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Word Power – Part 1

Recently, I read the excellent novel, The Dictionary of Lost Words by Pip Williams. It is a fictional account, based on extensive research, of the making of the Oxford English Dictionary. The aim of the dictionary was to be the ultimate reference book on the English language. Samuel Johnson’s dictionary of a century before required an update. Woven within the tale are the events of the 71 years which passed from its inception to completion, including women’s suffrage and the First World War.

In addition to being a gripping narrative, it raised many questions about language, some of which I would like to explore here. Primarily, it questions who decides what is appropriate for the dictionary. Are these middle-class, educated men to be the arbiters of what is and is not English? And is ‘proper’ English more valuable than the endless dialects and colloquialisms of the common folk? The protagonist thinks not and creates her own dictionary of lost words.

**A great read** Image: Karen Costello-McFeat

Of course, I hear you say, a dictionary that contained all the words in use would never be complete, as words continually appear, or are used by only a fraction of people. But still. It is a conundrum.

Since most of us think in words (and images) and certainly communicate almost solely through language, the implications of this are great. I would argue that the person who controls the language of the people controls the thought. Throughout history, dictators and propagandists would agree and they have done their utmost to manipulate or eradicate language that does not fit their agenda.

With the rise of ‘fake news’, unregulated sources and pressure groups trying to push their own plans, these questions are ones we need to consider carefully. Within the next year, our Government in the UK and that in the US will be elected on the basis of their words. How do we know what to trust? How do we discern truth from fabulation?

Let us begin with a little history

Standardising English

Reading and writing of English was the preserve of the very wealthy and the religious elite. The arrival of the printing press in 1440 changed all that. Now it was possible to afford printed matter, though it would be some time before ordinary people could afford books of any quality. Protestantism was on the rise and individuals wanted to make their own study of the Bible and not simply listen to a priest’s interpretation.

Travel was also becoming more widespread and one of the aims of Cawdrey’s dictionary was to ‘fix’ some of the English words under threat from their continental neighbours and to explain what those more commonly used actually meant.

**The First English Dictionary, A Table Alphabeticall** by Robert Cawdrey

His intention was noble: to enable the reader to better understand texts. He applied the revolutionary idea of presenting words in alphabetical order to assist in finding them. And so, the beginning of the standardisation of the English language was born. Questions of spelling and usage now had a source to reference. No longer would spellings be based arbitrarily on how one felt that day.

Johnson’s dictionary followed over a century later and numerous grammars were written to aid in the teaching of the burgeoning educated populace. From here on, dictionaries in English have grown exponentially.

Prescriptivism v descriptivism

But the question remained and has perplexed linguists ever since as to whether language can ever be fixed: prescribed, or if it is a fluid, living thing that can only be described as it morphs from one year to the next. If Standard English is ‘good’ does that make colloquial English ‘bad’? Is it merely another way of establishing power or control over others?

When teaching in South Carolina, I taught many excellent students who spoke and wrote in what is referred to as Black American English. Their writing and spelling was consistent, but it was not in line with Standard English. When they spelled ‘ax’ for ask, I was forced to ‘correct’ them, citing that Standard English was the one used in academia. I felt bad doing so, but I was fully aware that if they did not use the ‘correct’ form, their academic performance would be penalised for it. At the time, it made me feel rather uncomfortable. It still does.

That said, at some point we do need to establish some ground rules if people are to understand one another at all. With my own students, I tried to encourage them to see correct spelling and grammar not as the enemy but a way of facilitating their communication.

Of course, I try to follow the rules here too. After all, I want what I write to be as intelligible as possible to as large an audience as possible. Our education system has chosen the form in which I write, but I think there is room for reflection here also if only to remind ourselves that language, after all, is power.

Part 2 will look at the abuse of this power.

Keeping to the Daily Schedule

Originally, this post was going to be called ‘The Happiness List’, because the activities set out below generally make me happy. However, I realised that this was not quite accurate. In truth, I keep to this schedule of activities to prevent myself from falling into the deep chasm of despair.

**Do not try this at home** Image: Casey Horner on Unsplash

Living with a chronic illness is to constantly negotiate the high wire. One false step and down you tumble. There is no happy ending nor really much to hope for except more of the same and worse. It is, on the surface, not a formula for a great life.

That said, it has made me acutely aware of how I spend my time and what helps rather than hinders me. It has also made me aware of how many of us are struggling with any number of issues that are equally demoralising. So if your life is tickety-boo, you need read no further and just enjoy your good fortune.

If, however, like me, you need a bit of daily cheer: read on.

Distraction, distraction

There really is no cure for chronic pain, grief or long-standing depression. All we can do is to distract ourselves from it for as long as we can and, in doing so, diminish its hold on us.

When I am immersed in a brilliant book, the pain in my legs miraculously disappears. Our brains, it seems, are only capable of holding on to one concentrated thought at a time, so if we choose an enjoyable one, we can escape ourselves for a while and build some resilience for when we are less occupied.

**A cup of tea and a book. Who could ask for more?** Image: Karen Costello-McFeat

The same applies to some of the other tasks on my list: to create something, to meditate and to learn a language (which has the added bonus of boosting our brains).

