The above image is the first set of ( Just Being) paintings since my concussion 2 weeks ago. While I was recovering I spent 10 days at the lakeshore resting. I looked out across the calm water and wondered to myself, what can I do. I have no energy or the ability right now to paint, or to read or to do anything whatsoever.
What can I do?
I can JUST BE
I can just sit here and be and in doing nothing I drifted off into the landscape and felt free of everything. This feeling of freedom filled my heart with deep gratitude.
Floating in love - I sent out my love energy and received the love emanating in abundance from this sacred land and beyond. I knew this was a big part of my healing process, to make this time to just be. And so, that's what I did.for a whole week - I sat and was LOVE. Each day I just sent out love and received love. Being in the flow with breath, water, sunshine, tree, squirrel, deer, even a field mouse joined me in the long grasses underneath the willow trees.
And I grew stronger every day and began taking short walks along the shoreline and marvelled at the willows dancing so majestically in the low Autumn sun, inspiring me to paint and so last week I began playing with some conte. I chose conte because of its fluidity of flow; its rustic and organic and you can soften its look by rubbing your fingers across the mix of clay and charcoal. I could only manage 20 minutes or so at a time but that was enough - just to express my feelings through my art again felt great.
Just Being - Conte and watercolour 11x 18”
I feel my painting represents me being held, safe in the willow tree (as I did, as a child, only it was the Silver birch in our back garden). Nature has always been my medicine, a place of truth and where I feel understood. In the natural world there is a great sense of oneness, of belonging. The willow was whispering to me to go inward - inviting me to allow myself to just be, no more doing. Like the willow gracefully letting go of her golden foliage, it was time for me to let go too!
I love the image I had created and felt compelled to play again with this image using ink and watercolour, it actually felt a much lighter experience; maybe I had more energy than the day before.
Just being is healing . And when I paint, I know I am healing too.
Just Being 2 - Watercolour and ink pen 11” x 18”
How do you feel when you spend time in nature?
Please do share, I would love to know how nature heals you….sending love and light and wishing you all a beautiful and peaceful week, Marghanita x
All Original Artwork and Prints by Marghanita Hughes can be purchased @marghanita.com - visit Gallery or DM for details.
