Tag: Art for Wellbeing

Posted on

Seasonal Solstice Sentiments

Peace in Winter – a mixed media painting on board by Lyn

At this seasonal solstice, may all Beings everywhere and without exception find peace, peace, peace.

Why Not

Choose Peace?

Open the door and step outside.

Maybe there’s a tree, or a wood, a garden,

or a magic world where you can pause.

And be still.

Why not? 

Get to know fully, headlong, the presence of your own human body.

It is yours after all.

It is precious.

Listen to your heart.

Connect to your essence. 

Don’t be concerned with life-long tasks.

Listen to the voice within.

Listen to silence.

Why not?

Things are changing, starting to snag, spin, snap 

and fly off into the ice-blue yonder of the long winter’s afternoon.

Go with it, let out the ooohs and the ahhhs. 

Close your eyes.

Relax.

And breathe.

Choose peace and love. Discover joy and contentment.

Posted on

Summer Solstice 2024

As I write this, here and now, it is the longest day of the year. It is time to celebrate the many blessings bestowed on us as human beings … especially of just being conscious and of the beauty and infinite wonders of nature. The summer solstice reminds me to be grateful … simply for the sun … to always follow the sun … and to give thanks for the return of the sun’s light at summer.

Today I have celebrated by taking in as much sunlight as possible and finding moments to be still and reflect … on things that light me up and keep me feeling joyous … like being part of nature and to have my art and poetry practices.

I continue to have fun with art and with the poems I write. Here is a poem I wrote earlier this month and above I have shared a few of the play paintings I have completed using a watercolour base with other mixed media mark making.

The Art of Loving

When your whole world pours down

Be with the dove with a broken wing

The art of loving is your practice

When she covers you in silken ribbon

Then leaves you hurting like a sting

When your whole world pours down

See what the acorn has deeply hidden 

How night turns to day winter to spring

The art of loving is your practice

Even if her silence holds you stricken 

Her words of forever always cling 

When your whole world pours down

See how the sun remains yellow crimson 

The stars and the moon dance and sing 

The art of loving is your practice

Remember the Universe will listen 

Remember all of living is a feeling 

When your whole world pours down

The art of loving is your practice

Posted on

Screaming Presence

The summer has passed … for me … because the swifts have departed.

This year more than any other, I have been drawn to the swifts both locally where I live and on a recent cycling holiday in Saxony.

Without them being around feels like a loss. It is a loss.

What has also developed for me across the summer is a curiosity in abstract / mixed media / collage painting. Screaming Presence is my first painting employing these styles.

Screaming Presence 

Hear her screaming,

see scythe-like wings, 

glimpse a tender pale throat.

She is flying fast and low 

around the house

searching, squeezing, 

shooting through 

a tiny gap to nest. 

Everlasting flying, 

sleeping on the wing,

feeding in flight,

catching insects 

in an open mouth.

Be in awe of her silent 

journey crossing Africa 

over tropical forests, Sahara 

sands, deep green waters,

arriving here

to be heard, seen, 

revered, loved.

She is one of many.

Her screaming presence arouses 

and excites me until I am filled 

with so much joy my heart splits

open.