Dealing with it

My day begins (ideally) with my journal pages. Here is my opportunity to rant, rejoice, wallow in self-pity or note words of wisdom.

Usually, I begin by reading the entry before and sometimes I laugh at my own comments. Twenty-four hours often brings the clarity you need. Very little seems quite as dramatic or terrible after a night’s sleep.

But since this is only for me, it is an opportunity to be honest about all my feelings. Humans are amazing, but we are not always that good at listening to one another or understanding.

My journal takes it all in without comment or censure. It gives space for solutions to flow through guidance. It also relieves my friends of listening to my fretting.

Keeping social

Perhaps the greatest danger when we feel unwell or down is to distance ourselves from others. It is entirely understandable. The bed seems so alluring with its cosy duvet and plump pillows. It will not judge or demand anything of us. And the unconsciousness of sleep allows our busy minds to rest.

Of course, necessary convalescence aside, our beds should be restricted to only the hours of sleep we actually need (in my case about eleven!)

But the rest of the time, we need to engage with others. Each morning I reply to texts and enjoy the crazy cartoons. (I really should contribute more.) Later in the day, I’ll reply to emails and write cards/letters. I try to see someone at least every other day. My friends keep me sane and Mariia’s company is an extra boon.

**Lunch with friends**
Image: Karen Costello-McFeat

Despite a love of entertaining, I cannot always find the energy to do so. Instead, I am learning to ask others to contribute a dish or perhaps meet up at a cafe. Accepting one’s limitations does not mean giving up on precious reunions only redefining them.

Go outside (or look outside)

There is so much written about the benefits of nature that I hardly feel that I can contribute more here. I’ve just been out in the garden and wrestled with dandelions and bindweed and inhaled the fresh, intoxicating smell of earth. Though I probably managed a whole ten minutes, it was enough.

For those of you chained to a desk, the outside is hopefully still visible. While writing, I looked up to see a tiny coal tit balancing on the tippy-top of my apple tree singing noisily. All of us, I hope, have at least the view of the ever-changing panorama of sky and even a few minutes gazing heavenwards will soothe our souls and our eyes.

Do something useful

For me, the worst thing about my disability is the sense that I am useless. I can’t contribute financially, I can’t do half the housework, and I can’t do many of the things I once tackled quickly and efficiently.

No-one wants to feel that way.

So, I try to focus on what I can do and adopt Tesco’s tag-line that ‘Every little helps’.

**They’re not imperfect – they’re rustico!**
Image: Karen Costello-McFeat

Ours is a family of foodies and I love to cook and bake. Yesterday, I made bread with the help of my sturdy mixer which does most of the kneading. My loaves are slightly wonky and perhaps a little on the dark umber side, but they taste good and will last longer than a single meal.

Perhaps we need to ask for help or indulge in equipment that will take the physical strain, but if we allow ourselves to lower our personal expectations, there is much we can achieve.

Find something to be thankful for

When reading my Flow magazine, I came across this thought:

‘Not every day will be good, but there is good in every day’
Flow

Remembering this is perhaps the key to contentment. No matter how dreadful our day, if we search, we will find at least one thing that lifted our spirits or made us smile. The discipline of looking for the good in every day tends to multiply these moments exponentially. Through keeping gratitude in our hearts, our own concerns and difficulties melt away.

Make a list

My ‘happiness list’ is one that I try to follow every day. It provides structure and reminds me that there are so many places to find joy.

Here is my list:

Morning pages/ meditation/ prayer/ guidance
Exercise
Getting outdoors
Doing something useful for the family
Communicating with and meeting friends
Reading/ entertainment
Creating
Language learning
Taking a nap

So far, it has not only kept me in balance but has brought a great deal of pleasure to my life. Many of these activities would be denied me were I working nine-to-five and I remind myself that my life does have advantages.

I’m curious to know what your list would be. Perhaps you can add it to the comments below. I might be missing something.

Saving Spring

Though each season has its own unique attractions, I confess that spring is my favourite. As winter slips away, I wait eagerly for the first snowdrops and narcissi. They arrive in their pale beauty, then are followed by vibrant daffodils, intensely blue grape hyacinths and gaudy and delicious red tulips. At times, this riot of colour overlaps, but soon the reticent shades fade away to be replaced by their more audacious cousins.

**But I want to keep them all!** Image: Karen Costello-McFeat

I mourn the loss of one, just as I rejoice in the arrival of another. Greedily, I want them all to remain. Recently, I have found a way to do just that. And this particular alchemy requires very little in the way of equipment and more patience than skill.

Pressed for time

Mariia very sweetly bought me a large flower press for Mother’s Day. I’d tried drying flowers as child with the benefit of cartridge paper and encyclopedias with less than perfect results. With the right equipment though, I hoped I could achieve much more.

**My new favourite toy**
Image: Karen Costello-McFeat

And to my delight, I was correct.

As I always do before starting a new project, I consulted the great wisdom of YouTube before I began. There I discovered every approach to pressing flowers from the deeply conservative to the crazily quirky. Of course, the latter appealed the most, but I thought best to begin with the basics.

