Cover illustration by Hülya Özdemir

114

E XT RAS IN
T H IS ISSUE
Enjoy all this paper goodness! Our
exc l u s i ve p u l l - o u ts a n d p ro j e c ts
c e l e b r a t e t h e e d i t i o n ’s t h e m e s .

4 Make a wild Forgiveness

82
32 56
shadow box worksheets

Oracle cards to Patterned papers

50 87
aid intuition and posters

104

Birthstones and 14-page art

18 87
flowers calendar collage kit
 71

CO NTE NTS
06 Profile: cover artist
Hülya Özdemir

08 NATURE
10 Nature notes
14 Birth flowers and
gemstones
18 Pull-out calendar
20 Botanical painting
24 Inspired by: wilderness
26 Rewild your life
32 Create a forest glade
vignette
42
36 MIND & BODY 5
38 Wellbeing notes
42 Our fascination with
the moon
46 Listen to your intuition
50 Your own oracle cards
52 The Hawaiian practice
of forgiveness
56 Boundaries around
forgiveness
59 Forgiveness worksheets
63 A second chance at life

66 HOME

108
68 Home notes
71 Home is where the art is

56 76 Profile: Julie Liger-Belair

82 The evolution of collage
87 Collage papers

102 TRAVEL
104 Travel notes
108 Get creative and stay
connected with family
112 Inspired by: mail
114 The beauty of mail art
120 Revisiting places with
fresh eyes
124 Explore more:
train journeys
126 Listen to our playlist
128 Susannah Conway’s
column

06
 Paintings and photographs: Hülya Özdemir

TI MELESS PO RTRAITS
Tu r k i s h a r t i s t H ü l y a Ö z d e m i r c r e a t e d o u r s t u n n i n g c o v e r a r t w o r k t h i s i s s u e .
She talks about her portrayal of beautiful, strong women.

When did you realise you wanted to be an artist?
I can say, literally, I was born this way. I realised I would
be an artist when I was at high school, when I was a teenager.
You portray beautiful, exotic women, often with
flora and fauna. What inspires your pieces?
I’ve always loved painting portraits, especially female portraits.
Any woman can inspire me. My first portraits were of Tibetan
women. Their colourful, traditional clothes, dark red cheeks
and accessories influenced me a lot.
Can you describe your creative process?
Most things happen spontaneously while I’m painting;
I do not sketch beforehand. I draw directly on paper, and start
to paint. I rarely know what will happen next.
What is the best creative advice you’ve received?
Be yourself and create your own style. My advice to
myself is that when people see one of my paintings, they should
say, this is Hülya Özdemir.
What have been your favourite projects to work on?
Last year I worked on a special project for Penguin Books
inspired by International Women’s Day – the Sisterhood
Collection. Another favourite project is a series of seasonal
posters for a shopping centre in Osaka in Japan.
What are you reading and listening to?
I’ve just finished a book of Sabahattin Ali’s stories. I’m
listening to Damon Albarn – Strange News From Another Star.
Does your art carry a message?
I like Shel Silverstein’s quote: “Never explain what you
do. It speaks for itself. You only muddle it by talking about it.”
If I have to say something, I would only say “women exist!”.
Follow Hülya on Instagram at @huliaozdemir

Left: Hülya’s
covers for the
Penguin Sisterhood
Collection – six
classics about
fearless women
written by women.
Right: “I feel most
calm when I finish
drawing and start
painting.”
7
8
W i l d e r n e s s i s n o t
a l u x u r y b u t n e c e s s i t y
o f t h e h u m a n s p i r i t .

N AT U R E
Rewilding: the word conjures up great forests,
huge meadows with grasses as tall as your
knees and animals running free; nature taking
care of itself. Our regular nature writer, Tiffany
Francis-Baker, delves into this hot topic of
modern conservation and asks how it can
also take care of us. Follow her tips for how
we can rewild on a personal and local level.
Elsewhere, wild flowers provide some of
the inspiration in artist Harriet de Winton’s
watercolour lesson this issue, and we turn
to birth flowers, and gems, to inspire a year
of natural gifts with an illustrated pull-out
birthday calendar to match.
Quote: Edward Abbey; illustration: ArdeaA / Getty Images

9
 1 1
Photograph: Smith Scott Mullan

Photograph: Woodland Trust

10 1 2

N A T U R E
N O T E S
Stars, soy wax candles,
sapplings and a sip of the
w o r l d ’s m o s t d e c a d e n t
coffee (made in a very
i n t e re s t i n g w a y… ! )
Compiled by Tiffany Francis-Baker

3 4

3
 2
A BI G WO RL D
1 OF PL AN TS
They feed us, help us breathe
and keep our fragile planet
alive, but how much do we
really know about plants?
Do they really like classical
music? Can they slow climate
change? The Royal Botanic
Garden in Edinburgh has
written the perfect online
course for beginners who
are looking to understand
plants and botany. Learn
all about how plants work,
how they adapt to the world
around them and how to
start identifying the plants in
your local landscape. Enrol
any time for the 10-week
course, £80 per person. Visit
onlinecourses.rbge.ac.uk for
more information. Looking
for something quicker/
closer? We love A World of
Plants by Martin Jenkins and
James Brown, a beautifully
illustrated compendium
exploring the wide variety
of plants on earth.
£15, walker.co.uk
WAN TED : A
2 BI LL IO N T R EES
Unsure how to help fight
2 the climate crisis? According
to the Committee on
Climate Change, the UK
government’s advisers on
global warming, the UK
needs to plant 1.5bn new
trees by 2050 to meet the
net zero carbon target. To
help meet these targets,
the Woodland Trust are
calling for 1 million people
to help plant trees all over
the country, including native
hedgerow species like
oak, birch and hawthorn.
Volunteering is a great way
to get outdoors, meet like-
minded people and help
contribute to something
positive, so head to
woodlandtrust.org.uk
and sign up today.
If you don’t live in the UK,
search locally for wildlife
5 groups close to you, to see
what can be done in your
immediate area.
CAPTUR ED
3 I N CL AY
We are obsessed with the
clay sculpture creations of
Grace Ives-Farren, also known
as The Mighty Ink. From
crimson octopuses to
ring-tailed lemurs and polar
bears to bunnies, Grace’s
background in illustration
means these clay creatures
are vibrant and full of
personality. We love her
hanging decorations and
bespoke pet sculpture
service, where she will
capture your favourite
animal in colourful clay
form – the perfect gift for
yourself or a loved one.
All her creations are inspired
by nature and eco-friendly
living and made in her
studio in the south of
England. Visit etsy.com/shop/
TheMightyInkStudio to see
her collection or commission
something special.
SW EE T SC E NT
4 O F SP RI NG
The Botanical Candle
Co. have created a new
candle evoking first flowers
unfolding from the ground
and a world beginning to
wake up. Their Sandalwood
& Rose Geranium candle
is the perfect combination
of deep, earthy scents and
floral blossom, captured
with vegan soy wax and
essential oils to bring a
natural lift into your home.
Every candle is handmade
on the Dorset coast, with
minimal environmental
impact and plastic-free
packaging. They also offer
candle subscriptions for
those of us who can’t be
without a soothing flame
in the evenings – from small
tealights and small wax melt
collections to larger soy
candle gift sets.
Sandalwood and Rose
Geranium soy candle from
£3.95, Candle subscriptions
from £8, thebotanicalcandle
co.co.uk.
STARRY,
5 STARRY N IGHT
When was the last time
you stopped to look at the
stars? In our most urbanised
spaces, light pollution has
made the night sky more
and more difficult to observe.
In Matt Gaw’s new book
Under the Stars, he explores
how light pollution is
damaging the lives of people
and wildlife, disturbing
our natural rhythms and 11
causing our moonlight and
starlight to disappear. This
is a beautiful new book on
the power of light in the
dark, and a reminder of the
importance of stepping
outside and connecting
with the natural world.
Under the Stars: A Journey
into Light is published by
Elliot & Thompson on 20
February 2020, £12.99,
eandtbooks.com
I T’S WR I TTE N
6 I N THE STARS
Embrace your inner
astrologist with the
new collection of zodiac
notebooks from Baltic
Moon, run by Anna and
Cara Benson, independent
makers from the north of
England. These beautiful
journals are a great excuse
to start tracking the lunar
cycles (see page 42 for more
on that!), observing the
natural world and sketching
out the changing seasons.
Perhaps you’ll use yours to
record tarot or oracle card
sessions (see page 50),
your thoughts and intuition.
Each notebook is made
from recycled blank pages,
perfect for writing your
intentions, dreams and
plans for the year ahead.
Looking for a gift bundle
for a spiritual friend? Baltic
 6
Moon also make bracelets,
candles and crystal boxes
to match. Notebooks,
£3.50 each, Gift sets
from £28, etsy.com/shop/
BalticMoonUK.
7
E LE PHANT
7 CO F FE E
7 Nearly all of us treasure a hot
cup of coffee, but have you
tasted the rarest coffee in the
world? It’s completely unique
(and comes with a price tag to
prove it), but is said to be one
of the most decadent coffee
experiences available. The
secret? Elephants! The Black
12 Ivory Coffee company in
Thailand feeds their coffee
cherries to rescued
elephants, where their
8 digestive enzymes break
down the coffee protein to
create a smooth, luxurious
flavour. Not only is the coffee
delicious, but the company
supports the Golden Triangle
Asian Elephant Foundation
who care for elephants who
have been neglected or
abused as part of the ivory
and tourist trades. The coffee
starts from around £78 a pack
with free worldwide delivery.
Visit blackivorycoffee.com for
more details.
GARD EN S, WEE DS
8 AN D WOR DS
Hoping to get out in the
garden this year? The
Gardens, Weeds & Words
podcast is perfect inspiration,
created by gardener and
blogger Andrew O’Brien.
His podcasts are fun and
9 10 fascinating, covering
everything you need to form
a closer connection with
your nearest green space.
From rethinking weeds
and kitchen gardens to
landscape photography and
seasonal living, Andrew’s
conversations with guests
make for lovelylistening.
Find out more and read his
blog at gardensweedsand
words.com.
NATU RA L
9 FRAG RA NCE
Immerse yourself in the
magic of the seasons
with Ffern, a small batch
perfumery based in the
heart of Somerset. Their
unisex, vegan perfumes are
blended four times a year
to align with the seasons,
with two for the spring and
autumn equinoxes, and two
for the summer and winter
solstices. The company is
run by the great grandson
of maverick French chemist
Joseph Robert, who
discovered a way to extract
fragrance oils from plants.
They are now passionate
about artisan perfumery
with organic, cruelty-free
ingredients and eco-friendly
processes, all inspired by the
changing seasons and the
delicate scents of the natural
world. To sign up for the
next batch, visit ffern.co. For
a fragrance-inspired read,
we love the dark and deadly
novel Perfume by Patrick
Süskind (£8.99, Penguin).
E ART H LOVE
10 Passionate about
protecting the earth? We
love the inspirational posters
created by Hannah Elizabeth,
a freelance illustrator and
art tutor from the north
of England. Each print is
handmade and our current
favourite is her retro Good
Planets design, which was
recently chosen to be
featured in the Art of Activism
exhibition in London. The
design was inspired by a
trip to Snowdonia in Wales,
where Hannah climbed
Mount Snowdon and found
herself awestruck by the
birds of prey and panoramic
views from the top. The
Good Planets print starts
from £19.99 with worldwide
delivery from etsy.com/shop/
hannahelizabethetsy.
Est 2000 | Devon

Ingredients from us,

handmade by you

Telephone | 01237 420872

sales@thesoapkitchen.co.uk

www.thesoapkitchen.co.uk
14

Fo r c e n t u r i e s , f l o w e r s a n d
gemstones have been associated
with particular months. Julia
W i l l s i n ve s t i ga t e s M o t h e r N a t u re ’s
perfect presents and discovers
some surprises.
Illustration: Esther Curtis

Humans love making connections. Of
course, it’s in our nature to seek out
similarities with one another, but we
choose to look for shared traits in the
natural world too. Owls may be wise and
wolves wicked, but few alliances have
endured longer than our fellowship with
flowers and gemstones. Throughout
history artists, poets, royalty and religion
have endowed them with human quirks
in a shorthand that remains alive and well
today. Shrinking violets, rough diamonds.
But where did these traditions come from?
And why are they still so popular?
Think of the meanings of flowers and
you’ll probably think of the Victorians.
However, the tradition is thought to be
much older, starting with the Greeks and
Romans. While the Greeks wove flowers
into their myths – like Narcissus, the
vain youth who fell in love with his own
reflection and faded away leaving the
blooms that bear his name – it was the
Romans who were the true florists. They
celebrated everything, from festivals of the
gods to military victories, by garlanding
their towns with roses, violets, lilies and
laurels. It’s likely they gave flowers on
birthdays too, leading historians to believe 15
that the Romans may have seeded the idea
of birth month flowers.
Having a January birthday, my flowers
are the carnation and snowdrop. While
I can see the snowdrop as a foot soldier
of the floral year, the carnation was a
surprise. But, digging deeper, I discovered
those Romans had been cultivating
carnations over 2,000 years ago and, months around the globe. December,
true to their endless ingenuity, building being winter in the northern hemisphere
greenhouses to nurture flowers through and summer in the southern, has three
the colder months. Could my January flowers – narcissus, holly and poinsettia.
carnation have flourished back in the Months, too, often boast more than
Roman Empire? one stone with, yes, December again,
It seems reasonable to imagine that hitting the jackpot of turquoise, tanzanite
geography, as well as history, may lie and zircon. However, when it comes to
behind the different flowers picked for gems, their differing prices and recently
discovered stones add to the choice.
When it comes to traits, flowers tend
to speak modestly – of faithfulness,
patience and love. Gemstones, being more
expensive than flowers (tulip fever and
other historical floral obsessions aside!)
 and lasting lifetimes, tell tales of royalty,
power and protection. Scholars believe
that the tradition of birth stones may have
arisen from the Old Testament and the
twelve stones in Aaron, the High Priest
of the Israelites’, breastplate. But despite
their different origins, do they speak the
same language?
At first glance May’s emeralds, July’s
rubies and September’s sapphires seem
to have little in common with their
16 floral twins, lily-of-the-valley, larkspur
and asters. Yet, look closer and there’s
communication. The emerald may have
been Cleopatra’s favourite sparkler, but
it also carries the humbler meaning of
renewal; lily-of-the-valley’s Latin name,
Convallaria magalis means ‘belonging to
May’. Renewal and May, the lushest of
spring months, seem on speaking terms Diamonds may be forever, but the
to me. July’s ruby, ancient India’s ‘king of longevity of all gemstones made them
precious stones’ epitomises passion while precious talismans. Aquamarine, March’s
larkspur whispers ardent attachment. And stone, derives its name from the Latin for
September? It’s the most harmonious of seawater and was carried by sailors eager
all, agreeing on what nurtures domestic for a safe voyage. March’s daffodil stands
bliss – the aster meaning patience, the for hope too. August’s peridot brings the
sapphire, deep emotional love. wearer power and luck. And the gladiolus?
Back to those Romans again, who called
this bloom the gladiator’s flower and
wove them into winners’ wreathes, as
trophies of their power and, some might
say, luck. And my carnation? Both it
and the January garnet mean devotion,
particularly religious. The stone was one
of the medieval church’s favourites while
the flower’s other name, ‘dianthus’, comes
from the Greek – ‘dios’ (god) and ‘anthus’
(flower) – literally, God’s flower.
April’s diamond and sweet pea talk of
passion and sensuality; June’s pearls and
roses chatter about innocence and passion,
as befits the wedding season. October’s
opal and November’s topaz, thought to be
named from the Sanskrit, ‘tapas’ meaning
Illustration: Esther Curtis
 such as Solomon’s Seal, Jacob’s Ladder
and Euphorbia, hand-tied in a dreamy
haze of green and white. July’s dazzles
with flowers the pinks and purples of
glimmering rubies, while September’s
asters are complemented by sapphire-blue
flowers.
Meanwhile, Catherine Hills
(catherinehillsjewellery.com), having
designed the jewellery for the Harry
Potter films, knows all about the magic
of ‘philosopher’s stones’. Renowned for
her bespoke birthstone ball pendants, she
attributes the stones’ continued popularity 17
with precisely that otherworldly sense
of protection and good fortune. In her
creations, inspired by the sun and moon,
each stone sits inside like a secret message
to the wearer.
‘fire’, both rekindle brightness in the Enduring. Personal. Distinctive. Birth
darkest months. Similarly, the marigold stones and flowers remain as captivatingly
and chrysanthemum are floral sunbursts special as they were thousands of years
carrying messages of renewed optimism. ago, connecting us to nature, to ourselves
December’s turquoise and narcissus and the past. Which, in a modern world,
suggest palettes of wintry skies and snow, beguiled by every latest gizmo and trend,
and both stand for hope and peace. makes them more precious than ever.
And then there’s February. Rather a
puzzle since the violet stands for modesty
and the amethyst for power. However, the
amethyst’s name comes from the Greek,
‘amethystos’, meaning a remedy against
drunkenness; Renaissance lovers carried
amethysts to cool their red-hot ardour.
The stone, it seems, warded off their
different intoxications, perhaps returning
them to the violet’s modesty, after all?
Tales of gladiators’ flowers and sailors’
lucky charms still fascinate us today,
while the traits associated with the blooms
and gems make us feel connected. Hardly
surprising then, that they inspire creatives
and artists too.
The Real Flower Company (realflowers.
co.uk) recently debuted its range of
birthday bouquets, themed around both
the flowers and stones. May echoes lily-
of-the-valley and uses seasonal flowers
 TAP TO
DOWNLOAD

B I RT H DAY CA L E N DA R
This any-year poster is the perfect
place to record friends’ and family’s
birthdays, plus you’ll get a heads
up from Mother Nature herself on what
could be a suitable gift or colour theme
for your present, card or wrapping:
their birthstone and birth flower.

