Elders 11 – fire, air, water, wood

The clay was not dry enough to bisque fire, so we couldn’t fire the pit, the weather was dull and damp, the day was not expected.

Unexpectedly, therefore, the day turned surprisingly.

We began with exotic and delicious cabagio/caravagio soup, transported over by Nicky, who had to leave shortly after delivery. Alisdair arrived with his whistle and opened our circle, observing to Esther, ‘Yes, I can remember you dancing!’. Along with venn diagram over laps of lives our circle became a song to Serena, and an extraordinary honest meander around death and dying.

• I learned about Serena from the Roger Deakin book, but meeting her here in the wood I saw how beautiful she was. I’m not going to get better, she said to me.
  She was one of those colourful people around the town, she talked openly of her situation, she was a brave soul. Yes, i’m sure I’ve seen her, and feel for her, as my son died of cancer. I met her way back when I first came to discuss the clay project, and I see she has imprinted on all here, which is heartening. A good death is as important as a good life. She gives us all courage to move on and through. Strange how we all say how little we knew her, yet today she is clearly important for us all, she touched us all. She died Serenely. I’ve known Serena for 45 years. She was a fantastic cartwheeler and she loved dancing. She was bought up with horses and through her father, a naval man, she loved the sea. She was a very good photographer. She loved people. She bought me here, to these woods. On a day she was not well enough to go, she asked me to go in her place, and here I am

We walked over to the fire pit to give a test practice of firing it. A great success, for not only did the fire work, the pit was modified further, (bricks around the edges), saw dust dusted around the outside, corrugated iron found, and we had a merry gig around it, thanks to Alisdair’s whistle. As Caroline observed, we were calling in the elements: The Scottish as well as the natural AIR, the FIRE of the fire pit, the WATER of the pond, the EARTH of the clay, the WOOD we were burning

Back at base this is what some people said:

• Serena would have loved today. I was given the glove to be in charge of the fire. Inspiring to put fire into the earth. I enjoyed the fire, the smoke, the bricks, the circle, and remembering Serena. Joining my friends walnets, their dye cast in Kally’s wool, now spun into our tapestry. A very December day, the light going, the fire lit. To have this opportunity to talk of death and dying is so special. Serena was a lovely and splendid spirit. I’ve enjoyed myself, it didn’t rain, it is not cold, no one fell into the pond and we all danced.