Inspired By Nature - Healing Energy of Cedar

She whispers softly, “place your hands upon my body and feel my healing energy rise inside you. You are part of me and I part of you. Welcome home .”

Painting outdoors using earth paint feels so natural and organic. CEDAR SPIRIT was inspired by the Old Growth Cedars found in the forests on Vancouver Island where they are under constant threat of being cut down. I believe, in every tree there is a being...these beings are sacred to all life on this planet.

Short video:

Cedar Spirit - 24” x 36” Earth Paint on Acrylic based Box Canvas

Original Artwork available from my website @ marghanita.com

Viewing artwork can bring great peace and harmony back into our lives. How does this painting make you feel?

Sending love and light and healing energy from the enchanting forests on Vancouver Island, Marghanita x

Everyone Grieves In Their Own Way

There Is No “Right Way” to Grieve. It's important to know that no two people experience grief the same way

Driftwood Bird - SPIRIT NEVER DIES - A Gift from Creator

Driftwood Spirit Bird

Yesterday, my husband David found this enchanting piece of driftwood on our walk along Jordan River, Vancouver Island, BC. He marvelled at the piece of driftwood and said excitedly, “Look Marghanita, It’s a bird” and then gifted it to me. A precious and sacred gift found by my beautiful husband which Mother Earth wished us to find. I have always loved driftwood; I love how each piece of wood has its own unique story waiting to be discovered. This little piece of driftwood whispered…. a song of “rebirth” to me.

My beautiful brother, Clifford passed away recently having battled a long, painful and torturous cancer caused by a brain tumour.

Holding the warm, weathered wood in my hands, was like holding Cliffords hand once more…the soft carved shape of the bird invites you to hold it as if you were holding someones hand. The driftwood bird emanates an incredible energy when you hold it in this way - a deep feeling of connection.

Cliffords body and mind had been ravished by the cancer but his spirit, the very essence of who he was; could never die. His last word he said to me, was connected, it was almost impossible for him to speak at all but he said it twice while holding my hand softly; yet firmly, “connected”. I knew he was talking about how inter-connected we are with all life here on earth and beyond.

All Things Are Connected

Clifford was a giver, he walked through life with a sense of humility, kindness and had a deep love and respect for all living things. We were both firm believers in that everything relies on everything else in order to manifest. He loved the great outdoors and birds were among his favourite to observe and listen to; influencing the beautiful songs and music he would write with his guitar.

Drifted Ashore

The mouth of the river where David found the driftwood bird is known as diitiida (Drifted Ashore) to the Pacheedaht First Nations. At this ancient site, the two groups lived together before the great flood. I love that this driftwood spirit bird was found on this sacred land known as Drifted Ashore by the indigenous peoples.

Looking more closely at the driftwood bird, I was amazed how the raw natural elements had sculpted a perfect beak and even an eye. I love how the bird is turning his head to look at you; with his wing tucked in and his longfeathered tail fanned out to perfection. Once a tree, now sculpted into a spirit bird by creator - what a precious and sacred gift to behold. Holding this little driftwood spirit bird has a healing energy and gifts great joy and deep peace; and I find comfort in knowing Clifford is free like the bird, free from suffering, he is peaceful and in everything and everywhere. He is Mother Earths song.

Grieving

When a loved one dies, you are changed forever; it’s like part of you dies with them, however, over time and finally accepting that I would never see my brother in flesh again, I shifted my grief into a celebration. I began to see his death not as a loss but as a great gift - a rebirth of spirit. His spirit became stronger and more powerful; and I could feel him, like God, everywhere and in everything. Clifford is the soaring eagle, the dancing cedar, the whispering wind, the sweet smell of the first spring blossoms of April. He is the early morning bird song that awakens me so sweetly, he is the warm glow of the sunrise and the illuminating moon lighting up the night sky before I go to sleep.

Free bird - driftwood bird hands opening to Gods Love - Watercolour and ink pen

Clifford is this beautiful driftwood bird I hold in my hand. Grateful for this sacred gift and for my brothers love and light and forever living spirit

We all cope with grief differently. I know some people prefer talking to others about their loss, while others benefit from writing their feelings down, it has certainly helped me to write this blog post. I am grateful I have had time in the wilds to process my feelings and find a creative way to express my own personal grieving. Physical activity can really help people feel better too, especially walks in the wilds, whereas for others, creative outlets are more helpful.

I personally have found nature to be my greatest healer through these very difficult and painful months and expressing my feelings through my art has been incredibly therapeutic.

Grieving a very difficult and personal journey to navigate. Sending my love and light and healing energy to all of you who are grieving the loss of a loved one; Know you are deeply loved and connected to all life. Wishing you a beautiful and joy-filled week….love and light Marghanita x

Spirit Never Dies

Trees Matter - Healthy forest for healthy people

Yesterday it was International Forest Day and to celebrate - I would like to offer my TREE Module at a third of the price. $7.99 (Normal Price $24.00

The theme for this year is Healthy Forest for Healthy People. Part of my work as a facilitator of joy-filled learning is to help others (both children and adults ) reconnect with the natural world through creative explorations and helping to nurture a loving and lasting relationship with nature.

In this Module you will discover how children find TREES a great source of inspiration and comfort. Through playful and meaningful nature based art activities, we can help nurture a loving and respectful relationship between our children and the trees in our local environment and beyond.

The TREE Module is jam packed with over 20 soulful nature based art activities for all ages.

Here are just a few:

• Learning the Language of Trees
• Exploring with Driftwood - Driftwood Dragonfly Puppets
• Storytelling with Tree Gnomes
• Investigating Canadian Artist Emily Carr - Dancing Trees

• Mixed Media Birch Trees

• The Mighty Oak - Stick Beings

• Willow Crowns

• Nature Art as Therapy - Forest Gnomes

• Tree Spirits - Making a life sized Tree Being

• Leaf Printing

• Climbing and hugging trees

And so much more…..

