Circles of Life

The circles of life appear in our every day and stretch across the years and decades.

A decade ago, I lived near Ruthin in North Wales, and recently took part in a botanical skincare course at Wernog Wood, up on the hillside in the Clwydian Mountain Range. The workshop looked down into the valley where I used to live and took ease at the end of each day watching the swallows dance till the bats came out to greet nightfall.

I met a lovely lady on the course and we have stayed in touch. Louise is a gifted yoga teacher and last week I drove across the hills to her home on top of the Clwydian Range. I am thrilled, as it's an eighteen-minute drive, door to door, which is just around the corner in my world.

Lou's husband and I stood taking in the view, as he pointed out which rolling green Welsh hilltop was which, and then he said,

'Just over the brow is Moel Famau.'

My sister and I climbed Moel Famau together when I lived in Ruthin and we could see across to Prestatyn and Rhyl on the North West coast.

Lou's yoga class is a sea of calm and is held in their special barn with floor-to-ceiling windows looking out across the Clwydian Range and as the class is held in the evening, the sun sets across us all. Lou shares her skill with yoga, music, poetry and meditation and all of us agree, that our Tuesday sessions are precious. I feel blessed that Lou and I have crossed paths, and last week I brought home a succulent nestled in a wood offcut, made by Lou's son, which now lives on our home office windowsill (first picture).

Over two decades ago, I ran a jewellery business, where I would make pieces with glass and wooden beads and run children's parties. The little ones would make a piece during the party to have something to take home in their party bag. They were absorbed and happy, and I loved being with them as they created. I remember all the lovely jewellery findings, supplies and bead sellers I was in touch with through eBay. Everyone was a pleasure to do business with and it became a supportive network, as we shared pictures of our creativity, and hints and tips we discovered along the way.

A caring, supportive network is evolving again, as Lou and I take what we learned on the botanicals skincare course and create our own at home, sharing what we are up to with each other. Lou has already solved a label challenge I had, and I love that she shared her latest essential oil mix last week, just as she did on the course. We ended up sharing ingredients for the last face cream we made, and whatever we did, it worked a treat. It made our tutor, Sami, smile as she asked each of us what we had used to make our cream, and Lou and I had to check with each other. I have started to order the supplies I need and as the messages come in from the sellers on eBay, they have the same loving energy as the bead sellers.

Circles of life. 🩷

Last week, Lou shared a beautiful poem by Becky Hemsley, called 'Life Is Like A Quilt.';

Your life is like a quilt

And everybody weaves their share.

Some weave huge great tapestries

And some weave tiny squares.

Some squares bring you laughter

And some will bring you tears.

Some are stitched and sewn by those

Who are no longer here.

In places there are threads

From people choosing not to stay.

And every time you touch these threads

It brings back all the pain.

But every little thread

That weaves its joy and pain and fun.

Has stitched a quilt together

Of the person you’ve become.

And every little tiny part

Has slowly taught you how.

To weave your contribution

Into the blanket you have now.

So I know there are squares that comfort you

And some that you dislike.

But without them all you wouldn’t have

This patchwork of your life.