The Focus of Winter

When January hits, winter is really only just getting started... So how can we get the most out of the season?

Haiku: Didn’t understand - Cold darkness could be a friend - Leaned in to find rest — Fenix

Before we get stuck in today, I just wanted to say that I know the world is so much to handle at the moment. In these dark times, what I can offer is my art… a hopeful balm in the form of this email and songs to come throughout this year (first release of my album will be April!)

“We have to create. It is the only thing louder than destruction” - The late, most wonderful Andrea Gibson

Today you can read the letter below, or alternatively watch me live record a music accompaniment to the letter voiceover (the music was improvised after I hit record!) Would love to hear what you think in the comments! See the video of today's letter, here :)

Hello friend,

So many of us think of the grinding beginning of the new year after the fanfare that was, and freeze in the forgetting that spring is near…. This is where mother nature is building her magic, unseen, unheard to human ears.

I’ve wished away too many winter weeks like this, hiding inward to hold it at bay. But my puppy longs to rush about on crisp grass, to explore the forests and smell for creatures who have been there. So I’ve learnt to follow. To say yes to wrapping up, pockets stuffed with gloves and treats, tucked up with only my face exposed to the soft light, cold nose getting pinker as I tread carefully to follow my little one into the trees, head over heels in love with these found adventures, in the season I dreaded for so long.

Soothing soups and warm blankets, curtains open to invite the sun and closed early to nuzzle down into heat and connection. More time for inner work, cacao and hot tea, body enjoying the soothing effect of warm oils and steaming cloths. The heat sinks through me and I finally realise that I too am building energy to enter spring. Each daffodil will remind me of the different joy that is coming next.

Love to you,

Fenix

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☕ Creative things I'd tell you about over coffee:

1. Episode of Ramblings walking podcast:

   This podcast is recorded whilst walking if you haven’t heard of it, and I love the soothing background sounds such as the crunching underfoot. Clare was accompanied on this walk with artist Richard Shimell who creates stunning prints of trees. On his website he describes his fascination with the branches and silhouettes of trees.

   Ramblings Podcast: Trees in Winter near Abergavenny, Wales - 24 mins

Richard’s website: https://richardshimell.co.uk/ & Instagram

If you have any podcast episodes to recommend, feel free to send them over! I find a simple artist date*, for me, is to walk, potter or cook whilst listening to something interesting!

2. I salute Barney Desmazery for this lasagne recipe because I have tried it a few times and my goodness, you will be thrilled with yourself if you give it a go. My versions have replaced many ingredients and all have tasted good because the flavouring is so on-point (including oat milk, dairy free cheese, meat and alcohol free!) The mushrooms, if you include them 🍄‍🟫 add a real sense of lavishness to the bechamel.

   Recipe & Barney’s Instagram

   

3. One of my lovely friends and I were talking about winter decorations to make winter more of a celebration… soft blankets, fairy lights, candles. I am someone who just loves fairy lights… have put some in the living room, bedroom, office, kitchen and all the way up the stairs… it makes everything feel twinkly and I put them on during the day time if it's a low light day ✨ So winter decorations really are feeling lovely!

*My definition of an artist date - Julia Cameron’s term (author of The Artists Way) for a once per week solo-time hour plus doing something that interests you, quite simply. The idea is it may spark your imagination, fill up the well of images from which you can create things from, and is meant to be something to look forward to (although, I’ll admit I have to work to create space for them, even though I have never regretted any!) Artist dates are for everyone… we all have an ability to be creative, so artist dates nurture that part of ourselves.

Take care! Speak again mid-Feb :)))

Thank you for reading!