“The seasons are so important to me, and wild swimming really brings you further into that”: Interview with wild swimmer and body neutrality campaigner, Lilith
We recently caught up with Lilith, an artist, wild swimmer, body neutrality campaigner, and mental health advocate and coach.
We spoke about the spiritual and healing elements of wild swimming, championing body neutrality, LGBQTIA+ diversity and inclusivity, and more! So grab a nice drink, find a comfy spot, and settle in for some in-depth insights!
Where is your local wild swimming spot and could you describe it to us?
My local swim spot, as you can imagine, has changed throughout the lockdowns we have experienced in the UK, but I swim predominantly in the Lake District and love the variety of water there.
The tarns offer a very idyllic and tranquil location and it’s a beautiful feeling to be immersed in a space which has existed for thousands and thousands of years. Waterfalls are also especially precious to me. Being so close to such powerful water can be very humbling and put some of life’s troubles into such a better perspective.
The waters such as Windermere and Coniston bring a lot of changing conditions such as the current, wind speed and different entry points on offer. Going regularly to these swim spots builds a special relationship between yourself and the area. You get to see it grow and evolve through the seasons, which is such an honour.
What 3 words would you use to describe your wild swimming experiences?
Spiritual, life-changing and sanctuary.
How does spirituality fit into swimming for you?
I’ve always been a very spiritual person, an existentialist and an over-thinker. I relate to many aspects of paganism and am proud to be called a witch (meaning ‘healer’). Because of this, I feel intensely connected to the elements and nature as a whole. Being alongside water is one thing, being within it in all weathers is another entirely. Feeling the power of the water brings a respectful fear in me to the surface. I feel as if I am granted permission to be a part of something so much bigger than me, even just for a few hours a week, which gives me a feeling of being truly at home.
Knowing that the water is supporting me physically and mentally is an understanding and a process I just don’t get anywhere else. We enter and leave our lives alone, and so wild swimming, for me, nurtures my soul and makes me feel connected to myself, others and the world, in such a profound way.
Being in a waterfall that’s power has shaped the landscape around it over a vast amount of time is a deeply magical experience and I often never want to get out. Leaving wild water makes me realise how much of my day I’ve forgotten, how many problems have lessened and leaves my inner power fortified.
The seasons are so important to me, and wild swimming really brings you further into that. Winter doesn’t just look like Winter, instead you embody it when you are swimming within it. The moon looks more gorgeous and has more sway, the sunrays on your face feel more gifted and when you wait patiently, the Autumn will shake its leaves overhead, landing on you as you float the day’s problems away.
I do dabble with the ideas of how far I can swim or how fast, but for me, its much more about my time with the water, as opposed to in it.
You’ve spoken about the importance of rest time, and listening to your body. Could you expand a bit on this for someone who is not feeling in tune with their body or needs?
First and foremost, I do believe that we are part of nature, having a human experience. And so, I live my life based on the premise of existence first, society expectation and pressure second.
Rest is as vital as anything else. It is, after all, still a ‘doing’ thing. It’s a verb. We need time to explore our inner world as much as the outer. And I don’t think we, as a society, put enough value on this good type of selfishness. I do see a lot of people avoiding the rest and regeneration of life, valuing pure productivity over anything else. This escape of inner thinking can mean our lives can run away from us without us even noticing. Finding something, like wild swimming, can help to bring focus and mindfulness (a buzzword now unfortunately).
The mind and the body are so entwined, so feeling out of tune with one of them means there’s likely an imbalance. Delving deeply into your inner world does bring challenges. We all have our shadows and our trauma, but I do believe that by doing this you will benefit so much. You will be more self-aware, you will have clearer boundaries with others, you’ll perhaps have a better understanding of your worth and purpose… all of this will benefit your physical connection and overall experience with your own life, your body and existence as a whole.
You’re also a body neutrality campaigner. Could you explain what that means?
I think as a society we’ve been programmed into putting far too much value on very specific aspects of appearance. Sure, I’d never deny wanting to feel good by way of how I dress, how I have my hair etc., but I do these things for myself and ultimately I want to champion what our bodies can achieve first and foremost, and celebrate our self-worth instead. This is extremely important to me as I continue a journey (and battle) with dissociation, which involves feeling extremely cut off from my own body and outer experiences.
