After a visit to The Pitt Rivers Museum in Oxford and spending time looking at their collection of amulets and talismans I spent some time thinking about the meaning that is held within objects for some that are otherwise mundane items to others.

I will be attending the Brokenness Symposium at Oxford Brookes at the end of April. I will be discussing transitional objects and their ability to help emotional repair.

Knitting is more than just a creative pastime—it’s a meditative, rhythmic practice that has profound benefits for mental and emotional well-being.

At the beginning of the Coronavirus outbreak there was a palpable sense of panic, people were stockpiling toilet roll, food, hand sanitiser and pain relief. We were repeatedly told to wash our hands, the best defence against catching and passing the virus on. This led me to consider how people would have managed during previous outbreaks of deadly pathogens in a time when advanced medical help was unavailable.

Transitional objects aren’t just for children. As adults, we also seek physical reminders of stability, meaning, and connection when navigating life’s uncertainties.