Dartington is a special place for me because it’s the place that I met my art therapist.
Our therapy changed organically over the years, beginning in a studio using art resources, to going for walks along the River Dart.
When I am walking along the River Dart I feel safe. I feel held and relaxed. Dartington is filled with a different kind of energy to anywhere else I know. It feels both full of vibrancy and calm. It is stunning and peaceful. My senses feel heightened here. The smell of living things.
I’ve whispered my soul here. I’ve both grieved and rejoiced in this magical place with the support of someone I trust deeply. If I were here now, I would sit with my back against the trunk and gaze at the river. My therapist would be here. We probably wouldn’t be talking much, just drinking in the calm until I’ve absorbed it enough. I can keep it with me in my dreams. The grounding of the tree at my back. The bank of the river by my feet.
Once we saw a Kingfisher, it felt like a gift, the gentle sound of the river. I was strong once. I would work hard and enjoy my free time. I’m the same inside now, but as a dear friend once said, “You’re the same except your volume has turned down.”
I still have my dreams, a photo and a pair of walking boots covered with Dartington mud waiting for me. I wish I was here.