The key to successfully pressing flowers is fairly simple. Ensure that your flowers are dry and in good condition. Naturally flatter blooms are easier to press than their more fulsome relatives (though this can be done). Thick blotting paper is the most efficient paper to use, though cartridge or watercolour paper is good too. Tweezers and scissors are essential.

**All the tools you’ll need**
Image: Karen Costello-McFeat

Like most artistic projects, a process of trial and error is the best way to establish which flowers and leaves respond well to pressing. Ferns are a dream; dandelions a disaster.

The next part is patience. You will have to wait and wait for your results. My press suggested four or five days, but I gave it a full week.

The big reveal

Just as a potter peers anxiously into his kiln to check his pots have survived their firing, I cautiously lifted the first layers of card and paper to see what had made it through drying.

To my great joy, almost everything had remained intact – even the delicate blossoms and miniature narcissi. YouTube had recommended placing the flowers face down and I think this was the key to success.

Using the tweezers, where necessary, I peeled them off the paper and set them down carefully in a shallow box. One must remain calm during this process, as any strong breath or sigh sends them skittering across the table.

Even seeing them assembled higgledy-piggledy in the box seemed wonderful, but I knew that they would now need to be put to use.

Beginner’s luck

Since it was Easter weekend and my husband was keen to do a seasonal project of painting wooden eggs, what better to decorate them with than our spring flowers?

My husband covered the wood using old paints from the shed, I added ribbons and we left them to dry in the spring sunshine. If the weather were more clement, I’d have been tempted to leave them there, but, alas, more rain was imminent.

**A real Easter tree.**
Image: Karen Costello-McFeat

Once they were fully dry, I directed my husband to where I’d seen a big tree branch (yes, that is the sort of thing I notice) for our fake Easter tree and then we got decorating.

Mariia did some beautiful designs with acrylic pens, as did Jeff. I focused on decoupage and flowers. The results were much better than I’d anticipated and hung on my huge branch look very festive indeed.

Several coats of varnish later, these eggs were ready and protected for some time to come.

Leftovers

Our Easter eggs decorated, I still had plenty of blooms and leaves to use – not least since I’d done a second batch. Not quite ready to try the more ambitious projects, I thought I would make some lovely stationery: cards, envelopes and gift tags.

Their composition took a little thought and some rearranging, but I’m generally pleased with the results.

My flowers are now held in time in all their beauty and I certainly cannot ask for more than that.

But there are more spring flowers to come and seasons too. This little hobby should come with a warning. It is truly addictive and I am constantly looking for flowers that I think will press well. And all those quirky internet projects? Well, I think I shall have to try some.

Seeking Guidance

We all need guidance sometimes, whether it is for a life-changing decision like retirement or how to negotiate a difficult situation. Where we go for such guidance will vary from seeking professional advice to asking a friend. But what about all those little decisions in between or ones we’re not even sure how to ask for?

Some of you will remember that I’ve written about Julia Cameron’s seminal text The Artist’s Way before. So when I felt I needed a little more instruction on pursuing a more creative life, who better to turn to than the same author? Her latest book, Living the Artist’s Way differs from the first in that its focus is the spiritual. It is another interactive book, requiring the reader to pursue their own answers and what I love about it is the fact that while remaining devotional at heart, she never veers into dogmatism or preaching. She, like me, believes that we must each find a path that we are comfortable with.

**Where it all started**
Image: Karen Costello-McFeat

The Four Pillars

For Cameron believes that a creative life – in its fullest sense – rests on four pillars. These are: morning pages, artist dates, walks and asking for guidance. The focus here is on the first and the last.

Morning pages

This is journal writing to the rest of us. She requires us to write three pages at a time and to do so at the start of the day. Why in the morning? Well, it is a way of decluttering before you begin the day’s tasks. If you have had strange dreams, been fretting in the night or gone to bed a little disturbed by events, here is your chance to write them out and away.

My dreams are often fairly crazy (could be the CBD oil) and sometimes linger if I do not set them down and come to terms with them. The morning pages also let me reflect on the day ahead and, most importantly, set my intentions.

**This year’s journals** Image: Karen Costello-McFeat

As you can see, one soon fills us a lot of journals. Writing in this way not only helps our mental health (seeing our thoughts written out on paper makes them so much clearer and less scary). It also helps to improve our writing, since, as in anything, practice is key.

If nothing else, it keeps a record of our life that is rather more reliable than memory and certainly more honest that photographs. And if your life is really exciting, a constant source of entertainment. I love Gwendolyn’s comment in The Importance of Being Earnest:

I never travel without my diary. One should always have something sensational to read in the train.’
Oscar Wilde, The Importance of Being Earnest

Ah, if only my quiet life should merit such a comment!

But I become frivolous.

Ways of looking at prayer

Cameron suggests that at the end of our morning pages (and any other time we feel the need) that we use this opportunity to write down what it is that we would like help with. This is the point that we can ask for guidance and wait for the answer and transcribe it.

The answer may be immediate or it may take some time, but it will come.

Prayer is not asking. Prayer is putting oneself in the hands of God, at His disposition, and listening to His voice in the depth of our hearts.

Mother Teresa

I love the way that Mother Teresa has described prayer above. It is a act of humility: giving our own desires over to a higher, benevolent power.

