming crocus, or a fleeting goldcrest. To just simply be out in the world in communion with nature.

Can you see the emergence of the seeds you planted, whether physically or metaphorically, in seasons past? Admire your efforts, watch them bloom, let the light in. This isn’t to rush yourself into change, or to force yourself into vigorously ticking off items on this year’s achievement list – it’s just acknowledging the Earth’s way off calling us out into the open, to rekindle our social selves, to be on our feet more, brushing off the cobwebs of a restful, inward-looking season. Follow the cues of what you see all around you.

I also like to celebrate through poetry, here is one I have written for Imbolc 2024.

We dreamt in the dark

of things wild and wicked

unknown adventures

a journey into life

                    into being

for so long we were ravaged by shadowed thoughts

but in deep quiet our breath finally settled in

and set alight our blood

from these nocturnal yearnings

we woke

with eyes of our fiery spirit

and stepped forth

If you would like to listen to my podcast episode about Imbolc you can find it here!

BTS

Welcome!

Not a typical BTS I know, but away from recording, I have a life that predominantly takes place outdoors. I want to use my blog to show you a little bit more of who I am and what I do beyond my work.

Something that brings me so much joy is foraging! In January, it can be hard to find foraging goodies because a lot of nature’s treasure is still safe and sound, snuggled underground. If you are lucky though you may find some scarlet elf cups (Sarcoscypha austriaca) or maybe some velvet shanks (Flammulina velutipes).

I look forward to slightly warmer days, which aren’t far off. This is when I walk to the woods and gather wild garlic. It’s easy to identify and usually grows prolifically. Another favourite of mine is to gather magnolia buds and pickle them, they have a wonderful fiery, gingery taste to them.

Maybe as time goes on I can share some recipes of the condiments, the elixirs, I make from the items from the forest and the hedgerows…

If you want to try foraging I recommend using Wild Food UK as a resource.

Watch this space. xo