18
20

F R A M E
I T I N
F L O R A L S
Artist Harriet de Winton shares her love
o f c a p t u r i n g f l o w e r s i n w a t e r c o l o u r, a n d
her favourite decorative techniques.
I
like breaking the rules a little bit. I’m naturally messy, have always
coloured outside of the lines and I’ve never met a wobbly stem or
wonky flower that I didn’t love. No two plants are identical, so the
same should be said for your paintings. 21
This style of painting combines the detail found in original botanical
studies and the energy of loose watercolour painting. It appears effortless,
but requires a relaxed confidence both in the painting process and in yourself.
Flower painting is a bit like being a florist: you’re building an arrangement
from scratch.
My life and work revolves around flowers. I’m an artist and stationer who
paints almost exclusively in watercolour, and I am commissioned to paint
flowers more than any other subject matter.
The only thing I love more than a single flower is a whole bunch, complete
with wild, overflowing greenery. Foliage is a thing of beauty all on its own – in
fact, my husband and I even decorated our wedding venue exclusively with
houseplants and greenery.
I am a self-taught watercolourist with a patchy memory for flower names
– it is safe to say I’m no traditionalist! My short time working in a florist
introduced me to the seasonal swell of new blooms and colour palettes.
I would take this inspiration home with me every night to work on my
watercolour commissions.
Being trusted to build a bouquet from the assorted buckets of blooms (and
the pressure of assembling it under the customer’s watchful gaze) provided
me with both the inspiration and confidence to put together painted floral
arrangements.
Flowers and watercolours are the perfect partners; like getting lost in the
spiralling petals of a rose, the more you explore watercolour, the more you will
discover its subtle surprises.
I am still making discoveries after all these years, but the freshness of
colour racing across a wet page, triggered by a single dab of the brush, gets
me every time.

Use this
technique on
your mail
art! See
page 114
 You can use negative space to create crisp,
contemporary shapes for your abundant blooms to be
placed against. Painted borders can be achieved either
by drawing a pencil outline or using low-tack washi tape
to mask out a shape. Here we try out both techniques
and see what painting opportunities each one offers.

P E N C I L
22 B O R D E R S
I have chosen a vivid palette, rich with colours of palms, proteas and
peonies. Each step works towards creating full borders, but you
can also use this as a handy guide for creating corner details by just
following the first three steps.
Drawing a pencil border allows you to overlap plants over the front
of the shape, you just need to be extra careful when painting close
to the outline. It is difficult to fully erase pencil that has been painted
over, so keep your lines faint.

This project uses a rectangle. Draw your pencil outline and

1 choose two diagonally opposite corners. In the top corner the
plants will appear from behind the shape and at the bottom corner
they will be in the foreground. Draw a large faint circle in the top
corner and a smaller one in the bottom corner to create a guide for
the reach of your plants. This asymmetry creates a pleasing aesthetic
and draws the eye across the piece from left to right. The part of the
circles that overlap the box make good starting points for your first few
painted stems.

Paint your top-corner plants in a fan. The key to successful

2 borders is to keep the stems curved and keep varying your
angles as you work along.

In the bottom corner, paint a cluster of flowers and stems over the
3 top of the pencil shape. If you just want to create border accents,
this is a really nice place to stop.

To complete the border, ensure the remainder of the border does

4 not reach out as far as your accent corners. Keep varying the
angle of your stems. Take your time, look around the border you have
painted so far and see what colour/flower/leaf you haven’t used in a
while to keep the variation consistent. Once fully dry, rub out any visible
pencil marks.
 W A S H I T A P E
B O R D E R S

This technique allows you to be a little

more loose in your painting style as the
tape will maintain a lovely crisp line.
It just means that the flowers will look
as though they appear from behind
the masked shape. The satisfaction
of peeling away the tape to reveal a
crisp line is one of life’s tiny pleasures.
I recommend testing out the tape on
your watercolour paper before you
paint your masterpiece. Some tapes
are just a little bit too sticky and pull
up the watercolour paper. Washi tape
works far better than masking tape.
23
FULL BORDER
Once you have masked your area (make sure
all the edges are properly smoothed down)
load up your brush with lots of wet colour and
paint loose watercolour florals to your heart’s
content. I made a point of bleeding each leaf
and each flower into each other to create a full
border of peonies. Allow to dry fully before
carefully peeling the tape away.

LINE BORDER
This technique can also be used to create long lines of painted borders and is
just as effective with a less loose style. When painting spaced, thin stems along
a masked line, it is important to pack them together fairly tightly and paint a few
leaves and thicker lines across the masked line. If you have too much negative
space, you will lose the sense of a crisp border line when the tape is peeled away.

Extract taken
from New
Botanical Painting
by Harriet
de Winton,
published by Ilex.
ilexinstant.com
 1 2 3
24

I N S P I R E D B Y
W I L D E R N E S S
1. Set the tone with a leopard print welcome
mat, cuckooland.com. 2. This owl wall light
brings the forest to your front room, nedgis.
com. 3. Don’t have the views? Not a problem
with epic peel-able wallpaper, wallsauce.
com. 4. Bring the prairie to your little house,
thedenandnow.co.uk. 5. Send your little dears
off to sleep with a Bambi nightlight, nedgis.
com. 6. Look closely – Courtney Brims’ Back to
Nature wallpaper features spooky snakes, rats,
snails, skeletons and moths, mineheart.com.
7. Create your own woodland scene with Kim
Wallace’s clay ornaments, kwceramics.com.au.
8. Spot the stationary cheetah. Give your plants
4 some quirk at redcandy.co.uk. 5

6 7 8
 25

It’s a jungle
sometimes. Recreate
nature’s greenest
canopy with this hand-
tufted Indian rug,
audenza.com
 Back to
nature
Rewilding is a hot topic in modern
conservation, but can it help save the
p l a n e t ? T i f f a n y Fr a n c i s - B a k e r e x p l o r e s
why the world needs more wilderness.

26
Illustration: Esther Curtis
27
 ewilding is a word that ignites the imagination.
It conjures up tangled forests, murmuring
wildflower meadows and wolves running free
through the Scottish mountains. But what does
rewilding actually mean? The logistics are
simple. Rewilding means leaving nature to take care of
itself rather than enforcing a human-based management
system. The word first appeared in American print in the
1990s, but the philosophy behind it has since taken hold
around the world, with many people now believing it to
be a key part of the fight for a sustainable future.
28 Behind it all is the idea that nature knows best. For
years, humans have interfered in the rhythms and
cycles of the natural world, polluting the air, earth and
oceans, and causing ecosystems to be completely tipped
off balance. Places that were once rich in wildlife and
greenery have become barren, and we are now facing a
huge ecological crisis that could, at worst, lead to our own
extinction. Nature thrives through balance, and if this
balance is lost, everything suffers.
So what does rewilding involve? Well, nothing. Or
almost nothing. Rewilding is about leaving a natural
space to grow and develop on its own. The natural world
has evolved over millions of years to exist in harmony
and balance while also providing everything we need
to survive – fresh air, food and clean water. But with a
recent UN report suggesting that one million species
now face extinction worldwide, it’s more important than
ever to not only protect the wild spaces we have, but start
bringing more of them back. We are all part of nature,
and without a healthy ecosystem all life on earth is at
risk of extinction.
The good news is that nature is resilient. Research
has proven time and again that with a little space and
time, the natural world is capable of recovering quickly.
Rewilding can mean anything from growing wildflowers
in a corner of your garden, to reintroducing wolves in the
Midlands. The more we can commit to, the fuller our
ecosystem will be and the healthier it becomes. And as
recent studies have shown, time spent in nature is vital
for our own wellbeing, health and creativity. A wilder
world can teach us all to let go of control, observe the
natural flow of things, embrace the unknown and enjoy
the surprises life has in store for us.
So how can we start to welcome in the wilderness
for ourselves?
Rewilding at home
According to the Wildlife Trusts, private gardens in the
UK cover an area bigger than all the nature reserves
combined, estimated at over 10 million acres. These
spaces can often be concrete wastelands, but if they
were to become safe, healthy spaces for wildlife to thrive
instead, they could also help connect other green spaces
to create ‘corridors’ for wildlife to travel.
A world without bees and butterflies seems impossible
to imagine, but a recent study suggests that 40 percent
of global insect species are declining and a third are
endangered. One of the easiest ways to rewild your
garden is to encourage pollinators by planting pollen-rich
flowers with a range of flowering periods to ensure they
never go hungry. Wildflowers are particularly suitable
as they’ll look after themselves and keep reseeding year
after year. Wildlife gardener Kate Bradbury suggests
leaving swathes of long grass and flowers – they might
seem less tidy than neat border plants, but that’s exactly
what wildlife needs. Ponds also provide a great water
source for insects, amphibians and small mammals, and
one of the best things you can do is cut a CD-sized hole
at the bottom of your fences to allow hedgehogs to travel
between gardens.
You don’t need to live in the countryside to rewild your
garden. Nature is everywhere, and the smallest garden or
balcony can still help local wildlife stay nourished. Plant a
window box with nectar-rich plants like lavender, chives,
thyme, marjoram or Mexican fleabane, or sow night-
scented stocks for moths. Hang bird feeders from the
 29

“Rewilding is about leaving a natural

space to grow and develop on its own.
The natural world has evolved over
millions of years to exist in
harmony and balance.”

Illustration: Esther Curtis

 “In the state of Montana US, the
American Prairie Reserve project is
stitching together three million acres
of land to connect fragmented spaces
and create a huge prairie ecosystem.”

30
windows, pop a bird box on the wall, and make a balcony
bee hotel to provide a home for urban bees and insects.
Visit wildlifetrusts.org/gardening for more tips on creating
your own urban wildlife garden.
The wider community
The more land dedicated to rewilding, the more
successful it will be, and for farmers and landowners
with a few acres under their control, the results can
be extraordinary. The Knepp Castle Estate in West
Sussex was once an intensive farm that rarely made a
profit. The owners, Isobella Tree and Charlie Burrell,
decided to take the plunge and transform their estate
into a rewilding project, allowing natural processes to
take over rather than aiming for specific business goals.
Their free-roaming grazing animals such as cattle,
ponies, pigs and deer are helping to nourish the degraded
soil, as well as creating a mosaic of different habitats
across the land. They now specialise in organic meat
and eco-tourism, and are turning a profit for the first
time in decades without the use of intensive pesticides
and fertilisers. Even better, they have seen astonishing
results in biodiversity, and are now a breeding hotspot for
rare species like purple emperor butterflies, turtle doves
and nightingales. For more information on the Knepp
transformation, read Isabella’s book Wilding.
Rewilding can not only benefit food production. In
Yorkshire, Forestry England reintroduced two Eurasian
beavers into Cropton Forest to see whether their presence
could reduce flooding. Ecologist Cath Bashforth calls
them “natural habitat engineers, restoring complex
wetland habitats and providing habitat for declining
species whilst slowing the flow of water downstream.”
Flooding in Yorkshire reaches catastrophic levels every
year, and the project managers are hoping that by
bringing beavers back to their natural habitats – 300
years after they were hunted to extinction in the UK –
the ecosystem will be rebalanced and flooding will be
reduced. So far, the beavers have settled happily into
their new forest, giving birth to two kits in early 2019.
Around the world
Beyond the British Isles, other countries are discovering
the benefits of bringing nature back to heal our
landscapes. In northern Ethiopia, a 30-year regreening 31
project has turned degraded wasteland back into a forest,
which in turn has had a positive impact on water supplies
and wildlife. The infamous famines of the 1980s were
due to a range of factors, but one of the big contributors
was deforestation. Without trees, the light hilly soils
were unprotected from the sun, wind and intense bursts
of rain, and it became almost impossible to grow food.
Today, the landscape is completely different. Mekele
University in Tigray has been at the forefront of a
rewilding project that has been restoring woodland, and
Sarah Tewolde-Berhan, one of the forestry specialists,
explains why it has been so successful: “Nature has this
tendency to heal itself, and we just need to harness that.”
In the US state of Montana, the American Prairie
Reserve project is stitching together three million acres
of public and private lands to connect fragmented spaces
and create a huge, healthy prairie ecosystem. Prairies
were once one of the most ecologically rich landscapes on
earth, but they are now one of the most threatened and
globally impacted habitats.
One of the reasons for this is the disappearance of the
wild bison, which almost vanished from over-hunting
in the 1800s. As the continent’s largest mammal,
bison were crucial in shaping the prairie ecosystem, as
prey for wolves and bears, carcasses for animals and
plants, mosaic habitats created by grazing patterns,
and wallowing in mud to create small waterholes. The
project, like many others, will take time and patience,
but the outlook is already looking positive and will help
inform the wider perspective behind rewilding our
precious natural spaces.
Illustration: Esther Curtis
 Into the
wild woods
Use your crafting skills to bring nature into your home.
This verdant vignette of a forest glade, designed by
Esther Curtis, will rewild your room

32
Photography: Dave Caudery
 CREATING YOUR SHADOW BOX

Pull out the cardboard insert over the page and gather together your
k i t : c r a f t k n i f e , c u t t i n g m a t , s a f e t y r u l e r, g l u e , a n d s t i c k y f o a m p a d s

Step 1
Using a cutting
mat and a scalpel
or craft knife,
carefully cut out all
the elements of the
vignette according to
the instructions on
the sheet. For fiddly
areas you might find
it easier to rotate 33
the card around the
scalpel, rather than
moving the blade.

Step 2
Using a ruler to keep
your lines straight,
score along all the
white dotted lines
around the edge of
the sheets (as well as
on the smaller pieces
such as the bear).
Using a scalpel and
ruler, cut along the
solid white lines to
create tabs at the
corners of the scene.
 Step 3
Fold the card sheet
in on itself along
the scored lines,
with the river scene
at the back on the
inside and the flower
scene at the front
on the outside. Tuck
in the tabs and fold
34 the longer flaps over
them, and glue in
place (or you could
use double-sided
sticky tape).

Step 4
Arrange the smaller
cut-out elements – the
flowers, clouds and
animals – on
the different layers
of the vignette and
fix in place with
sticky foam pads
(you could use glue
but sticky foam pads
will add extra depth
to the scene).
 35

I F YOU
GO DOWN
TO T HE
WOO DS…
The illusion of depth
created by this scene
gives the impression
of standing in a lush
forest, watching a
river snake off to the
horizon. Keep this
vignette on your desk
to inspire thoughts of
the great outdoors and
weekend expeditions.

TAP TO
DOWNLOAD
36
I n t u i t i o n i s s e e i n g
w i t h t h e s o u l .

MIND & BODY

This issue we look at ways to find peace with
ourselves: whether that’s trusting our intuition,
living by the moon or making a decision when
it comes to forgiving a wrong – or not. Life
Coach, Sas Petherick, advises that it’s not
always necessary to forgive and forget – what’s
important is the way in which you tend to
your boundaries. Tear out Sas’s forgiveness
worksheets to guide you on your path to
resolution, and tune in with yourself with Matilda
Smith’s beautifully illustrated oracle cards,
designed to prompt your inner knowing. Plus,
we hear about the biggest second chance of all:
saving a life. Pippa Kent’s moving story of her
double lung transplant is an inspiration to us all.
Quote: Dean Koontz. Illustration: Malte Meuller / Getty Images

37
 1 2

Photograph: Cotswold Photography

38 3
1
M I N D
& B O D Y
N O T E S
Make self-care a priority
with our beautiful and
nourishing finds.
Compiled by Cecilia Forfitt