In the Quaker tradition it is known as holding in the light. We still our minds in the silence and wait for guidance. It may not always be what we want to hear, but it will always be right.

Cameron’s technique works in the same way. Once we have finished burbling in our journals and emptied our minds, we are ready to receive our counsel.

Here is an example from her book that I think could be of use to many of us.

‘Often, when we slow down, we find that we open the door to guidance and inspiration. It is a paradox that by easing up on ourselves, answers seem to come to us as if out of nowhere, and often with powerful speed.

Ask your guidance what you could do to ease the pressure on yourself. Can you take a break or a nap? Can you push a deadline? Can you give yourself a full day of ‘no expectations,’ where you ask for nothing from yourself?

What do you hear? Can you give it a try?

Julia Cameron, Living the Artist’s Way

Because prayer, once asked, requires action. Our guidance will help us proceed in a thoughtful way. If we pray for a friend who is sick, our counsel may prompt us to send a letter or make a call. If we ask for advice, as above, we may need to set better boundaries for ourselves or those we live with.

Sources of inspiration

Over the years, I have found many places which give me inspiration on how to live. If you are a member of a religious organisation, you have the holy texts, but for the more secular amongst us, poems and inspirational quotes can act as a doorway to contemplation.

A time for reflection

The arrival of spring with its promise of rebirth in the natural world coincides with festivals for many of the major religions: Ramadan, Passover, Easter and Holi, just to name a few. And as people celebrate throughout the world, we too can join in our own way. There is so much to be grateful for – not least that we have survived the hardships of winter.

And if you are new to prayer, I suggest this one.

If the only prayer you said in your whole life was “thank you”, that would be enough.
Meister Eckhart

Happy Easter

As the Easter holiday begins next Friday, there will be no post then, but I hope to return with news of some of our creative ventures.

May the long weekend give you an opportunity to relax and reflect and perhaps begin the habit of asking for guidance.

**Plum blossom**
Image: Karen Costello-McFeat

Sensory Overload

With foreign holidays becoming ever more exhausting (not to say expensive), I have become a real fan of micro vacations in the UK. There is so much to explore in our immediate vicinity that I doubt I could visit everywhere, even if I tried.

So when we had two days free last week, we set off to Godalming and the Watts Artists’ Village. I’d read about both in a magazine some time ago and, being an Arts and Crafts fan, felt I should explore it myself.

**The chapel exterior** Image: Karen Costello-McFeat

An act of kindness

What appealed to me most was the mortuary chapel designed by Mary Watts for the residents of her village. Not only was this a stunning example of design and craftsmanship, but it showed an enlightened social view. This was not a gift to be handed down from wealthy artists to the grateful locals, but something that the villagers participated in creating. Her husband, GF Watts, believed that through assisting in the decoration of the chapel, the people would have a much closer connection to it.

To this end, Mary immediately started pottery classes at her home studio in Limnerslease, teaching them simple terracotta techniques. While her husband funded the construction, she was responsible for the design and execution. The building and exterior were completed in four years (1895-1898) and the interior in a further six. Considering the complexity of the task, this is indeed impressive.

Set in what must be the most stunning graveyard in Britain, the chapel is reached via a steep brick path almost to the top of the hill. It is surrounded by flowers and ornate gravestones with views to the Downs beyond.

The power of symbols

Everything in it and on it is symbolic. The unusual shape of the building – a circle bisected by a cross – represent eternity and faith. The intricately carved door shows the serpent of evil overcome by the cross of Christianity. Inside, the hierarchy of heaven is made explicit in the circle of the domed ceiling (God) through the angels and cherubs down to man and the natural world.

The mortuary chapel was designed to be a final resting place for those awaiting interment or cremation and it is cold. After half and hour or so, my husband had to go outside to warm up, but came back to marvel once more. For this is not a place to glance around and leave. It is decorated from floor to ceiling in the most exquisite designs. We had to take it by degrees, for our senses were completely overwhelmed. The more one looked, the more one saw. The more one looked, the more one was drawn to the loving spirituality of the place. The kindness that prompted its inception and construction spoke to you from the very stones.

Throughout were pairs of opposites (some angels face the viewer others turn away) through which Mary reminded us that life is a balance between opposing forces. Though most of the symbols were Christian, other faiths featured too, showing Mary’s more cosmopolitan view.

Suffer the little children

What touched me most were the small flowers at the bottom of the frieze. These were made (I imagine under strict supervision) by the children of the village and represented the flowers to be found nearby. This attention to detail and inclusiveness makes the chapel very special indeed.

**Child’s play** Image: Karen Costello-McFeat

These flowers, and most of the other relief decorations on the wall, were made using gesso – a mix of plaster and glue, which is applied over felt shapes. I’m sure the children enjoyed using this oozy, messy medium and suspect the painting was left to the adults.

The village and house

Having thoroughly exhausted our grey cells with all that magnificence, we returned to the gallery. Luckily, there is also a very nice cafe. After being duly refreshed, we set off the see the artists’ home. Though barely known today, GF Watts was to art what Tennyson was to poetry in the Victorian age. He was a mega-star. His home, however, was modest by the measure of those most showy times. It is beautiful, but much of the space was used as studio (his and hers) and retained the exquisitely artistic feel of a real home.

