Pulcherrima Solum ex Labore (Beauty Only Through Hard Work)

   Last June I graduated from the Botanical Art and Illustration program at the New York Botanical Gardens in the Bronx, New York. Many hours were spent back at the drawing board completing my final project. I painted plants that grow in this zone that are used in Chinese herbal medicine. The final project consisted of images of persimmon, Asian pear, aconite and gingko. A fifth image was painted with elements from each plant. The idea for the project began many years ago when I completed the foundational work at the NYBG. When I decided to finally finish my certificate, I enlisted the support for the approval from gifted teachers and mentors. 

      The very first drawing was sketched on a little sheet of 3x5 paper (shown below). The four principle plants were roughly drawn with graphite and colour pencils. Once the concept was established and the project was approved by the director at NYBG, I proceeded to do the five graphite drawings on vellum tracing paper. I am including one of the images in this post, the Gingko. Another round of approval was needed to then proceed to the final painting process for the five images.  The final images were watercolour and color pencil. Once the images were completed they were presented to a jury. After I was passed by the jury, I was then eligible for graduation. 

The day after graduation, there was a small and wonderful miracle that happened. I saw a beautiful botanical image by an artist in Europe. Her piece had been granted an award. When I read about her, I learned that she had just graduated from a program based in England through the Society of Botanical Artists. (SBA). Their website is soc-botanical-artists.org. The moment that I saw the quality of the work of their graduates, I knew that I needed to apply. And so I did, and I was accepted. 

During the period between my graduation from NYBG and my new program in England, I spent many hours drawing and taking pictures from my garden and the East End of Long Island. I also slowly amassed a substantial watercolour paint collection. I have been collecting paints for almost two years, trying the best ones and generously giving each brand and style a chance in my botanical journal.

  

     In January, I had the good fortune of meeting my tutors and cohort in London. I saw them demonstrate their beautiful work. They shared their techniques, gave us guidance on how to proceed with assignments and lent us their sincere encouragement. 

   My first assignments have been shipped to England, and so the new journey for the next 27 months begins. I now draw and paint on average of 2-3 hours a day in addition to attending to my private practice. It will be a big journey but I am delighted to in the company of such skilled professionals and serious botanical artists. 

   

   The moto for the program is 'Pulcherrima Solum ex Labore'. This translates as 'Beauty only through hard work'. This motto is one that I personally live by myself. It is through time, patience and persistence that meaningful and true beauty emerge, and we are rewarded with excellence and inspiration. 

Transitions Toward the Energetics of Spring and New Beginnings

 The days are growing longer and the quality of the light is rapidly changing as we enter the energetic time of early Springtime. While the air has been deeply cold, crisp and brittle in the Northeast, our skin may be drier, our lungs may be feeling irritated, accompanied by a little dry cough, we are at the end of the coldest days. The afternoons are growing brighter as we are entering more Yang and fluid days. We are transitioning from the deep freezes of Water to more buoyant and expansive time of Wood in the Chinese medicine calendar. Buds are beginning to swell and widen, as the earth slowly begins to thaw. It s a delight to see the shockingly beautiful greys, blues and yellows in the refections of the snow and ice.  

   We are entering the time where the body begins to slowly move from the density of the Winter cold  and constriction to the softening of the Wood element. We are simultaneously shedding the year of the Snake and leaning into the year of the Fire Horse. The last remaining shedding is happening now...
and the opening to the newness of the year ahead is palpable. 

   As we turn our attention towards the return to longer days and the excitement of the energy of the Fire Horse, I invite everyone to visit my instagram feed Prettymedicine_press, and Prettymedicine.com where I will be featuring new printed journals, didactic materials and my latest botanical art. 

This past month I began a new botanical art program based in England. It is a twenty seven month program rich with many layers of botanical art, research and assignments that will require dedication and commitment to drawing and painting.  New relationships will be forged with tutors that are steeped in excellence and incredible craftsmanship. 

Please join me as I begin this special new journey and share my botanical art, Chinese medicine, botany and healing while exploring the relationships that tie all of these these beautiful systems together. 

