A few weeks ago whilst sitting outside listening to the birds and feeling the warmth of sun on my face I heard a thought drop in to my head. It was a realisation that the affinity I have for the natural world is not because of a particular place but due to a particular person, my Mum. My Dad inspired me too but for the moment I am focussing on the way Mum transfused her excitement and fascination for the elements of nature, to me. I have mentioned before the memory I have of her dressing us in our coats on top of pyjamas to go down and see the high tide late in the evening, and run away from the waves splashing over the sea wall but it has to do with so much more than that one memory. It was a whole childhood of going outside whenever possible. We climbed the local Mendip hills, rocks and trees, had pic-nics, walked through woods and along beaches. We picked blackberries every autumn with Mum and her three sisters and whenever the families got together a walk was inevitable. With Dad, we built dams on the river Wharf and jumped across the gaps in the strange limestone pavement at Malham Cove. The natural world was our main source of awe, joy and wonder.
Last Tuesday, the 10th March, would have been my Mum’s birthday. I thought it was an appropriate day to go to Anchor Head in Weston, the place we were taken to run away from the high tide. It was also the place I used to climb up a particular section of rocks that went up to the sea wall and you could get to the top, climb over the wall then run around and back down the steps to the bottom of the rocks and climb up again and again.
When I arrived, I set up my camera and tripod to video myself climbing these rocks as the adult I am now. I felt a bit self-conscious but quite quickly ignored thoughts about what onlookers might think I was doing. I managed a couple of videos in a clumsy sort of way but felt at least I’d recorded something! I wanted to re-enact the activity so embedded in me due to the number of times I must have climbed those rocks as a child. It felt like a physical need in my body to go and climb that route again. Looking back on it a week or so later, it was a bit like one of those reconstructions to jog people’s memory of a crime or event.
I also made a few more rubbings and drawings on tissue paper, of the smoother rocks in the bay and used water soluble graphite with water from the rock pools. I am interested in using some natural materials when I’m working out in the landscape if possible, without disturbing the natural ecology or leaving any trace.
My final act of remembrance, if that is what these are, was to write a spontaneous piece about the realisation I have had about the connection between my Earth Mother, my Mother Earth and me. Having written it sitting on rocks looking out towards Steepholm I then attempted to film myself reading it whilst looking out to sea. It is one of the places myself and siblings, our spouses and children, scattered the ashes of both our parents about twenty years ago. I hadn’t attached a particular significance to this but maybe there is.
It was tricky to film and the wind, though fairly gentle, still caused me some issues - maybe that too is significant and evidence of nature whispering something or communing with me. There are activities and events she creates, every single day and night; Daily light shows, re-ordering of moons and planets, wind, rain, clouds of all colours, tides in and out, eruptions, quakes, new growth every spring, and so on. These are all evidence of her aliveness and her way of imparting knowledge and wisdom. I think of the planet we live on as Mother, Mother Earth who gave birth to us and has provided everything we need to flourish and thrive. It is vital we listen to her insight to guide us and enable us to nurture a healthy relationship with her. The best way to do that is to spend time with her, as much as possible.