Quietly Chastened: A Year of Elemental Discovery
How I began to discover the power of the five elements and then began to draw
As the seasons shift, Quietly Chastened a whited-coated presence feeds in meadows dotted with greens, yellows, reds, oranges, browns then white.
After all the mad-dash-about the mighty steed Fiercely Independent1 brought, in slowing down, there is something about meadow grazing that is irresistible and contemplative encouraging slow, mindful reflection and a deeper connection with the landscape. Quietly Chastened doesn’t canter, doesn’t gallop, doesn’t even trot. Quietly Chastened just walks…slowly.
Over the past year and into the new one, I have been travelling regularly to Wales to take part in Moving with the Elements, a course led by Sarah Hyde of Healing Moves2, based in Rhydsaint, Carmarthenshire. The course centres on engaging with the natural world through the lens of five elements—Wood, Earth, Fire, Metal, and Water—while also exploring the body’s meridians, as understood in Chinese medicine. The course entails much more, but for the purpose here I try to be brief.
Each weekend, we consciously dream twice. During these dream sessions, we encounter ‘officials’ or guardians of organs within the body, each organ corresponding to a particular element and season. As we walk Sarah’s land, we meet various plants whose spirits later reappear in our dream journeys. Sarah’s drumming guides us along pathways that blur the boundaries between sleeping and waking. Body work—both indoors and outdoors—is an essential part of Sarah’s curriculum, allowing us to engage with the wisdom of the element that is the focus for the weekend
During the Metal cycle in November, I became aware of a standing horse, probably inspired by the wild Welsh ponies Sarah invites in occasionally to graze the two lush meadows near her house. They stirred my soul with their quiet presence and non-judgmental participation in our practice. They kept close watch in my dreams and my own creative practice at home inspiring me to write these posts.
One of the most interesting aspects of the course was the drawing we did from what we saw in our dream journeys. As the plant revealed its qualities and wisdom something awakened creatively for me. The most surprising outcome has been that I have begun to draw for my own pleasure and creative re-awakening.
Drawing on the introspective mood the November Metal element had channelled, over Christmas I began to draw at home. I have found the medicine of drawing and the plant work deeply nurturing evoking a calmer sense of exploration and reflection that is becoming a valuable tool for both creative work and healing.
I titled this drawing: Landmarks of the Spiritual Home (out of the politics). Looking more deeply into the images that came one morning in late December before the New Year the symbols within took on layers of meaning from memory and experience:
· The Gravel Path of Choice – the three-way paths we could choose from if we walked over the Slough at the Almond Tree Avenue, a place from childhood.
· The Tree of Youth – an elm, I believe, under which I lay often during warmer weather playtimes and under which I once got winded I recall.
· Disrupting the Meadow – the impetus for my current walking non-fiction project and “Pink Granite” my quarrying story.
· A Fire Mountain – a connection to “Tributaries” (1994), a performance piece I am now archiving, and again to “Pink Granite” (2025), both exploring themes of explosive transformation and matriarchal strength.
· The Edge of Water is a recurring motif since moving to Southport, inspired by frequent walks in Marshside and the ongoing creation of a new non-fiction work that blends poetry with the practice of slow walking.
· The Golden Flying Carpet is a majestic, horse-like seat with wings, which may have come from too much sitting watching TV over the holiday. Its decorative elements include a bird—possibly a red-hatted green magpie, or maybe a parrot—echoing political undertones and the spirit that visited during the Wood cycle last spring.
During the Christmas break I read Birnam Wood by Eleanor Catton, The Vaster Wilds by Lauren Groff, The Covenant of Water by Abraham Verghese - all while sitting on this chair by the water’s edge gazing at the gravel path of choice with the tree of youth in the background.
On my actual journey to Rhydsaint for the water element work this January I was reading Tom Lake by Ann Patchett. It brought me back to a story about theatre and moving on in life. All four novels explored the wonders the natural world can offer us if we only open ourselves to its potential.
The 12- month cycle came to a close a couple of weeks ago concluding with the Water element, which was well placed at Sarah’s home through which the River Sawdde tumbles this time of year. It has been a fascinating course – gentle, soothing and quietly challenging.
As I mentioned at the top of this post I had written previously about a horse called Fiercely Independent, a somewhat bolder companion. It seems I have instinctively set my focus on an equine theme this early part of the year. I sense the imminent thundering entrance of the fire horse towards the end of this month. This movement and transformation seem poised to disrupt and even wreck the tranquil meadow. Yet, amidst this anticipation with heart and hand I hold on to letting go and embracing quiet confidence and deeper wisdom that have emerged over this last year.
Thank you for reading.
