For the ones who can see the life they want but can't yet find the path to it. For the woman who suspects the way back to herself might be through something older and slower and closer to the earth than anything she's tried so far. Each week I write about life transitions, plant wisdom, and seasonal rhythm... real letters, not polished advice. When you join, you'll get The Stile - a short guide and audio introducing three plant allies for the crossing you're in right now.
Lost in the bracken
Published about 2 months ago • 2 min read
Hey Reader,
I've walked the path along the front of Crook quite a few times now - but since the last time, the bracken has grown. And not many people go that way.
I started out in the right place...but after a while I realised I was getting quite high up and the fell wall was getting further away. Then the path got worse, until it wasn't really a path anymore. I couldn't see where I was standing because of the bracken, and everytime I put my right foot down the ground underneath sort of slid from under me.
By this point it was pretty steep and a long way down. But I did find some foxgloves, which I'm currently obsessed with:
One of about 10 sit-downs whilst clambering along the front face of the fell...
Eventually there was just nothing left to go at and I ended up scrambling down a gill, which was when I found the actual path further down... so how I got up that high I'm not so sure.
But I do know I was cramming a walk in before getting the decorating done for the day - which meant I was probably too fixed on doing and completing the walk rather than being present in the process. Which ended up adding another 15 mins on for crawl-walking and then rescuing a stuck sheep.
This fell takes no bullshit.
Lessons from the Fells this week: Don't try and force/rush things. Respect the process.
New video up on the channel this week:
The Strange Grief of Becoming After Loss Watch here
Midlife Identity: Are You Becoming Someone New or Reclaiming Who You Already Were?Watch here
If you're in the thick of a life transition and could do with seeing the shape of the path beneath your feet, my free workshop - Finding Your Footing Through a Life Transition - is a good place to start. You can find out more and access it here.
The Witnessing
If you need something more personal — write to me. Hit reply and tell me a little about where you are: what's ended, what you're carrying, what's pulling at you. I'll write back, and if it feels right I'll suggest a plant ally or two that belong with where you are right now. I read every reply and I'm always glad to hear from you. Or if you'd rather talk book a tea & chat and we can explore it together over Zoom.
For the ones who can see the life they want but can't yet find the path to it. For the woman who suspects the way back to herself might be through something older and slower and closer to the earth than anything she's tried so far. Each week I write about life transitions, plant wisdom, and seasonal rhythm... real letters, not polished advice. When you join, you'll get The Stile - a short guide and audio introducing three plant allies for the crossing you're in right now.