To purchase this special offer click on button below

TREE MODULE - Special Offer - $7.99

From the United Nations article

Healthy forest for healthy people

When we drink a glass of water, write in a notebook, take medicine for a fever or build a house, we do not always make the connection with forests. And yet, these and many other aspects of our lives are linked to forests in one way or another.

Forest sustainable management and their use of resources are key to combating climate change, and to contributing to the prosperity and well-being of current and future generations. Forests also play a crucial role in poverty alleviation and in the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Yet despite all these priceless ecological, economic, social and health benefits, forests are endangered by fires, pests, droughts, and unprecedented deforestation.

The theme for 2023 is "Forests and health.”

Forests give us so much to our health. They purify the water, clean the air, capture carbon to fight climate change, provide food and life-saving medicines, and improve our well-being.

It’s up to us to safeguard these precious natural resources.

This 2023 calls for giving, not just taking, because healthy forests will bring healthy people. read full article here: https://www.un.org/en/observances/forests-and-trees-day

Soulful Art for Sale

Here are a few of my paintings created during my time in Scotland (my homeland). Sad to be leaving family and friends behind, as we head back to our adopted homeland, British Columbia in Canada but excited to get back into Vanlife…these painting are for sale and I will be continuing my painting and nature art workshops while we travel in our van. You can follow our creative adventures via my blog.

“Painting is self-discovery. Every good artist paints what he is.” – Jackson Pollock

Earth Lovers - We Are One - we are earth, fire, tress, bird, rock and light...we are all of this and more.

Earth Lovers - Acrylic and ink pen on Heavy Paper 11” x 15” Portrait ( Original Artwork Sold - Art Prints are available-$40 for details and delivery contact me on info@marghanita.com )

“We are spiritual beings having a human experience”

Pierre Teilhard de Chardin

Ruin with a View - Pearl Catcher

Ruin with a View - Pearl Catcher - Acrylic on large boxed canvas 24” x 36” Portrait - Unframed ready to hang. Price: $600 For details and delivery contact me : info@marghanita.com

Watch video here: RUIN WITH A VIEW

My wish is that the viewer of my art can imagine themselves in the painting. What might they be thinking as they sit on the window sill of the old Scottish Ruin?

Earth Child

Earth Child - Acrylic on large boxed canvas 24” x 36” Portrait - Unframed ready to hang Price: $600 For details and delivery contact me : info@marghanita.com

Watch video here: EARTH CHILD VIDEO

Wishing you all a beautiful and creative week, know you are deeply loved, Marghanita x

Earth Child - There is no separation, we are part of nature

What kind of relationship do you have with nature?

Did you spend a lot of time outdoors in the natural world when you were a child?

Growing up in the Scottish countryside, I explored, and gathered from the natural world. I touched, held, and responded to things, in an intimate and personal way. Gaining a sense of connection with these living beings and the surrounding natural environment. I continue to view and look at the world in this way, revelling in the majestic wilderness.

As an artist, I look at nature, as I did as a child, with a sense of wonder, fascination and connection. Seeing with heart and soul. Seeing everything as if it were the first time, with an open heart. The natural world is constantly whispering to my soul.

“We cannot protect something we do not love, we cannot love what we do not know, and we cannot know what we do not see. Or hear. Or sense” - Richard Louv

I still view the world as I did as a child with a sense of wonder and awe...this flows into my art. “Earth Child”, my latest painting, represents a Child of Nature. We are Water, Earth, Wind and Spirit - There is no separation. Inspired by my time down at the sea, in Crail, Fife Scotland (my homeland) surrounded by the raw, wild elements, how can one not be inspired.

Watch the video here - On location, creating my latest painting - Earth Child

Nature is my Medicine, My greatest Teacher and a constant source of Inspiration for my Art

I wish to share with the world a little mystery and magic inspired by the wonders of the Natural World. I believe every child is born with an innate need to feel a connection to the Natural World and we, as adults, have a responsibility to share our incredible Mother Earth with the children our lives.

"We often forget that we are nature. Nature is not something separate from us. So, when we say that we have lost our connection to nature, we've lost our connection to ourselves." Landartist - Andy Goldsworthy

What is your relationship with nature? Please do share, I would love to hear from you. Wishing you a beautiful and creative week, love and light Marghanita x

Soulful Art for Sale

Earth Child - Acrylic on large boxed Canvas 36” x 24” - If you would like to purchase the original artwork or prints of my art, please contact me direct.

Grateful to my husband; film-maker - David Hughes for this short film (www.davidhughescreative.com)

Storytelling with Nature - The 3 Little Pigs

Storytelling with Nature - The 3 Little Pigs

Today we are exploring the possibilities of Storytelling with Nature and we are using the title - The 3 Little Pigs as our story of choice. Of Course the story is just a starting point for what can be an ongoing exploration for creative adventures outdoors.

Did you know that the Three Little Pigs was first seen in print in the 1840s, it apparently, is believed to go back even farther than and apparently there is an English version that is titled The Fox and the Pixies and I love that the story is set in the forest....imagine what fun it would be to create pixies and a fox in a woodland setting - how exciting; will be doing this when I get back in the forest next month!

In the two short videos, I provide you with inspiration but it's up to you how you how you explore the story and activities with your children (students). The learning opportunities are infinite and are suitable for all ages; simplifying the story and activities for younger children and expanding the depth of exploration for older students. 

First we read the story (there are several different versions so I thought I would leave it up to you to find which one resonates with you and ofcourse as you delve deeper into the session you will realise you and your students will be making your very own unique version. 

