Christopher Sedgwick is a self-taught poet and spiritual entrepreneur who is a living example of the healing properties of writing. Literary snobs don't take Instagram poetry seriously, very unmindful of them, because this maybe is the brightest example of social activism and the first step to global health. How does it work? Let's ask Christopher.
Christopher, your poem “Erratic” is addressing one of the biggest issues within the wellbeing sector - excessive reliance on the pharmaceutical industry. You seem to have transcended the pill with your creativity. Do you think creative writing could help others do the same?
Absolutely. Now I must be clear that I am not suggesting everyone make a mass exodus of their mental health medication and replace it with a pen, but to remind people that the medication is not a cure, but an aid. Something to help calm you down or lift you up, to allow you to focus on healing yourself. And a way of doing this is through self-discovery and reconnecting with your thoughts and reality, and making sense of it. This is where getting creative can help. Finding an outlet, so you are not only thinking about how you are feeling and the possible reasons why, but you are also putting it down on paper, making it black and white. Making it real so that you can begin acknowledging the issues and in turn start working through them. I was amazed by how cathartic writing had become for me. Especially as I had never been a writer or even written a poem before the incident that lead me to develop PTSD.
I actually found out that within conventional therapy there is a term given to a similar kind of therapeutic outlet called ‘Rescripting’. This is where a therapist will ask a patient to write down the events of their trauma in the hopes of making sense of it and understanding it more. So essentially this is what I was doing through my poetry, except it wasn’t the literal event, more the creative expression of the emotions and thoughts, running through my head daily.
The positive effects this had on my mind, the release of these fraught emotions, was so powerful for me that I began sharing them via Instagram and Twitter: (www.instagram.com/mrchristophersedgwick), and in turn I not only had works published but also met others that could relate and were doing the same through their poetry. This is why I created an anthology called ‘Pluviophile’ (‘a lover of rain; someone who finds joy and peace of mind during rainy days’) that I wish to make a regular project, that aims to support and promote the use of creativity as an outlet for mental health issues and trauma. When I announced the submission window, I was expecting to receive 100 poems max. Instead I received over 5,000. Needless to say the project became a mammoth undertaking both mentally and physically to read every poem and make a sensible sized selection. But it is due to the volume and interest that I have the scope to hopefully expand on this with two other poets now helping me, Anthony & Natasha. (www.instagram.com/pluviophilecollective) The current issue is available over on www.darkpoets.club.
I would also like to stress that I believe the ability to self-heal by creating through trauma does not just lie in writing, but through all forms of art that allows you to convey feeling.
And once again, should you be on medication, I am not saying you shouldn’t be, but just to remember that they are simply a tool to help you do the healing, they are not the solution. And where possible to gain independence from them you should as prolonged use of any medication has its downfalls and side effects. One of them is the misconception that they are the cure which leads to becoming reliant.
2. You are a curator of the Dark Poets Club, the poetic community that is known for its rawness, and the rule to never sugar coat things. Since you are exposed to so much intense contemporary poetry, would you be able to choose the most common issues that our collective consciousness is dealing with at the moment?
This has been an interesting journey for me, especially as I had always loved psychology and if things had been different it would have been my career choice for sure. Needless to say, when I was struggling with my own mental health, it was difficult not to completely psychoanalyse myself, although, even during a severe episode of any of the many symptoms of PTSD I would experience, including panic attacks, anxiety, depression or cognitive impairment, I would be fascinated by what had just happened, the how and why.
So after being exposed to the 5,000+ ‘Pluviophile’ poetry submissions I was well equipped to assist with Dark Poets Club also. And from my experience one of the main issues that I have begun to notice, other than the frighteningly increasing amount of depression, anxiety and abuse, which will always be the paramount issues to tackle, has been loss of identity. Now, loss of identity and self goes hand in hand with feeling at war with your own mind when dealing with the common mental health issues. Where you don’t recognise yourself anymore or feel like a shadow of your former self. However, I also believe this has been impacted greatly and unsurprisingly by social media and lockdown. I think it's safe to say that there is a common consensus and acknowledgment that social media has a lot of negative impacts on people and their mental health. Comparing themselves, their bodies and their lives to over filtered, snap shots of lies for hours at a time a day. Essentially negative reinforcement. But the more power social media gains over the world and day to day life the worse it will become. This is already noticeable with what everyone has gone through with lockdown and being stuck in doors every day. If they are fortunate enough to still have a job and work from home, there is still more opportunity for downtime to check social media. If you are not working, or unfortunate enough to have been a child home from school during the pandemic, then the pull to spend your time on social media is vastly increased. You become absorbed in a false world that doesn’t actually mean anything but somehow manages to get you to lose physical touch with reality. And losing touch with reality, even when it's dressed up as something as innocent as social media, is a slippery slope to losing touch with yourself, and increasing your chance of becoming ‘unsettled’ mentally, to put it mildly.
An extremely common metaphor that I have increasingly encountered in poetry recently and which I believe relates to the issues mentioned, is the sensation of drowning. The feeling of being pushed or pulled underwater, unable to breathe, feet caught in the sea bed with the light on the surface slipping away, an overall sense of being completely overwhelmed. I think it is unsurprising that this should be featuring highly in our collective conscious with recent events.
