Recently, I took part in a fire performance with a group of women at a stone circle on the Isle of Man. Quite a change from an ordinary working day at the shop.
I often talk about bringing more magic into my life. This was one of those evenings where I actually got to do it, alongside other people who wanted to make it happen too.
Making room for something different
I’ve always been drawn to fantasy, folklore and places that make me curious about the people who came before us. Being among the stones gave the evening a setting I loved, while the performance was something we were creating together, in the present.
Much of my time is spent behind a camera, making photographs and films. Taking part gave me another way to connect with the things I love and with the people around me.
It also left me curious about the history of ritual. What brought people together? Which moments mattered enough to mark? There is so much we cannot know about ancient gatherings, but those questions have stayed with me.
Finding connection at Sacred Clan
That curiosity is part of my working life too. Sacred Clan is a shop here on the Isle of Man that I helped create and run. Our jewellery takes inspiration from mythology, folklore and the natural world, alongside books and other things we’ve chosen for the shop.
One of my favourite parts is where a conversation can lead. Someone comes in looking for a ring, and we end up talking about a favourite story, something they make or a place they think we should visit.
We’re making more room for gatherings too: opportunities to spend time together and get to know the people who come through the door.
Small beginnings
Meanwhile, Adam, Brodie and I are getting ready for Scotland. My list of places to explore is already rather ambitious: autumn walks, old ruins, stone circles and, hopefully, a red squirrel.
This film brings together a little of all of that. Life at the shop, an unusual evening among the stones, and the beginnings of our next adventure.