A late August spell in St David's, South Wales. Salty surf sessions, sandy waves of hair, crisp Welsh cider and promising sunsets.
St David was a man who dwelt in Pembrokeshire, this rugged area of the Welsh coast, over 1500 years ago. This simple but beautiful mantra is often attributed to him:
"Be joyful, and keep your faith and your creed. Do the little things that you have seen me do and heard about. I will walk the path that our fathers have trod before us."
- Saint David of Wales (d. 589)
Another Saint's words come to mind when contemplating the vast waters, silver clouds, starry nights and summer storms, untamed shorelines and white sands of this peninsula. I love the words written by Francis of Assisi, a medieval Italian friar, in his prayerful poetic work the Canticle of The Creatures. Here is an extract which I find really coherently sums up the awe I felt this summer, sat on a Welsh cliffside at golden hour:
"Most High, all powerful, good Lord,
Yours are the praises, the glory, the honour, and all blessing...
...Be praised, my Lord, through all your creatures, especially through my lord Brother Sun, who brings the day; and you give light through him. And he is beautiful and radiant in all his splendour! Of you, Most High, he bears the likeness.
Praised be You, my Lord, through Sister Moon and the stars, in heaven you formed them clear and precious and beautiful.
Praised be You, my Lord, through Brother Wind, and through the air, cloudy and serene, and every kind of weather through which You give sustenance to Your creatures.
Praised be You, my Lord, through Sister Water, which is very useful and humble and precious and chaste.
Praised be You, my Lord, through Brother Fire, through whom you light the night and he is beautiful and playful and robust and strong..."
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