Living in Relationship

In one of my workshops exploring the elements, I spoke of how I had lost a tree friend in 2020, that I had been painting and sketching for two years. I would visit him in Greenwich Park once or twice per month, sitting on the grass gazing at the shapes of his bark and the changing colours of his leaves. I would take photos of him from many distances and angles. I wrote poems about him and to him. In time, he became my confidante; someone I could go to for support. From Morris I learned to trust in Intuition and Imagination, alongside my Intellect. From my contemplations of his changes, I could orientate myself to accepting that sometimes things and beings of the world, and thoughts must decay and die. In the recognition of these warming thoughts, I could allow myself to fall in love with people and life. Up until then, I had been carrying a conditioned and idealised version of love. 

During one of my visits to spend time with my tree-friend in 2020, I arrived to discover that he had entirely disappeared. I experienced a loss so great that it felt like my beloved and best friend had died! A part of me did die, it had to. I was being invited to learn to turn inwards towards my Heart, and face all that it contained. Outer Nature has a place, but I needed to learn to love myself, even with the surrounding revelations of my shadows. 

Now in 2026, as I look back, I see that Morris was not just a physical material tree at all, but a living breathing being made of the loving sacrifices of many cosmic beings through Time, who are part of the Earth; a part of our body; the elements and the ethers. They wait for human beings to hear them, to know what needs to change in our Thinking, Feelings, and Willpower to discover more capacities to Love each other, ideally without othering. 

So, I am grateful to all whom I had met through my life story as I cannot see myself; I can only be reminded of my task and work here by the others I meet. We bring to each other what the other needs to come to gradually know that may be something important; perhaps forgotten long ago, that had to lay asleep for awhile. 

Most of the arts-based explorations I facilitate for others who find their way to me, rests on my experiential understanding of the ever-evolving alignments with our yearly cycle, that enables us to breathe with the natural Rhythms of Life. Here, I can feel hhow I am carried by them; never alone. I feel supported because they include the heart, through which all kinds of thoughts flow and evolve.

Playfully and gradually we can learn to practice befriending endings sometimes through 'othering' where new potential and deeper breathing may be discovered, as part of our coming closer to each other, as we become more individual, discerning our Shadow by the Light. 

How I facilitate self acceptance: 

Spring: Awakening & Renewal

Artistic Focus: soft pastels, sunrise, new seedlings, openness, flowing forms, seed motifs, watercolours, gentle movement

Summer: Radiance & Flourishing

Artistic Focus: bold warm colours, sun motifs, dynamic sculpture, singing, and dance

Autumn: Harvest & Transformation

Artistic Focus: earth tones, leaf and seed crafts, weaving, contemplative poetry

Winter: Rest & Inner Light

Artistic Focus: candlelight, beeswax crafts, quiet storytelling, music with deep resonance

Gentle experiences offer emotional wellbeing through creative expression, social connection, and personal growth. I invite participants from diverse backgrounds to engage in structured, supportive activities around the table, using mediums such as visual arts, music, movement, writing, and drama to explore identity, build resilience, and foster a sense of belonging.

In becoming more embodied in the wholeness of the yearly cycle which includes the months, weeks, day and night rhythms, I am appreciating the Six Soul Exercises given by Rudolf Steiner to support the balancing and harmonising of Thinking, Feeling, and Willpower, so that the heart is included - something the love and loss of Morris revealed to me, so beautifully yet painfully - revealing actual authentic love.