6
Photograph: Tea With Ruby

5
 TAK E SO ME TI M E
1 FO R YOU
Last year, Australian author,
advocate and social worker
Jessica Sanders founded
Re-Shape Social Enterprises
(re-shape.info) as a vessel for
her women’s empowerment
efforts. Her guide for young
girls, Love Your Body, was
published in 2019, and now
you can read Me Time, a
self-care guide to being your
own best friend. Moved by
conversations which made
2 her realise that “we are all
collectively struggling to
prioritise what we need in
4 this crazy ass world”, Jess has
filled Me Time with invaluable
advice, from boundary-
setting to balancing your
news intake, with timed self-
care ideas. It’s illustrated by
Steph Spartels, whose art is
as inspiring as it is beautiful.
Me Time, published by
Five Mile. Available from
bookdepository.com, £16.52
E ARTH - F R IE ND LY
2
Photograph: Rachel Manns
P IL LOW TA LK
Taking inspiration from the
natural remedies of her
childhood, Lo Blästa created
Blästa Henriët, a Scandinavian
wellbeing brand with a focus
on self-care through natural
7 remedies and chemical-free
materials. Her yoga eye pillow
can be used to soothe tired
eyes, block out light and help
deepen relaxation, or as a
warm compress to ease
migraines and pain, while the
wheat bag is a natural way to
decrease joint stiffness and
reduce inflammation. You can
even add a drop or two of
Photograph: Jamie McCarthy / Staff / Getty Images
your favourite essential oils to
enhance your experience.
Wheat bag, £25, eye pillow,
£15 from blastahenriet.com
TE A FOR TWO AN D
3 TWO FOR T EA
Part of a range of mindful
homeware by writer and
coach John-Paul Flintoff, this
pair of mugs is designed to
encourage active listening,
and create an environment
for meaningful conversation.
John-Paul has used the
traditional willow pattern
design because of its bridge
motif: “I think something
very primal in us recognises
that crossing a bridge is a
moment of transition. It’s a
landscape where someone
wants to move forward
into something better,” he
says. As you sip your drink,
different prompts reveal
themselves on the inside of
the mug, from ‘nostalgia’
and ‘learning’ to questions
like ‘what are you proudest
of?’. So spend an hour with
someone sipping and sharing
your hopes and ideas. £25,
deptstoreforthemind.com
E XERCI SE
4 E MPAT HY
Birdsong creates clothing for
women who dress in protest,
“against the fast nature of
the fashion industry, against
the obsessive pursuit of
trends and against the
systematic abuse of women
in the production line”. They
design clothes for women,
made by women who face
barriers to employment –
from artists and printmakers
to seamstresses and
painters – and pay them
a London living wage to
bring their designs to life.
Everything’s made to last,
including this embroidered
tee designed by artist Henry
James Garrett who says: “By
listening to voices different
from our own, we strengthen
our empathy muscles.”
£38 (£1.50 donated to
the Survivors’ Network),
birdsong.london
GOOD NIG HT,
5 M OO N
The glow of a candle can
be calming and hypnotic,
especially when you’re
winding down before bed.
Bring a little moonlight
magic to your evening rituals
with this candle from MOA,
hand-poured with plant-
based waxes and scented
with a blend of sacred lunar
herbs to calm the mind and
cleanse your space. White
sage, jasmine, camphor and
myrrh combine to lull you
into relaxation, with star
and mountain illustrations
creating shadows that dance
on your walls and capture
your imagination. Moonlight
candle, £35 from moa.co.uk
ET HI CAL
6 BOTANICALS
“Oils made from such 39
precious natural ingredients
should be a luxury, a ritual,
an almost sacred connection
to the earth,” believes Amy
Wright, founder of Londe.
An old English word for
land, soil or earth, ‘Londe’
encapsulates Amy’s ethos
perfectly. Londe works
with local producers and
British-grown botanicals
to create their natural,
hand-blended oils. As well
as using organic ingredients
wherever available, Londe
uses by-products of the food
and beverage industry, and
its oils are vegan friendly
and cruelty free. Its English
Rosemary Botanic Body Oil
is a light, freshly scented
and nourishing blend for all
skin types, and their Botanic
Evening Oil is a dreamy facial
oil scented with calming
chamomile and lavender.
Botanic Body Oil and Botanic
Evening Oil, £32 and £26
from londebotanics.co.uk
EVE RY SHA DE
7 IS B EAU TIFUL
Queer Eye’s resident
fashion expert, Tan France,
has launched an inspiring
Instagram account,
celebrating the “diverse
beauty of people of colour”.
Frustrated at the lack
of representation in the
entertainment industry, Tan
 8 9
created Shaded to shine a
spotlight on the beauty and
achievements of people of
colour on screen and in the
media. You can follow
@shaded on Instagram.
THAT’S JUST
8 MY SI Z E
2019 was the year that stars
like Lizzo redefined the way
we saw beauty in the media,
and the body positive
movement gained more
recognition. But with skewed
sizing showing no sign of
disappearing from high street
10 fashion, making your own
40 clothes is a great way to rebel
against unrealistic ideals and
fast fashion. There are craft
courses everywhere, and
plenty of books and online
resources to help you get
started on your sewing or
11 knitting journey. Why not sew
one of these labels from Kylie
and the Machine in once
you’re done? £5.50 for eight
from loubodufabrics.com
GE TTI NG I NTO
9 DE EP WATE R
As well as having a host
of scientific benefits, from
stimulating the immune
system to benefiting muscles
and joints, a bath helps us
unwind. To those who like a
10 long soak, a bath is so much
more than a tub of warm
water – just ask Emilia Clarke
11 (“An Epsom salt bath, that’s
genuinely better than any
11 massage”) or Vera Wang (“My
evening really begins when
I take a long hot bath… it’s
when I can breathe from the
day to the night”). Make your
bath even more relaxing with
a handful or two of these
fragrant bathing salts. With
magnesium-rich Epsom and
Himalayan Salts to soothe
the body, this Mindful blend
Photograph: Nick Barose
from Westlab is infused with
frankincense and bergamot
essential oils, and CBD to
promote tranquility.
11 £7.99 from westlabsalts.co.uk
AGAINST TH E
10 GRAI N
An amazing social enterprise
bakery based in Haggerston,
East London, Better Health
Bakery is part of The Centre
for Better Health, a Hackney-
based mental health charity
offering trainee placements
to adults who have been
distanced from employment
due to mental ill health.
Between 2017 and 2018 they
had a total of 14 trainees
complete their 12-week
placements, and they’ve
since progressed to
employment, volunteering or
further training and
education. David Atherton,
winner of this year’s Great
British Bake Off, previously
volunteered at the bakery
and calls its sourdough
“the best in London”.
betterhealthbakery.org.uk
SH I NE BR I GH T
11 AND BE YOURS EL F
Academy Award-winning
Kenyan-Mexican actress,
Lupita Nyong’o, has written a
moving picture book about
self-esteem and beauty
coming from within. It’s the
story of Sulwe, whose skin is
the colour of midnight. Her
skin is darker than everyone in
her family, and everyone at
school. All she wants is to be
beautiful and bright – and
then a shooting star enters her
bedroom, and she’s swept
away on a life-changing
journey. Inspired by a letter
she received from a girl who
wanted to lighten her own
skin, Lupita put pen to paper
to help other children feeling
the same way. “The best
children’s books plant a seed
for children to grow and draw
from throughout their lives.
If Sulwe does that for even
one young reader, I would
be delighted,” she says.
The book is beautifully
illustrated by New York Times
bestselling author-illustrator
Vashti Harrison.
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42

T i f f a n y Fr a n c i s - B a k e r e x p l o r e s
how we can use the power of the
moon to fuel our creativity and
ground us in modern life.
 I
first started noticing the moon when I was writing
my third book about nature after dark. Not that
I hadn’t noticed it before; on a clear night when the
moon is full, it’s almost impossible not to be drawn
to its glow as it hangs in the sky like a cold, white
cheese. The moon has been a constant companion
throughout my life, but like so much of the natural
world, it’s been easy to take this constancy for granted
and forget to pay it the attention it deserves. Our
ancestors were different. They worshipped the moon 43
and sun as powerful deities – particularly the sun, which
gives life to every plant and creature on Earth. The
moon’s power is perhaps less obvious, but ancient people
still believed in its sacred connection to our planet. Today,
that power is still felt by those who choose to see it – we just
have to know where to look.
Beyond our atmosphere, the sun is thought to be the most
important cosmic body for life on Earth, warming our seas,
generating weather patterns and fuelling the plants that give
us food and oxygen. But scientists also believe the moon has
helped stabilise Earth’s orbit and reduce polar motion, which
has aided in producing our planet’s relatively stable climate. In
this way, some would go as far as to say that the moon, not just
the sun, has helped shape life as we know it.
Elsewhere, the moon influences the 71 percent of the Earth
that’s covered in water. As the moon orbits the Earth, its
gravitational pull causes the closest side of the ocean to rise up
in a tidal bulge; at the same time, the Earth spins and creates a
centrifugal force, the same force that pushes us away from the
centre of a playground roundabout, causing a second tidal bulge
on the farthest side from the moon. This is why we have two
tides each day – one is pulled up by the moon, the other pushed
away by the Earth. Tidal power has now become a major
renewable energy resource, particularly in places like the UK
where we are never more than 70 miles away from the sea.
In Australia, the full moon is a crucial part of one of the
greatest mating rituals on earth. One November night each
year, more than 130 species of coral simultaneously spawn in
the Great Barrier Reef. These species must release their sperm
and eggs at exactly the same moment to ensure successful
reproduction, so they use the light of the full moon as a reef-
wide signal. Around the world, birds have also been shown
to alter their behaviour during different phases of the lunar
cycle. A study involving Leach’s storm petrels suggested the
birds assessed predation risk before flight. On nights with
a full moon, the petrels remained on their nests to avoid
 No matter what chaos
comes our way, the
moon will always be
there, a guiding light
through the seasons.

44

nest predation from gulls that could see them better in the
bright moonlight.
The relationship between the moon and humankind is less
scientifically proven, but a cultural link to lunacy has existed
for centuries in Western civilisation. In Shakespeare’s Othello,
he writes: “It is the very error of the moon. She comes more
near the Earth than she was wont. And makes men mad.” Both
the Greek philosopher Aristotle and Roman historian Pliny the
Elder suggested that the brain was the “moistest” organ in the
body and therefore, like the oceans, susceptible to the influence
of the moon. Even today, many people believe the powers of
the full moon induce erratic behaviour, and in 2007 several
police departments in the UK added extra officers during the
full moon to help cope with presumed higher crime rates. But
is there any scientific truth behind these beliefs? In a word, no.
While some studies claim to have found links between the moon
and mental health, most of these have been debunked.
Women have always nurtured a close connection with the
moon. Each month, a woman’s body cleanses and rejuvenates
itself through her menstrual cycle, and although it’s unlikely
that each of these cycles will synchronise with the moon, there
is a symmetry between the lunar cycle and the female form.
While some patriarchal cultures associate menstruation with
social taboo, many consider it to be powerful. In pre-Christian
Hawaii, menstruation was a sacred time for women, who were
seen to have the most spiritual power. It was believed that a
bleeding woman was so powerful that if men came too close,
their soul energy would be sucked out of them. For more on
menstruation, cycles and female empowerment, I recommend
Maisie Hill’s book Period Power (Green Tree, 2019).
Whether you believe in werewolves or enjoy meditating
beneath the moon, the lunar cycle is something we can all use
to ground ourselves. No matter what chaos comes our way, the
moon will always be there, a guiding light through the seasons,
sometimes hidden beneath the dark clouds, but always waiting,
just out of sight. Observing the lunar phases is not only a great
way to form a deeper connection with nature’s rhythms, but it
can also be used as a template for our own energy and creativity,
ebbing and flowing as we encounter different people, places,
hormones, ideas, triumphs and obstacles.
Under the next new moon, write down your intentions for
the coming month. Think about what you want to create, the
projects you’ve been putting off, or simply a better lifestyle
you’d like to embrace. As the moon waxes, focus on the
decisions you need to make to improve your life, so that when
the moon is full you are able to take action and channel your
energy with determination. As the moon begins to wane, reflect
inward and focus on gratitude, forgiveness and surrender.
Before you know it, you’re ready for another month, another
new moon, and the start of a new cycle of opportunity –
eternally inspired and encouraged by the natural world, of
which we are all a part.
 Artists inspired
by the moon
STEVIE N IC KS
The singer gives gold moon necklaces to women she
feels close to, calling them ‘sisters of the moon’, a phrase
taken from a 1979 Fleetwood Mac song. These women
“deserve to have that inspiration,” she says. “You can
have it all if you want it.”

J OAN M IRÓ 45
Painter, sculptor and ceramicist Miró painted dreamy,
imaginary landscapes exploring humanity, nature and
the cosmos. His famous collection ‘Constellations’ was
Photographs, from top: Richard McCaffrey / Getty Images; Art Institute Chicago; Michael Putland / Getty Images; xxxxxx; Stock Montage / Getty Images; Michael Ochs Archives / Getty Images

a series of 23 paintings on paper, inspired by stars and

birds. His grandson later said it was “as if Miró was a
nocturnal bird escaping from the earth.”

DAVID BOWIE
Released just five days before the launch of Apollo 11
in 1969, Bowie’s Space Oddity was originally inspired
by Stanley Kubrick’s 2001: A Space Odyssey. The song
weaves the atmospheric tale of an abandoned astronaut
orbiting Earth. “Thematically, I have always dealt with
alienation and isolation,” observed Bowie.

P E RCY BYSSHE SHEL LEY

In his short poem To the Moon, Shelley reflects on the
moon’s isolation in the sky. “Art thou pale for weariness /
Of climbing heaven and gazing on the earth, / Wandering
companionless / Among the stars that have a different
birth..?” It was published posthumously by his wife and
fellow writer, Mary.

P INK F LOY D
The eighth studio album The Dark Side of the Moon
was inspired by the darker side of humanity, including
conflict, greed, the passage of time, death and insanity.
Roger Waters reflected on the album’s use of “the sun
and the moon as symbols; the light and the dark; the
good and the bad.”

DAR REN AL MOND

Since 1998, English artist Darren Almond has been
making a series of landscape photographs known as the
Fullmoons. Taken during a full moon with an exposure
time of 15 minutes or more, his images appear ghostly,
bathed in a strange light where night seems to have been
turned into day.
46
 What does intuition mean, where does it come
from and how can we listen to it in our lives?
Helen Martin investigates our intuitive process.
Intuition is a sense of clarity from deep
within, it is direction and purpose.
Emotionally powered and tapped into
every day as we navigate life, there is a
confidence in following it, the self-
belief to follow a path based purely on
a feeling. It can be how discoveries are
made, new adventures begin, chances
are taken and even lives saved. An inner
voice, a pure connection, an honest and
often swift response. It is immersed
in our background, circumstances,
relationships and skills, but also
something extra. The exciting element
of intuition is that part of it feels special
and quite separate from our rational
minds, adding a magical element to our
human existence.
Dr Emma Svanberg (@mumologist)
is a perinatal clinical psychologist from
London. She says that intuition is our
“felt sense” about something, “a hunch
based on feelings and experiences, which
feels unconscious”. This differs from
instinct, she explains, “which is more
about our automatic survival processes”.
Our learned experiences of similar
situations and the use of our long-term
memory to locate an experience among
others in our past, forms our intuition,
explains Dr Svanberg. But, she says,
the present also impacts us. “Intuition
can also be down to information we
are taking in at that moment, which
isn’t in our conscious mind. Our brain
is constantly integrating information
from our present and associating it with
our memory and knowledge and often
this isn’t done consciously, it’s called
predictive processing framework.”
How much we follow our intuition
depends on the emphasis that we put on
logic versus emotion, says Dr Svanberg.
However, just because we may be in tune
with our emotions, doesn’t mean we will
always take the intuitive route.
If we are feeling anxious or stressed
for example, our intuition can feel
clouded and we may dawdle on a
decision, make a bad one or decide to
take the more logical path. Similarly, our
logical response may not be the right one
for us. We are told from a young age to
think, use our head, follow reason and
rationality, but a well-analysed decision
doesn’t always mean satisfaction.
Following a passionate and nonsensical
path can make for a more fulfilled life
depending on your personal outlook and 47
goals. Think of career changes, houses
that look like they might crumble into
dust, but full of an indescribable feeling
or energy. The important thing is that
we have to believe that the path we take
is the right one for us.
The more intuition is used, the
more we may tend to follow it, building
up a casebook in our minds for its
benefits. Dr Rachel Andre is a clinical
psychologist based in East Lancashire.
She says: “Those who follow their
intuition will have frequently linked
their instinct with a set of favourable
outcomes, or supporting information.
This evidence often then forms and
maintains a belief about their instinct
and how much it can be trusted.”
Those who follow their intuition may
see ‘signs’, work extra hard at their goals
and trust in themselves and their vision
of the future. It can be precarious and
more of a risk, but a big bonus of this
path is that there is also a flexibility
and acceptance, too. There is peace
with what can’t be controlled, learning
curves are appreciated and failures are
embraced when following a passion and

48
a truth. It is more emotionally invested,
but also more open-minded, with a less
rigid path. When we can’t predict the
future and we are being bombarded
with information constantly, there’s
something about following intuition that
feels courageous.
In terms of survival, it is vital that we
have our automatic systems, keeping us
safe from danger. It is a raw response,
as Dr Andre explains: “Intuition in
potentially dangerous or risky situations
is vital. We are actually using all
our knowledge and senses to filter
information, and this often produces
a physiological response that we may
not completely understand or be able to
rationalise until later. Intuition can be
very useful.”
It’s imperative to listen to our instinct,
something parents are told to do
constantly. An overwhelm of knowledge
and information as a new parent can
lead to getting rid of parenting advice
books and really homing in on that
instinct, confident in the knowledge you
know best what your baby needs and
responding to this. The connection is
essential; the power of love, protection
and vulnerability, and pure emotion.
Bella Luna is a spiritual life coach,
chakra dancing and mindful meditation
therapist, soul plan practitioner, tarot
reader, healer and workshop facilitator
from Stroud in Gloucestershire. She
believes intuition is an, “imperative
skill one should utilise as a resident of
this great planet, but sadly one we have
forgotten in recent society”.
She says that, “our bodies and souls
are incredibly intelligent parts of our
being, [but] by only listening to our
minds, we stop responding to our
environment”. To use our intuition Bella
believes we shouldn’t shy away from
our feelings, or blanket our responses.
“Releasing emotion is imperative to
human health and happiness.”
Through her chakra dancing, guided
meditations, visualisation journeys and
spiritual life coaching, Bella says she
helps people to reconnect with their
intuition by reconnecting them with
their bodies. “I work with people to peel
back the layers of their unconscious
conditioning to reveal what they
intuitively feel about their dreams,
hopes, ambitions and purpose here on
earth,” says Bella. “We forget that
our bodies and souls hold a plethora
of wisdom.”
After quiet meditation you may indeed
feel that you have those clear answers
you need. Some time out enables what
spiritual guides refer to as your third
eye, to see clearly. It could be being more
mindful helps our responses to be more
intuitive, but also more considered at the
same time.
Perhaps we should combine our
emotion and reason. Dialectical
Behaviour Therapy aims to do this,
focusing on bringing both together to
create the ‘wise mind’. Dr Andre says,
“As well as tuning in to our intuition, I
think if we can also take a step back and
use our logic at the same time, we have
a really powerful way of responding to
situations.” Dr Svanberg agrees, “We
wouldn’t have survived long if we had
to reason our way through dangerous
situations. We can often look down on
intuition, living as we do in a society
which favours analytic, rational thought
over more emotion or unconscious
processes, but they work in harmony.”
 S EL F-CA RE
A clouded and stressed mind is not
conducive to intuitive thinking. We
need to take care of ourselves and
believe and tune in to our wisdom as
well as our hearts. Start with self-care,
eat well, exercise and spend time with
friends and family.
C RE AT E S PAC E
Make time for meditation, yoga and
relaxation. Allow the noise to be
loud, then quieten down until you are
left with yourself and your calm and
peaceful mind. This will then help your
intuitive voice to be clear and true.
BE HO NEST
Be honest with yourself, ask yourself
how you feel about something and
note down your response. If it feels a bit
confused try journalling, sometimes this
can bring out your true feelings. Train
yourself to trust and use your intuition.
49
L EA RN
Thinking back on your past there may
be parts you would have reacted to
differently now, but that’s all part of
learning. We need experiences to grow,
so stay open minded, and make the
best future choices you can.
BE CR E AT IV E
Creativity is liberating and it allows
us to express emotion and feeling. By
being creative you allow your intuition
to naturally flow, so dance, paint and
be free.
T RUST
You need to believe in your intuition,
dreams and ideas. Move through life
intuitively and make the best of life
you possibly can.
 CL EAR THE DEC K
Use Matilda Smith’s exclusive,
beautifully illustrated intuition cards
to hone and tr ust your inner knowing. TAP TO
Based on the principle of an Oracle card DOWNLOAD
deck, this pack is designed to help you
meditate on a particular situation with
simple words and images to guide your
thoughts, actions and resolve.

