Thank you both, interesting ideas and discussion. Some years ago, I asked my grown up children how they envisage the year because for as long as I can remember I’ve seen it as a circle. Elder daughter saw this immediately, correctly assuming that I see January at 7o’clock. I think both daughters get the circle whereas my son said a helix. I sometimes ask people how they see the year - lots of them have never considered it at all, some just don’t get it and get sidetracked into talking about synaesthesia (which I don’t consider relevant here). It just makes sense to me that winter is the bottom, the nadir, of a circular year with a climb to the zenith of midsummer before falling back to winter. Of course the language we use pushes those images into the mind. Into my crone years now, I am better at allowing my inclination to rest and hibernate and I no longer dread the dark days but relish long nights to be snug indoors. Especially on bright and or dry days I am irresistibly drawn out of doors, loving the precious apricity of a still, sunny, winter day. And I never fell for the New Year’s resolution thing.
Nat – thank you so much for this. The new direction for the podcast feels super vulnerable, so I can't tell you how lovely it was to spot your comment within hours of it going live! I love the idea of winter at the bottom of the circle, that makes so much sense to me – and the helix! I love how your son's mind works! Also 'apricity' is my new favourite word! I found it on Katherine May's Substack and immediately worked it into my new book! Thanks for listening – Ep2 coming soon!
I think it’s really important to tell people who make things that we appreciate their creations - it helps so much to hear their positivity. I shared your piece with a friend who I thought would benefit from hearing it, don’t know if she’s listened. (It was the wonderful Barbara Kingsolver who introduced me to the word apricity - which can suit a place in a Cornish day quite often).
Thank you both, interesting ideas and discussion. Some years ago, I asked my grown up children how they envisage the year because for as long as I can remember I’ve seen it as a circle. Elder daughter saw this immediately, correctly assuming that I see January at 7o’clock. I think both daughters get the circle whereas my son said a helix. I sometimes ask people how they see the year - lots of them have never considered it at all, some just don’t get it and get sidetracked into talking about synaesthesia (which I don’t consider relevant here). It just makes sense to me that winter is the bottom, the nadir, of a circular year with a climb to the zenith of midsummer before falling back to winter. Of course the language we use pushes those images into the mind. Into my crone years now, I am better at allowing my inclination to rest and hibernate and I no longer dread the dark days but relish long nights to be snug indoors. Especially on bright and or dry days I am irresistibly drawn out of doors, loving the precious apricity of a still, sunny, winter day. And I never fell for the New Year’s resolution thing.
Nat – thank you so much for this. The new direction for the podcast feels super vulnerable, so I can't tell you how lovely it was to spot your comment within hours of it going live! I love the idea of winter at the bottom of the circle, that makes so much sense to me – and the helix! I love how your son's mind works! Also 'apricity' is my new favourite word! I found it on Katherine May's Substack and immediately worked it into my new book! Thanks for listening – Ep2 coming soon!
I think it’s really important to tell people who make things that we appreciate their creations - it helps so much to hear their positivity. I shared your piece with a friend who I thought would benefit from hearing it, don’t know if she’s listened. (It was the wonderful Barbara Kingsolver who introduced me to the word apricity - which can suit a place in a Cornish day quite often).
So good, right?! So here for my enchantress era!