My advice would be to assign yourself digital breaks or holidays, long or short, just to regroup and find something creatively stimulating to do. Self-care is vital and allowing yourself time to switch off and recharge is paramount.
3. What was your first time you performed poetry publicly? And is there a difference in writing and actually performing poetry? Did you feel vulnerable exposing your pain?
The answer to the last two questions: Yes and YES!
My first opportunity to do spoken word was still at the height of struggling with PTSD, unfortunately. It was with an incredible collective called GROW Arts (www.facebook.com/GROWMonthlyArtsShowcase/) who support artists and creatives and encourage them to feature their projects and work live with monthly group sharing sessions.
Before the meeting had commenced the anxiety had taken hold and, full disclosure, I chose to have a few drinks prior to try and calm my nerves… It did not go well. When it was my time to perform, I stuttered and slurred my way through the appalling performance and was extremely upset with myself afterwards, to say the least. But everyone in the group was extremely empathetic and supportive as I had been honest about my journey.
The vulnerability of exposing myself through spoken word was a little too much for me at that time, but it was through that experience I learnt to give myself time to get to where I need to be. I was so moved by the progress I had made through my creativity that I had tried to run when I was still just learning to walk.
Although I feel far more confident in myself since then and have come out of the other side of PTSD, I still take my hat off to all those that feel comfortable laying their heart on the line whilst showing the same emotion on their face. I feel like it doubles the exposure and I adore their bravery.
Written poetry is still extremely exposing but in a more controlled environment, which is helpful if you are someone that struggles, like myself, to speak in public. I find it much easier to articulate myself via written word than spoken. I’m pretty sure that had this been a spoken interview I would never had been able to get this all out without stuttering and nerves. But I certainly wouldn’t recommend drinking beforehand either.
4. Your bio is such a cinematic story of a spiritual awakening. Leaving the hectic London life behind, moving to the countryside outside of Bath, setting up spiritual business, and being successful in all of that. One word - beautiful! But for those who still live in big cities, do you think it is possible to be spiritually grounded and mentally balanced? If so, how?
I do believe this is possible, and I know this to be true by the beautiful people I left behind when I moved.
I was actually born and raised in Gloucester and moved to London at 18 for University where I subsequently stayed for a further 15 years through my absolute love of the diverse people and places it had to offer. I have always felt that my soul was nurtured by my family in Gloucester, but was developed in London through the experiences and people I met.
There is a common misconception that the city is a negative place, just a rat race and lacking in morality, but this couldn’t be further from the truth. Granted, some parts of city life might feel soulless, being on The London Underground certainly features highly there, but it all depends on how you choose to live your life and who you surround yourself with, which will really lay the foundations for the positivity in your life.
If I were to consider a few of my best friends right now who are still in the London, I could pull from them the following qualities to help remain grounded in the hustle and bustle of city life:
Soul centring activities. I was forever continually surprised by the sheer amount of classes that are available and on the rise throughout London to keep you spiritually centred thanks to one friend in particular. If she wasn’t on her way to a meditation class she was off to yoga, reiki, crystal healing, chanting or even scream therapy! But something you could always rely on was that she was constantly full of positive energy and feeling spiritually grounded.
Creativity. I have already made my feelings on the importance of creativity for mental health known, but this has always been shown throughout my life and certain friends of mine. Be it photography, art, music, dance or playwriting, I found some of these friends to seem the most fulfilled and at peace with who they are. Unsurprisingly they were also the ones most comfortable expressing emotion and usually the best to vent to when you had something on your mind that needed discussing. Also you don’t need to be naturally creative. There are so many classes where you can explore different outlets and find which one captures you the most.
Walking. I have mentioned my disdain for the Underground, so walking, where possible, is a good way to clear your head whilst also grounding yourself. Being able to take yourself for a walk allows you to breathe fresh air, take in the sights, disconnect from your phone and is a welcome relief if you have an apartment in the city or have been cooped up in an office.
Have fun! And to be sure, my friends and I had a lot of it during my 15 years in London and we intend on having a lot more for many years to come when things have settled regarding Covid and I can visit again regularly. There is no point being in a vibrant city unless you are able to exploit all it has to offer and create wonderful memories you can hold onto in times when you can’t be with your friends.
5. We must mention, that we are absolutely swept off our feet by the Sedg Wicks brand. It is very uplifting to see a man appreciating the element of earth and working with crystals, oils and wax. Where do you see your business in 5 years time?
I never saw Sedg Wicks (www.sedgwicks.uk) being the little business that it is now. I never expected the positive feedback and repeat orders. I don’t try and guess the future and avoid fortune tellers because something I have learnt is that life can change in a heartbeat, so all I do is try and enjoy each day as it comes and keep myself open to the new experience and challenges that life endeavours to throw my way and remain grateful to be here for them.
6. And, of course, could you name five poets that you find healing?
The poets I find most healing are the incredible contemporary talents I have connected with this journey and who have been brave enough to share the darkest parts of themselves, and they are too many to mention, but can be found in those that I follow on Instagram and those poets that have been shared on Dark Poets Club.
Alternatively, I would like to name 5 musical artists who have touched my soul with their words during key moments of my life and who I would recommend to anyone in moments of solitude and reflection:
Tracey Chapman, Fleetwood Mac, Tori Amos, Big Thief, Aldous Harding.