'Alice Moments'

The importance of these moments know no bounds.

Welcome to my wee corner of Substack. I am a seasonal artist living on the Isle of Arran, off the west coast of Scotland. I am the custodian of approximately two acres of land that includes a woodland, a meadow and my wee garden. I offer a place in my seasonal Book Artist Studio for paid subscribers if you are interested and you can read more about that HERE. Grab a cuppa and lets delve into our relationship with the shifting seasons….

In seasonal terms I am absolutely in the autumn of my life. However, if you don’t mind I will stick in late summer. This is the time of year where I get the strongest urge to gather my world around me and discard anything that no longer serves me. For many that urge will come in spring but I often find I am the polar opposite of most folk and my grandmother believed that I did that on purpose and she might well have been right!

Late summer for me is simply enchanting. As the light changes I feel the need to change with it and these seasonal transitions are incredibly powerful when I attach them to my creativity. Seasonal shifts create a sense of ‘turning’ deep within me as if these times are asking me to pivot. To pivot well one needs to be grounded first as you are not seeking to travel. Instead we are attempting to shift direction while having one foot firmly rooted. That is the most important thing about this time of year for me as I want to pivot through my days ensuring I don’t miss anything in the world I inhabit. I have talked about the importance of noticing on this platform before but I would now add to that ‘notice while pivoting.’ A much wiser soul than me once told me that to create great art you need to pause when out walking and look back the way you have just travelled. Only then will you see the real potential of noticing and it is that deeper sense that will feed your art. For me, that felt a little bit ‘out there’ but mindful that we learn from most people I decided to give it a go.

I remember the day very well. I was on a familiar forest walk when his words came into my mind. I paused and took a deep breath in and as I exhaled I pivoted turning to look back the way I had just travelled. The moment that followed is locked deep within my creative soul now. In that moment the space behind me was enveloped by a transulcent circle as if I was peering into it and seeing things for the first time. I saw shapes I didn’t recognise and colours seemed so much more vivid and it gave me my first ‘Alice’ moment. I have loved Alice in her wonderland since I was quite small and I like to think that now she travels alongside me most days reminding me constantly about the importance of ‘discovery’. As I exhaled and pivoted a sense of Alice in Wonderland swept over me so deeply that it made me cry.

How has that Alice moment changed me?

Alice gave me permission to take the polar opposite pathway through life. That moment taught me that we don’t see everything clearly on the first take and by reversing or pivoting we get a second pass and, in that second pass, lies so many possibilities. My Alice moment this week gifted me more toadstools than I had ever seen at this stage of the year. On an almost daily route with the dog I noticed a toadstool slightly off path so I went to investigate. When once back on said path the urge to pivot washed over me and I turned round. I was almost at the top of a hill and, in pivoting, the way I had just travelled came into clear view - I was having my second pass at it. For someone who has instructed her Alice moments for over 40 years I remain transfixed by what the second pass gifts me.

None of these beautiful specimens were far from the pathway but I had missed them all. Alice tells me that it is the fairies building their new winter homes and who am I to question her wisdom?

Whether she is right or not toadstools are magical as they emerge from deep within the earth at a rate that few things on this planet can compete with. I am endlessly fascintated with them and seeking them out has become a life long pursuit. As August turns to September autumn will be sweeping across the country I call home and this year I am blessed to be taking a month away travelling the west coast of Scotland and beyond. This feels the right time to go from one forest to another seeking toadstools to draw paint and even stitch before pivoting deep within these special places to see what else they offer me as an artist. You are most welcome to wander along with me.

I promise to pivot and look back the way I have just travelled. Alice has promised to travel with us in my pocket.

Until next time, Fiona x

Thank you to the kind folks that have bought me coffees. That is incredibly kind of you.

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