Since they were changing over exhibitions, we were only able to see the section containing Watts’ sculptures. Though a little un-PC (his most famous one is of Cecil Rhodes) they were nonetheless magnificent. An absolute perfectionist, Watts would work and rework his pieces until they met his exacting standards, which in some cases took decades.

If you would like to learn more about the village/gallery, please check out: https://www.wattsgallery.org.uk/about

Refreshed once more at the cafe and beguiled into buying gifts at the elegant shop, it was time to find our hotel.

An inn fit for a tsar

Situated on the High Street is a wonderful inn, which was to be our haven for the night. Suffice to say, it was elegantly decorated and served lovely food. We were even treated to live music during our evening meal.

Since it is on one of the main routes to London from the coast, it has been visited by any number of significant people, but my favourite was Peter the (not so) Great who after eating astounding quantities with his companions, immediately skipped town without settling his bill. Lacking fame and royal connections, we paid ours.

A day of sunshine

Our trip coincided with the only sunny days we have enjoyed this month and we were determined not to waste one minute of them. Close to Godalming, is the Winkworth Arboretum, which I have always meant to visit but been put off by the distance.

**Daffodils and blue skies**
Image: Karen Costello-McFeat

March is perhaps not the best month to go, since so little is in leaf, but the magnolia trees were impressive as were the views. Alas their Access for All path was a little optimistic in its signage. My off-road scooter just about managed (though I was shaken about rather like a salt-cellar). I pity anyone who attempts it with anything less sturdy. But being amongst such magnificent trees, smelling the leaf litter and feeling the sun on my face was enough to make me very happy indeed.

And if this were not enough, we stopped for coffee on the way home at Nymans’ gardens. The cafe was full, but the grounds were not and to my joy, their accessible route was a breeze. A little further south, a good deal more was in bloom and we relished the bushes bowed down with the weight of camellias and rhododendrons. And the ground level was replete with daffodils and crocuses.

We returned home somewhat dazed by all the gorgeousness. Each of our senses had been filled to capacity. High on delight, we were ready for the weekend and for me, a rest.

After these messages, I’ll be right back

The last few months have been a tad tumultuous with wonderful highs (my son’s visit) and distressing lows (my mum’s ill health and the anniversary of the Ukraine invasion). The dismal weather has not helped either, ‘For the rain it raineth every day.’

But today the sun is out (well, some of the time), my mum has made a good recovery and Ukraine is still holding on.

**Floral sunshine** Image: Karen Costello-McFeat

Our planned week’s staycation has been truncated to two days – but I’ll take whatever I can get. So tomorrow, we’ll set off for the beautiful town of Godalming and indulge in a leisurely immersion in the Arts and Crafts movement at the Watts Gallery and artists’ village. I shall report back on it next week.

Meanwhile, as I prove derelict in my blog writing duties, my husband came up with a great idea. Why not ask your readers what they would write a blog about this week? Genius! I look forward to hearing what you have been up to and/or pondering.

Wishing you rich and interesting times.

Art is not just for artists – Part 2

Last week, I looked at art from the perspective of the observer. This week, I plan to show you the many benefits art can bring to the participant. My focus here is mainly on the visual arts – so I can include photos. But really, the arts span a great range of activities from music, to dance to literature. All of them have similar benefits. All of them are life enhancing.

Observation studies

The greatest gift that studying art, in my very amateur way, has given me is to enhance my vision. Subsequent to taking an art class at my local school with a truly gifted teacher, I started to see the world differently. The shape of things, the details and the colours all became more vivid and more alluring. The world, in a nutshell, became infinitely more fascinating and beautiful.

And with that came the desire to capture that beauty in my own way. Because art doesn’t need to be gallery worthy to be a joy. We can keep a private art journal and never show anyone if we wish. But if we are willing to share, encourage and inspire each other, so much the better.

**Colour and form** Image: Karen Costello-McFeat

I took a photo of my pencil shavings because I loved the combination of the orange and green and the contrast between the tiny shards of colour and the wiggly forms of the shavings. Later, I incorporated them into a picture.

And the best thing about participating in art is that it allows us to focus with some intensity on our project. If meditation is a struggle, I’d advise trying some form of art. Whilst chewing our pencils or practising our piano scales, we are seldom able to concentrate on anything else. Our mind clears and we find ourselves in the zone – a Zen like state of peace.

An antidote to a crazy world

With the current news cycle, one might be forgiven for thinking that the making of art was a rather frivolous occupation. This Saturday was emotionally enervating as we stood with Mariia at the vigil marking the second anniversary of the full-scale invasion of Ukraine. It’s been a tough week.

Yet, rather than being less important, art and creativity become even more important during such times. Nick Cave puts it perfectly when he says:

Yes, the world is sick, and yes it can be cruel, but it would be a whole lot sicker and a whole lot crueler if it were not for painters and filmmakers and songwriters – the beauty-makers – wading through the blood and muck of things, whilst reaching skyward to draw down the very heavens themselves.
Nick Cave, Red Hand files 274

And as if to prove his point, on the Sunday, we attended a music fundraiser for Ukraine. Many of the same folks were present, but here they joined in song and dance and amazing cake. The tears were swept aside by the act of creating together.

