Storm before the Calm
What comes first, the storm or calm?
Porthtowan: Approaching storm
Hello everyone,
I have been asking myself one of those chicken and egg questions recently, what comes first the calm before the storm or the storm before the calm?
Firstly what is calm, what does it mean? For some it is a period of time where nothing happens, where you don’t have to hold on, you can relax into your life. This of course leads to the question about what constitutes a storm; maybe a period of upheaval big or small, something that causes disquiet in your day.
I came to the conclusion - as many of you have probably already thought - they are cyclical.
To know what a storm is you need to have appreciated a few sunny days of stillness, and to understand the calm you will doubt have gone through a few days of white knuckled fear.
For me these two polar opposites are treated the same way now, what can they both teach me about who I am and what I need?
The calmest moments in my life are spent out in nature or curled up in front of the TV watching a good film, I feel my body relax, my heart rate lower and I don’t clench my teeth in a grimace. In these moments especially when I am surrounded by nature I find my thinking clears and often I feel lighter.
Recently I have been having a stormy time, my watch regularly tells me I am stressed, overdoing things and not sleeping enough as I toss and turn churning things over in my head. The hamster wheel of stress and anxiety constantly feeding each other until I get up and move my body.
But what of the exhilaration of storms? In nature I love a storm, the wind howling around the house, the sea nearby raging and the rain lashing against the windows.
In fact my favourite sound is when the weather is raging and I am camping, listening to the power of nature actually makes me go to sleep!
In these moments I feel both calm, safe and exhilarated.
A storm can teach us so much about our strength and resilience, it can lead us to learn how to brace ourselves and find the calm within the storm to unravel our mind.
As a photographer I find the most captivating light on the end of storms, the drama of cloudscapes sculpted by shafts of sunlight or the magical presence of lightning. For me the beauty of a storm is revealed in these moments when the light is fleeting and the wind whips the prayer from my lips. I love to watch the sand blown across the beach or the leaves spiral in a corner of the garden.
In the middle of a storm it is often best to stand still, or take a little shelter, it is only when we turn to face the storm do we see and appreciate its beauty and teaching.
If you try to outrun it, it will catch you and in your exhausted state you won’t be able to withstand what it assaults you with.
When faced with adversity try to find a moment of stillness where you can listen to the voice inside guiding you toward what you really need, rather than listen to whirlwind of thoughts that will inevitably drive you slightly mad and keep you awake at night.
Creative people learn to lean in to the storms that beset them, they understand that the storms are times of transition, growth and rearrangement. A storm although frightening can leave a way clear of debris, or make what once seemed clear impassable but will challenge us to find a new way forward.
Life is usually a balancing act between the tumult and stillness, the key is how we respond to these two constants in our life.
How do you respond?
Take care and I wish all of you the very best wishes for a calm, peaceful and happy Christmas.
To those who don’t celebrate Christmas I wish you a wish you a safe, peaceful and happy holiday.
Somethings on the near horizon
My new workshops are on the website if you are interested please explore the links below - if you want to pay a deposit and then stagger the payments please email me
Erth Retreat NEW RETREAT 27-31 October 2025 This magical place of twisted trees and a sinuous river will feed your creative soul.
Rainforest Retreat NEW WORKSHOP released 5-9th May 2025 Discover the mystery of Britain's temperate rainforest in Cornwall £1900 per person
Lake Garda SOLD OUT January 20-25 2025 staying in Verona with me and Italian fine art photographer Mattia Zaldini cost £2300 per person
Uig Sands LAST PLACE Isle of Lewis March 9-14th 2024 Staying at Uig Lodge, on a full board basis at one of the most beautiful beaches in the area £2500
Isle of Iona SOLD OUT March 24th - 30th 2025 Full Board. Join me at the cradle of Christianity for a true escape from the noise and speed of life. From £1900
email me if you are interested in any of the above
Thank you so much for your time.
Best wishes
Paul