The activities below are beautiful ways to help children actively engage with nature. Remember, when out hunting and gathering we say thank you for the gifts from Mother Nature and take only what we need.

VIDEO ONE - Lets make our Clay Pigs

We then invite the children to make their very own clay pigs using natural clay and materials found in nature. Clay is just one example of what material you could use but are not limited to...ask the children what they would like to use. There are no rules, let the children use their imaginations!

VIDEO TWO - Let's make our Pig Homes

We then invite the children to make the 3 different homes using any of the materials they have collected such as stones, rocks, straw, foliage, sticks etc....what materials would you use? 

Now its time to think about the wolf? Should we make a wolf puppet or could we dress up as a wolf? Or should we make a clay wolf? What materials could we use to make our wolf?

Now it's time to act out the story...the possibilities are infinite for creative play - so much fun - joy-filled learning; nurturing the whole child, body, mind, heart and spirit.

Please do share with me your thoughts and ideas and your final creations.

If you liked this activity you may enjoy my Nature based Art Program full of creative adventures outdoors. Visit www.educatingheartnatureart.com

Wishing you all a magical and creative week, love and light Marghanita x

www.educatingheartnatureart.com

A Ruin with a View

A Ruin with a View - Latest painting Inspired by Nature - “Pearl Catcher”

Watch the video here:

Inspired by Nature

Today I am returning to an old ruin I visited several weeks ago whilst on a coastal walk from Crail to Anstruther in Fife, Scotland (my homeland)

I’ve been painting outdoors for years, I find the outdoors the most awe-inspiring natural place to be creative. 

The enchanting old cottage, full of mystery, was calling me back. 

No door to unlock, you are welcomed by- spirit of place. 

Window frames the sea. No glass obstructing the view or shutter to keep out the raw wild elements flowing in and around the crumbling ruin, filling the air with Mother Earth's song. 

A place to sit and dream and lose yourself. I breathe in the wild raw beauty and allow myself to slip into a state of peace - I become one with wind, sea, rambling bush and spirit; feeling the energy of this sacred place I begin to paint.

There are no rules ; experimenting and experiencing is what its all about, allowing the energy of what I feel flow organically (into my art) onto my canvas.

I love how Mother Nature has reclaimed the cottage, giving it a new charm, mystery and beauty. I too, am worn and weathered by the wild elements and of life itself; yet here I feel so free and alive and so connected and real.

Like the ruin, I feel in these wild sacred places; we leave a trace of our essence there and in return it leaves a trace upon us. 

Below is my finished painting inspired by the wild raw energy of this sacred seascape and charming old ruin. I had no idea what would evolve over the days returning to the ruin; here it is - Pearl Catcher. I feel a story stirring in my head about the pearl catcher….

PEARL CATCHER (Ruin with a View) - Acrylic on Large Boxed Canvas 36’ x 24’

If you would like to purchase the original artwork or prints of my art, please contact me direct.

Pearl Catcher

On reflection - I wonder why this ruin?

Maybe I have been drawn to it of late as I see parallels of my life - my brother’s body and mind withering as he fought cancer, finally his body gave up and he passed away just last month...returning to Mother Earth; his spirit lives on, he is everywhere; as does the spirit of this enchanting place. 

We are, after all, spiritual beings having human experiences.

Grateful to my husband; film-maker - David Hughes for this short film (www.davidhughescreative.com)

Nature is my Medicine - Walking Barefoot

I love to walk barefoot all year round whenever I can - sometimes Winter in BC can be challenging with all the snow. However, I am still in Scotland where it is a little milder; so I made my way down to the beach. It was bitterly cold and very windy but the sea was whispering to me...walking barefoot and letting the sea wash over my naked feet was so invigorating ; I felt so alive and connected and deeply grateful for this sacred wild time by the sea.

When you put your socks back on you can literally feel the energy rising through your feet and into your entire body - I love, love, love it!!! If you can't get down to the water, why not walk barefoot on the grass, sand, earth or rock.

Walking barefoot strengthens the immune system
and helps regulate the nervous system, decreasing feelings of anxiety and stress. 
when your bare feet or skin comes in contact with the earth, free electrons are taken up into the body. These electrons could be referred to as nature’s biggest antioxidants and help neutralise damaging excess free radicals that can lead to inflammation and disease in the body. The Earth is a conductor or free electrons and so are all living things on the planet, including us. The body is composed of mostly of water and minerals which in combination are excellent conductors of electrons from the Earth providing there is direct skin contact or some other conductive channel for them to flow through. 
The Earth’s energy upgrades one’s physiology by allowing the body to cope and repair thereby promoting wellbeing, vitality and better sleep. It also harmonizes and stabilizes the body’s basic biological rhythms, knocks down (and even knocks out) chronic inflammation and reduces and eliminates associated pain, making it the most natural and powerful anti-inflammatory and anti-aging remedy around! No matter what your age, gender, race or health status you will benefit from a daily dose of Earthing! 
Want to learn more about the benefits of barefoot walking - check this website: https://lnkd.in/eK3szzjU

Nature is my Medicine

Today I returned to the ruined cottage with my sketch pad and watercolours. The skies were grey but the wild coastal walk had my heart singing; and painting in the ruin had my spirit dancing....I am now inspired to run a few workshops too - will keep you posted of dates and locations.

Inspired By Nature

I keep returning to this ruin - sitting in the crumbling window looking out to the sea, I am able to get lost, let time slip away and dream...dream...dream.

I wonder who lived here, imagining them sitting around the fire; what stories they could have shared if they were here today....a timely reminder of how fragile and fleeting life is. Ruins have always fascinated me; I love how nature has weaved its way into the remaining walls of this cottage. I too, am weathered by the wild raw elements; I feel so invigorated and happy and so so grateful to be ALIVE!