Art therapy

Ever since the First World War, when soldiers were given simple tasks such as basket weaving to soothe their frayed nerves and tortured souls, we have been aware of the very great benefits art can bring to those suffering from mental afflictions.

‘Art has the power to heal wounds and soothe souls.’
Grayson Perry

The mental health charity, Mind, lists some of the benefits art can bring including giving participants an alternative way of expression than talking. It can help flexibility in thinking and aid in self-awareness. It even seems to make participants more comfortable in therapy.

For those dealing with physical impairments, it is something that can be enjoyed at home. If you are unable to work, it is a great boon to be able to create. We all want to give to the world, and this is one way that we can. My amazing friend Sarah Rose (see below right) has used craft as part of her campaign to improve hospital care for patients with multiple and complex needs. They were invited to create their own bunting and together it creates a powerful message.

Create!

In a time of destruction, create something.
Maxine Hong Kingston

Wise words indeed. Just as kindness is an antidote to cruelty, art is an antidote to destruction. And the act of creation helps relieve the sense of helplessness we may feel in the face of so much annihilation.

Art supplies

So let’s get started! The great thing about art is that you need so little to begin. A pencil and a piece of paper will do. For colours, only the primary ones plus black and white are necessary, since every other one can be made from them.

I confess that I have a bit of a stationary/art supplies addiction – but as addictions go it is pretty harmless and inexpensive. What I would recommend is buying the very best supplies that you can afford. I recently indulged in four Caran D’Ache watercolour pencils. They really are superb!

Of course, with so many amazing things on the market, it is rather easy to get carried away. I love the convenience of pencils and paint pens, so I’m sticking with those at the moment. You may prefer watercolour or gauche. The mediums you enjoy viewing are likely to be the ones you’ll enjoy using.

Many people shy away from art with the refrain ‘But I can’t draw.’ Of course, Da Vincis are few and far between, but we can all learn. A great way to start is with colouring, since the design is there and you simply have to work out the colours that blend together nicely. Postcards double as thoughtful missives and the act of colouring is a perfect way in to mindfulness practise.

**Wise owl** Image: Karen Costello-McFeat

Once you feel a little more confident in your fine motor skills and colour choices, you can work on copying. (All the best artists start this way.) My 15 Minutes Art book has encouraged me to work with different mediums – soft pencil, bold paint pens – and is helping me learn to draw efficiently

And of course, there are endless options of courses, workshops and videos on YouTube and the internet.

Playing

And once you are feeling a little more confident, you can start to play. I use the word very deliberately, because if we make our scribblings more formal, we may just lose the creativity and zest that we are looking for.

Everyone has the potential to be an artist; you just have to tap into your imagination and let it flow.
Grayson Perry

In play, we allow for mistakes and imperfections. Should we be pleased with an idea, we can always do it again more carefully. Just as in writing, we need to get thoughts on paper first before we try compose more formally.

**Messing about** Image: Karen Costello-McFeat

Home economics

The great thing about making art is that it can fund itself through what you save on cards, gifts, wrapping paper etc. In a time of mass production, a bespoke card or carefully wrapped gift gives more pleasure than its store bought counterpart. It is also a very cheap form of entertainment!

You have everything you need

All day and every day, we are bombarded with messages to buy, buy, buy. Yet, we already have everything we need.

And then, I have nature and art and poetry, and if that is not enough, what is enough?
Vincent Van Gogh

The best things in life are (or nearly free). Foraged seed heads and feathers, pine cones and pebbles make elegant arrangements.

**Foraged treasures**
Image: Karen Costello-McFeat

A song in the morning will lift the spirts; a doodle a day and journal writing helps to keep me sane. When we make art part of our way of living, we can start to make our world a truly beautiful place.

Art is not just for artists – Part one

Art is on my mind at the moment. Everywhere I turn, I am reminded that it plays a significant role in our lives. At home, I am immersed in a sequel to The Artist’s Way; I’m joyfully working my way through my 15 Minutes Art book and reading whenever I get a chance.

My home town is positively flowering with art on every corner. The beautiful Towner Gallery, below, is hosting the prestigious Turner Prize and, knowing a good tourist attraction when it sees it, Eastbourne council and the gallery have filled the town with art events, sculptures and installations.

If you are interested, here is the website with all the attractions: https://townereastbourne.org.uk/whats-on/eastbourne-alive

**The Towner Art Gallery** Image: Wendy Barton

Because art matters

In this time of austerity cuts and a cost of living crisis, one may be pardoned for asking why precious public money is being spent on something so frivolous. I hope to answer that question below, but essentially, it is because life is filled with uncertainty, difficulty and hardship that we need art to uplift and inspire us.

For the benefits of art to be felt though, it needs to be available to everyone. Once, when taking a taxi to the Towner, I got chatting with the driver. Despite living in the town, he had never been, because he did not feel that it was somewhere for him.

I mentioned that it was free, that it was funded by his council tax and though some of the exhibits were a bit bonkers, there was always something worth seeing. If nothing else, the building is a gorgeous space with a lovely cafe.