An Exploration of Heart Shock

It has been quite a full week. Tragedy in Manhattan, a powerful earthquake and tsunami in Pacific Ocean and on the West coast,  and countless other ripples of confusion and trauma though out the globe. We are all navigating so many meaningful and often confusing shifts simultaneously. In my practice, this week, I noticed palpable and universal shifts in my patients' pulses. There were several  common threads, the presence of constriction and Heart shock energy. 

 I have been reading the pulses for over thirty years and slowly built a practice that began in my mid-twenties. While studying privately with one of my very first teachers, she exposed me to this beautiful art form. I fell in love with the process. I became enamoured with the possibility of hearing messages from the bones, internal organs and blood vessels. Learning that the body could express what it might need a practitioner to know, felt magical. I now listen deeply with my fingertips. I am still learning how to refine my skills. I love to learn about how other practitioners practice and interpret pulses, especially in this current fast paced world. 

When my teacher told me that many senior Chinese medicine practitioners could identify long term deep blockages and traumatic injuries from early childhood or birth and prenatal traumas, I immediately wanted to learn and master this skill. I am by no means at mastery level, I have many years to go, but I am always curious. Given the allostatic loads that many of us are carrying right now, and the turmoil of the external world, I noticed that the majority of the pulses in my patients were suspended, along with the breath. When I write 'suspended', I mean tight and contracted. The pulses often feel tender, fearful and sometimes carrying shock, especially in the Heart position. This 'Cun  position' is on the left side upper burner position. When I read one pulse quality in particular, I realised that this had been the pattern, and that I should sit with this information to study this dynamic more closely.

I am revisiting my favourite Chinese medicine texts, while tracking the clinical experiences of this week. When we endure a shock, either physical, or emotional the Qi draws itself inwards and contracts. The purpose of doing this is so that the internal resources may be protected. Qi, Blood and Yin will be drawn deep into inwards by the Heart. The Heart, being the Emperor, goes into compensation mode and does its' best to regulate the body. If it is unable to do so, Yin and Yang may separate and lead to circulatory dysregulation. The Yin of the Blood may not be able to anchor itself and the Yang rises. When the circulatory role of the Heart is impeded, we can see issues develop in the tissues and bones. Healing may be slow, sleep may be distrupted, pain may become chronic and moods can shift and become irregular. 

  Yang Shen, otherwise known as resilience, vitality and longevity can be interrupted by untreated Heart shock. When trauma and shock go untreated in the body, Dampness, Qi stagnation, Heat, and Blood deficiency can ensue creating long term volatility and a sense of not belonging or depression. I am always looking for ways to support the gentle circulation of Qi through the multiple layers of the body, from the level of the bone to skin, after there has been a global shock to the system. 

Whether we are aware of it or not, I believe that we are always absorbing Qi, distributing, and regulating Qi and Blood. Good quality food, proper rest, social engagement, appropriate self care, movement, and lymphatic massage are often helpful in bringing us back into more coherence and regulation. 

Movement is one of the most important mitigators of held shock in the body. Resourcing, coupled with gentle and soft micro movements can activate harmonious dialogues of Yin and Yang and support the free flow of Qi.

Insights of a Senior Acupuncturist by Miriam Lee

The damp heat has been so heavy and thick that it has kept me inside a bit more the past fews days. During this second intense heat wave of the Summer, I have been staying cool and revisiting one of my favourite treasures. Miraim Lee, a legend in the Acupuncture and Chinese medicine world wrote a beautiful synopsis of treatment strategies and case studies in the book Insights of a Senior Acupuncturist. Published by Blue Poppy Press. 

This book has been with me for years and has called me many times when there is a little gem to be revealed. This week, I asked the book to extend a gift and I was guided  to page 100 and extracted a luminous pearl. 

"At any stage, Zu San Li (St 36), He Gu (LI 4), Qu Chi (LI 11), and Lie Que (Lu 7) will help calm the patient and restore balance to the internal organs so that the heart can again house the spirit."