I will return later this week, this time with my large canvas

Is nature your medicine?

Nature is my Medicine, my greatest Teacher and a constant source of Inspiration. Would you like to be inspired by Nature? Would you like to feel happier and healthier? Join me for one of my Nature Art Workshops this Spring and Summer. Details to follow soon…stay tuned.

Art is a Language

Art is a language, a thread, a way of communicating, a bridge that connects us to the source, to our true self, to nature.

We are part of Earth’s Community - Our relationship with Mother Earth is sacred and I wish to celebrate our interconnectedness through the language of art. I believe we are born with an innate need to feel a connection with nature. When we honour and respect our sacred relationship with Mother Earth, we heal, nature heals.

My personal belief is that nature, art and spirituality are interwoven in us, it is what makes us human. And there is an inner need to create, a need to understand ourselves and our connection and nature invites us to explore that connection, evoking emotions, thoughts and ideas that morph into a painting, a sculpture, a song, a poem, a photograph.

Mycelium

Watch the video: Mycelium

Spending time immersed in nature nurtures the whole being, body, mind, heart and spirit. This painting was inspired after spending a beautiful morning, sitting barefoot under the canopy of an old growth tree draped in an elegant coat of vibrant green moss. I could feel the energy rise from underneath the soil, where the mycelium live interwoven with tree roots; carrying their wild songs of kinship....how incredibly beautiful, spiritual and healing this energy was....painting this memory in a very different environment (lakeshore) was also very healing and brought great joy, peace and contentment....sharing my art gifts me great joy too, if you would like to learn more about my art or purchase original artwork or prints please visit my website or contact me direct, I would love to hear from you.

The Healing Power of Trees

Nature is my Medicine

Peebles, Scotland

Oh how uplifting it was to walk under the beech trees - these sacred beautiful beings lit up the pathway - inviting me - to just be....just being is enough.

The Beech symbolizes protection and can help bring clarification to your thoughts and energy. Standing tall and deeply rooted, I too felt strong and grounded. I loved how the rain emphasized the elegance of their dark sculptured limbs making their leaves sing with colour - a feast for the senses. So much light and love emanating from these beings.

Truly grateful to the trees and their healing energy.

How do the trees make you feel?

Healing with Nature

I would like to share with you a very short and simple meditation that you can do anywhere. This short version is from the Elements Meditation Series I have been creating over the last few month as part of a healing journey. I believe we are born with an innate need to feel a connection with the natural world.

Spending time among the trees and plants helps nurture our whole being - body, mind, heart and spirit. When we stand barefoot in the garden; among plants and trees, we can tune into the the wild songs of kinship through our senses. We can feel Mother Earth’s heartbeat and healing energy rise and flow into our entire being, nurturing the body, mind, heart and spirit. In this short video I use the tree to represent the Earth element.

Watch Video

Nurtured by Nature - Healing with Nature We are nature, we are love, we are light, we are beauty, we are healing… we are healing. We all know nature is a powerful medicine - now we have research to back it up.

Nature not only serves as a calming elixir to the body, but it also offers powerful therapeutic effects on the brain. It’s a must-have for physical health and cognitive function

- according to the Yale School of the Environment.

People have a deep, primal need to affiliate with our natural environments. The term for this is called biophilia, coined by social psychologist Erich Fromm in 1964, which became popularized by Harvard naturalist E.O. Wilson in the mid-1980s. Biophilia means “love of life.” The concept explains that humans have a deep-seated emotional affiliation to other living things and a yearning to affiliate with other forms of life. In an ever-increasing time where people are experiencing higher stress levels than usual, anxiety, social isolation, and distance from one another, nature can be a potent remedy. Your connection to it can help you tap into powerful physiological, psychological, and overall health-supportive forces that elicit harmony, peace, and connection.

Read full article here: https://chopra.com/.../your-brain-on-nature-finding...

Healing Together

Wishing you all a beautiful and peaceful week, know you are deeply loved, Marghanita x

Healing Energy of Water

Water is a teacher, a great healer and a mirror.

I began this painting at the ocean, her energy wild and invigorating. I felt wild and alive as I painted. I completed the painting down at the lakeshore where the water was as wild and free as the ocean but more gentle and deeply soothing. Using the lakeshore water, my paint brush dances with ease and I use a goose feather to add final detail. Spending time by water is always healing. Let the element of water cleanse you, wash away your stress and worries, let the element of water bring peace and harmony back into your life. Let yourself be wild and free-flowing.

“Deep peace of the running wave to you,

of water flowing, rising and falling,

sometimes advancing, sometimes receding…

May the stream of your life flow unimpeded!

Deep peace of the running wave to you.”

- Celtic Prayer

Wishing you all a beautiful and peaceful weekend, know you are deeply loved, Marghanita x

Prints of my original artwork are available.

“A Woman in harmony with her spirit is like a river flowing. She goes where she will without pretence and arrives at her destination prepared to be herself and only herself.” – Maya Angelou

Ocean Heals Body Mind Spirit

Ocean invites you to breathe with her….watch the video here: 

When we breathe with ocean, her raw, wild, healing energy flows through our entire being, nurturing our body, mind, heart and spirit. Ocean has a positive impact on our physical, mental, and emotional well-being. Unfortunately, not everyone can get to the wild places, so my husband and I are bringing the wild healing songs of ocean and forest to you through our new video series Nature is Our Medicine . Today we share with you our first in the series - Ocean Healing Energy Meditation - a very short and simple meditation you can do at home. 