50
 51

S P REA D LOVE
When you use your cards,
try the following ‘spreads’
and ask an open question, such
as ‘What do I need to know about
this situation?’.
A popular spread is the three-
card draw, representing ‘past’,
‘present’ and ‘future’. Allow the
words and images to guide your
thoughts. Alternatively, try a
two-card pull: ‘what I need to
receive’, and ‘what I need to
let go’, while you ask an open
question. With practise, you’ll
find the answers are already
within you.
52
Photography: Peter Vanosdall

H A V E Y O U
H E A R D O F
H O ’ O P O N O P O N O ?
S a y i t o u t l o u d a n d H o ’o p o n o p o n o ’s r h y t h m i c r e p e t i t i o n s
are an unusual tongue-twister to the non-Hawaiian. An
ancient tradition, it offers a modern-day approach to
forgiving and letting go, as Carole Berger explains...
Sooner or later in life, a choice emerges for each
of us: to forgive or not to forgive – and, above
all, for what? Whether it’s for the little things of
everyday life or for the biggest, most painful ones
that have left a deep impression, forgiveness is

Photography: Jeremy Bishop

about lightening our load, freedom, and cleansing
our body’s energy. The Hawaiian concept of Pono
gives us the chance to do away with whatever
is weighing us down us to make way for more
peaceful, more constructive and – quite simply –
more enjoyable thoughts and feelings. 53
Which is more pleasant:
to get up each morning and
stand in front of the mirror “To be ‘pono’ – to live everything, nor does it mean
cursing the colleague who’s in harmony – is to denying the responsibility of
making your life a misery, choose to take care the person who hurt you, nor
or to set off for work with a justifying or minimising the
of the invisible part
light heart because you’re harm that’s been done. What
free from any angry feelings
of ourselves, which happened, happened, and no
towards them? is neither body nor one can erase what was done
The Hawaiian elders thoughts nor ego.” that hurt you. On the other
see forgiveness as a way of hand, all the emotions that
cleaning the energies of which still cause you to suffer need
we’re made up and that pass through us. In ancient to be dealt with. The imprint it’s left in your body,
ho’oponopono, forgiveness doesn’t have much to do emotions and energy needs to be removed.
with making your excuses to a higher divine being Forgiveness has a liberating power so great
with a white beard. Those anchored in the pono that not to make use of it equates to choosing to
tradition don’t cultivate guilt and the need to repent continue to get bogged down in guilt, bitterness
by lowering their heads, but rather, they honestly and even depression. Do these feelings do you any
accept their responsibility, and choose to free good? Of course not! More often than not, they
themselves from the weight of the past. weigh you down and prevent you from moving
They also understand that our words and forward. Getting rid of them enables you to free
thoughts often move us away from the pono path. yourself from the past and to shed light on the
They know that every negative thought, action present. The present is the only place where we
or word will pollute our vital energy as well as have power. Moment by moment, we’re redesigning
that of the person to whom it’s addressed. They our present and defining our reality.
recognise that some past memories are so painful If, at this precise moment, here and now, we
that forgiving seems, at first, to be impossible and decide to free ourselves from past memories that
that only universal energy, the ‘ke akua’ source, can have become too painful, or a pattern of behaviour
lighten the load. that has become unhelpful, we have the power to
To forgive is to give yourself permission to let go do so by drawing on the energies of the law
of the past. Forgiveness doesn’t mean you accept of forgiveness.
 P R A C T I C E T H E
54
‘ B O W L O F L I G H T ’
Tr y t h i s a n c i e n t H a w a i i a n g r a t i t u d e r i t u a l t o w e l c o m e
i n a s e n s e o f f l o w. . .
Hawaiians have an advantage over us: they’ve
learnt since childhood to clear out the
thoughts and actions of each day that could
disrupt the flow of life. To ensure that children
are raised in this spirit from an early age, their
elders tell them a tale that’s been handed
down from generation to generation for
centuries: the bowl of light.
Every child is born with a bowl of perfect
light. If the child learns to cherish this light in
love and respect for life, they will grow up to
be strong, powerful and in communion with
the universe. They will be able to swim with
sharks, sing with birds and they’ll have a good
understanding of all things. But each time a
child turns to fear, worries, doubts or negative
thoughts, they have to drop a stone in their
bowl of light. And in doing so, they lose a little
of the light, because light and stone cannot
occupy the same space.
If the child continues to add stones to the
bowl, then eventually it will become full, it will
no longer contain any light and the child will
become stone.
Like a stone, the child will no longer be able
to grow and flourish, they’ll no longer be able
to make any movement, they’ll be cut off from
the flow of life. But if the child becomes tired
of being a stone, all they have to do is forgive
that part of themselves that filled the bowl
with stones. In doing so, they turn the bowl
upside down so that the stones fall onto the
ground. The light will then be able to return
and shine once more.
This analogy from ancient times was used
to teach young children to take responsibility
for their actions and thoughts. Unfortunately,
the practice has become increasingly rare
as the modern world takes the place of old
customs. The story reflects true human
nature but also the power of forgiveness and
of the abandoning of past suffering. In the
tradition, each of us must learn to make pono
choices or accept the consequences of the
alternatives.
Some grandparents would give children
a bowl every day. At the end of the day, they
would call them and ask them to bring their
bowls. They would then look to see how many
stones had been placed in the bowl. On good
days, there may have been only one or two.
The child would then be asked simply to turn
the bowl upside down. With help from the
adults, they would become aware of their
thoughts and actions that day and would
promise to be more attentive the following Every situation in life can become a chance
day in order to accumulate fewer stones. If, for you to practise. An aggressive colleague:
on the other hand, the bowl was full, the child will you play their game and become
would be asked to go swimming in the ocean, aggressive, too – or get defensive? How 55
to meditate and clean out all the negative do you react? You’re in a long queue at the
thoughts and actions of the day. According supermarket and the girl at the checkout is
to this tale, change requires slow: what emotions do you
simply that you admit to find rising up in you? Do you
“According to
being tired of being a stone. get into an internal tirade of
Perhaps even today, we
this tale, change judgment and criticism or
could use this ancestral requires simply do you accept the moment
practice to help us become that you admit without emotion?
increasingly aware of our to being tired of If you don’t have your
thoughts and actions. being a stone.” bowl with you, visualize the
Choose a bowl you stone that you’re putting
find beautiful then collect there because you let
together some stones. They will symbolize negative thoughts or feelings invade your
thoughts, emotions or behaviours that heart and your head.
you know are negative. Play this Hawaiian At the end of the day, take a moment
children’s game for a few days. Become to review your day. Adopt the neutral
aware of your interactions with others perspective of an observer, detached from
and with yourself. the issues. Replay the film of the thoughts and
actions that marked your day. Is your bowl full
of stones? Half full? Almost empty?

Ho’oponopono:
The ancient Hawaiian
practice of gratitude and
forgiveness by Carole
Berger is out now,
priced £14.99, published
by Eddison Books,
eddisonbooks.com
 But first,
tend to your boundaries
A l e x a n d e r Po p e s a i d ‘ To e r r i s h u m a n ; t o f o r g i v e , d i v i n e ’.
S e l f - d o u b t c o a c h S a s Pe t h e r i c k b e l i e v e s s e t t i n g h e a l t h y
boundaries is the more enlightened path.

56
All major religious and spiritual traditions are This expectation to forgive is very often a
jam-packed with homilies urging forgiveness, gendered experience that sits at the intersection
and a squillion inspirational quotes on Instagram between Western Christian conditioning (even
would have you believe forgiveness is the only those of us who aren’t Christian are influenced
emotionally mature, spiritually enlightened, by its ethos, because Christianity sits at the heart
morally preferable response to being wronged. of Western legal and moral values) and gender
I don’t buy it. conditioning that trains women to accept and
Obviously, there are instances when the most forgive, rather than complain and accuse.
logical, ease-filled path is to make room for any You may believe you ‘should’ forgive someone.
slight, forgive and move on. But forgiveness is Perhaps there is an unspoken expectation from
always optional and often others that forgiving
entirely unnecessary. “Because genuine will make life easier for
Not forgiving someone forgiveness is all involved. Or maybe
doesn’t mean you walk difficult to muster you wish to escape the
around with a chip on your discomfort of being
at will, you may
shoulder, wishing only bad caught up in someone
things happen to the other
find unconscious else’s hurtful behaviour.
person. It doesn’t make you resentment leaking out But there’s no hurry.
less empathetic, kind or disproportionately” Rushing to forgive
‘good’. It just means you’re too quickly may leave
deciding to take a stand against the kind of any sense of resolution feeling incomplete.
behaviour that diminishes your spirit. Because genuine forgiveness is difficult
Forgiveness is never the end, but the means. to muster at will, you may find unconscious
The goal is almost always to achieve emotional resentment leaking out disproportionately and
equilibrium, a level of peace, some sort of inconveniently – anger, impatience, judgement
resolution for being wronged. But you don’t and emotional distancing are common
need to forgive anyone to reach this end. You experiences. These can be symptoms of
can choose to honour your experience and not unresolved hurt that persists even after we have
forgive someone. ‘officially’ forgiven someone.
If forgiveness is the ultimate goal, this puts There are few shortcuts to the peaceful
additional pressure on the wronged person. resolution we often believe forgiveness will bring.
Spending time and energy processing thoughts But if we make an effort to understand the other
and feelings about someone else’s shoddy
behaviour is compounded by the assumption
that you will also ‘do the right thing’ and extend
forgiveness to your offender.
Illustrations: Matilda Smith
57
 person’s experience, forgiveness not only becomes easier, in
many cases it’s just not needed.
Any behaviour, whether it’s annoying, hurtful or enraging,
has a reason behind it. Attempting to understand that
reason, particularly when the unwelcome behaviour is
perpetrated by someone you love, can help to understand
the impetus behind it. This has an additional benefit
in that you can see who has responsibility for the
behaviour.
For example, you might learn that your housemate
spends money wildly in order to feel less anxious,
58 and you may discover that your partner’s aggressive
driving is a result of never feeling listened to at work.
Whether their behaviour is just annoying
or a potential dealbreaker for the relationship,
understanding the reasons for it will leave you better
positioned than simply forgiving it.
In cases where the responsibility for unacceptable
behaviour lies at someone else’s feet, it is entirely
legitimate to decide that instead of forgiving someone you
will instead take responsibility for your boundaries.
A boundary is an approach to relationships based on the
premise ‘you can do whatever you want, and when you do, I
will do this to take care of myself’.
It means that you can love your housemate as a friend, but
choose not to live with her. It means that you can feel deep
empathy for your partner going through a difficult time at
work, but decide you won’t get in the passenger seat when they
are driving.
Having intentional boundaries means accepting that we
cannot control anything that someone else thinks, feels,
says or does. Boundaries are not about ultimatums and
perfectionism and judgement; rather they’re what happens
when we accept that no one else has to change so we can
feel better.
Deciding to forgive another human can be an
incredibly healing and generous choice. But it is not
always desirable, possible or called for.
If you feel guilty, less than or somehow bereft
because forgiveness feels out of reach, there is no
reason to pile additional burdens on to yourself.
You absolutely can be happy and carry on with life without
forgiving those who have hurt you. Forgiveness is a nice-to- “Boundaries aren’t about
have experience, but not necessary for living a big, full life.
ultimatums, perfectionism and
judgement; rather they’re what
happens when we accept that
no one else has to change
so we can feel better”
Illustrations: Matilda Smith
 SI X RE FL ECTI ON S O N TH E
PAT H TO FORG I VE NESS

1. Forgive yourself first

Seeing ourselves as flawed can feel vulnerable and even scary. Most of us learn early in our lives to
avoid mistakes at all costs, and when we do make a mis-step our first impulse is to hide it. It’s helpful to
remember that mistakes, failures and the choices we deeply regret are how we learn and grow.
In these moments of guilt, shame or regret, the temptation to judge and criticise yourself may
be very strong, but this is also an opportunity to forgive yourself. When you mis-judge someone,
when you compare, when you say something your regret, when you wish you hadn’t,
a compassionate response is to say, ’how human of me’.
A hundred times a day you can soften, say ‘how human of me’ and forgive yourself.
What from your past wants to be forgiven? What lessons has each experience offered you?
In what ways do these experiences invite you to be with your own humanity?
59
 :Z,/%'3#+#00",#0+,1 *#+$,/%#ĸ+%
It’s highly unlikely that you’ll ever be able to forget a serious wrong committed against you. So if your
bar for achieving forgiveness is eliminating events from your memory, any peace you do reach may be
peppered with disappointment. Some amount of reflection and processing of the offence can actually
be quite helpful in dealing with events. However, if you find yourself dwelling, put on a one minute
timer, allow yourself to feel into the memory and then shift the focus of your attention.
What memories are asking for your attention? How would you like to honour your experience?
What learnings and positive experiences have come from these experiences?

60

;Z,/%'3#+#004'ı-/,)6*#+$##)'+%0,*#+%#/
Anger is the emotion related to justice and fairness so it’s completely understandable to feel some
anger towards your offender. But just because your anger is justified doesn’t mean it’s always helpful.
You can learn to validate your anger without feeding it. When you notice yourself feeling angry, pause
briefly and acknowledge the anger. For 90 seconds notice where you feel the anger in your body,
notice how this shifts and then dissipates. Notice how your body has got you.
Allow yourself to rant – put on paper every negative thought, judgement, fantasy and destructive
impulse! It’s healthy to give your anger some space on the page. Allow your anger to share its wisdom
– write from the perspective of your anger: ‘I am anger and I want you to know…’.
One of the reasons we find anger difficult to be with is because it is so powerful. Consider the
ways your anger empowers you to advocate for yourself – write a list!
 4. Forgiveness and acceptance
Those of us who struggle with forgiveness have usually been given the advice that we need to ‘accept’
what’s happened and move on. Acceptance doesn’t mean endorsing or condoning someone’s
behaviour; it doesn’t mean that you’re somehow okay with what happened. Acceptance is the
willingness to stop arguing with reality. You cannot change what happened, but you can choose what
you decide to make it mean about you.
Write what happened as if you were a reporter – remove any story, emotion or justification,
and allow it to be a neutral, factual experience. List all the choices you have about what you
make the event mean. What do you want to choose?

61

=Z,/%'3#+#00",#0+,1 /#.2'/#/# ,+ ')'Ķ,+

The problem with making forgiveness contingent on reconciliation is that other people aren’t under
your control. No matter how much you want the person who’s wronged you to see the error of their
ways, offer a heartfelt apology and restitution, and mend the relationship, this is something that they
may never want to do. You don’t need to wait for someone to change so you can feel better.
Sometimes the best form of self-care is disengaging in order to preserve your own energy. You have
a choice in how much, for how long, and on what topics you will interact with people.
Consider what are the ways you want to take care of yourself around specific people.
What boundaries do you want to set to support yourself? How will you know you are
honouring your boundary?
 6. Forgiveness is a process
Forgiveness can begin with a single decision but it usually doesn’t end there. There will likely be many
more steps along the road to forgiveness. You will continue to see that relative at family gatherings.
Memories will pop into your mind from time to time. Your efforts at reconciliation may not be
reciprocated. Depending on the offence, one decision to forgive may not be enough. Forgiveness is
often a process. You cannot offer yourself too much compassion as you process your feelings. Truly
acknowledging how you feel is a huge part of the healing journey. The goal is not to ‘get over it’; the
goal is to process difficult experiences in a healthy way.
A morning journal prompt: Tell me how you feel, sweetheart. And what needs do you have right
now? Before you begin your day, how can you meet those needs?

62
 63

Born with cystic fibrosis,

Pippa Kent underwent a
double lung transplant in
2 0 1 7. T h i s i s h e r i n s p i r i n g
story of how she embraced
a new start…

Illustrations: Lucy Sherston

 In April 2017 I was running out of options. Born with
64 cystic fibrosis, I had spent the last three months in
hospital, tethered to both oxygen and an endless range
of medication just to keep me alive. My life as I knew it
had been taken away from me with a sharp decline in the
health of my lungs and the only option left was a life-
saving and, in hindsight, completely life-transforming
double lung transplant.
Thankfully, 14 April brought the call that saved me.
I was told the hospital might have a pair of lungs suitable
for me and finally my thoughts of a future started to seem
like a possible reality. The next few days then passed in a
blur. I arrived at hospital around an hour after this call,
and four hours later was going into surgery. I woke up
around seven hours after that with a new 12-inch scar
down the centre of my chest and already able to breathe
better than I had for months.
From that point I knew I wanted to do everything I
could to make the most of this second chance I had been
given – not just for me, but for my donor and also for all
those people who weren’t lucky enough to have had that
chance, those who hadn’t been suitable for a transplant
or who had died waiting for their call.
In many ways my initial recovery was
fast. I was up and walking within
days, able to tackle stairs within a week and discharged
from hospital less than two weeks later. I was itching to get
back to my ‘normal’ life. I had a bumpy first six months,
with a collapsed lung and then post-transplant lymphoma,
a form of cancer, but thankfully after this initial period
life began to settle and I could begin to dream of what my
future might entail.
While my body continued to regain its strength, my
mind was whirring with ways in which I wanted to make
the most of my rediscovered health.
For a long time even walking across the room had been
a struggle. I wanted to reintroduce activity to my life again,
for both my physical and mental health. Initially even using
baked bean tins as weights was difficult, as I’d lost huge
amounts of muscle, but I continued and slowly built up my
strength doing fitness classes at home. Ten months after
my surgery, clipping into a pair of skis (albeit in Scotland
rather than far afield, as I was unable to fly for a year after
surgery) was something I never thought I would do again.
Breathing that cold air at the top of the ski lift, and then
skiing down without getting out of breath, is something I
will never forget.
From here I continued to try and ensure I remained as
physically able as I could, slowly building my strength and
stamina. Not only to allow me to live the life I had dreamed
of while trapped in hospital beds for months, but also to
ensure that should I get ill, as is somewhat inevitable with a
suppressed immune system post transplant, I would be as
strong as I could be to fight any infection.
 At a little over two years since my transplant I decided
I wanted to take on a challenge, to raise both money and
awareness for transplant and organ donation. I settled on
a cycle ride between the two hospitals that saved my life
– a distance of around 100km, and 100km further than I
had cycled for at least ten years. I’ve set the date for this
ride to fall near my third lungaversary, on 12 April 2020,
and so am currently training in earnest to ensure I can
complete the ride and fulfil my aims.
My need to make the most of the opportunity I was
given hasn’t been limited to physical activity, and in
less than three years my life has changed in so many
ways that make me proud. I’ve become a governor of
Papworth hospital, where I received my transplant. I’ve
established and continue to run an online and
social community called ‘Now What Can I Eat’.
I’ve taken the leap and left a job where I felt under-
appreciated and have set out on my own.
All of these things, and others, I know I would not
have done without my transplant. I often wonder what
sort of person I would have been today had I been
healthy and not been through everything that the last
three years have thrown at me. I think I probably would
have been much less likely to take risks; much less likely 65
to want to push myself outside my comfort zone.
I no longer wish to be the ‘normal’ I used to dream of.
I want to be so much more than that, for however long I
might have, thanks to my second chance and my donor.
To follow Pippa’s story
and find out more about
her 100km ride you can
follow @nowwhatcanieat
on Instagram or visit
nowwhatcanieat.co.uk
 T a k e l o t s o f p i c t u r e s .
66
Y o u ’ l l o n l y r e g r e t
t h e o n e s y o u
d i d n ’ t t a k e .