With this extreme heat, the Heart, the Emperor is sometimes overwhelmed and harassed by extreme temperatures. It can feel heavy, shaky, overextended and feel as though it is energetically spinning out of its natural placement and express as being off center. As we are all navigating so many external changes and challenges, it is sometimes difficult to integrate the messaging of the immediate needs of the Heart. When this happens in my own world, I do my best to slow down and sometimes stop what I am doing and rest. Lie on the cool floor, place my legs up a wall, or find a space to be still. The more I can practice this process the more I try to hold the field for my patients in sessions.

As I read through the system that Miriam used in her practice, I just came across this sentiment...

"To prevent disease and establish vitality, both the acupuncturist and the patient must use the whole universe wisely." pg 36

And so we try. I could sit with this sentiment for hours, it is such a rich and layered proposition. 

I created this image with sunflowers, echinacea and a little peeper frog layered with a watercolour that I painted imagining the image as a metaphor for the medicine.  So many nuances of beauty and stillness gently intertwined with one another, layers of Summer colors over texture and elements.

Return of the Hummingbirds

In the blink of an eye, three ruby throated hummingbirds have appeared in the garden. Two males and one female. The quince flowers are in bloom, the tulips have opened, the daffodils are beginning to fade and the osprey are flying overhead with fish hanging from their talons. When the hummingbirds arrive, in my heart, it is officially Spring. Just today the leaves on many trees popped and the Japanese maple opened. The hummingbirds seem to be attracted to their colour and the delicate branches. 

Yesterday, I sat with my camera and took a series of images that captured the last afternoon light sparkling on the eyes of the male hummingbirds. This beauty used the tips of the persimmon tree branches to perch and guard the feeders. The fine tips of the new branches are always their favourite perching spots between feedings. The background colour in this hummingbird picture is the red of the Japanese maple leaves. The maple creates a stunning contrast to the emerald green of the male's feathers. 

I recently completed a class on painting hummingbirds that was offered by the New York Botanical Gardens. The class was taught by Dorie Petrochko. We explored the structure of hummingbirds, how to paint the feathers, add iridescent colours and relate the anatomy to the beak. It was surprisingly challenging because there are so many elements to pay attention to while conveying movement and form simultaneously. It was my first attempt at painting hummingbirds. With time, this skill will improve, and I will post my paintings. In the meanwhile, I sit and wait patiently while they re-acquaint themselves with the garden and establish their terrains. 

 

The Healing Presence of Hummingbirds

 I am delighted to participate in a conversation tomorrow night as a part of the Port Jefferson Documentary Series. The film celebrates the work of Terry Masear, a rather magical woman who takes care of injured hummingbirds. When I received a call from the organizers of the series, I knew immediately that I needed to attend and participate. My friends Patricia Paladines and Dr. Carl Safina will also be attending. I will be sharing some of my hummingbird images taken over the years.

I feel that there is a curious symbiosis between Terry's experiences and one of my own.

During my recovery from Lyme disease, I had the most extraordinary visitor here for over five months. A rufous hummingbird found her way into my garden and wintered over. Her presence was kept quiet, outside of a few friends, neighbours, and patients. I wanted to protect her from over exposure. She was fed warm nectar during the winter months, and survived every possible weather challenge. She ate ants and caught gnats in the air while constantly drinking from several feeders that were maintained to keep her alive.

When she arrived in the garden, I was so stunned and excited to have her here. It was as if the heavens had delivered a little angel that was assisting in my personal healing. Two weeks into her stay in the autumn of 2023, I remember feeling that I really needed her presence in my world and in my life. My immune system had been compromised by tick born infections and while I was undergoing treatment, I often felt confused, overwhelmed and disoriented by what was happening in my body. The process of navigating my situation often left me feeling lost. Her healing presence gave me a novel focus and distraction from the battles of my internal terrains. 

Over the course of her stay she remained close to the front door of my office in the shelter of a large Rhododendron tree. When the wind was howling from the Northeast and the cold temperatures plummeted, she sought refuge in boxwoods. All the while I was aware that this was a once in a lifetime experience. She stayed perched, facing the sun and welcoming my patients into my healing space. We all observed in wonder, awe and delight. During my most challenging days, I felt as though a guardian angel    had descended from the heavens and offered me divine support. 

