Thank you for this! My mom used to imagine the moss as a soft bed when she was a child in an orphanage of hard beds! She would play in the forest and lay her head on it. (Back in the 1930s)
I have always loved the moss for giving her comfort.
Oh your poor, lovely mum. What stories she must have had! And what a spirit to sink into the moss like that. I love that nature found a way to give her what was lacking.
Wonderful, how you are able to look deeply and see more. That you are then able to translate what you saw and learned into beautiful art, both in words and in other ways is a great gift. I will never look at moss in the same way again, it made me think of the greenness (viriditas) Hildegard von Bingen speaks about as the creative power working throughout the universe.
Thank you for this beautiful piece of writing, for this part of yourself.
I have these relationships with authors. They're mostly one-way, and having read your book I think you understand this and have them too. Many of the women you identified as your (authorly) teachers have been mine as well. You are one (of mine) too. I'm sure I'm not at all unique in this.
Thank you so much for brightening my afternoon with this. I've been more limited for the last week and am missing the outdoors but I've just been to admire the moss in the gaps between the bricks below my window sills, and the lichen on the sills, and it's put a big smile on my face. I love the colour and textures of your moss sewing, you've captured it beautifully.
These huge/tiny worlds right next to us! What a gift it is. I can highly recommend getting a magnifying glass and peering right in. It makes you feel like an immense giant looking into a fantasy land. How lucky we are to have so much so close to us. Sending you love. x
Josie, how lovely to read your post about moss. I became obsessed with moss and ferns a few years ago when I was grieving for my Mum. They gave me something to cling to when my whole world fell apart. I would pick up bits of seemingly lifeless moss from the path and put them on a saucer and water them and watch each day under a magnifying glass as they sprang to life. This gave me hope for the future as I slowly too came back to life in a changed world. I watched a programme on BBCIplayer called The magical world of moss and I was mesmerised. Ferns too took my breath away, as I watched heads of croziers slowly unfurling their leaves. Both of these, ancient plants from beyond the mists of time.
Suzanne, this is gorgeous. I never thought to put the bits that fell from the roofs into water! I shall do that today. I have also been carrying a magnifying glass with me ❤️
Aaah so glad you're going to do that! I would spray them with a mister and every day through the microscope it was like a little world growing. It brought me such joy. 🤗
No roots just holding on! Like the beautiful stitching, like faith, like the thin threads of life that somehow hold on, even when the heaviness of it all seems to strain. Like the pain that holds on fiercely day and night right now, like the little outcrops of blisters that the doctor calls shingles. So much holding on.
Stunning, poignant, soothing and brought me to tears. Thank you so much for this. I’ll regard moss as a companion and be more appreciative of it going forward, now that I can see so much of myself in it; because of you. ♥️
So beautiful and meditative. The garden we're rewilding is full of moss and it's one of my favourite little corners of this world. As is every bit of moss, wherever I stumble upon it. Chances are most people don't even spot it, it's just a thing, a slimy nuisance. To me the moss is kin, anchor, life-giver. Thank you for this wonderful read 🌱
Thank you for this! My mom used to imagine the moss as a soft bed when she was a child in an orphanage of hard beds! She would play in the forest and lay her head on it. (Back in the 1930s)
I have always loved the moss for giving her comfort.
Oh your poor, lovely mum. What stories she must have had! And what a spirit to sink into the moss like that. I love that nature found a way to give her what was lacking.
Wonderful, how you are able to look deeply and see more. That you are then able to translate what you saw and learned into beautiful art, both in words and in other ways is a great gift. I will never look at moss in the same way again, it made me think of the greenness (viriditas) Hildegard von Bingen speaks about as the creative power working throughout the universe.
Viriditas is one of my favourite words!
What a wonderful word! I shall look that (and her) up, thank you!
Dear Josie,
Thank you for this beautiful piece of writing, for this part of yourself.
I have these relationships with authors. They're mostly one-way, and having read your book I think you understand this and have them too. Many of the women you identified as your (authorly) teachers have been mine as well. You are one (of mine) too. I'm sure I'm not at all unique in this.
