When I say I need alone time, what I really mean is...

A lyrical piece.

A song that hold hands fondly with this lyrical piece, listen with the reading, or soon after.

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When

I

say

need

alone

time,

what I really mean is…

… I want to move all the furniture around and then move it all back.

I want to paint something and leave the brushes to bristle…

all because I decided dance and then wash my hair.

I'll forget to take my multi-vs, I was busy trying on dresses.

Suddenly, I'll move every plant to the tiles in the sunroom, just to water them. The plants will make like a jungle at the front door because there was that book I once read, explaining the cycle of butterflies, so I'll rummage around for it, but in my hunt, I'll find old photos--sleeping in nostalgia for what feels like ten minutes.

Suddenly it's dusk and dinner will be the last thing on my mind.

I'll likely throw a handful of vegetables into some batter and amid the kitchen mess I'll eat some cheese and pour some Spanish wine while closing my eyes at the same time.

I'll light some candles, open all the windows, change the sheets, and fall asleep early because nothing excites me more…

… When I say I need alone time, this is really what I mean.

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Below are three pieces that adjoin beautifully to this reading moment. If you are moving into January gently (I hope that’s the case for you) explore the below for some further reading that is of gentle consumption. I encourage you to explore and immerse in the explorations on ‘Aloneness’ below — these pieces were an in-depth study that the readers and community of Catching Shower Flowers engaged generously with me mid last year… we pulled things apart, got curious, exchanged words and ideas and landed at some spacious conclusions minus the need for full stops—in the unfolding of this glorious exploration when looking at togetherness in reverse we witnessed a cadence or pattern that suggests that although ‘aloneness’ somewhat sings as a dichotomy to ‘togetherness’, there was a gentle harmony in their contrasts too.

It felt true to the occasion and the closing of an inquiry like this, to celebrate and summarise the exploration with a story, a cake and a very good recipe that has become a love-note amongst friends (you are welcome).

And still without absolutes to conclude with,

we together set belief to the idea that aloneness and our intimate relationship with it

might just be,

the perfume,
the prose
the river
the exchanged recipe for living,
for loving,
and loving well…

Enjoy x

Aloneness (Part one)

Aloneness (Part two)

Aloneness and a friendship cake (part three).

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Something to put in your back pocket to listen to later that adjoins perfectly to this love-letter.

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To conclude this love-letter, I wanted to share that this week is my first week back at my writing chair... I write to you, from an inspired place of rest after enjoying some time off over Summer with my beautiful family. My vision for this year is strong, my nervous system, soft. It has been a personal curiosity of mine over the past 6 months here to see if it is possible to build this new home for my writing in a way that is completely without a sense of hurry whilst being completely true to the rhythm that feels honest for me to create within. The natural rhythms that see the cyclical movements of resting and rising are a real part of the creative process, but are not always honoured in the societal landscapes we find ourselves in today — and so I was genuinely surprised (and grateful) to log back into ‘Catching Shower Flowers’ after a few weeks of Summer rest to find all of my generous paid subscribers and some new faces still faithfully here (not just trusting me as an artist but trusting my writing process and the rhythms it dances). THANK YOU!

It feels important to begin this year reflecting upon the miraculous outworking of this and all that has been— 6-7 months, here, in the land of ‘Catching Shower Flowers’...there has been something true growing here, something of longevity and artful integrity is unfolding, something that is kind to both my vision and my nervous system. In a world that often begs of us to ride the paces that are not always ours—the fact that something true to my creative pace is growing abundantly, is cause for reflection and personal celebration... And so I am currently shaping up a piece that honours this and honours you for sowing into this artful practice... and I cannot wait to share my honest 6 months in review piece that will arrive in the coming week or so... a piece that features the kind words you have left upon my love letters over the last 6 months and shares the unraveling of all that I see for this space in the year ahead. I believe all that is birthed from a place of rest and intention, lasts. I am so grateful to be in this artful process, with you, Thank you for continuing to trust my creative process and the work that flows out from it.

All my love (and caught flowers) Tess x

xo

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ps. If you loved this lyrical piece, below is a typographical image you are welcome to save and keep xo