Ice Water and Inner Fire: What Open Water Swimming Taught Me About Elemental Essence
The air in Finland was sharp. The ground was covered in snow.
A 25 metre 10 lane pool was carved directly into the ice. Around it stood swimmers representing 50 countries, some focused, some laughing nervously, others breathing deeply, as they prepared for the shock of entering water hovering around, and under, 0°C.
This was the Winter Swimming World Championship 2026 in Oulu, Finland.
As I waited for my turn to race, wrapped in thermals and layers of towelling robe, watching swimmers climb out of the freezing water after their swim sprint, one question kept circling in my mind: How did I end up here?
Not just in Finland. But here, drawn to icy water, to challenge, to something that once would have seemed unimaginable.
The journey started much more quietly.
My interest in fitness and mental well-being had gradually led me toward communities built around movement and nature. Long-distance running, hiking, skiing, and other forms of physical activity have always been part of my life. But open-water swimming was entirely new.
For 27 years in the UK, I swam occasionally and never ventured into the sea. I would have described myself as sporty, but not competitive. Then something shifted.
I moved from inland UK to the south coast city of Brighton. This was the turning point. What started as curiosity, simply dipping into the shallow water, slowly turned into swimming with others. Swimming became a regular practice. And regular practice turned into disciplined training in cold water, ice baths, and open-sea conditions.
At the same time, another remarkable discovery was unfolding.
Discovering My Fashion Feng Shui® Elemental Personas & The Clarity That Followed
During lockdown, I experienced a Fashion Feng Shui® consultation, a process that explores how clothing, lifestyle, and personal energy connect through the feng shui Five Elements. That experience inspired me to train as a Fashion Feng Shui® facilitator (with Sue Donnelly, FFS Master Trainer).
Through the practise, I discovered that my elemental essences are a combination of Wood and Fire.
At first, it felt like an interesting framework. But, over time, I began to recognise how deeply those elements described my natural motivations. Wood energy is about growth, movement, and the desire to expand beyond limitations. Fire energy brings enthusiasm, passion, and a vibrant engagement with life.
Suddenly, many things started to make sense.
How I’m drawn toward challenge. The quiet desire to test new limits. The joy of shared energy within a community. Even winter swimming, I realised, might not be as random as it appeared.
Standing at the edge of that frozen pool in Finland, I understood something else about cold water. When you step into water that cold, there is no room for distraction. Your mind becomes completely present. Your breath becomes your anchor. Your senses sharpen. In those moments, you reconnect, deeply, with your body, with nature, and with yourself.
Perhaps that is why so many swimmers return again and again. Not just for competition. Not for medals. But for clarity and self-discovery. For the humility that comes from meeting the elements on their own terms. And for the powerful reminder that growth rarely happens in comfort.
Looking back now, I see how both parts of my life, sport and Fashion Feng Shui®, have been quietly telling the same story.
The Wood within me seeks challenge and growth.
The Fire within me fuels passion and connection.
Together, they keep leading me back to the water.
Colder. Wilder. Deeper.
And always a little closer to understanding my own Essential Self.
Kasia Hornby | Fashion Feng Shui® Facilitator | Brighton and Hove, UK | https://www.beyourstyle.co.uk/