How it takes time

Catherine
letter from consultant CEA blood test is normal

So it’s August 2025. It has been however many days since 26th Feburary 2023 and i still can’t imagine how i’ve come through. The recent letter from the Consultant stating that all is well. Recent blood test is showing ‘normal’. Grateful to all those who are looking out for me in this inbetween time, feeling like i have a target on my back and ringing in my ears of all those people who said it will come back.

How did I come through this? Why did i survive? Can i use this time to take scared and now scarred into making it sacred.

Recently, at Deershed Festival, an absolute riot of lovliness for a weekend, meeting up with friends, having annual chats and hugs, treating guests for the weekend, i managed to work 13 clinic hours. I’ve received some amazing feedback and relished seeing clients leave my tent more upright, smiling faces and brimming with joy.

How is that possible after everything i’ve been through? We will never know, never be able to pinpoint that which made the difference. Many may try, they’ll have their theories, they’ll produce supporting evidence with conviction. Those that embrace me as i am now, those that hold me in their thoughts, hold my gaze with eyes to see the wonder of the world, envelope me in their arms to feel our hearts beating, these are the folks i want to be around, those that have no words, no explanations, just love and kindness. Because that echoes where i am right now.

Words cannot truly explain the extraordinary journey I have walked through my life, most recently in the valley of potential death. Now embracing a life, not full of expectations to achieve, just each day unfurling, bringing joy and wonderment, finding the sacred in every day, in simple activities and achievements.

Travelling with Cancer

Travelling with Cancer

Catherine

The difference between branch line and locomotive train travel. The fear of not knowing

You stand waiting on a platform all alone. You have to travel alone, it’s happening to you, not them. Across from you are well wishers, shouting well meant platitudes, words of wisdom, caring, sharing lived experiences that bear no relation to where you stand yet are heartfelt.

Fear rising, you hope the train approaching isn’t for you. If it is, you at least hope you only travel a few short stops then be able to disembark. These are stories you ve been told. This is the story you imagine

And for a while you do. You recovery, you have time to recoup losses and look to return. Then you find yourself on a different platform, with fewer people standing opposite. Some familiar faces, some new to the crowd, smaller in number, distilled with experience.

But this time you re not so confident. Over the year you’re read about, heard on the news, been told of many who didn’t make it. And this time you can’t bring yourself to think the train fast approaching isn’t a branch line, it’s the intercity locomotive, fast paced and with stops you hadn’t anticipated, little time to consider forward plans. Can you take a break? Make time to catch the next one?

Yet how can you when the voices now holler different tones, diverse and contradictory. And if you choose to stand back from it all, unhearing, it feels too confusing to comprehend

I want to be able to choose. Maybe travel to the next station on foot, after a break to assess, pick up another form of transport, choose the most radical of all, no forward travel for now.

art therapy, colours and figure

Seasonal Sessions

Catherine

Saturday 10th September and Saturday 19th November

2022 has been an exceptional year. For personal and professional reasons. We have celebrated successes and faced defeats with grace. We have taken the slow route, encouraged by many around us who are feeling the same. And true to our word, we have held space for appreciation of the ‘hows’ around living a simpler life. It would be so easy to get back to it, to ‘drop a shoulder’ into getting on and finding a way round, yet there is humility and strength gained from going through diligently.

Sandra has officially launched herself as Granny Herb and is planning the 2nd intake and 2nd Year of the Junior Herbalist Club

Alex continues to expand her offerings and has rebranded as My Wild Soul, bringing her soul filled practice together offering movement and creative workshops

and Me? I am steady in my proactivity, giving time to sense the right way forward. I am looking to reestablish a clinic in Grange, hopeful this will start from October, yet also mindful of sensing what degree of energy and enthusiasm is required to see if there is viability. I promised myself to give space to be playful in these uncertain days, to relish a coming to a different place. With that in mind the approach of our September event is exciting and I hope you’ll be able to join is in a day of celebration of what we all can harvest from this year so far. Our collective collaboration continues and in November we all come together to bringing our awareness to the Winter months ahead and how best to approach our preparations

September botanical printing – community and connection – all aspects for our event in September taking place at a new private event space outside of Carnforth, set in beautiful countryside location find out more

“When a flower doesn’t bloom, you fix its environment, not the flower.”. – Alexander Den Heijer –

November

Botanical Printing – Winter Wreaths – Hibernation Hacks find out more

Alex from Wild Soul will be joining us for an afternoon making wreaths for the Winter and Granny Herb will be sharing wisdom on remedies to get you through the winter months.

dates for 2023 join our mailing list to find out more about our events next year or how to create your own tailor made event