The power of practice
I’ve been thinking about practice lately. Everything in life can be a practice, and our art and nature journaling are no exception. There is a lot of power in daily practice, even if it’s only 30 seconds a day. That is more than zero, and there is power in the dedication it takes to build a habit. I have witnessed my nature journaling students start nature journaling and art journaling habits after being released from the idea that they have to produce something “good” or “complete” or “impressive” or whatever our judgmental minds demand of us. It is really beautiful to see them feel free to create, and the practice provides rewards such as calm and enjoyment and conversation pieces to share with others.
I have been filming daily videos for my YouTube channel, and I find that even if I am busy or stressed, when I sit down to do the practice of nature journaling, I instantly get the benefit of slowing down, grounding and centering. This practice really works! It is nourishing, invigorating and helps me to shift out of my mind and into my body and most importantly the experience of the present moment. This practice is a great anchor for me, and it has become easier to return to the more that I do it. Additionally, as TwoSetViolin knows, the more we practice anything, the better we get. It’s also fun to share what we do together in community. When we share our writing and drawing in my nature journaling class, it is inspiring and joyful. It enables us to see things and the world from others’ perspectives, which often provides a powerful jolt to our awareness, much like when we first saw the Earth photographed from space in 1972. This photograph of Earth, known as “The Blue Marble,” helped to ignite the environmental movement. Seeing our precious planet from that perspective changed the way people thought about our home. And in 1990, Voyager I captured a famous photo of Earth as it was leaving the solar system, the “Pale Blue Dot,” showing just how tiny our planet is in the great realm of the Universe, so much of which is unknown to us. When we are nature journaling, we can utilize this perspective shift as we examine something from very close up or from farther away.
Nature journaling can help us to see what we might otherwise miss when we are not tuned into practicing focused awareness of our environment, and to see things from different perspectives. It’s a wonderful practice to do with others, and a great way to tune into our childlike wonder. Families can create a family nature journal and track the progress of houseplants, seeds, potted plants, a garden, wildlife, or trips to the park. Additionally, it’s a wonderful way to track the cycles and seasons of our world. You can document seasonal changes in easy to observe phenomenon such as daylight, animal behavior, and plants. You can also document cycles such as the moon phases or even the water cycle by observing and tracking the amount of rainy, cloudy, and sunny days and the weather in general. It’s really endless, and fun, and an engaging way to get your entire family outside and curious about nature. As Thich Nhat Hanh said, first, love the Earth, and then you will want to take care of her, our Mother Earth.
Roundup
I’ve been very busy over the last couple of months getting my YouTube channel up and running, and here’s a rundown of what else I’ve been up to. I’ve been guiding classes in a wonderful array of topics from mandalas to window art to paper lotuses to Japanese art and poetry (Haiga) as well as traveling watercolor workshops. I love to guide classes and enjoy it when my students let go and begin to experience what happens when they allow their inner artist to emerge! It’s a beautiful thing.
What I’ve been watching: TwoSetViolin on YouTube. They are so funny, intelligent, talented, and unorthodox! Love it!
What I’ve been reading: Wings of Fire Totally not just for kids!
What I’ve been listening to: OK, this is a summer indulgence, but Ice on My Teeth by Ateez is super catchy and fun K-Pop. This is pure bubblegum.