“The mere sight and sound of water can induce a flood of neurochemicals that promote wellness, increase blood flow to the brain and heart and induce relaxation.” - Blue Mind, Wallace Nichols

Ocean Heals Body, Mind & Spirit

Breathe in the wild song of ocean and let her soothing rhythm flow into you, with every breath. Let your worries and stress dissolve, releasing all with every exhale. Standing strong and grounded, embedded in the life force of ocean, her raw wild energy flows into every part of your being and you become one with ocean…you are healing

If you enjoyed the video, I invite you to subscribe to my youtube channel here: Marghanita Hughes

This beautiful sacred land is home to the Pacheedaht First Nation - "Pacheedaht" translates to English as "Children of the Sea Foam."

water induces a meditative state that makes us happier, healthier, calmer and more creative

Nature Is Our Greatest Teacher, Healer, Inspiration - Are You Ready to Delve Deeper?

When your heart is fully awakened you hear the music and poetry of the natural world, you feel the love, and take up the invitation to play and dance with nature and when you do, the music, the love, the beauty seeps into every part of your being and how can you not feel inspired to create...it is an organic flow of love; of spirit which seeps effortlessly into your creative work. (Children do this naturally, as adults we have forgotten the natural way of flow).

New Relationship Art Program

I wish to cerebrate our relationship with nature, with each other, with all life, celebrate our interconnectedness; And I invite you to join me in this celebration, express your feelings and thoughts, putting meaning to your experiences. Nature Art gives meaning to our lives and helps us understand our relationship with nature and it allows us to have a deeper understanding of our feelings and emotions.

Soothing Balm for the Soul

My personal belief is that nature, art and spirituality are interwoven in us, it is what makes us human. And there is an inner need to create, a need to understand ourselves and our connection and nature invites us to explore that connection, evoking emotions, thoughts and ideas that morph into a painting , a sculpture, a song, a poem, a photograph. 

We are born with an innate need to feel a connection to the Natural World

Want to leran more about my new Relationship Art Program simply leave a message or contact me direct - I would love you to join us on a journey of rediscovery.

Grateful to be able to play and work on this beautiful sacred land. It is home to the Pacheedaht First Nation - "Pacheedaht" translates to English as "Children of the Sea Foam."

Wishing you all a beautiful and creative weekend, with love and gratitude on this sacred new day, Marghanita x

Storytelling with Nature - Sheep

Our first Nature Art Session for 2022 and it begins with a story…

INSPIRED BY NATURE

We gaze at one another, heart to heart, soul to soul

A Sense of Wonder

The playful sheep had me captivated by their curiosity and friendliness, not to mention their beauty. They transported me back to Scotland, my homeland. Reminding me of happy days in Perthshire where the sheep would frequently wander into our back garden. During lambing season our children would help to bottle feed lambs, a most joy filled experience, one of love and compassion. Our children learned a lot about themselves and the surrounding land growing up in the Scottish countryside. Early on, our children formed loving, lasting relationships with the natural world and it’s inhabitants

Joy-filled Learning

Through my nature based art classes I wish my students, both children and adults to learn more about themselves and the natural environment through playful art processes and soulful nature based art activities.

Nature art is certainly more challenging online than in person. Back in 2019 I closed my outdoor classroom and decided to concentrate on providing online content, inspiration and support for educators and parents. I did however continue to provide online (one to one) nature art classes each week for a very special little girl, Elise. Elise suffers from a very rare neurological disorder, Subcortical Band Heterotopia or (double cortex), Autism and Epilepsy. Nature Art helps nurture her body, mind, heart and spirit, providing a well-needed balance in her life; gifting great joy; building her confidence and a better understanding of who she is while developing her own unique art style.. Her love of the natural world and its inhabitants can be felt in her soulful artwork.

Love and Compassion

I knew as soon as I saw the sheep Elise would also be captivated and inspired to get creative. I returned to the farm the next day to video the sheep so Elise could observe them unclose and thought about what we could explore together.

Staying Warm During Winter
Keeping warm outdoors during these cold winter months in BC involves wearing appropriate clothing. Woollen hats, jumpers and scarfs are made from wool - gifted to us by the sheep. What a great starting point for our creative explorations. I have invited Elise to look out all her woollen hats, jumpers and scarfs and choose a few of her favourites that we can explore the patterns and shapes. I can’t wait to see her selection of woollies.

This will lead us onto asking how the hats and jumpers are made. Another wonderful journey to explore. The fascinating story of WOOL.

Using hat and jumper patterns as inspiration Both my colourful woollen hat and cardigan that I am using as my inspiration here, were purchased many years ago from a small artisan shop in Edinburgh, my home city, handmade by local artists.

More stories will be unravelled as we investigate the history of the knitted jumper both here in BC where the Cowichan knitting is a traditional knitting form developed by the First Nation people of the Cowichan Valley. While back in Scotland we learn about the beautiful Fair Isle and Shetland knitting patterns, and with the older students we will also explore sheep in Norway, Iceland, Australia, NewZealand and Argentina. Each country with their very own unique history and stories..…how fascinating!!!!

Playful Process Focused Art Experiences

Play is the beginning of everything. Elise will play with the wool, explore textures, colours and patterns. What happens if you pull on the wool, wrap it around other natural materials. What might happen if it gets wet or add natural inks to the wool. Offering multi sensory experiences.

These Process Focused Art Experiences help to form a relationship with the natural materials we explore.

IMAGINATION

Then an invitation to create sheep sculptures - what materials might we use? Snow is our starting point outdoors. Indoors we will start with clay. What else can we use?

Elise loves to create sculptures and figurines capturing the essence of the animal, bird or insect she has encountered. Her sculptures become her friends and her imaginations takes her on magical, playful adventures indoors and outdoors. This imaginative play leads organically into storytelling with our little sculptures both orally and illustrated. And so, as we flow hrough our learning journey, one creative adventure leads on to another.