HOME
A house turns into a home when you get your
pictures on the wall. We could all do with a
little nudge to get our snaps off our phones
and into frames. Lottie Storey speaks to
women who are taking a different approach
to family photos – perhaps it will spark your
next project? Maybe you could use some
of your pics in a collage? Momtaz Begum-
Hossain takes an in-depth look at the art form
this issue, and we encourage you to have a
go yourself, with our 14-page collage kit of
patterned papers and bold images. There’s
no right or wrong, just lots of fun. Be inspired
by mixed media and collage artist Julie Liger-
Belair, from her beautiful Toronto studio.
Quote: Safe Haven; image: CSA Images / Getty Images

67
 1 1

Photograph: Hans Blomquist

Photograph: Hans Blomquist
Photograph: Hans Blomquist

68

H O M E
N O T E S
Make your home a haven
with natural finds, wooden
tableware and soy candles,
plus ideas on how to lead
a more sustainable life.
Compiled by Caroline Rowland

3 5

5 6
2
RUSTIC
1 IN T ERI ORS
As more and more of us try
to pare back our belongings
and consume less, opting
to decorate our homes with
natural finds and materials is
the perfect way to counteract
manmade consumerism.
Interior stylist extraordinaire
Hans Blomquist has just
published a new book
dedicated to this very
concept. Inspired by Nature
first takes us through ideas
and inspiration – beautifully
illustrated through Hans’
photography – for decorating
with flowers, plants and
found objects such as shells,
feathers and pebbles, as well
as natural materials such as
linen and wood. The second
half of the book takes us on a
tour of real-life homes which
have adopted this philosophy.
Published by Ryland Peters
Small, £19.99.
SQU EA KY
2 C LE A N
Air pollution is a real
environmental concern and
many don’t realise that the
air in our homes can be
even more polluted than
the air outside. This can
be problematic for people
with respiratory conditions,
particularly children as their
lungs are still developing.
But making changes such
as switching to natural
cleaning products can
make a difference. Tincture
offers beautifully packaged
cleaning products that
are 100 percent natural,
sustainable and non-toxic. Its
stylish white bottles can be
refilled and you can try their
mini versions at just £1.89.
tincturelondon.com
PL AN NI N G
3 AH E AD
There is something about
a fresh new notebook or a
yearly planner that holds a
7
sense of hope; a feeling of
anticipation, as we consider
what new ideas or plans
we can scribble down and
hopefully, take action on.
But what about a stationery
range that not only takes
care of your goals and to-do
lists but also your wellbeing?
Self-confessed planner and
stationery addict Kelsey
Layne has done just that
through her brand, Notes
and Shine, and aims to make
self-care your top priority.
Her guided journal comes
with illustrated affirmations
and her weekly goals planner
allows you to list tasks but
also set goals and has a space
to write quotes or affirmations
to inspire the week ahead. We
love her ethos just as much as
her graphic designs.
noteandshine.co.uk
L IT TL E
4 EXP LO RERS
Getting out in nature
has been proven to work
wonders for our health, both
for adults and for children, so
try and get those little ones
outdoors as much as you
can! They may just discover
a love for the living creatures
to be found in the garden or
woods. Carry this connection
into their interior space with
this fun wallpaper by Bear
and Beau. Designer Corinne
Caddy-Townshend illustrates
the wallpapers using
bamboo pens and black ink,
and says this design was
inspired by her daughter’s
first school project about
mini-beasts. Corinne has
considered the environment
in her production processes
too, opting for non-toxic inks
and FSC approved paper.
bearandbeau.com
WOODEN
5 T RE ASU RES
Founded by Sean Best and
Ellie Smalls, Selwyn House
is a small British brand with
a focus on the creation
of beautiful long-lasting
wooden tableware, lovingly
crafted from the best British-
grown timbers they could
find. It all began when Sean
bought himself a second-
hand lathe and taught
himself wood-turning and
the couple now sell a wide
range of items both online
and in a growing number of
independent stores. The skill
and craftsmanship that goes
into these items is something
you will cherish each time
you use them, and wood
only gets better with age.
Our favourites are their cake
knives, oak trivet and elegant
sycamore candle holders. 69
selwynhouse.co.uk
SC IE NCE
6 AN D NATUR E
We can’t resist the paper
goods designed by science
and art-loving Agnes Becker,
who runs her brand, We
are stardust, from her
home in St Albans, UK. At
school, Agnes’s interests sat
firmly in between science
and the arts, but her later
studies took her down the
scientific route, where she
ended up working for the
Science Museum. On seeing
the wares displayed in the
museum shop, an idea was
sparked, and Agnes set
about creating greetings
cards and prints for anyone
who appreciates the beauty
of the natural world. We
love her moon print which
reads ‘to the moon and back
= 477170 miles of love’. Her
designs combine sentiments
of love and friendship
with elements of the great
universe that surrounds us.
wearestardust.uk
BE KI ND TO
7 TH E PLA NE T
Explorer and activist Robert
Swan said, “The greatest
threat to our planet is the
belief that someone else will
save it.” Bear this in mind
each time you consider
 8
whether making those small
changes as a single individual
is worth it; they really are. If
you need a little guidance in
how to be more sustainable
in your day to day without
making radical changes, then
Jen Gale’s newly published
book The Sustainable(ish)
Living Guide could be just
what you need. Jen writes
and podcasts about all things
sustainable(ish) and her
first book gathers together
8 all of her ideas, tips and
suggestions for how to be
kinder to the planet in all
areas of your life, from your
home, to what you wear, the
70 way you travel, the parties
you hold, how you bring up
your family, how you eat, how
you clean and so much more.
Published by Bloomsbury,
Green Tree, available now,
£12.99.
UNW IND
8 AT HO M E
Ever fancied going on a
wellbeing retreat but it’s
not been viable due to
responsibilities, cost or
location? Well, State of
Liberty has created retreats
that you don’t have to leave
your house for! Everything is
accessed online and includes
three yoga classes, four
mindfulness meditations, 25
9 nutritious recipes, morning
and bedtime rituals and
a three-month seasonal
planner to help keep you on
track. Founder Lizzie Jones
lived in India for seven years
working on yoga retreats
as a natural nutritionist and
holistic chef, so she knows
only too well the benefits
of taking time to pause and
nourish ourselves. Lizzie’s
Spring Home Retreat will be
available on the 21st March
2020, costing £180. In the
meantime you can download
her Wellbeing Workbook
to get you started on your
journey to a greater sense of
self-love and inner calm.
10 10 stateofliberty.com
CA NDL ELI T
9 CA LM
There is a sense of ritual with
lighting a candle, perhaps
signifying the end of a busy
day or maybe you start
off your day’s work with a
scented companion. But,
we believe it is important
to choose the right kind
of candles, as so many
can actually be harmful to
our health. Avoid paraffin
wax and opt for a natural
alternative such as soy,
gently scented with essential
oils rather than synthetic
scents. The Botanical Candle
Company have been hand-
pouring their soy candles
since 2014 and two years ago
opened a shop and studio in
the UK town of Shaftesbury.
As well as jar candles and
reed diffusers, they even offer
a subscription service on
their tealights and wax melts,
meaning you’ll never run out
when you are most in need of
that quiet candlelit moment.
thebotanicalcandleco.co.uk
P IECE IT AL L
10 TO GE THE R
If your goal for 2020 is to
have less screen time and
more family time, then why
not treat yourself to one of
Slowdown Studio’s stunning
jigsaws? Lose yourself in the
activity while exercising your
brain and enjoying some
time with loved ones (or
on your own, if you prefer!)
Its series of architecturally
inspired jigsaws are
illustrated by Sydney-based
artist Charlie Bennell and
have 285 pieces, with two
designs currently available
featuring La Muralla Roja in
Calpe, Spain and The Site of
Reversible Destiny in Yoro
Park, Japan. If you aren’t a
puzzle lover, then Slowdown
Studio’s website is still worth
a visit to discover its range
of artist-designed goods
including rugs, blankets,
prints and more.
slowdownstudio.com
 Home Is Where
The Art Is
Lo t t i e S to rey f i n d s n ew ways to ca p t u re fa m i l i es
on film, and argues why you should get photos
off the memory card and onto the wall.

71

Photography: Victoria Topping

 72

Photographs: Dom Davis / Francis Shannon (Love Audrey) / James Balston / Emily Quinton
 From the very first photograph taken
back in the 1800s to the inescapable
snaps ’n’ selfies of millennial life,
photography remains the best way to
capture the moments and people that
make up our lives. And those captures
endure, with 33 percent of us opting to
save our photo albums in the event of a house
fire, according to a 2019 AA survey. It’s an understandable
choice, as those precious prints would’ve been impossible to
replicate until recently. Digital photography – reserved for
wealthy early adopters at its inception – is now a part of most
of our lives. Every day, we walk with our smartphone digital
cameras in our pockets and bags, thinking nothing of taking
photos of anything we fancy.
Back in the day, the restrictions and expense of print
photography meant changing lenses, lugging bulky equipment
about, and having limited shots. While the ease and instant
gratification of digital might avoid this, there is something to be
said for the old way. Much like those of us who prefer paperback
to Kindle and vinyl to MP3, aficionados of print photography
enjoy its tactile qualities. Fujifilm, the
makers of the popular Instax instant
camera, saw a big revenue spike in 2018 “Life moves so fast
that it attributes not to its digital camera and I love how
sales, but to sales of the film-based Instax
camera. In 2019, Kodak brought back its
family photographs
Ektachrome 100 film, a professional-grade help me hold onto
slide film that was used for years in National
Geographic before being discontinued
the little moments
in 2012. This renaissance for the art of that can whizz by
photography is heartwarming. Shooting too fast. For me,
film photography is a mindful process. The
ritual of setting up your shot and the time it photography is a
takes to compose and shoot are part of the visual gratitude
appeal. This is craft. And the end product?
Something tangible. Holding photographs
practice.”
in your hands, framing them for the wall or
adding them to an album is what it’s all about.
But keepsakes come in many forms. Dominique Davis
of All That Is She, a lifestyle blog, began documenting
her family life in the most creative of ways. Her Instagram
account (@allthatisshe) has made a regular series of Dom and
daughters Penny and Amelia in images that are creative and
full of humour. “Although our images differ slightly from the
traditional family photo, we still use them to capture a moment
in our life,” Dom explains. “Our #allthatisthree images are still
my favourite photos to date. They’ve helped to document the
growth and changing faces of Amelia and Penny over the years,
but they also show the fun and loving relationship between a
mother and her daughters, and two sisters.” And how do the
images translate from Insta-grid to the family home? “We
have to be selective when it comes to choosing which photos we
display,” Dom laughs. “But usually, the ones I decide to print
are the ones that the internet doesn’t get to see. The candid
moments that are almost an inside joke among the four of us.”
One of the most creative family portraits this writer has
seen was made by artist Victoria Topping (victoriatopping.
com) of the Ward family (see it on page 71). Fellow artist Helen
Ward (@house.of.wards) explains: “I commissioned Victoria
to make this portrait for my other half’s 40th birthday. The
whole piece is so beautiful and is covered with gold leaf and
Swarovski crystals!” Victoria knows the Ward family really well
and felt she could go for it, knowing their style and taste. The
portrait hangs in the family’s stairwell. “I love all the colours
and textures next to the bare plaster walls,” says Helen, who
even made a miniature version of the portrait to hang in her
daughters’ doll house!
Emily Quinton, founder of creative community Makelight
(makelight.com) can’t not photograph her family. “Life
moves so fast and I love how family photographs help me hold
onto the little moments that can whizz by too fast. For me,
photography is a visual gratitude practice and nothing makes
me more grateful than my children.” So what does a home full
of photographs mean to Emily and her four children? “Having
photographs displayed in our home helps us all to talk about
the images regularly. I think it’s helped my children to hold 73
onto memories of their younger years because the photographs
enable them to replay them regularly.
The photographs are great conversation
starters.” And the ones that start most
conversations? “I really love images that
are taken in the same spot year after year.
It may not feel really creative but when you
have many years of the same photograph it
is such a wonderful thing.”
One woman who’s taken this idea and
run with it is Frances Shanahan (love-
audrey.com), whose Platform 9 photographs
have become a regular series on her
Instagram (@loveaudrey83). “I took the
first photo in May 2014,” explains Frances.
“I was travelling with my son and we were
early for our train, so I let him perch at the
edge of the thoroughfare below Temple
Meads station. I noticed he was beside the large number 9 and
I thought of Harry Potter and Platform 9 ¾ at Kings Cross.
He looked so cute with his teddy bear and little backpack that
I decided to take a photo. I’ve always liked recreating the same
image again and again, so I took another one when we travelled
by train a few months later. It quickly became a tradition and
I’ve now taken almost 30 versions.” What does Frances love
most about the series? “They’re not glamorous or overly posed.
I’m never aiming for perfection. I love looking back at them
and seeing how much the children have grown and changed.
When you keep everything else about a photo the same, you
really notice the little things that are different about them. Lots
of the pictures mark the beginning of a trip or weekend away,
so they’re tied to lots of happy memories too.”
And how does Frances organise her photo
collection? “I make softback albums of our
holidays and trips so the Platform 9 picture
always features on the first page.”
However you choose to shoot and show
your family photographs, make sure you
do. The joy is twofold – both in making
your memories into lasting artworks and the
infinite times you then glance upon them.
 C A N D I D
C A P T U R E S
Fa m i l y p h o t o g r a p h e r A l i c e H e n d y
( f a c e b o o k . c o m /a l i c e h e n d y p h o t o g r a p h y )
shares her practical tips to get good shots
74 o f t h e w h o l e g a n g i n a n a t u r a l w a y,
regardless of age or enthusiasm!

1 UN POS E D
Often the most treasured photos are natural
and unposed. In years to come they have the
power to conjure up a pocket of time you used to
inhabit – the stuff of daily life that takes up the most
time, not just the ‘big’ moments.

2
RE FRAM E
Reframe your idea of a family photo.
Not everyone needs to be looking into the
lens with their cheesiest grin in spectacular scenery.
If you’re quick and take a surreptitious snap on a
normal family day you just might hit gold.

3 M OV E M E N T
Get yourself moving rather than your subjects.
Teens may balk at the idea of having to pose for
Illustration: CSA Images / Getty Images / Photograph: Paper Boat Creative / Getty Images

a shot and grandparents may not quite appreciate the

joy of a candid shot so use a bit of stealth and choose
an interesting angle, above or below the usual eyeline.

4
G E T C LOSE
Take a close up of a detail that sums up
the character of your loved ones – their
shoes strewn around by the front door, their
possessions or their hands playing a game.

5
HUMOUR
With posed shots, start with the largest
group first and then peel back to the smallest.
Time is of the essence so keep up the pace. Adding
a bit of humour helps keep expressions natural and
relaxed – I ask the youngest kid to say BUM! after
the count of three!
75
 77

T H E SU RREAL, D RE A M LIK E WORL D

OF JULIE LI GE R- BELA IR
M i x e d m e d i a a n d c o l l a g e a r t i s t J u l i e L i g e r - B e l a i r o p e n e d h e r To r o n t o s t u d i o
t o w r i t e r a n d p h o t o g r a p h e r A n d r e a M a r v á n t o t a l k a b o u t c o l o u r a n d c r e a t i v i t y.

When and why did you decide to become
a professional artist?
I don’t believe there was ever really a decision, it was just kind
of a natural progression. In terms of just doing art, I always did
it and I went to art school as well. I had a lot of other jobs, and
then I had my kids and things kind of slowed down, but I still
worked. It was just a few years ago when I really started doing
art full-time.
it and I just say ‘collage/painting’ and that’s it. I’d say it’s a bit
surreal and a bit dreamlike.
Were you a creative child growing up?
I grew up in a very creative environment. My mother is
an artist and my father was an architect and photographer. So,
I grew up with art books and my mother always did art projects
with me and my siblings.

How would you describe your style?
Oh, that’s a really hard one! I get asked that all the time
– you know when you meet people and they say, ‘What kind of
art?’ I’d say, ‘Well, it’s mixed media, collage, you know.’ I used
to do more assemblage style, more boxes and three-dimensional
things but always using collage as well. Now I’ve minimised
What about the materials that you use?
I use acrylic and gouache and a lot of Japanese paper just
because I love pattern and colour. And then I have a collection
of old photographs that I scan and print so I don’t actually use
the original. I also manipulate the photograph to add pattern
and colour to the clothes.

