What a stunning musing on time and tide. A beautifully researched piece and articulated argument that the sanctity of the latter should be held for all. Thank you.
Absolutely loved this, thank you. I've done a bit of reflecting on liminal space over recent years but as a mainly landlocked person, hadn't considered the tides. I'm in a liminal space between breast cancer diagnosis and chemo and this piece helps me understand the continuity of life through this process. Beautifully written and powerful insights, thank you.
What a beautiful peace. I felt like I was being gently carried in and out across the tides. Saving this as a reminder when I retire somewhere near the sea 💙
Memories of living on a boat in my late teens. Life dictated by the tides, always loved the peace, tranquillity and the consistent inconsistencies of tidal life. Something new every tide. Nothing like the gentle lapping of an incoming tide against the hull to lull one asleep. Beautifully written piece.
What a fascinating read. As someone who spends time on water, going with the flow is definitely a thing. I remember as a child rowing dinghys across stretches that became thick clinging mud is you weren't fast enough... The tide controls where we load and unload, and where the best place is for training. Thank you. I'll be thinking about this every time I'm out there.
Such beautiful writing, thankyou Kirsten, and such interesting, connecting information. Your writing has made my heart yearn again to live by the sea, and be in closer everyday relationship with its cycles and teachings. I am now full of memories of my times as a child spent at the family holiday house being aware of tides in relation to swimming, snorkelling, exploring rock pools, fishing.. Aware also that I hold a sense of grief and fear around rising warming oceans and species extinctions that have kept me from considering living beside the ocean..these incredible ecosystems that are so rich, nourishing, and a place of freedom..🙏🏼
Hi Kirsten. A friend just linked me to your essay. I have been writing about time - aphorisms, idioms, everyday phrases and quotations, et cetera - for the past couple of years. It started as an exercise to break writer's block, and also as a means to move on from an area of research that I had dwelt in for (far too many) years.... and years. So, your unpicking of the tide as not only a geophysical reality but also as a pan-human constant, with its interesting etymological roots in our mother tongue, along with a couple of sound animal-management tips! was both intriguing and not a little marvellous, and I thank you for your insights.
New Zealand has had an on-going (political) battle with the intertidal zone - "The Foreshore and Seabed" - over the past 25 (and more) years. This, of course, is inextricably linked to Maori sovereignty, and my nation's slow, begrudged and belatedly well-intentioned honouring of our foundational document - Te Tiriti o Waitangi/The Treaty of Waitangi. Vexed, contested and on-going, and not a little resented by a sizeable segment ("No-one owns the water") of our population!
"Tidal knowledge is place knowledge", indeed, and your linking the tide with time, across cultures, has been really helpful to me!!!
What a stunning musing on time and tide. A beautifully researched piece and articulated argument that the sanctity of the latter should be held for all. Thank you.
Thank you for reading, Alice 🤗
Absolutely loved this, thank you. I've done a bit of reflecting on liminal space over recent years but as a mainly landlocked person, hadn't considered the tides. I'm in a liminal space between breast cancer diagnosis and chemo and this piece helps me understand the continuity of life through this process. Beautifully written and powerful insights, thank you.
Ah! Strength and love to you, Carolyn, and thank you for reading 🤗
What a beautiful peace. I felt like I was being gently carried in and out across the tides. Saving this as a reminder when I retire somewhere near the sea 💙
Thank you, Patricia 🤗
Memories of living on a boat in my late teens. Life dictated by the tides, always loved the peace, tranquillity and the consistent inconsistencies of tidal life. Something new every tide. Nothing like the gentle lapping of an incoming tide against the hull to lull one asleep. Beautifully written piece.
Sarah that sounds like a special kind of bliss 🤗
It is Kirsten, old boats tell their own stories, we only need to listen...❤️
My favourite piece of your tales yet. A gentle reminder of the soul born connections to the rhythms of Gaia we hold within us.
Thank you, Zina 🤗
What a fascinating read. As someone who spends time on water, going with the flow is definitely a thing. I remember as a child rowing dinghys across stretches that became thick clinging mud is you weren't fast enough... The tide controls where we load and unload, and where the best place is for training. Thank you. I'll be thinking about this every time I'm out there.
So good, Sandie 🌊
So enjoyed this piece (and all your entangled garden writings thus far).
Thanks Sally!
Oh my, the ungovernable liminal commons, my heart is aglow, thank you xo
Thank you for reading, Gillian 🤗
Such beautiful writing, thankyou Kirsten, and such interesting, connecting information. Your writing has made my heart yearn again to live by the sea, and be in closer everyday relationship with its cycles and teachings. I am now full of memories of my times as a child spent at the family holiday house being aware of tides in relation to swimming, snorkelling, exploring rock pools, fishing.. Aware also that I hold a sense of grief and fear around rising warming oceans and species extinctions that have kept me from considering living beside the ocean..these incredible ecosystems that are so rich, nourishing, and a place of freedom..🙏🏼
There’s a lot to it, isn’t there? Thank you for reading, Allison 🤗
Thank you, Kirsten for yet more exquisite, richly researched poetically written pieces.
Thank you for reading, Virginia 🌊
I'm loving your writing. As an 'ex-Cygnettian' (not a word I'm sure, but hey, poetic license), I recognise the land you describe so intimately.
Ah thank you Annette 🤗
This is amazing information. Thank you so much for sharing.
So welcome 🤗
Thank you for a lovely morning read, beautiful and provoking. You've read the Book of Trespass?
Yesss! But a while back - might re-read, thanks for the reminder 🤗
Thank you for bringing this beautiful rhythmic pondering into my day. It reminds me to spend more time at the nearby shores ❤️
Ah I’m so glad, Tammy :) - to the sea!
Glorious writing , thanks for sharing :) I really liked the pictures as well.
thank you for reading, Lizz!
Hi Kirsten. A friend just linked me to your essay. I have been writing about time - aphorisms, idioms, everyday phrases and quotations, et cetera - for the past couple of years. It started as an exercise to break writer's block, and also as a means to move on from an area of research that I had dwelt in for (far too many) years.... and years. So, your unpicking of the tide as not only a geophysical reality but also as a pan-human constant, with its interesting etymological roots in our mother tongue, along with a couple of sound animal-management tips! was both intriguing and not a little marvellous, and I thank you for your insights.
New Zealand has had an on-going (political) battle with the intertidal zone - "The Foreshore and Seabed" - over the past 25 (and more) years. This, of course, is inextricably linked to Maori sovereignty, and my nation's slow, begrudged and belatedly well-intentioned honouring of our foundational document - Te Tiriti o Waitangi/The Treaty of Waitangi. Vexed, contested and on-going, and not a little resented by a sizeable segment ("No-one owns the water") of our population!
"Tidal knowledge is place knowledge", indeed, and your linking the tide with time, across cultures, has been really helpful to me!!!
Thank you again.
ooh - fascinating - thank you, David! I’ll look up whats happening in Aotearoa on this subject…