Depending on the ages of your students you can expand on their learning experiences by delving deeper into the history of sheep and wool. Delve deeper into the stories and create your very own. The possibilities of joy filled learning are infinite when you put your imagination to work. Learning should be fun!!!

We can also learn to be a little more sustainable along the way

Have you noticed nothing is ever wasted in nature. We have become a throw away society. Socks never get repaired. One quick call to Amazon and the new socks are delivered within 48 hours (by some driver under enormous pressure to delver on time). We are so wasteful. We can look at repairing our socks, we could learn to knit. We could use old socks to make hand puppets. We can recycle old jumpers. Ask your older students how might they as individuals be more sustainable, how might our community be less wasteful.

Heart to heart soul to soul

Nature has an amazing way of knowing what you need. My time with the sheep gifted immense joy, evoked happy memories of past and oodles of inspiration for creative explorations with my students young and old.

Grateful for this sacred time with the sheep - their gentleness touched my heart and their soul whispered to mine - heart to heart - soul to soul

What a beautiful soul Don’t you think it looks like the sheep is fashioning a hat and jumper!

Let it be joyfiilled learning

More than ever, children need to have plenty of opportunities to express themselves and experience JOY, feel LOVED and NURTURED. Combing nature and art help to nurture the whole child, body, mind, heart and spirit. These playful, soulful experiences help the children discover more about themselves, offering some peace, harmony and balance back into their lives.

If you would like to learn more leave me a message or drop me an email, I would love to share this sacred journey of joyfilled learning with you.

Wishing you all a beautiful and creative week, love and gratitude Marghanita x

Supporting children's well-being with art in nature

THE NEED FOR NATURE AND ART IN EDUCATION

Method and Practice

The Arts and time in Nature are fundamental to a child’s development and combined they provide the child with creative explorations that help nurture the whole being - Body, mind, heart and spirit

"Creativity now is as important in education as literacy, and we should treat it with the same status." —Sir Ken Robinson

My work as a facilitator for joy-filled learning, is based on my own early childhood, my personal experiences as a mother of 3 and my experience coaching educators from around the world.

My tried and tested methods were borne from running an outdoor nature-based art classroom for 10 years for age groups 5 -7 years (we frequently had both, younger and older children join us for the day). The nature based art processes and activities I share here can be adapted for younger and older age groups. 

Special Offer Nature Art Bundle

Today for a limited time, I am offering FULL ACCESS to my Nature Art Programs and 3 workshops for just:

$199 (full cost $430.00)

YOU TOO can be a Facilitator for joy-filled learning providing soulful, creative nature based art explorations for your students. Tin this unique package, I share with you my Method and Practice, Personal Development modules, Process Focused Art Experiences and nature based art activities that can be infused into your curriculum. The nature art programs are fully online and self-paced. The cost of the training includes extensive digital resources both how to videos and PDF chapters ready to use.

A Sense of Wonder

Seeing with fresh eyes

What we experience as a child establishes deep rooted connections that influence our development and what we might become. I still view the world with a sense of wonder and innocence, as I did as a child. Seeing everything as if it were for the first time, with an open heart. When I stop to observe, to wonder, focus in on, say a flower or a tree, a rock or bird, it is with spirit - an open heart and a curious mind, through the eyes of a child.

Art provides us with a voice, a language to expressing our feelings and emotions. It is a language I have understood ever since I was a very young child. Creating nature art helps us form a deeper understanding of ourselves and our sacred connection to the Earth, Sea, Sky, to all creation. Art can be an act of love, reciprocating the love and beauty we receive in an abundance from our Mother Earth.

Supporting children's well-being with art in nature

Nature Art invites us to play, explore, imagine and create, helping to nurture the whole child: body, mind, heart and spirit.

Begin the New Year with a new approach

Special offer - whole bundle for just $199 (saving $250)

What you will receive in your Bundle:

• The Essentials of Nature Art

• Urban Nature Art Program

• Botanical Beach Workshop

• Dancing Under the Cedars Workshop

• Storytelling with Stick People

• Nature and Art in Education - Method and Practice

Full details of all programs and workshops in the bundle can be vied here:
EHNA Soulful Learning

PURCHASE BUNDLE NOW

"It has been a tremendous journey where I am breaking my barriers, fears, unleashing my soul and spirit through the Nature art program." - Sathya , Early childhood educator, India.

"The program was every thing I expected, and more. It touched my soul. "- Magaly Madrid - Teacher - Florida 

"When i first started the Nature Art program i wanted to reconnect with nature and the inner child hidden in me. Moreover, as a young educator I was at that time, I did not know from where to start the teaching process.  Following each and every chapter of your program I get to know myself better and I am able to offer  my students magical classes full of joy and creativity. Classes in which I find myself in. Thank you so much for everything you offered to me so far during this journey. You have been a great teacher of mine." - Dorina, Early Childhood Educator - From Greece, Teaching in Sweden 

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JUST BEING IS ENOUGH

In this short video I share the importance of making time to just to be.

Watch the Video:

Slowing down to appreciate all the beauty and wonder.  Walking through the forest, towards the glowing light of the golden maple, I am reminded of William Wordsworth wonderful daffodil poem:

I wandered lonely as a cloud

That floats on high o'er vales and hills,

When all at once I saw a crowd,

A host, of golden daffodils; (a host, of golden dancing leaves)

Beside the lake, beneath the trees,

Fluttering and dancing in the breeze.

I crouch under the Yellow Maple and allow its golden dance and the whispering wind to flow through me. Grateful for this sacred time to just to be… to be with all of creation.

Nurtured, I head back to the cabin, gathering a few leaves along the way to remind me of the colourful joy, peace and tranquility.

I use a small piece of clay to prop the leaves up infront of the window and when the light shines in - oh my - what a joy to see them glowing once more. And of course, they are a constant source of inspiration for art explorations. This week in our nature art online class we focused in one one single leaf.