Left: Julie has

been making
Photography: Andrea Marván / Julie Liger-Belair

collages for 20
years. Right: The
serious faces of
Victoria era photos
“provide an ironic
counterpoint to
the humour and
levity I try
to inject into
the work.”
78

Tell us about the characters in your work. They
have such strong and intriguing personalities.
Yes! And they all have the same expressions because
they couldn’t smile much while they were sitting [for the
photograph,] although there are some smiles, which is
interesting. You can see the smiles in people’s eyes a little bit.
What role do colour and pattern play in your work?
It plays a big role. Often the colour and pattern of a
Japanese paper will dictate the direction a painting will go. It’s
hard to say how I start – sometimes I start with a photograph,
sometimes I start with a piece of Japanese paper. I love bright
colours, as you can tell [she laughs and gestures at the yellow
and aqua walls of her dining room]. And I guess because
the photographs are always sepia or black and white, almost
colourless, I’ve always wanted to put the colour back in! Colour
to me symbolises life and because it is missing out of their
photographs, you don’t have any kind of idea about what life
they led. Because these things are a bit of a mystery to me,
I enjoy imagining a new story for these characters.
Where do you find your inspiration?
Inspiration comes from so many places! Dreams, books
I read, music, other artists’ work, conversations with my kids.
I don’t know, it all just percolates into my brain, mixes up and
then comes back out in my pieces.
You’ve mentioned before that you make ‘sacred of
the mundane.’ How can readers also use this kind
of approach in their own art?
When I was producing my assemblage works, I did a whole
series called Sardine Saints. I was using sardine tins and
recycled objects. They were a play on the different Greek gods.
I liked the idea of using ‘mundane’ everyday objects and making
them into these precious little altar pieces. And I also feel that
old photographs are seen almost as a sacred object because
they’re people’s ancestors.
Do you use any mindful practices to promote
calm and creativity?
Just doing my work. For me it’s like meditating because
when I’m lost in a piece of work, I don’t even have a sense
of time anymore.
Do you have any rituals before you start a
new work?
Not really. If I’m not in the middle of a painting, I like to warm
up by drawing and collaging in my sketchbook or making a

Left: For Julie,

houses can
symbolise our
inner world, the
windows our eyes
that look in or
out, that divulge
turmoils or keep
them hidden behind
closed curtains.
Right: The Hand
That Speaks.
 Julie works in a garage
studio. “I sometimes allow
my husband, three children
and dog, Frida, to visit.”
 81

small piece. And I always listen to podcasts in the morning and
to music in the afternoon.
When are you most productive?
Any time that I can be. I’ve become ten times more
productive than I ever could before kids because you just have
to. Before, I could ponder over something for a long time, but
I don’t have that luxury anymore. And for me the time that my
kids are in school, really is the most productive time. Sometimes
I have to do a lot more to warm up, and other times I already
have something on the go and I just launch into it right away.
I understand you have opened the doors of your
studio to share it with the rest of your family.
How do you make that work?
It’s hard sometimes, actually [she laughs], because when I’m
in the middle of working on a series of paintings, I take over
every space available. But if one of the kids wants to work, I
will always make room on one of my tables. I don’t ever want
to discourage them from creating. All three kids love to draw
and make things. We love to collaborate on projects as well. I
also have art supplies just for them, so that I don’t have to share
mine too much!
What are you currently working on?
I have two different series that I’ve been working on.
The first is of smaller, strange landscapes on little wood panels,
called Time Travellers. These are about the elasticity and
perception of time, and how our experience of time changes
from childhood to adulthood. I’ve been playing with that idea
for a while. The other series that I’m working on is In the
Rooms of My Mind. These larger collage/paintings are all done
on older, unfinished or unsatisfying pieces that I have in my
studio. There is nothing more gratifying to me than re-using,
recycling older pieces and giving them whole new meanings
and stories. I’ve left elements of the older pieces peeking
through, almost like a little glimpse into the previous ideas I was
grappling with – a little window into my mind.
To learn more about Julie’s
work you can visit her website
julieligerbelair.net or her Instagram
account @julie.liger.belair

Julie creates
mixed media works
using paint, wood,
papier-mâché,
polymer clay, metal
and found objects.
Recently, she’s
been working on
larger pieces that
combine painting
and collage on
wooden boards.
82

Colour fanatic Momtaz Begum-Hossain takes a

ost of us dabbled in it at nursery school. After scribbling with

crayons, collage was the next step in creative exploration. A
simple technique comprising cutting and sticking, whether you
used words, shiny sweet wrappers or magazine pages, the results
were always satisfying, and an early introduction to recycling!
The ultimate rainy day activity, its appeal didn’t stop there.
Collage has infiltrated into our everyday lives from animation
and advertising to home interiors, but where did it come from
and how did it become such a celebrated form of art and design?
Considered as ‘high’ and ‘low’ art, collage has a colourful
past. Some people believe it was conceptualised by artists Pablo Picasso and
Georges Braque around 1912 and though they coined the term ‘collage,’ it
had already been practised for hundreds of years prior to them. In 1771,
English artist Mary Delany, then in her seventies, created botanical
themed paper art using a découpage style technique she called ‘paper
mosaics.’ She proceeded numerous female collage artists yet their
work wasn’t recognised as an official artform. It was even rejected by the
Royal Collage of Art until prominent male artists such as Picasso, Braque,
Matisse and Dali who were associated with movements like Dada and
Surrealism helped collage get recognised.
As a ‘low art’, collage became associated with popular culture. From
appearing on kidnap ransom notes and slogan tees, self-portraits and
sculptures, collage can take many forms. Responding to topics, especially
 83

potted look at the evolution and joy of collage.

of a personal or political nature using collage can be less

confrontational than expressing feelings through other means
and this is one of the aspects that makes it so appealing.
Culture has long been a feature of collage. While
recovering from a major operation, French artist Henri
Matisse spent much of 1941 to 1944 in bed collaging,
including a series of 20 collages inspired by jazz music.
In the 19th century, American artist Man Ray created
‘photocollages’ where he layered up images while
Hannah Höch is noted for starting ‘photomontages’;
both methods that are practised today by artists and
Typographic images: Henri Matisse / Chicago Art Museum
other people – think Instagram collages.
Harlem-based Kendrick Daye (@kendrickdaye on
Instagram) started using collage a decade ago to
express his ideas in a simpler way. He says: “I used
to shoot fashion editorials but my ideas were
getting too ambitious so instead of creating
elaborate set-ups I started using collage. My
process normally begins with a line, concept
or an image that strikes me. The initial ideas
are usually from songs that I’m listening to or specific
situations I’m going through. I talk in pictures, and making
art about what I’m going through helps me.”
84

Photograph: Larisa Morysetta

Photograph: Collage Club

Photograph James Daw

Collage has the ability to blur the lines between the expected and
unexpected, questioning what we perceive to be reality and fantasy;
presenting a world that’s familiar, while inspiring our imagination. Surreal,
dreamlike visuals are a feature of Larisa Murariu’s work, a Romanian collage
artist who goes under the Instagram name of @morysetta.
Space and sci-fi imagery are constants in her work and she uses collage
to express herself: “I feel it’s given me a voice without making a sound.
I’ve always done arts and crafts and tried drawing, modelling, sewing,
calligraphy and scrapbooking but one day while working on a planner for
myself I needed a picture for the cover. That was my first piece of collage.
I can’t describe how it felt other than something literally clicked and
everything fell into place as if the stars had aligned.”
Illustrator James Daw (@jamesdaw_illustration on
Instagram) agrees that paper and digital collage
opened up the possibilities for his practice
too: “I started using cut-up paper that I
had previously made with random marks
and textures and these became my paint
strokes.” He then used Photoshop to speed
up his process. “I could manipulate my images
by enlarging, shrinking, and piecing them together
until I was happy.”
Digital design has also allowed collage to have
 85

Photograph: John Derian Designers Guild

Photograph: Kendrick Daye
Photograph: James Daw

its moment in interiors. Founder and creative director of Designers

Guild, Trisha Guild OBE, chose New York découpage artist John
Derian to create a range of soft furnishings and wallpaper
based on collaged botanical illustrations mixed with vintage
prints, a look she feels is right for the times. She says: “Modern
society is incredibly chaotic so I think it’s utterly refreshing for
people to see something simpler, that is still very beautiful.”
Whether you’re sticking down visuals or constructing them
on a digital screen, collage is also a craft technique and it’s one
that inspired Stephanie Hartman to launch Collage Club in 2014
(@collageclubldn on Instagram). She delivers collage craft workshops
where participants can take part in speed-collaging and collaborative image-
making using magazines and colourful paper.
She enthuses: “The beauty of collage is that there’s no right or wrong.
Those who don’t consider themselves good at drawing or painting can
express what they want perfectly through pairing pre-existing imagery
together.” She’s keen that everyone gives it a go: “All you need is scissors,
glue and a surface. Assign yourself a theme and spend a couple of weeks
sourcing images you find pleasing – keep leaflets and packaging or take
photocopies of photos you’ve taken. If you plan to sell your pieces,
be aware that works are protected by copyright for the lifetime
of the creator, plus 70 years after their death, but if you’re
simply collaging for personal use then anything goes.”
86

Photograph: Larisa Morysetta

Photograph: Collage Club
Photograph: James Daw

CUT TO T HE C H AS E
Try these different collage techniques and see which one you'd like
to focus on to develop your skills.

PAPER COLLAGE
The classic cut and paste method. Experiment with different
weights, textures and colours of paper.

DÉCOUPAGE
Stick your motifs over a flat surface such as an object or
furniture then seal with varnish.

3D
Add depth to your designs by layering up cardboard. Using 3D sticky
pads to affix them creates a raised effect.

PAPER CUTTING
A technique made popular by artists like Rob Ryan and Paper Boyo, use a
scalpel to cut out an intricate illustration then apply to your surface.

DIGITAL COLLAGE
Use a program like Photoshop to manipulate, mirror or
duplicate patterns and designs.
 C U T & P A S T E
Use the papers over the next 15 pages to create your own collage art.
Cut them, tear them, scan them, stick them, layer them… Be inspired by
the artists in our collage feature to generate something unique.

87

Photography: Dave Caudery

 FA NTASY AND REAL ITY
The possibilities with paper collage are endless – create your
own dreamlike artworks to hang on the wall.

100

Step 1 Step 2
Cut out the collage pages with Take one of the portrait
a sharp scalpel. Alternatively photographs. Produce a sketch,
you can photocopy the pages. planning the areas to be cut
Or, visit bit.ly/PC17papers and out and which patterned papers
download and print out the to use where. Cut out the areas
pages on paper of your choice. and papers with a scalpel.

Step 3 Step 4
Start collaging by carefully When you’re happy with the
gluing your cut-out papers arrangement, frame your
together. You can also create completed artwork and hang
three-dimensional elements like it on the wall for all
flowers and leaves. to admire!

Photography: Dave Caudery / Lambada / Getty Images

Illustrations: Beast From East, Rysunki-Malunki, Sveto Aho, Avomush, Swillklitch / Getty Images
 SURRE AL
P ORTRAI TS
All you need is scissors, glue
and our pull-out papers (and your
imagination) to create unique
artworks that really have the wow
factor. P ut aside an afternoon and
have fun cutting and sticking. You
can also add your own elements from
magazines, packaging or photographs. 101

Photography: Dave Caudery

 T o s e n d a l e t t e r i s a
102
g o o d w a y t o g o s o m e w h e r e
w i t h o u t m o v i n g a n y t h i n g
b u t y o u r h e a r t .

TRAVEL
We all feel the benefit of time with loved
ones, and there’s no substitute for meeting
in person, however far we need to travel.
But in those in-between times, there are so
many creative ways to show your love, beyond
WhatsApp and Skype. Helen Martin has lots
of lovely examples in her emotional piece
about far-flung family and friends. Naomi
Bulger then shares with us the joys she takes
in handwritten, thoughtfully-decorated
mail – “It’s the next best thing to a big hug”.
Elsewhere, Tracey Ellis explores how to travel
with fresh eyes to places you’ve been to
before, and Sian Meades praises the creativity
to be found in a long train journey.
Quote: Phyllis Theroux; image: Flaming Pumpkin / Getty Image

103
 Photograph: Tim Street-Porter

1 2

104 3

T R A V E L
Photograph: Tim Street-Porter

N O T E S
Rejuvenate at a yoga
r e t r e a t i n Yo r k s h i r e , t r e a t
yourself to a luxurious
body oil, and escape into
a magical story museum…
Compiled by Helen Martin

4
1
3

3 4
 UN W I N D IN A
1 PASTE L PA RA DIS E
For dreamy interiors, pink
exteriors and bold blue skies,
head to Sands Hotel and Spa
in Indian Wells, California.
The 46 rooms designed by
Martyn Lawrence Bullard,
including two suites and
one presidential suite,
are decorated using, “a
series of different colour
combinations, bespoke
furniture and custom textiles”.
Think sugary pastel mixed
with natural shades, bold
monochrome patterns and
Photograph: Kasia Kiliszek
smart luxury details. The pink
5 painted accommodation
surrounds the pool, with
its palm trees, sofas and
loungers creating an idyllic
scene. The restaurant
and spa have a Moroccan
influence meanwhile; the
latter a tranquil and calm
space offering a range of
rejuvenating treatments.
sandshotelandspa.com
RE LA XATI O N
2 RE T RE AT
With yoga, meditation,
spa treatments, holistic
therapies and a delicious
vegetarian menu, The Tree
has been welcoming guests
on its relaxation retreats
4 in Rosedale East, North
Yorkshire for over a decade
and to great acclaim. Named
one of the top retreats in
the world by The Times
newspaper, The Tree runs its
regular relaxation and yoga
weekends using a variety of
techniques to soothe and
rejuvenate; including guided
meditation and Qigong.
There are also mid-week
breaks and relaxation days
available and a bi-annual
five-day silent retreat.
Accommodation is either in
The Tree with its eight rooms
Photograph: A Walmsley
with far-reaching views and
calm pastel palette – plus
hammock and hot tub. Or
The Old Chapel, which was
6 recently refurbished and
features two dormitory
rooms, communal living
area and kitchen, as well as
purpose built yoga studio.
thetree.earth
F LORA AND FAUNA
3 T RE ASU RES
Creating a beautiful English
garden with her paintbrush,
Eleanor Longhurst, the
illustrator and designer of
Little Paisley Designs, runs
her business from her colour
and plant-filled flat with her
rescue cat Tobias beside
her. Eleanor’s British wildlife,
flora and fauna illustrated
products all begin as hand
painted watercolour and
gouache illustrations before
becoming stationery, enamel
pins, totes, embroidered
badges, tees and temporary
tattoos. Her illustrations are
a contemporary and playful
take on the traditional, highly
intricate, thoughtful, and a
welcome flush of botanical
joy. Get yourself a little pin
to take a bit of nature with
you wherever you go. Then
build a Little Paisley Designs
garden collection.
littlepaisleydesigns.com
RURAL KE NT
4 DREA M
Set in the Kentish
countryside, The Pig at
Bridge Place has a unique
collection of accommodation
options and a restaurant
with a kitchen that opens
out. The seven bedrooms
in the main house and 12
in the Coach House, plus
lodges, romantic barn and
seven Kentish Hop Pickers’
Huts alongside the river, are
all decorated in warm and
earthy colours, with plenty
of wood panels, paintings
and deep baths. With secret
stairways, panelled rooms
and big fireplaces, the main
building has an air of drama,
befitting of its previous
four decades as the venue
for copious parties and live
music. The 1970s saw Led
Zeppelin there, among
other rockstars. Check
out the pretty gardens
and greenhouse for green
inspiration too.
thepighotel.com/at-
bridge-place
SUMME R’S
5 BE AUT Y
If you’re in the Northern
Hemisphere you may be
missing some warm and
balmy sunshine. With this in
mind, small-batch natural
skincare brand Wild Source
Apothecary, has created a
body oil with a scent that 105
encapsulates the beauty of
summer’s setting sun. Golden
Hour is made with camelia,
jasmine and mandarin,
uplifting and rejuvenating for
mind and body, transporting
you to those deliciously long
lazy days. The ingredients are
completely natural and have
been combined to deeply
hydrate and nourish the skin.
Smooth it on after the shower
and it will leave you glowing,
come rain or shine.
wildsource.co.uk
TH E STORY
6 M USEUM
It was thanks to the
generosity of an anonymous
donor in 2009 that the
Story Museum gained the
lease on a collection of
dilapidated buildings around
a courtyard on Pembroke
Street in Oxford. A number
of the buildings have since
become the Story Museum;
a place that celebrates story
in all forms, both magical
and inspiring for visitors.
An exciting development
is the new gallery spaces,
a theatre, studio and early
years play space. Meanwhile,
as well as a delicious menu,
the family friendly Happy
Café hosts free drop-in story
and craft sessions, as well as
the Writers’ Café.
storymuseum.org.uk
 7
NEW FOREST
7 LUXURY
A stylish and thoughtfully
restored 18th-century
manor set in 15 acres of
fields, woods and gardens,
Heathfield House is situated
in the heart of the New Forest
National Park in Hampshire.
Mindfulness is one of the
key values here, along with
luxury, privacy and tranquility.
The charming manor is a
three-storey home with 12
rooms, complete with grand
hall, sweeping staircase,
Photograph: Caroline Mardon
elegant dining room and
pretty terrace. There’s also
106 a cinema and games room,
plus two log-fired living
7 rooms with deep sofas to
relax upon. It’s sumptuously
decorated, with a traditional
8 9
meets contemporary flourish.
There’s a welcome hamper
of Champagne and delicious
locally made cake, while
poetic walks to the beach,
or past the grazing ponies
on wild heathland are right
Photograph: Dave Croft
on the doorstep.
heathfieldestatenewforest.
co.uk
ART DECO
8 SC RE E NI NGS
If you’re in art-renowned
Hedben Bridge in Yorkshire,
take a visit to The Picture
House. It’s an independent
not-for-profit 1920s cinema,
complete with deep red
chairs (with plenty of leg
room) and art deco details.
As well as evening
screenings and matinees
at weekends and on school
holidays, the cinema has
teatime screenings at the
weekend, which often
include old classics. Plus,
every Thursday there is an
Elevenses screening with a
free tea or coffee and a
biscuit included in the ticket
price. They also screen
broadcasts of live arts
performances, such as ballet
and opera. Expect your tea
10 served in proper mugs and
delicious locally baked cakes;
there’s also alcoholic drinks
on offer, Yorkshire ice-cream
and popcorn.
hebdenbridgepicture
house.co.uk
COTSWO L DS
9 HO M E & VI NTAGE
Domestic Science began
with Libs Lewis’s passion
for collecting and mixing
antiques with contemporary
design. After selling antique
and interior pieces in the
1980s for many years, in 2011
she opened a home and
vintage store in a large space
within a family-owned mill in
Nailsworth, in the Cotswolds.
A few years later, Libs opened
a shop in nearby Tetbury too.
In Domsetic Science expect
to find a beautiful mix of
products; from candlesticks
and blankets, to homeware,
furniture and nostalgic toys.
It’s homely, cool and the
perfect place to pick up
something you will use, keep
and cherish.
domesticsciencehome.co.uk
AN A I RSTRE A M
10 WI TH A VI EW
A boutique guesthouse in
central Bristol, Brooks Guest
House is situated beside
St Nicholas Market. All of
the rooms are decorated in
a peaceful neutral palette,
with Cole & Son wallpaper,
wood panelling and Avoca
blankets. The breakfast
meanwhile is sourced from
local suppliers, with granola,
eggs, French toast and a full
English on the menu. The
guesthouse also has the
option of staying on the roof
in one of their four airstream
caravans. No less luxurious,
this is urban glamping at
its best, with a cosy double
bed, fluffy towels, hospitality
tray, eco shower and of
course, the bonus of those
far-reaching city views.
brooksguesthouse
bristol.com
 #4
ial
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e Sp
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 108
Photograph: Joseph Pearson
 I S A W
T H I S A N D
T H O U G H T
O F Y O U
Yo u r f a m i l y m a y b e d o t t e d a l l o v e r t h e 109
planet, but you can get creative and stay
connected, says Helen Martin.