Thank you for that too.
With much love,
Laura
Laura this means so much to me xx
One of mine, too. X
❤️
The bead and embroidery work you are doing is very special. Thank you for sharing it with us. Have you read "Gathering Moss" by Robin Wall Kimmerer?
Thank you Carri! I have read Braiding Sweetgrass and have Gathering Moss on my wishlist for Christmas.
Thank you so much for brightening my afternoon with this. I've been more limited for the last week and am missing the outdoors but I've just been to admire the moss in the gaps between the bricks below my window sills, and the lichen on the sills, and it's put a big smile on my face. I love the colour and textures of your moss sewing, you've captured it beautifully.
These huge/tiny worlds right next to us! What a gift it is. I can highly recommend getting a magnifying glass and peering right in. It makes you feel like an immense giant looking into a fantasy land. How lucky we are to have so much so close to us. Sending you love. x
I may well do that! That would be a lovely Inside Day thing to find new perspectives in moss and my plants. Thank you 💚
Josie, how lovely to read your post about moss. I became obsessed with moss and ferns a few years ago when I was grieving for my Mum. They gave me something to cling to when my whole world fell apart. I would pick up bits of seemingly lifeless moss from the path and put them on a saucer and water them and watch each day under a magnifying glass as they sprang to life. This gave me hope for the future as I slowly too came back to life in a changed world. I watched a programme on BBCIplayer called The magical world of moss and I was mesmerised. Ferns too took my breath away, as I watched heads of croziers slowly unfurling their leaves. Both of these, ancient plants from beyond the mists of time.
Suzanne, this is gorgeous. I never thought to put the bits that fell from the roofs into water! I shall do that today. I have also been carrying a magnifying glass with me ❤️
Aaah so glad you're going to do that! I would spray them with a mister and every day through the microscope it was like a little world growing. It brought me such joy. 🤗
No roots just holding on! Like the beautiful stitching, like faith, like the thin threads of life that somehow hold on, even when the heaviness of it all seems to strain. Like the pain that holds on fiercely day and night right now, like the little outcrops of blisters that the doctor calls shingles. So much holding on.
Elaine this is beautiful ❤️ Wishing you healing
Thank you for seeing beauty during the difficult days.
Very encouraging.
I appreciate the effort it would take to get these words out sometimes. X
Thank you for being here Nichole ❤️
Every time I read your writing, I feel enriched. I see things afresh. Your embroidery is exquisite.
Thank you Deborah. Sewing makes me very happy.
It shows x
Such incredible stitch work! I had to peer very closely indeed to realise it wasn’t actually a growing patch of moss - beautiful 👏💕
It FEELS like moss too! I wish you could all reach through the screen and stroke it, it's so comforting.
Stunning, poignant, soothing and brought me to tears. Thank you so much for this. I’ll regard moss as a companion and be more appreciative of it going forward, now that I can see so much of myself in it; because of you. ♥️
We can embrace our moss era! ❤️ Sending love to you, El.
I love the moss that grows in our garden. Thanks for this piece and for sharing your gorgeous art.
Precious, precious words and stitches. Thankyou. What a wonder you are. X
Thank you Wendy x
So beautiful and meditative. The garden we're rewilding is full of moss and it's one of my favourite little corners of this world. As is every bit of moss, wherever I stumble upon it. Chances are most people don't even spot it, it's just a thing, a slimy nuisance. To me the moss is kin, anchor, life-giver. Thank you for this wonderful read 🌱
It makes me sad that there is so much nourishment under people's noses that they forget to notice and draw on. Moss IS kin. How lucky we are.
Dear Josie,
That was beautiful. You have put words to my love of moss. Thank you.
Naomi
Thank you so much for reading x
"The moss is my bed Oh my dear one she said,
The clouds are my white Holland sheets"
From a song I have long loved Josie.
Gorgeous Moss so beautifully celebrated in your words, pictures and heart. Thank You. May you be well.
Love and blessings winging your way.x
Oh how lovely! Thank you!