MAKING TIME TO JUST BE

To be in the moment, fully present, experiencing life as it unfolds in all its truth and purity.

We seem to be always doing, keeping ourselves busy, distracted.

I find spending time in nature, among the trees, a wonderful way of helping me relax and calming my mind.

Just Being is Enough

We need to be gentle on ourselves.
We need to make time to just be.
Taking time away from technology, to slow down and tune into the beauty and wonder of the natural world can help nourish our whole being - body, mind, heart and spirit.

If you are unable to get outdoors, you can always use your breath to calm your mind, simply by being aware of your breath - to be aware of the inhale and the exhale. Brreathing in, I calm body and mind. Breathing out, I smile, this will help you relax and be present in the moment. 

“Breathing in, I calm body and mind. Breathing out, I smile. Dwelling in the present moment I know this is the only moment.” ~ Thich Nhat Hanh

I curl up under a canopy of golden beauty and drift off to the sweet, soulful song of the Forest. Nurtured and nourished, I awake with a happy heart and an inner strength.

Maybe you too can hunt and gather a few leaves and hang them up on your window and lose yourself in their beauty and intricate detail. Joy will fill your heart.

Always say thank you for the gifts you receive and take only what you need.

Wishing you all a beautiful and peaceful weekend, with love and gratitude on this sacred new day, know you are deeply loved, Marghanita x

Note: When winds are strong do not go into the forest as trees can fall during storms.

Mother Natures Art Gallery - Botanical Beach Workshop

A place of wonder, discovery, and exploration

We Are Part of the Earth Community

Mother Natures Art Gallery - Botanical Beach

BOTANICAL BEACH - The Elements WORKSHOP/MODULE

In this unique workshop we will explore the fascinating Living Exhibition gifted to us by our Mother Earth at the Botanical Beach on Vancouver Island. (The Elements) I would like to acknowledge the land on which we gather is the traditional and ancestral homelands of the Pacheedaht First Nation.

WATCH THE VIDEO

The workshop consists of 4 /sections with 8 videos along with an accompanying PDF booklet. Below is a brief description of the 4 sections:

1. A virtual walk around the Natural Art Exhibition, slowing down to appreciate the framed live exhibits - tide pools to marvel in wonder. Thousands of species of marine invertebrates and algae that can be found here at low tide. Purple Sea Urchins have established a particular niche in the soft sandstone. Their sharp,hard spines help to wear away indentations in which they live.

Amber sandstone caves to explore, inspire and to sit quietly and find stillness with a short meditation. A beautiful soulful introduction to this sacred space.

Meditation in one of the golden-honey-amber sandstone caves - Grounded in a Sense of Place

2. Stories of the sacred land - tuning into the language of the seascape - what do the elements of air, water, earth and fire mean to us. The seascape is forever changing - reshaped by the wild raw elements of the pacific weather. The organisms that live here have to adapt to the changes. We too are shaped by our environment and especially now during these very strange times are having to adapt to a very different landscape.

Tide Pool full of jewels

Inspired by Nature

3. Taking inspiration from our virtual visit to Botanical Beach Art Gallery we explore what your personal relationship is with the land, the elements -water, fire, earth and air through playful explorations with different mediums, art processes and create abstract art that celebrates the language of the sacred land and our deep interconnectedness to all life.

Mixed Media - Layers of land - Strips of cardboard on recycled paper bag, oil pastels, coconut oil and spices

Appreciating the gifts from our Mother Earth

Mother Earth’s love and beauty are abundant, sacred and healing. Nature is my teacher, healer and inspiration and it is both an honour and a joy to reciprocate her love.

"The exchange of love between Earth and people calls forth the creative gifts of both calling for our gifts in return for hers-the reciprocal nature of life and creativity." -  Dr. Robin Wall Kimmerer

Cont and pastels - Adding detail with a fallen branch

We can bring the presence of the elements, air, water, earth, fire into our daily lives

Conti and watercolour on wooden discs/tree cookies - what could you use as an alternative ? Possibly cardboard?

freedom of expression

The art activities and processes in this workshop will lead you on a creative journey you can explore and experiment in your own environment.

We Are Part of the Earth Community

4. In the last section we reflect on our creative explorations and begin a final piece of art that weaves the threads that unite us, inspired by the live exhibition - Abstract Art that celebrates the language of the sacred land and our deep inter-connectedness to all life.

remembering THE LANGUAGE OF THE LAND

This workshop is for anyone wishing to deepen their relationship with the Natural World through soulful, organic, creative explorations that nurture the “whole being” - body, mind, heart and spirit.

We know spending time in nature is therapeutic so too is creating art so when you combine both, you receive a double dose of very powerful natural medicine.

Purchase - at Discount price - $19.00 (Normal Price $39.00)

When we slow down and tune-in to Mother Nature’s sacred gifts: her beauty, wonders and language of the land, the sound and music, the movement and dance, the smell and taste of the natural world, we begin to remember our connection. Our love grows stronger and our relationship deeper and evokes emotions and feelings that can be expressed in our art.

I love how nature has framed the live art - circles and ovals dominate the seascape surface here - you can walk around this art gallery barefoot on a dry day and stop to ponder and wonder in amazement at the great masterpieces at your feet.

Rewilding our daily lives

An incredible experience that has your senses dancing with excitement. I cannot help myself from jumping up and dancing around the open aired theatre in celebration of life’s energy, the abundant love, beauty and joy that fills the air…come dance with me in celebration of our interconnectedness, our oneness with all life…

I invite you to join me on this beautiful, sacred, creative exploration

Purchase today at Discount price - $19.00 (Normal Price $39.00)

PURCHASE HERE

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The Healing Power of Nature - Forest Walk

With International Forest Day fast approaching I wanted to celebrate these enchanting sacred places and share the incredible health benefits of taking a walk in the forest.