In the hazy daze of new parenthood I read that a good family is

like a pot of gold. In part identity, along with a great kindness
and a sense of safety, it is an eternal boost and a supportive
high five. It is love. A huge benefit is that wherever you are,
wherever they are, the gold will be with you. A solid and shiny
foundation to draw and grow from. With so many of us living
many miles apart from our family, it’s important to remember
this connection and there are ways to keep it electric.
First, try to save a little a month and visit your loved ones
if and when you can. Even if it means a five-hour foggy bus
journey or nursery rhymes on a ferry for 10. It will ultimately
bring you back to your centre and add fuel to your soul.
Then when together, collect small treasures; shells, tickets,
bookmarks, postcards. It’s not about the objects so much as
the moment attached. Shelves and scrapbooks from trips
are positive for you and perfect for children, prompting the
stories they hold. When you’re apart, because practically
and financially it’s not always possible to reunite, these act as
messages. You can add to these from afar.
I spend a lot of time sending messages. From when I’m
travelling, to family and friends all over the world, and to my
own young family on their daily adventures. Sending messages
is an important part of my life. Tiny love notes in my children’s
miniature rucksacks, boxes sent to my sister-in-law in Australia
containing favourite things, most recently; a multipack of
Quavers and a flannel shirt. I will always love sending postcards
with cats on, or anything 1970s. I’m also a fan of independent

“I do think that families are the most

beautiful things in all the world!”
LOUISA MAY ALCOTT, LITTLE WOMEN
 “You are the bows from which
your children as living arrows
are sent forth.”
KHALIL GIBRAN

makers, bright earrings for the days of disco, an illustration

of favourite summer flowers for my mum. Not forgetting
homemade; last week I made my own garden foliage smudge
sticks at an event, then added in some strong coffee and sent
it north to a good friend, for those missed Thursday coffee
meetings thrashing out life. You can be where your loved ones
are like this. Say hi, share space, maybe a wink or knowing nod.
Prompt something active; drinking, eating, writing, laughing.

Photograph: Nynne Schroder

Boom goes the heart.
My partner grew up on the island of Jersey and doesn’t see
his granny very often, who at 87 years old, has no passport
and has only travelled once; from France to Jersey as a young
110 woman. She writes to him in French and sends him heavy Jersey
potatoes. They are expensive to post but grown in her garden.
We have our pie and potatoes and there is the love: in the
potatoes. Always send the love, something special from home or
away, from a time past or present.
Lavender to me is France with my best friend, her mountain
paintings for my children are Spain when we accidentally
gatecrashed an artist retreat. Mango and coconut is freedom.
The sea is brooding, exploration and love. Send me pictures
of the sea. Memories spark emotion and assurance. Make new
ones bloom; a mix tape of songs you know will be loved. Or
maybe something seen on your travels that reminds you of
someone. Add a note: “Made me think of you!”. There’s not
much better than “Made me think of you!” sometimes.
Photograph: Joshua Sazon

As well as the valuable, but slightly stilted, Skype calls on

special occasions, when great-granny becomes frozen like a
lovely white-haired rabbit, I love a letter about a life’s dreams.
We can laugh on the phone, but I also cherish voice notes with
a song sung. Send silly WhatsApp messages, remember who
you’re talking to and never forget that relationship. Cut the
small talk, batting about the busy and tired, instead be honest
and true, setting out your intentions for yourself. “I’m off to a
cabin in the forest next and I hope to meet a bear and write a
poetry book!” Write a long email, or a note with some printed
photos enclosed for the recipient to pop up in their home. Print
your photos! Send a favourite chocolate bar, a teabag, a quote,
a drawing, plant cutting, spring bulbs, a book, magazine or
film. A recipe, from the cafe you go to everyday, for the most
exquisite chocolate brownies you’ve ever tasted in your life.
Then make sure when you are together you don’t do
anything but relax and have fun. Do what you always do, or
meet somewhere new. While with those you don’t know so well
but see everyday, neighbours and acquaintances, be open and
friendly. My neighbour heard I had a terrible cold last week and
dropped off some elderberry syrup. This week I popped her
one of my baby plants round. My daughter, clearly observing
Photograph: Getty Images/Catherine Falls

these exchanges, added in some elderberry syrup to the story

she’s writing because the rabbit protagonist has a cold. The best
thing is, she called it Golden Syrup. This is gold and may she
take that golden syrup onwards forever on her life’s travels.
 T V F A M I L Y
M i s s i n g y o u r c l a n ? We ’ v e g o t y o u r e v e n i n g v i e w i n g
sorted with the best family dramas and comedies

1
T H IS I S US
by NBC
NBC’s This is Us flips between the present and past, so when you
travel back to the 1970s, the start of the Pearson family story, you know
some of how it ends and you find out more details on the beginning.
Photograph: Christopher Flynn

With this it simultaneously throws love and heartbreak at you in sepia

tones and raw lines that will have you in an emotional whirl.

2
THE LE T D OW N 111
by Netflix
Netflix’s The Let Down is an Australian comedy drama
that tells the story of early parenthood with honesty and
feeling. It focuses on the adjustments to daily life, identity,
expectations and relationships, as well overwhelm and the love
for a new baby that grows and grows.

3 PA R T Y O F F I V E
by Freeform
Party of Five follows the five Salinger siblings after the loss of
their parents in a car accident and is considered to be one of the best
Photograph: Mathyas Kurmann

teen family dramas of the 1990s, with a star-studded cast. Without

their parents in their lives, the siblings navigate life, loss, responsibility
and their future.

DOWNTON A BBEY

The run-away success, Downton Abbey focuses on the

by ITV

aristocratic Crawley family’s dramas in the early 20th century; from

4
marriage and rivalry between sisters, to money, romance, class, death
and betrayal. Each character must battle with heavy expectation, while
staying united. Sentimental viewing with beautiful costumes.

5
Photograph: Getty Images

FRAI SE R
by NBC
This celebrated, long-running American TV show celebrates
bonds between family members, though they may not be obviously
adoring. Fraiser and his father and brother think and act very
differently, but their love is strong.

6
CATA S T R O P H E
by Chanel 4
Catastrophe’s protagonists Sharon and Rob become a
family unexpectedly and together they work out what this means to
them, how to parent, grow and continue to love each other.
A powerful and brilliant UK comedy.
 1 2 3
112

I N S P I R E D
B Y M A I L
1. The humble envelope, but fashion.
Vegetable-tanned leather clutch, kraftspace.
co.uk. 2. Special deliveries need protecting in
a fancy postbox, gardentrading.co.uk. 3. Wax
seal greetings cards are a timeless, generous
gesture. sleepybeestudio.co.uk. 4. Scattered
vintage postcards make pretty privacy windows
– peel and stick this design from purlfrost.
com. 5. Make a display of treasured notes with
this metal post holder, melodymaison.co.uk.
6. A letter organiser too classy for bills and
statements, limelace.co.uk. 7. For complete
romantics, Mineheart’s loveletter wallpaper,
limelace.co.uk. 8. A place to pen your thoughts.
4 Writing bureau from cuckooland.com. 5

6 7 8
 113
Brush Lettering by Rebecca Cahill Roots is published by Batsford. Photograph by Michael Wicks.

It’s no big mystery that

Rebecca Cahill Roots
of Betty Etiquette is a
fine calligrapher. Learn
how to create fancy mail
with her new book, Brush
Lettering. pavilionbooks.
com/batsford
114

“In this digital era, many of us

are searching for more meaningful
ways to communicate and forge
friendships. For me, old-fashioned
handwritten letters have become a
beautiful, personal way to share.”
 Stay in touch
When it comes to staying in touch with loved ones,
Naomi Bulger thinks a handwritten, thoughtfully-
decorated letter is the next best thing to a big hug.

Last year, my husband bought me one of those Ancestry DNA
tests for Christmas. It didn’t tell me anything about my heritage
that I didn’t already know, but I did find the timeline map quite
fascinating. The map pinpointed a distinct period in history
when the world opened and expanded for my ancestors. After
venturing no further than a cross-channel marriage here and
there for hundreds of years, all of a sudden, curved, dotted
lines represented my forebears soared across the globe, to Asia,
America, the Pacific Islands and Australia.
Of course, this story is not unique to my family. The doors
to adventure that were opened by the inventions of steam,
motor and air travel have been immeasurable. But as our world
has expanded, the communities and connections that hold us
together have been stretched thin. Staying in touch is no longer
a natural, daily occurrence, but rather something that requires
deliberate thought and dedication.
We are fortunate that digital technologies have made it easier
to stay in touch with the people we love now than at any time in
the history of humanity. Yet we, as a society, are lonelier than
we have ever been. Researchers believe that social isolation and
loneliness are approaching epidemic proportions throughout the
Western world, creating a public health crisis.
Studies have found that many people who say they are lonely
are either married or living with a partner, and this backs up
something that I firmly believe: the key to combating loneliness
is not about how many relationships you have (or how many
Facebook friends or Instagram followers you have). It’s about
how meaningful your relationships are.
Enter you, a pen, and a sheet of paper.
Today, a handwritten letter carries a special kind of 115
significance. For most people, the arrival of something
handwritten in the letterbox is an occasion: something to
be savoured and saved. You don’t skim the subject line of a
handwritten letter and then hit ‘delete.’
A chatty letter represents the gift of your time: you can send
a text message or double-click to ‘like’ a status or photograph
in mere seconds, but writing a letter is a slower process. It
forces you to be mindful: there is something about the action
of writing with pen and paper, rather than typing or texting,
that compels your brain to focus more fully on the story you are
telling and the words you are forming. This mindfulness comes
through for the reader like eye contact and the squeeze of a
hand, woven into the lines. Your thoughts and attention, for the
duration of this letter, are on them.
And a handwritten letter, received from someone we love, is
deeply personal. The way their personality and emotions flow
like ink through the pen: the neat, up-and-down strokes of a
measured and careful friend; the hurried scratches and half-
formed letters of excitement and enthusiasm; the corrections
and revisions and notes in the margins of stories, thoughts and
116
ideas that overflow in abundance. When I write to my friends
and family, I like to let that personality spill over onto the
envelopes themselves as well as the letters, by covering the blank
space around the address and stamp with little drawings and
pretty decorations.
And I have discovered the simple formula that a warm and
chatty letter, plus a thoughtfully decorated envelope, equals
happiness.
People have been decorating the mail they send since there
was mail to send. Over the years, decorated envelopes (known
as mail art) have been used for political gain, artist movements,
counter-culture statements, and community building. But I
decorate my envelopes for a much simpler reason: to spread joy.
For me, taking the time to paint and decorate my envelopes is
a way to slow down and narrow my focus to this one task: it is a
gentle act of mindfulness. It’s how I express my creativity, and I
taught myself to draw and paint by practising on the envelopes
I made for family and friends. But most importantly, it is an
expression of love for those I’m writing to: a visible, instant
declaration – right there in their letterbox – that I care about
them and think they are worth my time, thought and effort.
It doesn’t matter if I paint an elaborate scene or doodle a stick
figure, stick some pretty washi tape over the corners, pepper the
envelope with ink stamps, or pour a wax seal onto the back, the
outcome for my correspondent is the same: joy.
Colour in one of Naomi’s designs and make your own envelope,
opposite. Naomi has more templates in her two downloadable
colouring in books, available at naomiloves.com/shop
Naomi is a writer and illustrator from
Melbourne, Australia, on a path towards a
life that is slower, more creative and more
personal. She teaches courses that help
women find the confidence, inspiration
and practical tools they need to share their
creative work and stories, and find their tribes.
naomiloves.com I @naomibulger
117
118
 You can be an artist!
Complete beginners
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 The yearn
to return
Give fresh eyes to the familiar and discover a whole new
t r a v e l e x p e r i e n c e . Tr a c e y E l l i s e x p l o r e s h o w r e t u r n v i s i t s c a n
deepen and enhance our love of a place.

120 For many, travel is all about broadening your you’ve been before allows you to dig a bit deeper
horizons and discovering something new. But and uncover the layers of an area you may not
have you ever been drawn back to a place you’ve have noticed the first time round. A place you
visited before, somewhere that resonated with visited as a child perhaps; where you lived or
you deeply, and felt the urge to return and travelled through your university years; a job
explore more?   relocation destination; all can be potential new
When we travel, sometimes there are places travel adventures waiting to happen. After all,
that stay with us more than others; perhaps it we repeat destinations in our daily life when we
was the delicious smell of coffee brewing in a go to the same cafe we love for our cappuccino
riad in Morocco, the purple haze of lavender every day or go on the same country walk, so
from fields in Provence, or why not apply this principle
a defining moment at the to our travels too?
top of an epic hike in the
“The 'been there, When you have a certain
Canadian Rockies – all of done that' mentality amount of familiarity
these adventures, however towards travel is already, you know how to
small, can linger in our get around, the landmarks
minds and memories, changing... Ticking stand out more, and your
making us yearn to return off your travel basic local knowledge can
and experience it all over take you further than you
again, or rather, discover
bucket list is not think. As soon as you leave
it anew. Revisiting an the best way to get the airport you feel more
enduring place with fresh confident about where
eyes and an open mind
the most out of you’re going which starts
offers a possibility of your excursions” your trip off on the right,
another extraordinary relaxed foot. You can skip
adventure that is only enhanced by the the famous sights. There’s a certain relief in
familiarity of being there before. knowing you can explore freely without feeling
With so many places in the world to see, you the pressure of seeing a famous monument.
might wonder how can you justify revisiting Ambling or cycling down a familiar street
somewhere you’ve been before? The ‘been there, without having to beat the crowds can give you
done that’ mentality towards travel is changing a whole new perspective.
to quality over quantity of destinations, and Every place changes during different times
that’s not a bad thing. Ticking off your travel of year, and though you’re not likely to visit
bucket list is not the best way to get the most out a beach destination during its rainy season,
Illustration: Akemi Hara / Getty Images

of your excursions if you are unable to immerse exploring a city in a different clime can be much
yourself in the heart of a locale instead of just more interesting, especially if there are seasonal
skimming the surface. Going back to a place festivals or events which can instantly change
121
 the vibe compared to quieter times. From your
first visit, you may already know the best coffee
houses, where the locals like to eat and drink,
if it’s better to take a bus or taxi, all those little
details that make it daunting the first time round
become so much easier on a return trip, and the
feeling of familiarity will allow you to relax and
engage more in the resident lifestyle. You get a
taste of what real life there is like, and may end
up falling in love with the place more every time.  balance of being familiar but still special. When
So where should you revisit? At the risk of
being unadventurous, try not to choose a repeat
destination out of convenience only. Though
there is a sense of relief and relaxation with
122 complete familiarity of a place, go somewhere
for a reason, whether it be nostalgic, spiritual, or
creative, and focus on that reason when you go
back. A memorable place such as a honeymoon
destination, a sentimental place like a childhood
family vacation spot, or even somewhere you
just had a glimpse of, whether on a school or
work trip, can be a great choice. The key is to
change the dynamics. Went backpacking by
yourself through Asia? Take your partner or
children with you and give them the advantage
of a familiar tour guide in a foreign place (but
go off the beaten track this time). Did a group
tour through Europe in your youth? Go there
solo next time and see it through your own,
more mature eyes.
Repeat destinations can hold that perfect
you travel differently to places you’ve been
before, you are more able to absorb yourself in a
place so it leaves an imprint on you, and perhaps
you leave a mark there as well. As they say, it’s
more about the journey than the destination,
so make your repeat journey count. Instead of
spreading yourself thin over many cultures and
countries, try immersing yourself more deeply
in familiar places. You may have an overall more
calm and therefore fulfilling experience second
time round, and that alone should be worth a
second chance.

H A P P Y R E T U R N S
Revisiting can still be adventurous. Here are a few examples
of h ow to m a ke a fa m i l i a r p l a ce f res h a n d exc i t i n g .

1 3
T REASU R E H U N T
Plan to explore different areas in your
repeat destination, either by car or by
foot, and create a travel treasure hunt. Aim
to seek out a place you’ve never been before
to eat, have a drink, shop, walk or visit a new
cultural spot. Try to engage in something
completely new, every day. Done the bus tour
in Lisbon taking you to all the famous sites? Try
T H E END OF TH E L INE
Create your own walking tour; take a
bus or train line that you’re familiar with
to the very last stop, then make your way back
by walking the stops (keeping a map at hand!),
leaving you the option of hopping on public
transport again if you want. 

