On my desk are a few interesting books on plant life:

The Secret Teachings of Plants, The intelligence of the heart in the direct perception on nature, by Stephen Harrod Bugner. Stephen Harrod Buhner’s book is interesting because it reveals the use of direct perception in understanding nature, medicinal plants, and the healing of human disease. It explores the techniques used by indigenous and Western peoples to learn directly from the plants themselves.

Plant Spirit Wisdom, Shamans and Sin Eaters, Celtic Techniques for Healing the Soul, by Ross Heaven. Ross Heaven shows how shamans heal using their knowledge of plant spirits as well as the plant’s medical properties and explores the core methods of plant shamanism. I find that truly interesting because I often wonder what more I can learn about plants apart from their (Latin) name, where to find them, and how I to draw them.

A Victorian Flower Dictionary: The Language of flowers by Mandy Kirkby. Daffodils signal new beginnings, daisies innocence. Lilacs mean the first emotions of love, periwinkles tender recollection. Early Victorians used flowers as a way to express their feelings—love or grief, jealousy or devotion.

However, I inch through these books because I simultaneously read C.G. Jung on Nature, Technology & Modern Life. I will later report more on this book, as well as the books on plants.

I could fill a lifetime with books. I can fill a lifetime with drawing. The art, however is, to combine it all, and to enjoy sentence by sentence mindfully, reading them as a meditation.

Paula Kuitenbrouwer

Paula Kuitenbrouwer sells exquisite fine art cards of her drawings as well as reproductions, and of some drawings smaller business-, gift- or mummy-cards. See Purchase in the header for what is available as well as the price list. In case you like to commission Paula, contact her at mindfuldrawing@gmail.com