INFINITE SURRENDER
Gaze with a soft focus at the center of the flower. Place your hands either on your heart or comfortably below your collar bones, allowing the heart center to be very open. Breath in through the heart and out through the heart. Chant the vowel sound “aaaaaaaah.” As you exhale and create the sound, notice … Continue reading
TREES, ART AND THE ART OF LISTENING
BY LORI BAILEY CUNNINGHAM My friend, Pamela Turczyn talks with trees. And they talk back. Yes, they do! I knew her art was extraordinary, which is why I invited her to allow me to include her work in my book, Mandala: Patterns of the Universe. But there is far more to this gifted woman than … Continue reading
EXHIBITION REVIEW: Out of the Ethers
MADELAINE SHELLABY Yes! You can experience healing when you stand in front of a work of art. Stand in front of one of the paintings by P.C.Turczyn on exhibit recently at the New York Open Center. Look into her botanical mandalas and become aware of a renewed sense of balance and harmony. Colorful, active, radiant, … Continue reading
FOREST BATHING
Urban Biophilia: The Tree Diaries If you are on Facebook, chances are good that you have seen images similar to this one, with a slogan about the Japanese practice of Shinrin-Yoku, translated as “Forest Bathing.” But what is it exactly? What are the benefits, and can we practice it in New York City? In short, … Continue reading
The Who, What, Where, When, Why and How
Introducing the new “Urban Biophilia: the Tree Diaries” column for New York Spirit: Who are you? I am a Brooklyn-based artist whose paintings express the underlying geometry that precipitates natural, living forms. My Infinite Qualities print series of floral mandalas explore how visual art can support the healing process and have been regularly featured … Continue reading
ART WITH A HEALING INTENTION
“Original art done with a healing intention is transformative. It can shape shift the hospital environment; it changes the energy.” ~Annette Ridenour Annette Ridenour is the president of Aesthetics Inc., an art consultancy firm specializing in the creation of art programs for hospitals. Her bio from the Aesthetics website describes her as “a pioneer … Continue reading
INFINITE PATIENCE
A maple tree with a special gift for it advised me that Patience has to do with one’s relationship with time; to cultivate Patience, one must be fully present in the moment. To do so, try silencing the inner monologue by first shifting to an attitude of open attention, as though you were listening … Continue reading
THE PRAYER TREE
This post is dedicated to Elisa Novick, who taught me that trees are individuals, each with unique personalities and gifts. A few months ago, I noticed a tree with the ability to support humans in creating coherent brain patterns. This is very useful for holding a vision or for prayer. I paid many visits to … Continue reading
NATURE’S ESSENCE & HEALING PRESENCE: Photography by David Foster
As a feature of Renee Phillips’ and Manhattan Arts International‘s annual juried online exhibition, Celebrate the Healing Power of Art, the Art That Supports the Healing Process Award goes to an artist who makes a significant contribution to the field of healing art. In selecting a winner, I was looking for beauty, communication, presence, skill, … Continue reading
David Foster Wins the Art That Supports the Healing Process Award
I am delighted to announce my selection for the winner of the Art That Supports the Healing Process Award, nature photographer David Foster. In a previous post, I mentioned I would be looking for “beauty, communication, presence, skill, originality and a full body experience of healing. Through the use of image, color, rhythm, proportion, … Continue reading
art that supports the healing process 