During her winter stay, I took hundreds upon hundreds of pictures of her. In this Spring collage, I am including a little image of her with witch hazel, pear flowers, one of my watercolours, a shadow, and promises of colourful flowers. She offered me a ray of hope and feeling of new possibilities and healing. I believe that she also gave my patients a sense of being in the presence of a unique and rare gift. 

When I saw the film about Terry, I found it curious that she was helping injured hummingbirds heal in Los Angeles, while in my neck of the woods on the East End of Long Island, a single hummingbird was helping me and my patients heal. My private practice focuses on nervous system regulation and trauma work. We were tending to the trauma vortex but through different perspectives and portals.

We all debated how long she would stay in Springs and what she might do when the weather warmed and flowers bloomed. One day, I began to notice her gorget begin to turn copper. My feeling was that her departure was imminent. From everything that I read, this juvenile would seek her natural breeding ground and most likely return to the West Coast. One day, she did leave. I had the felt sense that she would fly away and leave because the air was warming and the sun feeling bright. While our time together was limited, she gave me so much and I am deeply grateful. I am most thankful for the opportunity to spend hours and hours alone with her and observe her behaviour. She taught me so much about rufous hummingbirds and about how to be with her in a respectful way. 

My hope is that the more Terry's work and story is shared, the more we can respect and take care of the environments that shelter, protect and support wildlife. Please join us in this beautiful exploration of the relationship between humans and hummingbirds. 

Thank you Kelly Devine and Barbara Sverd for including me in this lovely opportunity to be in the company of like minded people and good friends. 

For the Love of Botany

   I am back to the drawing board of botanical art and all of the detailed nuances of creating in this modality. It began with a strong handmade leather bound book of beautiful hot press paper. Each week I make entries, based on what I see in the garden, on my walks or from the ocean and bay beaches. It has been a serious and committed act of self care, ritual and discipline. I began the first week of March 2024. During a long and arduous battle with Lyme disease and co-infections of Babesia and Erlichiosis, my body has craved simple and kind goodness from every facet of life. In June, it will be two years since I have been fighting the good fight. My immune system went into shock and required care and deep rest. It has been a journey. As anyone who has experienced these diseases, parts of us go into what I describe as the underworld. We are held hostage by the immediate needs or our immunity as we fight internal battles in terrain that we did not even know existed in our bodies.  

Core memories of comfort, kindness and safety have kept my internal compass orienting towards healing and recovery. My earliest memories of my life include color, in the form of pencils, paper and the smells of the beautiful colors in the forms of wax crayons and paints of all kinds. My mother was an artist, and so in my healing from two simultaneous tick bites my nervous system has craved the old, the familiar and the beauty of art. 

I have explored pen and pencil, watercolours and studied the masters. I have revisited art history books, early artwork of plants and religious art, prior botanical art classes, and the mysterious journeys of botanists who traveled the globe to document plants from far away places. 

In this post are just a few examples of the drawings and little paintings that I have been creating in the past year. I have followed and explored brilliant artists, made new friends and met new teachers. Botany has been a light in my life and each small inspired moment has doubled as a drop of healing energy. 

I am grateful to Lara for taking me on as a student again, Giacomina for her inspiration and encouragement, Bianca for helping me find just the right chair to support me during the hours of painting and drawing at my table. I am grateful for Christopher who helped me create the perfect workspace and found the perfect specimens, to Bob and Carol who always say that everything I make is beautiful, and to all of my friends and family worldwide who have been kind, supportive and generous in their sharing of information and good wishes.

I am also grateful for all of the talent that is in the world making it a better and more beautiful place. While the world churns and re-organizes on a daily basis, having botanical resources, and beauty in my surroundings have made a meaningful difference in my recovery. 

I am also so deeply grateful for the birds who winter over, the hummingbirds and the magical subtle rhythms of nature. During my hours of drawing and painting, I have surrendered to rhythms that I sometimes missed before becoming ill. I have trusted that my body will heal the ravages of Lyme disease and I do believe that with time and good healing, we can return to a new level of wholeness and wisdom.