Apples & Equinox
Here we are on the verge of a new season, autumn equinox is almost upon us. Things have been busy! I’ve been sharing the joy of fall and this season of transition through crafts, writing, and nature journaling. One fun thing I’ve done is Apple Prints, using this symbol of fall to make prints using acrylic paints. Apple picking and apple cider have always been elements or symbols of fall for me, so I chose to guide apple oriented crafts with seniors this month. It’s nice to choose a symbol of fall like this. Apple blossoms accompany us in spring, and there’s a wonderful resolution to summer in the form of the fruits of this tree. All summer, the flowers were pollinated, the trees grew strong in the sun and rain, they weathered storms and now, as the air cools and the days shorten, the apples ripen. There is something about a misty and cool fall morning to mark a transition to fall. These are the days when it gets warm, sometimes hot in the afternoon, and bluish clouds march across the sky. So, making prints with apples is a fun way to get in touch with the literal fruits of this season, and to mark the transition from summer to fall. For this craft, I cut apples in half in both directions. The seeds create a wonderful star pattern and a round shaped print if you cut the apple in half at its midpoint. If you cut it the other way, where the stem is, then you get the “traditional” apple profile. We dipped the apples in different colored acrylic paints and stamped them onto doilies, which I then mounted on thick green placemats. I thought this would be a nice door decoration for the fall.
Another thing I’ve been exploring was gyotaku fish prints, but without the fish. According to Wikipedia, “This is a traditional Japanese art form Gyotaku (魚拓; from gyo "fish" + taku "stone impression", fish print(ing)) is the traditional Japanese method of printing fish, a practice which dates back to the mid-1800s. This form of nature printing, where ink is applied to a fish which is then pressed onto paper, was used by fishermen to record their catches, but has also become an art form of its own.” I love the idea that this form of recording something became art. This reminds me a lot of nature journaling. When we record our experiences, either in writing or drawing, we are essentially recording our observations, and then there’s some alchemical magic that occurs, and these observations become expressive art that record how these objects or occurrences we have observed have touched us and called to us in specific and beautiful ways. And that is part of the magic of nature journaling. When we release ourselves to write or draw descriptively, there is a letting go of expectation that “this is art” and the inner critic quiets for a moment, and in that moment of in between, is where the magic so often happens. I know, I have witnessed it again and again in my students’ beautiful writings and drawings. There is a letting go of efforting and trying that really gives us space to get in touch with ourselves and the present moment, and to let the beauty of our experiences shine through.
I am very excited about my upcoming nature journaling workshops and events. Last weekend, I had the opportunity to nature journal with a wonderful group in Simsbury at the Simsbury Public Library. We had great timing as we walked through a small stand of trees before a big storm came rolling in. The wind was up, and as we walked, we tuned into all of our senses. At the end of the walk, two people noted that there was one moment when the wind sounded like a big wave crashing. It’s amazing what we can notice when we stop to listen and tune into the present moment!
Next up:
I will be leading a “Heart to Earth” Nature Journaling workshop at Evolution Yoga in Newington, CT on Friday, September 26th from 6:30-8 PM. It will be a wonderful chance to ground and center into the present moment in a beautiful, loving space among friends.
I will be guiding a daylong retreat in the art of sacred attention at the Holy Family Retreat Center in West Hartford, CT on September 27th from 10 AM - 4 PM. We will have the chance to explore many different practices together over the course of this day. The grounds are spectacular and peaceful. I am really looking forward to walking the labyrinth on the grounds and exploring the sensory experiences of this beautiful place.
What I’m reading: Anam Cara by John O’Donohue. Anything by him is so beautiful and prescient. I love the Celtic approach to the land and environment.
What I’m listening to: The Band Camino (it’s so funny, on their Spotify page, they call themselves “your mom’s favorite band.” Seems they got that one right!)
What I’m watching: Bharat Yoga. Some very nice shavasana meditations.
