Leonardo Da Vinci was a keen observer and student of nature. His notes on The Nature of Water, from The notebooks of Leonardo da Vinci , Translation by Edward MacCurdy (1955) are perceptive and eloquent: “Water is…
View More Words: “Water …The Vital Humour Of This Arid Earth”
Recently, Pew Research asked thousands of Americans where they find meaning in life. Instead of presenting group responses, they highlighted the wonderful responses and stories from the world of the individual person. It reminded me that:…
View More Words: “The World Of The Individual Person…”
What will it take for us to let go of our endless debates and finger-pointings over global warming or global climate change? When will we begin to truly recognize that the heart of our human…
View More Universal Well-Being And Planetary Considerations
You know you are hanging out with the right kind of friends, when, on a day you most need it, you are gifted with a beautiful starfish and the words “You make a difference every…
View More Words: “After Us, There Will Be Others…”
Author Julia Cameron points out that one of the most valuable tools for creativity is one of the simplest — walking. When she wrote THE ARTIST’S WAY she didn’t address exercise until week 12 in…
View More Walking In Nature — A Basic Tool For Creative Multitasking
When all the stars align in our favor, we tend to feel a sense of self-satisfaction that the universe has fallen into place for us. But instead, maybe we should feel a sense of humbling…
View More Words: “The Field Of All Possibilities…”
Within her diary, first published as THE SECRET ANNEX and later published as THE DIARY OF A YOUNG GIRL, Anne Frank expresses her belief in the healing power of nature — “amidst the simple beauty…
View More Words To Live By: “Nature Brings Solace In All Troubles”
Where do we find our courage, our strength, our resiliency, our compassion… Ursula K. Le Guin explained in her Mills College Commencement address, 1983 (excerpt): “Because you are human beings you are going to meet failure. You…
View More Words: “Where Human Beings Grow Human Souls …”
In the age of social media when we are overwhelmed by too much information and too many ultra compelling stories from questionable sources with untold or dubious purposes, it’s helpful to remember Cleanth Brooks’ warning…
View More Words: “The Bastard Muses … Propaganda, Sentimentality, and Pornography”
Creativity is how we reframe and redefine our world. It is how we express our joys, fears, interests, hates, passions, frustrations… It is how we feed our curiosity, learning, understanding, artistry, craftsmanship, resiliency, social connections… …
View More Reclaiming Creativity