Watch the video:

The Healing Powers of Nature

Nature as Teacher, Healer and Inspiration

I love walking and walking through these enchanting forests on Vancouver Island, you enter a land that time forgot. The towering trees, draped in moss, welcome you with their powerful calming energy. Instantly all my worries and stress evaporate as I find myself spellbound by the beauty and wonder, the music and poetry of the wild, vibrant forest. Walking in a forest can help with depression, lowers blood pressure. reduces stress. improves mood and increases ability to focus and makes you more creative.

Just 20 minutes among the trees can boost your immune system.

While we breathe in the fresh air, we breathe in phytoncides, airborne chemicals that plants give off to protect themselves from insects. Phytoncides have antibacterial and antifungal qualities which help plants fight disease. When people breathe in these chemicals, our bodies respond by increasing the number and activity of a type of white blood cell called natural killer cells or NK. These cells kill tumor- and virus-infected cells in our bodies. Ref: Dept Environmental conservation

Spending time in nature is a powerful, natural medicine during these stage and bewildering times. My walks in the forest brings harmony and balance back into my life. I always feel stronger, more relaxed and more focused after a walk among my friends, the trees. Nature’s beauty cultivates gratitude and I am truly grateful for all the earthly gifts I receive. Mother Nature is a constant inspiration for my work as an artist and educator.

The Magical World of Moss

The moss plants are like miniature forests - so tiny, making them the ideal place for fairies to hang out.

Fairy dwellings are abundant in the enchanting moss covered forest

What is moss?

Mosses are non-vascular plants in the land plant division Bryophyta. They are small (a few centimeters tall) herbaceous (non-woody) plants that absorb water and nutrients mainly through their leaves and harvest carbon dioxide and sunlight to create food by photosynthesis. There are more than 10,000 species and have been around for over 300 million years. Both mosses and lichens play an important role in a healthy habitat, because they both absorb carbon dioxide and other pollutants from the air. I am so grateful to the forests for all her earthly gifts.

Imagination

I cannot take the moss home with me, I can however, think of imaginative ways to capture the beauty and whimsical essence of the moss through creative adventures such as painting and crafting. It was spending time, among the moss in the enchanting forest in my video that gave birth to my latest little earth being.

My little Moss Being - handmade with love

Heart to Heart - Soul to Soul

In my latest painting “The Moss Dancers” I wanted to capture the aliveness of the moss and celebrate these amazing miniature forests and how sacred they are and how we are deeply connected not just to the large forests but the tiny moss forests too - to all life.

We Are One

This week I really enjoyed listening to Robin Well Kimmerer - author of Braiding Sweetgrass interview on “Why is the world so beautiful” She mentions how resilient mosses are and have this ability, rather than demanding a lot from the world, they're very creative in using what they have, rather than reaching for what they don't have” (read link below).

The Moss Dancers - Charcoal and Watercolour

Inspired By Nature

For this painting I used charcoal and watercolour - over the coming months I will be exploring how to make inks from nature and will share what I discover along the way - stay tuned!

I hope your inspired to go for a walk in the forest and if you are unable to get out to the wilder parts, maybe you can visit a local park or wooded area or pause my video at your favourite part of the forest and put on some natural sounds, take a few deep breaths and imagine you are there in the enchanting forest. Enjoy!

I invite you to subscribe to my channel for more inspiring videos. You can also find out more about my Soulful Nature Art Program here: NATURE ART PROGRAM

FOREST DAY CAN BE EVERY DAY

Together we can celebrate our forests, our interconnectedness and in doing so we can inspire others to rediscover their deep rooted connection with natural world.

Full of Gratitude

Grateful to my husband David for filming and producing this new series of videos, you can view more of his creative storytelling here: davidhughescreative

We would like to acknowledge and thank the Lkwungen People, also known as the Songhees and Esquimalt First Nations communities, for allowing us to live, work and play on their lands.

Thank you for watching, see you next week, until then, wishing you a beautiful and creative week, with love and gratitude Marghanita x

References:

Robin Wall Kimmerer is the author of Braiding Sweetgrass: Indigenous Wisdom, Scientific Knowledge, and the Teaching of Plants. She is a member of the Potawatomi First Nation and she teaches at the State University of New York in Syracuse. (Dale Kakkak) - Listen to interview here: Why Is The World So Beautiful

Dept Environmental conservation (https://www.dec.ny.gov/lands/90720.html)

FREE EBOOK - FAIRY HOMES AND DEN BUILDING

“Passion is lifted from the earth itself by the muddy hands of the young; it travels along grass-stained sleeves to the heart.” ― Louv, Last Child in the Woods

Fairy house building and Den making are part of the magic that occurs when children and nature mix.

That natural- magic is part of childhood. The lack of time spend outdoors is having an effect on children’s health and well-being. What better way to help reconnect our children with the natural world than building fairy houses and constructing dens - fueling their imaginations and letting creativity flow.

Playing games that originate from a child’s imagination such as fairy house building, creating dens and lookout towers, hide and seek or simply climbing a tree are part of the magic and freedom of childhood.

Reconnecting to our children with Mother Earth’s Heart

Download your Free PDF Booklet here:

FREE BOOKLET

Reconnecting to our children with Mother Earth’s Heart through playful creative adventures

I believe in providing nature based art activities that help children bond with the natural world, helping them form a loving and lasting relationship with nature. These simple, beautiful activities such as Fairy House building, provide ways to let their imaginations run wild, express their creativity, curiosity and wonder.

Join us at Educating the Heart today - find out more about our online Nature Art Programs here:

EHNA

Let the children Play Explore Imagine Create