Because the problem with Art with a capital A is that more often than not it puts off the very people who would benefit from it.

The enemy of Art

My driver was smart and articulate. I suspected that the thing making the gallery off-putting was what my family refers to as ‘art bollocks’. Please excuse the language, but it makes me incandescently angry that the notes accompanying works of art are often entirely unintelligible to even the most educated reader.

At the opening of the Turner Prize exhibition, I bumped into our former MP who said he thought he must be rather stupid, because he really didn’t understand what the artist’s notes were saying. There is nothing wrong with his intelligence. And if a former MP finds them threatening and demeaning, it doesn’t give much hope to the rest of us.

Here is an example of art speak on an earlier exhibition by the Turner Prize winner, Jesse Darling. ‘… how Darling explores systems of power, such as governments, religion, ideology, empire and technology, can be as fragile and contingent as multiple bodies.’ (Dr Giulia Smith on History is What Hurts: The Politics of Debility) Confused? You will be.

I mentioned to the taxi driver that the notes were deliberately obscure and to ignore them. Yet, when I bumped into him again, he still hadn’t been.

Ironically, when you hear Darling speak, he is completely natural and a rather sweet young man, trying to get his message across as clearly as possible. His slightly chaotic exhibition sought to show ‘the messy reality of modern British life’ and if they had used that quote, I suspect more people would have responded more positively to an installation that might be confused with an assemblage at the dump.

That said, I love modern art. These artists are stretching and provoking. They demand that we engage with their art rather than passively enjoying it. Grayson Perry said that ‘Art is the mirror that reflects society and prompts change.’ I’m not sure that I would credit it with such power, but it is an element of all the threads that together shape us as a society. His wonderful book, Playing to the Gallery is a must read for anyone bamboozled by the modern art scene.

Community art

That said, it is possible to engage an audience young and old. Throughout the town, there is an ‘Elmer trail’ of elephants painted in a variety of styles. The Towner one replicates the Lothar Gotz mural on the gallery wall. The trail takes you all around the town and it is a fabulous way to entertain the kids during a rainy half term.

Use the arrow to see more.

Though doubtless designed for the under 10s, adults are equally charmed by these adorable elephants. They simply make us smile. Thus, the first purpose of art, to uplift us, is fulfilled.

Public art

The best art, to my mind, is public art. Storing precious art works in a bank vault with the hope of it accruing value is the most cynical (and in my mind criminal) waste. Artists do what they do to be seen and to express their thoughts. Just like writers and poets and musicians, they have a theme – or an argument – that they wish to make and which their art expresses. Darling’s is that contemporary life is messy – just like his carefully curated, messy installation.

**Mary Shemza and Michael Rokowitz’s The invisible enemy should not exist.**
Image: Karen Costello-McFeat

Outside the Towner stands the magnificent sculpture that once graced the fourth plinth in Trafalgar Square. It is made entirely from recycled date cans. Why? To visually present the cost of the wars in Iraq to the people and the environment. Prior to these conflicts, Iraq’s main export, after oil, was dates. Now, of the 30 million date palms in the country, only 3 million are left.

The sculpture of the Winged Bull at Nineveh, upon which this was modelled, was destroyed by Isis, but many others of these sculptures were taken by colonial powers – including the British. The artist is noting that not only have cultural treasures been lost, but the economy that supports them.

Whilst reminding us of Iraq’s dispossession, this impressive work also brings joy on an aesthetic level. We are moved and inspired by its presence. Art has transformed a negative to a positive.

The role of public art is beautifully and comprehensively put by AmherstMA.gov.

Public art adds enormous value to the cultural, aesthetic and economic vitality of a community. It is now a well-accepted principle of urban design that public art contributes to a community’s identity, fosters community pride and a sense of belonging, and enhances the quality of life for its residents and visitors.

AmherstMA.gov

The presence of art in a town can bring economic as well as personal gains. Tourists are flooding to this exhibition and boosting local business. The locals are rightly proud of their town as the backdrop to so much exceptional art. Our shared experience brings us together.

Next week, I shall look at the personal benefits that art can bring to our health and sense of well-being. I hope you will join me then.

Little Flags of Hope

**Miniature daffodils**
Image: Karen Costello-McFeat

By mid February, my love of winter is waning. I’ve had enough of wind and rain and mud; of being swathed in layers of thermals and woollens. I long, instead, for floral dresses and the warmth of the sun.

It’s been a hard winter emotionally too. Week after week, I hear of ill-health or tragedy encompassing those I care about. I am ready for something more positive. Though I cannot in any way change the cycle of news in my own milieu nor the world, at least I can rely on Nature to wave her floral flags that semaphore hope is on the horizon.

Mimics

The first flowers to arrive in my garden were the paperwhites and snow drops; their pale blooms mimicking the frost so recently passed. Then, as the sun’s strength increases, the flowers take some colour from its hue and daffodils, crocus, primroses and forsythia take their places.

When I did my daily perambulation of my yard today, I could not believe how much more was in flower. Last week, there was almost nothing, and today a great array.

