On a brisk morning in early September, as the golden tendrils of a rising sun crept over the horizon, I made my way up onto the Moor. Over a stile and past a derelict farm house, I kept moving, drawn towards the waiting stones. And there they were, atop a small hillock, surrounded by golden gorse and purple heather. The yawning ‘O’ of the middle stone and its tall standing sisters seemed almost human, waiting friends, as I sat myself down in the dewy grass and wound a new roll of film into my camera.
In the distance, I could see someone jump over the tumbling stone wall and head in my direction. Slowly they trickled in, the wonderful Cornish women who were here to create with me on this beautiful morning. Once we were all gathered and had shared a home baked focaccia, it was time to get moving and dancing. The Men-an-Tol stones are known as fertility stones and there was something so fitting about a group of women gathered there. The passing dog walkers were sure to have reported home that they had seen some white witches dancing atop the moor amidst the stones and I’m sure no one would have believed them.
The land seemed to envelope our bodies so that it was almost impossible to distinguish where one body began and where the land came to meet it. So similar were they in shape and form, it really did become a dance of colour and light. As the sun inched higher into the blue, we kept playing, scrambling and jumping, skipping and laughing. Legend says that any who passes through the middle stone will become pregnant. We were therefore all a bit wary and made sure to steer clear. I had this image in mind though, of a body draped through the stone and the wonderful Kathryn said she would give it a go, “It would be a miracle if I fell pregnant anyway” she said. Well it’s safe to say, her baby is due in June.
The stones seem to really be magic. As the shoot came to an end, the sun sitting atop the dome of a midday sky, we all knew we had created something special that morning. With smiles wiped across our faces it was time for brunch and a dip in the sea. This mystical place atop the Moor stayed with me though, travelling all the way back to Berlin. Words began to bubble and fizz until they danced their way onto the page in the form of a poem. These words and photos serve as a love letter to these ancient and wise stones, and to the well trodden land that cradles them.
The images from this shoot along with the poem can be found in the Lissome’s new community guidebook. ‘The Book of Kin’ is a curated selection of slow makers and brands who share sustainable values and a love for thoughtful craftsmanship and beauty.