Health & Wellbeing
Meditations in nature: Into a sea of blue in search of adoxa I have yet to meet anyone who has not felt the healing effect of a walk in a bluebell wood. It is now mid-morning and I am standing in an ocean of dancing bells swaying amid the transient sunbeams that light the woodland floor. The last of the wind flowers, celandine, and primroses cling to tiny patches of ground, steadfastly competing with the abundance of blue, whilst small clumps of budding woodruff and stitchwort are waiting silently to add to the performance when their time is right. A blustery wind shudders through the trees stealing, not only the sweet scent of bells, but also the melodious tune of the territorial blackcaps. Shivering, I pull my coat closer and stop to admire a singular white bell; apparently an outcome of only
one in ten-thousand genetic chances. Bluebells belong to the hyacinth family and need undisturbed soils to grow. That is why they are most often associated with ancient woodlands. Their bulbs
start growing in autumn so that they are ready for the first warmth of spring, when their carpet of cobalt, sapphire and violet-blue bells can preside over the woodland floor before the canopy obscures the sun. Although they are a native species to northern Europe, Britain is home to over half of the world’s population, making them an iconic symbol of the British countryside. As a child, I recall gathering armfuls of bells for my grandmother, but now they are legally protected and so cannot be picked or uprooted. According to old English folklore, I was quite lucky to survive this theft as children who picked bluebells would be captured by the fairies and never seen again. On a wild day like today, I could believe that mischievous fairies
do indeed lie in wait, but probably the gloomy warning was because all parts of the plant are poisonous. Apart from the joy of seeing bluebells, there is another woodland friend I want to meet. That is the tiny, secretive, cuboid moschatel, adoxa moschatellina. She has four flowers at right angles and one on top, making her look just like a town hall clock. At the point of almost giving up, I eventually find a small patch of flowers that are not at all ‘without glory’ as the Greek etymology for Adoxa suggests. Feeling calmed and blessed by this beautiful woodland, I follow the path for home. Dr Susie Curtin curtin.susanna@gmail.com rewildingjourneys.com
Apprehension is natural as we move out of the lockdown As we emerge from the lockdowns, many are understandably feeling apprehension and trepidation. The last year has been very difficult for many and we’ve all been traumatised to some degree or other by the pandemic. Whether you’ve not been able to see loved ones, or go to work, got financial worries, cooped up with people for weeks and months, in constant fear of getting sick, putting yourself at risk just to survive or actually losing people near and dear to you – it’s all had an effect on our health. There’s been a underlying dread and we’ve all had to dig deep to maintain our sanity. It’s been incredible how just wearing masks has made us feel so isolated; let alone the absence of 58
touch and hugs. We’ve all been on ‘high alert’ and it’s really made us appreciate just how much a ‘hello,’ kind word or smile makes. We all need that feeling of belonging and connectedness; even if it’s only from a stranger sometimes. Human beings are social creatures and we don’t tend to do so well on our own or locked down – but we’re generally also incredibly resilient and even stubborn in a good way! We don’t like to be beaten and our ‘bounce back ability’ is impressive. After all, life goes on for most; so we have to be adaptable. I’ve been very impressed with how tolerant people have been; plus how there’s been a feeling of camaraderie and pulling together. However, many of my clients tell me they feel exhausted; mentally
and physically. Being almost continually on one’s guard and having high levels of anxiety is extremely tiring. For many, our levels of stress are still very high, and that coupled with the uncertainty of the future, doesn’t help – so the next few weeks and months needs to be a time we’re all mindful of our selfcare. Yes, we need to be careful as the virus is still around; but it also needs to be a time of healing and convalescence. We need to find things that sooth and pamper us, so that we can relax from the tension. It can be something small or large; but it needs to be enjoyable and pleasurable. Many just need to share their experiences of the past year; so we must make an effort to properly listen. We need to
unburden ourselves. I also believe it’s a time for trying new things. Interestingly, my case load of clients is predominantly filled with people who want to change themselves and their lives for the better. One of the silver linings of the pandemic is that many have realised how precious life is and they want to be happier than
they were before the virus struck. I think we’ve all realised that life should be meaningful, interesting and rewarding – so maintaining good mental and physical health needs to be paramount. You really can’t have one without the other. n Psychotherapist David Stanton lives near Sherborne.
David Stanton IAC ICPT ISOCS ISSUP
Senior Psychotherapist/Counsellor. Trainer and Mental Health Consultant. Individual and Group face to face sessions; also via video on WhatsApp, Skype, Messenger and Zoom. Clinical Supervisor to other Health Care workers. Counselling for Individuals, Groups, Couples, Children, Adolescents and Families. 40+ years experience. Depression, Anxiety, Trauma, Self Esteem, Relationship problems, Family Dynamics, Bereavement, Eating Disorders, Substance/Alcohol Abuse, Addictions. Isolation, Loneliness, PTSD, Bi-Polar, OCD, Sexual/Physical Abuse, Self Harming, Death Anxiety, Sex Issues. Lack of Meaning & Purpose, Anger, Phobias, Gender, Sexuality. Social Justice. Con昀ict Resolution. Crisis Management. Available for Mental Health and Emotional Wellness Workshops, Retreats, Seminars, Training and Talks. Emotional Intelligence and Awareness Educator to all Education Establishments and Businesses.
CONFIDENTIALITY ASSURED Please contact through the websites www.tatvacenter.com www.edas-addictionservices.com or telephone - David 07 584 711 488
