“The ultimate lift of spirit, for me, is to warm up after emerging from the cold sea, by crouching by a fire on the cliff side; one of my happiest moments. Grounded by the earth, embraced by the wind and soothed by the seaweed-popping-fire.”
The Elemental Connection
I’ll start by scratching the surface before delving into the depths.
When I think of mental health in my life, and I look back at times I’ve found a way of bringing myself back from feelings of anxiety, there usually seems to be one of the main four elements involved.
Whether it’s leaping off a rock into the icy cold sea, staring into a crackling fire, sewing seeds into the earth or feeling the wind on my face as I hike up the steepest hills of Dorset, I’m always grounded by elemental connection.
I believe that humans crave these moments of peace, exhilaration, sensation and warmth. Issues within my mind manifest when I’m distanced from these essential connections. We become inward, passive and lost in our own minds.
I feel I have a deep, personal connection with the sea. My Grandma was a life guard and taught me to swim in Cornwall; she used to swim outdoors all year round and I’ve always done this my whole life too, long before it became trendy.
The initial shock immediately halts any feelings of unease, as my breath is taken away. I’m forced into a sense of survival mode momentarily. The sound of the waves and the glimmers on the surface calm me. Swimming furiously to warm up gets the heart beating fast and when I come out, my skin tingles all over with the salt and the chill.
Subliminal Messages
With fire, I remember doing a photography project as part of my BA, where I chose the theme ‘Sublime’ and looked into the theory that a photograph containing fire can somehow subliminally connect with humans’ deep psyche.
I produced large format images of darkness, with small areas of warm glowing embers and flames, and I realised through the explorative journey that I’ve always been drawn by fire, as most humans are.
The warmth, power and hypnotic qualities soothe the soul and draw us out of ourselves.
As for earth and air, humans were meant to be outdoors for the majority of their lives, and yet the modern world demands us to sit in a trance-like state in a synthetic environment, often staring at screens. The happiest I’ve felt has always been whilst outdoors, whether it was making mud pies as a child or spending time in recent years, pressing seeds down into the earth.
Immersing Yourself
The ultimate lift of spirit, for me, is to warm up after emerging from the cold sea, by crouching by a fire on the cliff side; one of my happiest moments. Grounded by the earth, embraced by the wind and soothed by the seaweed-popping-fire.
I’ve never made the conscious connection between being drawn to the elements and my mental health, but realise when looking back that this instinctive interaction is what I crave when my mind is unsettled. Awakening the senses in these primal ways brings us out of ourselves and soothes the soul.
People need this soft elemental connection on a daily basis, as well as the occasional deep, raw immersion in the elements.
When reaching this feeling of inner peace, the next level for me is found through creativity. I believe this is also a fundamental human instinct that needs to be nourished, which is often neglected in modern times, but this is another story.
What an interesting post thank you for sharing. I do love hot soak in a bath or scrunching my toes in the grass, something soul deep relaxing about it
Being next to nature is bliss <3