The Ocean’s Healing

Despite growing up on Australia’s coastline, I’m not at all confident in the surf. I prefer to search for starfish in rock pools or dipping into a flat sea. While I detest saltwater stinging my legs and wet sand caking my feet, I do appreciate the beauty of the beach.

Julie Klassen’s The Sisters of Sea View intrigued me with its setting on the cliffs of Devonshire, and even more so with the beliefs of seawater’s healing properties. Can drinking a cupful of seawater every day be effective for anything except regurgitating?

The thought filled me with dread, but then I realised it’s essentially what I do on the rare occasions I swim in the ocean—my stomach tells me I clearly haven’t mastered the basic skill of closing my mouth while underwater.

Having subjected myself to that, I decided to put another theory to the test. I don’t have a debilitating illness like Mrs Summers, but I thought the sea water might do some good to my eczema.

During my summer holidays, I spent a week by the beach. I’m never overly thrilled when my family plans a trip to the beach. The waves pummel me…and, well, I won’t start. But this time round, I set out with excitement to see if the ocean would work its wonders.

When we arrived, the sea was flat like a lake. There was not a wave to be seen! Rather unfortunate for everyone else, of course, but not me. The ocean was already working wonders.

CoolCabanas and breach umbrellas dotted the shoreline, unlike the bathing machines used in centuries past to protect dignity!

We chose a quiet spot, and I slowly waded in. And when I say waded, it is not quite so elegant as it sounds. Perhaps more like gasped when the water lapped against my waist, and squealed when seaweed wrapped its fingers around my legs.

But once I was fully submerged, it was divine.

For four days in a row, I bathed in the ocean, enjoying every moment. And by the end of the week, my eczema was clearing up. But even if it hadn’t, I left the ocean refreshed, rejuvenated, revitalised, reinvigorated…you get the idea! Gentle waves can be a balm to our soul.

What are your preferences? Surfing-worthy waves or a calm sea?

• For the Writers

  Settings can become characters in their own right. A setting can have just as much impact on a story as a character.

  When you sit down to write, what happens when you treat your setting as a character? Give your setting a fear (for example, an ancient castle will be destroyed to build a fancy resort). Give your setting strengths and weaknesses. How does your setting grow and change over time, just like a character?

  Let me know…what is your all-time favourite location you’ve set a story in?

• Time to Scribble

  Pick one of your characters. They decide they want a change in scenery for two weeks. Where do they go? Why?

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