Dissociation has meant some reduction in connection with the world for me, a fear of intense physical activity or sensations and generally unable to do some things people can often take for granted. I also suffer from a chronic illness which can challenge my energy and ability at times. Body neutrality and the attitude that accompanies it, helps me to focus on what I want to achieve and experience.
I’ve also had the inner battle with balancing my masculine and feminine sides and have found an attitude of body neutrality has allowed me to embrace and celebrate both. Wild swimming allows me to climb rocks, get my hands dirty and my hair wet, but at the same time practice ritual with the water, swimming in long flowing dresses and being creative with photography and writing for the Water Wytch brand.
Who are your favourite inspirational water women?
It’s going to sound rather bad, but I don’t really have any! I look more to those teaching me how to get the most out of life, how to find my purpose, how to connect more strongly. These are people like Geoff Thompson, my grader with whom I met when I was very young practising martial arts and he’s a brilliant author. Others I love are Mastin Kipp, Teal Swan or Brené Brown.
on by the women I see starting their journey with the water. Being blessed to witness their maiden voyages, their fears, their ‘f%*k it’ attitudes to water, to challenges, to life’s expectations. Seeing their progress and overcoming their own demons is far more inspirational than any record-breaking swimmer. For someone who fights to be in their body every second of every day, I admire those breaking their comfort zones much more than someone chasing a personal best.
If I had to name one woman whose work in the water does inspire me, though, I must say that Ocean Ramsey is utterly amazing.
We saw on your profile that you identify with being Andro and are an advocate for the plus-size outdoor community. How do you feel the swimming space will change for LGBQTIA+ and plus-sized people in the future?
The community I am a part of is extremely welcoming, but not yet diverse enough. In a lot of ways. But this has nothing at all to do with the wonderful, amazing people already a part of it.
In terms of my personal experience, I have been accepted as part of the community for loving and respecting everything that wild swimming gives and demands (such as conservation, avoidance of cross contamination of water, littering issues etc). There are certain rules we all must respect and follow. My sexuality has had zero impact on what I can do and how I swim with these lovely folk.
If anything, it is my size and shape that (I hope) has had a small but positive impact for other larger, plus-sized or fat women who want to access wild swimming all year round. So, for me, my frustration comes from lack of representation within outdoor brand’s products and media content, be it sexuality, gender, ethnicity, race, religion, size, ability, age etc. Protected characteristics are left behind and that’s not ok.
Accessibility for people that find movement difficult can be made much easier with doing a sport or activity involving water. For larger people (as well as those with ability issues or chronic illnesses), the easing of the joints, the buoyancy etc. can be extremely therapeutic. So I am a passionate protester when it comes to the fact that brands and clothing manufacturers do not cater for everyone and then claim to me that there is no demand for larger sizes. Of course there wouldn’t be demand when their marketing campaigns only represent slim, white CIS men and women. Kit such as wetsuits are only just catching up to the needs of body sizes and shapes that so many of us have, but they still have a long way to go.
Also, the UK wild swimming community that I have seen to-date, is far too white. Wetsuits and outdoor swim clothing do not accommodate for shapes that are very common for non-white people; how many amazing black people do we all know, for example, that have these beautiful big hips and bums? And yet they are ignored and not catered for. Anyone over a 46” hip measurement will have trouble finding a wetsuit in stock and that’s not ok. I feel that big brands also need to acknowledge communities and ethnicities that require modesty features. Sure, there are a lot of lesser-known manufacturers that can provide these via Amazon or eBay etc, but big brands and suppliers in the limelight have a responsibility to cater for everyone, not simply chasing the huge year-on-year unsustainable profit growth of their bottom line.
Wetsuit and outdoor swimwear sizing needs to change, and we need to demand that the big brands take the lead (and take the biggest hit when testing and experimenting with fit). Taking height and weight measurements for a 3D body is archaic. And most of those brands that do provide bust/waist/hip measurement guides often claim they go up to ‘XL’ but, in reality, the dimensions are rarely that of a size 16.
Anyone in the outdoor swimming community can help by stringently understanding the values and ethics of an outdoor brand before partnering with them. The more we ALL demand inclusivity, the more we can all benefit.
I truly believe that every person deserves the access to nature that calls to them.