4
a street art walking tour to see some places off TRAVEL JOURNAL
the beaten path, or take a graffiti workshop. Repeat destinations are the perfect
opportunity to start a travel journal,
as you have more time for reflection when

2
CO OK I N G U P A STO RM
If you return to a place because you love
the cuisine, consider taking a cooking
course there and learning how to create your
favourite dishes by the locals.
you’re not consumed with navigating your way
around. Focus on the senses in your reflective
writing, sketch a scene, or record new things
you have discovered since the last time you
were there.
 lasting
memories
Three women share their revisiting stories
JU LES TAY LO R
PROJECT CALM EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
I returned to Florence ten years after
I had visited with a group for my friend’s
wedding. Attending a yoga retreat on
my own this time, I was dropped off by
Ponte Vecchio, the busiest tourist spot
where everyone seemed to be enjoying
the sights with someone else. Though
I was happy to be here again with the
sun shining, I felt lonely, with no one to
share it with. But then I got a gigantic
gelato and found myself in the same
square that my friend was married in,
and those lovely memories instantly
came flooding back. I took a photo
with my ice cream in a place she would
recognise and sent it to my friend, and
we shared a lovely, nostalgic moment
by text.
From then on my perspective
changed; I no longer felt lonely but
more peaceful and observant, watching
Italian life flow around me, reminiscing
about the wonderful wedding there,
observing other people’s interactions,
noticing the little details I didn’t see
before in architecture, feeling the relief
of no pressure to do anything but what
I felt like doing in a place that was
familiar and full of fond memories.
KATE B LACKLI DG E
PA RT-T I M E TE AC HE R
My first visit to Paris was awful. We were
on a tight budget, it rained incessantly,
we seemed to get lost every day and
waste so much time that once we finally
arrived at the Eiffel Tower, the queues
were so big, we gave up. Not a great
first experience, why should I go back?
A few years later a friend moved
to Paris and suddenly we had free
accommodation and a tour guide. With
her local insight, we breezed through
the metro and bypassed the Louvre,
only to see more incredible sights that
I didn’t even know existed. Being able
to escape the tourist traps was a huge
plus as we ate at charming places only
locals frequented. I was surprised to
see the Eiffel Tower was enclosed in a
glass wall, and though I still didn’t go
up it, I enjoyed eating my chocolate
crepe under its glittering lights.
On my frequent trips thereafter,
I was determined to explore each
arrondissement in detail. On each trip
I discovered or experienced something
different. My most magical moment
was in a cafe in the 13th, an area I never
would have visited on my first trip. As a
man walked out the door he dropped
a piece of paper at my table. It was a
receipt for his beer, but when I turned it
over it was a sketch of me he had done
at the bar which is now framed in my
bedroom. Such a special memory, I will
forever return to and be enchanted by
this city.
123
TRAC EY SPAN SWICK
HR M AN AGER
Our first holiday abroad with our small
children was to Pollenca, a town north
of the island of Mallorca. It dates to the
13th century with a beautiful church in
the town square, and it was this square
that made it something special for us.
On that trip, we didn’t navigate the
pushchair and toddler up the 365 steps
to the chapel at the top. However, each
year we have visited since, we have
walked to the top and taken a family
photo with the view of the town below.
I know people say they never go back
to the same place twice. But for me and
my family, this place feels like going
home. I fall in love with it just a little bit
more every time. So much so that last
summer we rented a town house, and
enjoyed close at hand all the joys the
town has to offer.
When returning with our children,
I remember how they were all those
years ago, and it’s a reminder how
they’ve grown up. Our last visit was so
special, our children now 19 and 17,
and perhaps the last holiday we will
all be there together. We reminisced
about our first trip, where Jack had his
first birthday, and we bought a large
chocolate pastry from one of the many
excellent bakeries. We remembered
some of the characters we have met,
and some of the villas we have stayed
in, memories we will treasure forever.

MEADES
Yo u r g o - t o t r a v e l a g e n t
124
EXPLORE MORE
Don’t wait until you reach your destination to get creative. Sian
M e a d e s -W i l l i a m s t u r n s h e r t r a i n c a r r i a g e i n t o a r o o m o f h e r o w n .
Virginia Woolf once wrote that “a woman must have money
and a room of her own if she is to write fiction”. I have come
to learn that a room of one’s own does not necessarily have
to be static. I’ve found that one of the best places for me to
write is actually on a train.
There’s something about a trundling train that gets
words flowing. More than a way to get from A to B, the
journey itself becomes a creative adventure. It doesn’t
matter if your train goes through Ghana or Gobowen
(where I started this piece), being unable to do much
but sit and stare out of a window lets your imagination
wander. Tunnels and patchy WiFi tend to put a kibosh on
connecting to the world, so I’ve found the best option is
to lean into your thoughts, and write as the world passes
by. To set off on your travels creatively means that you’re
laying something down on the tracks and you’ve produced
something even before you’ve reached your destination.
A train isn’t the place for ordered thoughts, it’s a place
to play with words. Winding tracks and unfamiliar calling
points lend themselves to snatches of overhead dialogue and
sketches of landscape. Dots of off-white sheep punctuating
fields, church spires reaching skywards. Train travel is a
time for pondering, to indulge in your what ifs and maybes.
The 09:34 coastal railway to a village at the end of the line
is perfectly suited to trying something new. For daring. We
don’t always give ourselves permission to get things wrong
when we write – time is precious, our words must be the
right ones – but that’s impossible on a jostling train that’s
making spiders out of your penmanship. Your only option,
then is to explore and scribble, and cross out, and try not to
spill your tea. To let your hand write freely.
Trains as writing inspiration certainly isn’t a new idea
– travel writer Paul Theroux made his career by taking the
SIAN
Photograph: Mihai Surdu
rail route less travelled. By choosing slower train routes, he
was able to show a very different side to the world. We can
read all about dusty train stations and dots of towns that we
Photograph: Hennie Stander
have never heard of. The train may take longer than flying,
but it’s an excellent way to explore, especially if you pack a
good train picnic – Woolf also wrote that “one cannot think
well, love well, sleep well, if one has not dined well”.
We still romanticise train travel. Trains have inspired
our lives and literature for decades. It’s hard to think of
rail travel without Agatha Christie’s Murder on the Orient
Express coming to mind. As does Patricia Highsmith’s
Strangers on a Train in which a chilling chance encounter
seems ever-so-plausible. Passengers become characters,
stations become plot points. The rules are different on a
train. You’re between stops, between here and there. Hop aboard the
A train journey gives us time. The act of doing nothing Bernina Express
is an incredibly powerful creative tool. Even if you don’t for stunning
pick up a pen, something can be happening. Imagining views of the Alps
stories, plots, chapters. Unknotting a tricky bit of dialogue. and a chance to
We might be still but our brains are not. Our absent let your thoughts
mindedness becomes mindfulness. roam free.
Of course, trains aren’t just suited to creative writing.
Sketching and colouring as you pass towns and fields is
a glorious way to spend a journey. Embroidery, knitting
and crochet are all portable; you can feel the number
of miles you’ve travelled in the amount of rows on your
new scarf.
It’s hard to properly finish something on a train, but
making time for creativity isn’t always about completing.
Often it’s about letting our thoughts breathe, making space
for them, hanging out with our ideas and seeing where they
take us. That’s the thing, really, with travel, creativity and
life – it’s always been about the journey.
 O F F T H E RAI LS

THE BERNINA EXPRESS,

ITALY/SWITZERLAND
The Bernina Express is a four-hour
journey from Chur in Switzerland to
Turano in Italy. You’ll pass over 196
bridges and go through 55 tunnels.
A one-way ticket is about £50.
www.rhb.ch/en/home

THE WEST HIGHLAND LINE,

SCOTLAND
Scotland West Highland Line is the
one used as the Hogwarts Express
in the Harry Potter films. A return trip
will set you back about £40; the views
are free of charge.
www.scotrail.co.uk 125

THE GHAN, AUSTRALIA

Starting at Darwin on the
north coast of Australia and heading
all the way to Adelaide in the south,
The Ghan is perhaps the easiest way
to explore the Outback. You can hop
on and off and a one-way trip costs
approximately £1000.
www.journeybeyondrail.com.au/

Photograph: Jon Sailor

journeys/the-ghan

THE ROCKY MOUNTAINEER,

CANADA
For a luxurious rail experience,
the glass-top roof of The Rocky
Mountaineer in Canada is just the
thing. A two-night trip will set you
back about £1000.
www.rockymountaineer.com

THE ST IVES BAY LINE,

CORNWALL
Our favourite train journey along
Cornwall’s coast is one of the
shortest. The jaw-dropping St Ives
Bay line takes you from St Erth to St
Ives in just 15 minutes and a return
journey is just £4.
www.greatscenicrailways.co.uk

SUNSET LIMITED, AMERICA

If you prefer your views with
a desert, board the Sunset Limited
train in New Orleans and stay on all
Photograph: Andreas Stutz

the way to Los Angeles. It’s about

£90. Pack a cushion, it’s a long trip.
www.amtrak.com/sunset-limited-train
 126
Photograph: Chayanuphol Poona / EyeEm / Getty Images
 L I S T E N T O
T H E I S S U E
R e f l e c t o n t h i s e d i t i o n ’s t h e m e s w i t h o u r c u r a t e d p l a y l i s t
of tracks that cross the decades and the genres

The issue’s themes switch tracks and overlap through a selection of our songs in this eclectic mixtape. The
Guillemots’ jaunty 2006 hit Trains To Brazil explores living life to the full, while Heather Nova’s brand new Rewild
Me speaks of acceptance and forgiveness, as well as a return to nature. Join us in following the tracks back through
time too, with Vashti Bunyan’s 1966 single Train Song, which received little attention then, gathering cult status
much later on – a second chance in itself! And Collage by The Three Degrees, released in 1970, is a melancholic
melody full of colour, the passing of time and unfinished business. From revisiting moments, to revisiting a classic:
listen out for Neil Young’s Harvest Moon covered by Poolside. It all comes together rather beautifully. 127

1. Trains To Brazil – The Guillemots 2. Second Chance (Intalekt Remix) – Lucy Rose
3. Collage – The Three Degrees 4. Harvest Moon – Poolside
5. All The Pictures On The Wall – Paul Weller 6. Intuition – Feist
7. Forgiveness – Made in Heights 8. back again – flor 9. Rewild Me – Heather Nova
10. Rose Bouquet – Hamster, Wit Blu 11. Train Song – Vashti Bunyan
12. Gem – Daughter Of Swords 13. The Wild – Mumford And Sons

T H E S TO RI E S B EH I N D T H E M U S I C …

Photograph: Evening Standard / Getty Images

Photograph: John Shearer / Getty Images
Photograph: Tim Graham /Getty Images

CO L LAG E INT UIT ION TRAI N SONG

The Three Degrees Feist Vashti Bunyan

Underpinned by a laidback bassline, Singer-songwriter Feist is lauded for Train Song was originally released in
with soulful piano and brass to round her solo work as well as her output with 1966, but found a new lease of life
out the sound, this is a cover of a the band Broken Social Scene. This over 40 years later thanks to its use on
1969 song by rock band The James track, from her third solo album, The commercials and in TV shows such as
Gang. Originally formed in 1965 in Reminder, is a haunting meditation on True Detective. The lyrics speak of a
Philadelphia, The Three Degrees have ‘what if’: “It’s impossible to tell / How journey of hope and uncertainty,
seen many personnel changes but are important someone was / And what you all delivered in Vashti’s beautifully
still performing and recording today. might have missed out on.” ethereal style.

Want to catch up with all our playlists? You can find us on Spotify. Follow the link here: http://bit.ly/PCplaylist17
 FO L LOW YOUR
We f e e l o u r i n t u i t i o n i n o u r g u t a n d h e a r t . I f w e l e a r n t o r e a d t h e s i g n s ,
i t ’ l l s t e e r u s i n t h e r i g h t d i r e c t i o n , s a y s S u s a n n a h C o n w a y.
128
Intuition is a natural part of being a human being, the sixth
sense that steers us around the roadblocks and keeps us
headed in the right direction. I think of my intuition as a radio
station that’s broadcasting on a frequency only I can receive.
Some days the connection is stronger than others; some
days I don’t remember how to switch the radio on! And yet
even when I’m at my most unconscious, my inner guidance
whispers to me when I need it most.
Our intuition sends information as a knowing or a feeling,
and as we experience the world through our bodies it makes
sense our bodies are the receivers (and interpreters) of that
vibration. Most people pick up intuitive feelings in their heart
or their gut. Over the years I’ve learned that my heart is the
place I feel intuitive hits that are expansive and encouraging,
while in my gut the guidance feels more like a redirection. In
my heart I have a good feeling about someone new I’ve just
met. In my gut I get a sinking feeling that tells me I need to
take another route or turn down something that’s not in my
best interests.
Usually when I feel butterflies in my tummy it’s just
excitement (or anxiety) but sometimes I know it’s my inner
guidance trying to get my attention. You might experience
chills down your spine or a wave of excitement that feels
unquestionably like a “yes!”. It could be a distinct feeling of
peacefulness, a calm that descends upon you. It could also be
a stomach ache. When you start to pay closer attention to your
intuition you learn how to distinguish between a message from
your body – something is not working! Feed me! – and a nudge
from your inner guidance.
Sometimes my intuition sounds like my own mind saying
words but I hear them just underneath my normal thinking
volume, like a whisper that’s been translated by my brain but
didn’t come from my brain. Steve Jobs, a man who arguably
had an amazing brain, said: “Intuition is a very powerful
thing, more powerful than intellect, in my opinion.” Our
intuition plants creative seeds that take root as we water
them with our imagination and inquisitive minds. Even some
scientists – the people you’d think would be the furthest away
from anything as unprovable as intuition – bandy the word
INN ER GUI DA NC E
around. “There is no logical way to the discovery of these
elemental laws. There is only the way of intuition, which is
helped by a feeling for the order lying behind the appearance.”
That quote’s been attributed to Einstein, no less.
So how do we know it’s our intuition speaking and not
just our mind making stuff up? Simply put, intuition feels
emotionally neutral and exists squarely in the present moment.
It’s not future-tripping about something that might happen
or wringing its hands about the past - our mind/ego does that.
Our intuition is focussed on the here and now.
Mind/ego chatter sounds like: “But what if it doesn’t work
out? I shouldn’t have said that. I can’t do this! I’m an idiot.
What shall we have for dinner?” and on and on. Intuition, on
the other hand, sounds like: “This person is trustworthy…
Ask if there are any houses to rent… This isn’t right for you…
Take a left here...”
Our intuition communicates with us in words, knowing and
feeling but it’s also very adept at using signs and symbols to
catch our attention and steer us in the right direction. A sign
could be something in your environment you notice like a
song, a book cover, a snippet of conversation or a heart-shaped
pebble. It could be jaw-droppingly literal – a stop sign, an
arrow, the exact word you need – or sweetly figurative like a
photo of a seedling that represents a hopeful new start.
One of my most inspired intuitive hits in recent years was
to move to the last house I lived in. I’d decided I wanted to
get a dog and to do that I knew I needed more space. I got an
intuitive hit to look in Hampstead, somewhere I’d never have
considered, and found a listing for a tiny cottage that had
gone online that day. When I got there it FELT right and I
immediately paid my deposit. Then life happened and a family
member became ill and getting a dog didn’t seem wise when I
needed to be away at a moment’s notice.
So I shelved my pet-owning ideas until one day, 14 months
after I’d arrived, a stray cat decided to climb through my
bathroom window and move in with me. Becoming her owner
has been one of the greatest joys of my life and it made me
see that I was drawn to that house so she could find me. My
intuition steered me to exactly the place I was meant to be.
Photographs: Susannah Conway
T UNE IN TO YOUR
YES A ND N O

One of the most straightforward ways your

intuition communicates with you is with a simple
YES or NO sensation. It’s something we feel in our 129
body almost instantaneously. To get a feel for your
yes/no, try saying the following out loud:

My name is _________________ [say your name]

Say it a few times to anchor into what a YES feels

like in your body (heart or gut or wherever you
feel it). Can you feel the YES? It might feel like a
knowing or a rightness. It should click into place.

Now try saying this out loud:

My name is _________________ [say a name

that’s NOT your name]

How did that feel different? There should be a

disconnect, it should feel off somehow, like it’s not
right. It’s not true. It doesn’t fit. For example, when
I say “My name is Rachel” it feels hollow in my
chest, like there’s nothing there. It’s a definite NO.

FURTH ER
RE AD ING

From left: Developing Intuition by Shakti Gawain

Intuition and Beyond by Sharon A Klingler
The Intuitive Way by Penney Peirce
The Seat of the Soul by Gary Zukav
 T H E T E A M CO N T RI BU TO RS
EDITORIAL

J U L E S TAY LO R
Editor-in-chief

L A R A WATS O N
Editor

CHARLOTTE MARTYN
Managing Editor

VICKY GUERRERO
Production Editor

SARAH ORME
Digital Editor P I P PA K E N T ANDREA MARVÁN
CREATIVE Pippa lives in London with her husband Andrea Marván is a writer and
JULIAN DACE and puppy, Sid. She writes about her photographer from Vancouver, Canada,
Senior Art Editor
double lung transplant on page 63. You with a passion for storytelling, reading and
ROBIN COOMBER can follow her story and get involved in spending time with her husband and her
Art Editor
her upcoming charity cycle at two kids. She interviewed artist Julie Liger-
LEELA ROY @nowwhatcanieat on social media. Belair for us this issue, on page 76.
Deputy Art Editor

M AT I L DA S M I T H
Deputy Art Editor

PHIL SOWELS
Photography

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T RAV E L ART I L L U S T R AT I O N COLLAGE PHOTOGRAPHY

CREATIVE EXTRAS INSIDE

Papercut & Make your own Create collage

frame a wild mail art to art with our
shadow box be treasured colourful kit

Pin up & fill in Use our oracle Fun prints and

a birthstones & card deck to papers to use
flowers calendar aid intuition straight away
BI RT HSTON ES & F LOWERS
A P L A C E T O N OT E B I R T H D AY S F O R F R I E N D S A N D FA M I LY
BI RT HDAY CAL EN DA R
P E R F E C T F O R R E M E M B E R I N G S P E C I A L D AT E S E V E R Y Y E A R
2

Cut out the three

numbered white areas.

3
 “Nature is resilient.
With a little space and time,
the natural world is capable
of recovering quickly.”
Cut out all these elements, fold along the dotted
lines and glue in place in your vignette.
 7
1

2
3 5
8
4
6

Cut out the nine

numbered white areas.
 Fold and glue the tabs to
create the box. Don’t forget
to cut a slit on the lid tab
to keep the box closed.