A tiny primrose sheltering under the step.
Image: Karen Costello-McFeat

Let there be light

As every housewife knows, the clear sparkling light of early spring is a mixed blessing. Whilst the garden basks in its newfound beauty, the home is illuminated in all its less than perfect state. Cobwebs and dust concealed by winter dark and low lighting, suddenly come into focus. If the garden were not such a lure, I am sure that I would get on with more cleaning.

Instead, I drink my morning coffee in the kitchen and admire the mini rainbows cast upon the table as the light is filtered through the stained glass. I look outside and see the leaves of the great Austrian pine silvered with sunlight. I inhale the scent of paperwhites I have brought inside. Such perfume is wasted on the open air, I reason.

**Much more fragrant than furniture polish**
Image: Karen Costello-McFeat

Revivals

And it is not just me who is revived by the abundance of life unfurling all around me, the birds too are becoming noisier. The skies are filled with crows, their ragged wings rowing through the limpid air. Mr and Mrs Magpie come each day to haunt my garden and feast on the abundance of insects just now hatching in their millions. Out front, my beech hedge, with dead curled leaves, still hosts dozens of sparrow who choir to each other relentlessly. I know they are in there – but they are impossible to see.

**Perfect camouflage – even in winter**
Image: Karen Costello-McFeat

Fickle February

February is the month of lovers, and like lovers, it can be fickle. One day, you bask in its admiring glow, the wind a warm caress upon your face; the next, it has withdrawn all its affection, leaving you cold and disheartened.

Though in future weeks, winter may yet claw back its jealous hold, its days are numbered. The season is moving as insistently as an incoming tide, ever forward. Each day a little lighter; each day a little warmer.

And each joyful bloom reminds us this is so. Spring hopes – eternal.

Pain Management

Lying awake last night, I was pondering what to write for this post. By Wednesday evening, I’ve usually started planning and finding images, but this week has been a very full one (in a good way). What, if anything, could I bring to you? What has been on my mind?

Unfortunately, the answer came rather quickly: pain.

One of the reasons that I was lying awake was because my legs felt like they were being covered in boiling oil.

Fortunately, an hour or so before, I had taken some very strong CBD oil, which, in combination with my other medication, would eventually calm things down. Without either of them, I would be beside myself.

Catch -22

Ironically, the best thing for me to do to reduce these MS symptoms is to exercise. This is seldom painless, but it is the only way that I can ensure mobility. Sadly, it often leads to further discomfort later on, but lack of exercise would only lead to greater spasticity. I can’t win!

And though my legs experience the worst of it; at night especially, other parts of my body hurt or ‘go to sleep’, have violent pins and needles or spasms. Occasionally, I suffer the wonderfully misnamed MS hug, which rather resembles being caught in the ring with a heavyweight boxer. Sometimes, folks mistake it for a heart attack.

Pain is invisible

Like so many of the symptoms of MS, this one is invisible. But no-one wants their discomfort to show on their face, so they smile and brush it off. Self-pity is taboo. No-one likes a moaner. Indeed, writing this post, I am acutely aware that some might read it as just that: a ‘feel sorry for me’ piece, but it is not. Read on and you’ll see why.

While chronic pain is itself physically disabling, it keeps close company with depression. Knowing that one will never get better and in fact only get worse, is hardly a formula for optimism. But I have found that when we acknowledge and indeed embrace our reality, suffering can be transmuted into something else.

Pain as transformative

When I was younger, I was constantly puzzled by the position taken by a number of religious leaders that pain could be a good thing. How could it be a good thing? No doubt, I thought, such messages were given by those who didn’t endure pain or loss at all.

Yet, with all that has happened, I’ve come to realise that they are right. Mental and physical pain takes us out of the general swirl of life and lands us on a little island where we need to take stock and decide whether our circumstances will destroy or make us.

The most brilliant, compassionate and eloquent writer on such matters is the musician, Nick Cave. In his weekly post in The Red Hand Files (https://www.theredhandfiles.com/) he tackles readers’ heart-wrenching situations and finds a way to transform them. He has taken his own suffering as a prompt to help others with theirs and in doing so found a deep and meaningful calling.

Though in nowhere near the same league as Nick Cave, I too have found that suffering can bring an entirely new perspective on life. Though I could certainly do without the pain and the restrictions that disability brings, I am more calm, more cheerful and more accepting than ever.

The purpose of this blog was to show that no matter what life throws at you, there is good to be found. We need not be crushed by circumstance. I also wanted to draw attention to the unspoken world of the disabled and give it voice.

For disability and pain stick together like jam on toast. And so I’ll finish with a request that when you meet or interact with someone with disabilities that you remember that there is so much more that they are dealing with than meets the eye. Just getting out has shown great courage.

So many disparage the disabled, perhaps through ignorance or fear of prejudice, but I hope that you can greet them with compassion, understanding and friendship. We are not so different, you and I. *

My last comments were prompted by a distressing (to me) article in Country Living where a beautiful young woman found herself paralysed after a catastrophic illness. She writes, ‘As a disabled person, I don’t feel I belong in many places, but in the countryside, I feel free- until I experience a stranger’s question or stare.’ (Country Living, March 2024) In an age where we show acceptance of so much, perhaps it’s time we included the disabled in that too.