Natura Artis Magistra
Natura Artis Magistra is latin for Nature is the Mother of Art. It is also the name of a Zoo in Amsterdam, colloquially known as Artis. That's not why we chose the name, just a happy coincidence. Happy because I love the zoo and I had never really seen it as art before, but it most certainly is. Who has ever seen a painting so lovely as a butterflies wings or the spectacularly spotted coat of a leopard?
Art is everwhere. It is alive in all of us. It lives in everthing. The images of nature will forever inspire us and fill us with awe. How many soldiers do you suppose have stopped fighting to witness a sunset in peace? That is the healing power of nature.
Art is Healing
There are few things more universally effective at rejuvenating the spirit than a simple walk outside. Nature is healing because it is so full of free energy. Everything conspires with nature to survive; to continue. It is difficult to walk among its overwhelming force and remain unaware, you really have to plug your ears and cover your eyes. It is often impossible to avoid being swept up in a velvety green hug. When that happens there is healing and that is powerful art.
Wild Beauty of Nature
As I lie in the meadow under the tree I can feel her reaching deep into the earth below me, probing deeper and deeper, spreading out in all directions. The ground is aquiver, and every blade of grass feels it: the slow steady circulation of energy pushing down into the earth delivering nourishment and shelter to billions upon gazillions of life forms, who in turn offer up their latest creations to the majestic tree. Their bountious gifts are warmly accepted and pulled up out of the earth and thrust towards the sky, forming new buds, branches, flowers and leaves, strengthening and glorifying the tree.
The wild beauty of nature affects me deeply. She captivates me with her magic. The sky, sun, earth and the stream. I love to watch them play with the trees.
The tree stretches out her arms towards the sun, and from the sky a thousand windy kisses rain down upon her leafy fingertips, while the earth's luxuriant growth delights in their warmth.
Tree quivers from the kisses, and a flush of moist perspiration fills the air as she coquettishly withdraws her hand. Soon after she reaches anew into the sky to touch the sun. They never tire of their lovely dance and every moment is new.
I feel secure under her canopy, cradled in green meadows while the sky winks at me through the branches. I watch this play and it is art. Above me and all around me the power, the love, the energy flows and dances like fingers of flickering firelight playing on an soft piano. In their lullaby I am made whole again: I am healed. That is the power of art; that is the power of love.
All should see such beauty and experience the magic and the profound love of nature. It can be experienced through cooperative endeavour. That is what a tree is: a huge cooperative endeavour surviving together through mutually beneficial effort. That is love. And with that love there is healing. That is the hope of Artis Living.
Are you ready to learn?