Sea Soul

03/11/2026

The first week of the month so new November Labyrinth prayers, a bouncy dip and a lovely gathered time before we departed.

29/10/2026

29/10/2026

Ian’s Soulitude reflection from this morning.

It was a glorious morning to be out. Beautiful first light with pink clouds, autumn leaves although not cold, a flat sea with small breaking wave, no breeze. A ship on the horizon in line with the sunrise. It has just gone high tide, a few dog walkers, no debris although a bit of seaweed, a few gulls flying low across the water. A real sense of peacefulness and a feeling that it couldn’t get any better.

I carefully step across the rocks to the sea edge and take some video footage of the breaking waves with the sunrise in the background. I turn and glimpse a piece of sea glass. It is still a bit rough, not fully polished yet, with a distinct fracture line and the printed letters ‘UR’ are prominent.

Two Cormorants fly in and land on the sea, then a third. I don’t often see these birds together in the water and rarely fishing together. It is a truly beautiful morning to be out, fabulous sunrise at all stages and I put my sunglasses on. I keep taking more photos trying to capture the unfolding moments, although the camera doesn’t really do it justice.

I am back to my usual perch, sitting on the concrete block. I notice that there is a large rock trapped under the block and I am resting my foot on it. The rock wasn’t there previously. I think about being wedged, trapped, held or thwarted.

It would have been a lovely morning for a sea swim or prayer Labyrinth, but I am still lacking energy after my blood donation a few days ago. However, I have appreciated the reflection time. As I walk back home down the South Pier I look across Little Haven bay at a group of half a dozen adolescent swans floating out to sea together.

I have been thinking about Sea Soul, how it was started, formed and evolving. People coming together unexpectedly, being refined, released and emerging as a young group finding their way together in this glorious scene.

27/10/2026

Another sunny, mild but blowy Tuesday morning at King Edward's Bay today. A small but beautifully formed group and others enjoyed the Labyrinth and a sea dip. Looking forward to our event on Saturday afternoon.

22/10/2026

Ian's Soulitude this morning. On the beach 6.50am, just on first light, reasonably flat low tide sea with wind ripple and small breaking wave. It is still quite dark, and I can’t make out anyone else on the beach. The north pier lighthouse flashes white and red on the south pier.

A couple of Crows swoop in and hang about for a while, although no calling and they disappeared later. A few gulls flying about and shortly thereafter several flocks rise from the beach. I don’t know if they have been disturbed or not.

There is a steady breeze from the west, so I am sitting low down resting my back against a rock, sipping tea to keep warm, wrapped up again in a feather down jacket, woolly hat and winter walking trousers.

I can’t see any debris around and instead I focus on the small distant mesmerizing shoreline breaking wave. Like a pianist glissando the wave crashes from left to right sending multiple fountains of white water into the air. Then from right to left until both cascades collide in the middle. It’s like watching a missile ploughing through the water with a fin throwing up water jets. Absolutely fantastic.

The horizon has a faint glow, like the embers of a dying fire – although this time it is the opposite, we are awaiting the fire ball to erupt.

A young woman appears to my right and walks across the beach, pausing to crouch and take a photo of a rock or something before continuing towards the shoreline. She stands gazing at the horizon for about an hour, like me, absorbed or waiting for something to happen. I have marked her location in the photos. Another person passes her, then later a couple with several dogs. I am struck by the woman’s considerable patience, especially when the horizon seems to do the opposite from what is expected. Instead of getting lighter, it gets duller or darker, until the sun has risen behind the clouds and begins to break through. About an hour later she eventually turns, leaving the shoreline walking back across the beach. I assumed she was leaving until she climbed the slight rise of soft dry sand, sat down and continued to watch the unfolding scene. She was still there when I left.

Two friends had come to mind as I walked down the street today, through the park and towards the beach. A lovely couple who moved away from the area some years ago. They popped up on Facebook the other day with some exciting news. I sense that this morning's Soulitude was for them.

