Twelfth Tides

An online prompt and sharing experience with members from The Bodies Collective – Dr. Claudia Canella and Dr. Alys Mendus.

This project born from an invitation from Claudia to Davina in 2021, and a wish between us to collaborate with images as well as text (we often write together for academic papers and books see collaborative writing). A series of prompts from Claudia in the evenings of the 12 days in-between time from Christmas to Twelfth night begin the next years reflective artworks. We individually respond with images and words and then share them each next day on a Whats App group. Then for the next year each one of the 12 visual and textual prompts is used for a monthly prompt in response. We have been doing this ongoing practice since 2021, Alys joined us in 2022, (along with Sarah Helps for the 12 days). The process keeps us connected not only with our individual reflections on that magical betwixt and between time between the years, and a moment of reflection back each month, but with each other and our hopes, dreams and emotional lives.

I share here only my images and responses to the prompts.

First iteration:

a circle of 12 collaged images — All 12 images from 25 Dec 2021- 6 Jan 2022

Second iteration:

26 Dec – Who meets me? The red dog of delight, and blue skies. January response: Holding onto the golden thread amongst the blue.

Collage of irish terrier in a Christmas costume with sky scape — 26 Dec 2022 – Who meets me? The red dog of delight, and blue skies

26 Dec 2022 – Who meets me? The red dog of delight, and blue skies

27 Dec -What do I long for? I long for angelic intervention. February response: Letting go again.

collage with angels — 27 Dec – What do I long for? I long for angelic intervention.

black ink swirled and windswept on seed paper — 27 Dec – What do I long for? I long for angelic intervention.

28 Dec – We allow miracles – Sky, sea, pool reflected; miraculous blue. March response: A portal to the miraculous.

collage with sea view and white partial border. — 28 Dec – We allow miracles – Sky, sea, pool reflected; miraculous blue.

a monoprint of a portal on white and yellow paper. — 28 Dec – We allow miracles – Sky, sea, pool reflected; miraculous blue.

29 Dec – How do I integrate play and fun in my life? Being in the moment – in nature with Ulf, letting images emerge from collage. April response: collaging with others touches playfulness.

collage of a dog in a Christmas coat, a dragon and a landscape. — 29 Dec – How do I integrate play and fun in my life? Being in the moment – in nature with Ulf, letting images emerge from collage.

collage of chairs and tables — 29 Dec – How do I integrate play and fun in my life? Being in the moment – in nature with Ulf, letting images emerge from collage.

30 Dec – Am I my own best friend? I need to be kinder to myself. May response: Miracles happen in the everyday we just need to pay attention.

collage of angels and trees — 30 Dec – Am I my own best friend? I need to be kinder to myself.

collage of Edinburgh landscapes, including the neon artwork 'There will be no miracles here' and the Angel Raphael. — 30 Dec – Am I my own best friend? I need to be kinder to myself.

31 Dec How does Trust manifest within me? Finding points of balance between the shallows and the depths. June response: Finding points of balance between objects and spaces.

collage - beach and balanced rocks — 31 Dec How does Trust manifest within me? Finding points of balance between the shallows and the depths.

Collage of ladders, furniture and spaces. — 31 Dec How does Trust manifest within me? Finding points of balance between the shallows and the depths.

1 Jan – Let us reshape things. New year, new horizons, new skies. July response: reshaping caring and being cared for

collage - beach scapes and sky scapes. — 1 Jan: Let us reshape things. New year, new horizons, new skies.

B&W large screen printed cupped hands over mono print small cupped hands — 1 Jan: Let us reshape things. New year, new horizons, new skies.

2 Jan – Do only what you feel like doing – A window of wing light wing bright possibilities. August response : New love, new life, new paths.

collage of cyanotype of feathers and birds and a decorated window — 2 Jan – Do only what you feel like doing – A window of wing light wing bright possibilities.

blue mono print with photo — 2 Jan – Do only what you feel like doing – A window of wing light wing bright possibilities.

3 Jan – We connect to our golden core. Wrapping myself in the golden thread to not hear complaint as criticism, to hold onto good humour and logical response! September response: A golden figure waits in the depths with logical superpower.

collage - of photos of beach — 3 Jan – We connect to our golden core. Wrapping myself in the golden thread to not hear complaint as criticism, to hold onto good humour and logical response!

painting of shiva temple with gold figure in the centre. — 3 Jan – We connect to our golden core. Wrapping myself in the golden thread to not hear complaint as criticism, to hold onto good humour and logical response!

4 Jan – How do I use my thoughts? I want to stop the middle of the night anxious repeat and let them be as expansive as the blue sky. October response: Move the pieces around to create anew.

Collage of skyscapes — 4 Jan – How do I use my thoughts? I want to stop the middle of the night anxious repeat and let them be as expansive as the blue sky.

collage of photos of snow and shadows — 4 Jan – How do I use my thoughts? I want to stop the middle of the night anxious repeat and let them be as expansive as the blue sky.

5 Jan – we go deep and explore our strengths. My strength is in my ability to keep on keeping on, break tasks into chunks to make them less overwhelming! Nov response: My strength is in speaking the truth faster.

woven picture of beach scapes — 5 Jan – we go deep and explore our strengths. My strength is in my ability to keep on keeping on, break tasks into chunks to make them less overwhelming!

painting and text - I rage, ill, fragile. — 5 Jan – we go deep and explore our strengths. My strength is in my ability to keep on keeping on, break tasks into chunks to make them less overwhelming!

6 Jan – Gathering together all 12 days transformation occurs through the process. Dec response: Transformation occurs with a willingness to step into the void.

Collage of skyscapes and arches from all pieces left over from previous collages. — 6 Jan Gathering together all 12 days transformation occurs through the process.

screenprint of the Shiva Temple with a figure in the shadows at the centre. — 6 Jan Gathering together all 12 days transformation occurs through the process.