I also arise, stiff from my long sit, stepping across the rocks to the soft sand. I lay out a labyrinth with my Gandalf stick and complete my prayer walk, before going home and making a lovely bowl of hot porridge.

20/10/2026

A wild sea this morning at King Edward's Bay although the air temperature was still good. In addition to the Labyrinth we tried out a portion of St Patrick's Breastplate prayer in the water, albeit between wave dumps.

18/10/2026

Ian discovered these beautiful words on a memorial bench at Cullercoats Bay this morning.

15/10/2026

Rather spoilt last night for our Sanctuary gathering at the Fish Quay Beach. A dozen folk enjoyed conversation, hot drinks & cake, fire, followed by Emily leading opening thoughts, Ian sharing his story with sand and figurines, our observations then an individual response sand activity. A big thanks to all who came, most for the first time. Looking forward to next time.

13/10/2026

A verse from this mornings October Labyrinth prayers - 'Divine One you have graced me with knowing & you are present in the unknowing, be with me in all the in-between places'.

It was lovely to see some new and returning faces at King Edward's Bay this morning.

A reminder that our monthly Sanctuary gathering is tomorrow, Wednesday, evening 6-7pm at the Fish Quay Beach. An informal Sea Soul gathering practicing the connection between the sea and spirituality. We will have the flag, fire pit and a hot drink. Our values are noticing, connecting with each other and the Divine. A short activity, reflection and perhaps a coffee afterwards at a local establishment. All welcome.

08/10/2026

Ian's Soulitude. The chill seeps through the summer duvet signalling the first proper Autumn morning. I’ve been stirring for awhile and now up at 5.50am. It’s dark as I walk through the streets and park, admiring the clear dark blue night sky with hovering fingernail moon. I’m at the beach 6.30am. For the first time this season I’m wrapped in my winter down coat, scarf and woolly hat.

Low Tide, flat sea with big ripple as the stiff breeze pushes across the water with smallish breaking waves. Hundreds of gulls gather on the flat first light glistening beach before my distant presence disturbs them and three groups take off in different directions.

I walk down to my rock and sit for a short while before the chilly breeze forces me to reconsider my perch and I move to a ground level seat with rock back rest. A week ago, I would now be sitting in the breaking waves. I glance around; a flimsy plastic bag wafts in the breeze although held at the base. The dark crescent of rocks sweeps to my left towards the South Pier.

A pair of Crows fly past very low with their wing tips almost touching the sand as they skim along. One lands near me, boulder hopping with athletic agility before calling from a rock up behind me. I note the location in case I look there later. I also see near me the top half of a cut plastic bottle and a piece of wannabe sea glass. I observe the dark cloud bank on the horizon and the changing sky as a cluster of grey clouds push southwards hiding the fingernail moon briefly.

An older man clambers down the boulder bank, picking his way until he got to the sand. A crow flew to him, and he opened his bag and a container before scattering some seed for it and then it’s mate to eat. He made his way across the wet sand and onto the exposed sandbar before the Crows flew after him and he repeated the feeding routine. I've highlighted the man and one of the crows in the photo.

I have prayed several times ‘Lord, give me the grace to see what you are saying today’ as I patiently wait to discern what this might be.
I shift my stiffening legs to stand up and climb the rocks to where the crow called. There is a small piece of wood held securely by a carefully placed stone, and a metre away the plastic bag flaps gently although also securely attached at the base.

My prayer for this morning’s Soulitude was for a person I know who is wrestling with life whilst exploring their faith, beliefs and practices. The person’s spouse is part of the mix. The picture falls into place – the two secured items (the bag and the stick) and the pair of Crows are part of the same story. Both are secure even if moving about, and both are well fed. There is no need to worry, Creator is close, cares and responds to them.

Noticing, patience, sifting and discernment. I walk home with joy in my heart, although my legs are cold - will remember thicker trousers next time.