Sacred Art of Nature- end of March 2025
Pottery as Art, Art as Sacred, Upcoming Course, writing update & so much more
I invite you to ponder these questions as you read this Substack: What do you cherish in your life? Can you envision your life as art? Can you see sacred art in the world around you and within yourself? I hope reading this Substack will spur you to think about these questions, and to find answers.
Let me tell you a story.
In 1971, I bought my first functional pieces of pottery – a set of four juice glasses made by Larry and Sue Anderson of Hillsborough, NC. Their exquisite work, along with that of other soon-to-be-well-known potters and weavers, was exhibited at lovely Ariadne Crafts Gallery on Wrightsville Beach, NC. I worked part-time at the store, trading my time for pottery. When I showed the glasses to my mother, she went ballistic. At the time, the news was filled with stories about Americans getting lead poisoning from drinking from Mexican pottery. Nothing I said made my mother believe that those glasses, fired at an astronomically high temperature, were safe.
In 1978, I was blessed to meet ceramics artist Hiroshi Sueyoshi at a dinner party. Hiroshi’s breath-taking work featured sculpture and abstract forms. As we discussed his projects, I asked him if he considered functional pottery to be art. He said “No.”
By the time I met Hiroshi, I owned a set of hand-thrown dishes, wine goblets, serving pieces, vases, and even a ladle, made by regional artists. Included in my collection were works by the world-renowned Cole and Owens families of central North Carolina, who began throwing pots and creating unique forms and glazes at the turn of the 20th century.
Hiroshi and I continued our friendly debate. Then, sometime later, at another dinner party, he handed me the mug pictured above. “For you,” he said. “Hiroshi, can you tell me this cup is not art?” He smiled, shook his head, and said, “I cannot.” I cried with joy. I treasure that he made this cup for me.
Over the years, Hiroshi became a beloved teacher and his internationally known work is exhibited at the Smithsonian as well as galleries around the world. Hiroshi died on March 7 after a long struggle with Parkinson’s Disease. The world has lost a great artist, a brilliant teacher, and a kind man.
Recently, I had a conversation with a group of friends about Kintsugi. “Kintsugi is the ancient Japanese art of putting broken pottery pieces back together with lacquer mixed with precious metals, like gold, silver, or platinum. If an object of pottery is broken, rather than discarding it, the pieces are painstakingly put together over months. Instead of trying to hide the damage, the cracks are highlighted in precious metal,” according to the Mayo Clinic.
Sue Bender writes of Kintsugi in her gentle book Everyday Sacred. “The (mended) pots become a tool for healing,” she says. “They’re like a barometer for me now...The pot is just a reflection of me.”
Isn’t that who we all are, exquisite pots being made even more beautiful and valuable when we are lovingly made whole again in so many ways? When we can focus on the beauty of imperfections within ourselves and in the world around us?
I’m currently enrolled in Janisse Ray’s six-week “Journaling in the Garden” course. Janisse describes the course as a time and place for me to “process, document, and celebrate your life, gardens, spring, and the natural world around you.” Janisse is joined each week with guest artists. I didn’t consider that we’re be encouraged to draw! sketch! paint! in this course – I was so excited to learn more from Janisse, and I didn’t pay attention to those details. I LOVE THIS course – not only because Janisse and her guest lecturers offer a non-judgmental safety net but also because it allows me to consider the powerful connection between art and nature. Here’s the latest edition of Janisse’s Substack. Scroll through it to find information on this great course.
I’m so happy to connect with you and I’m grateful that you subscribe to this newsletter! If you missed my last newsletter, you can read it here.
Art in Nature: Sacred Geometry: Upcoming Course!
Many of you have requested that I teach my Sacred Geometry course again, and I’m happy to oblige! In this course we’ll not only explore sacred geometry in nature around us, but in our own bodies, how points on Earth are connected by a network of ley lines whose patterns defy explanation, and why all of this matters in today’s world.
Mark your calendar for registration information coming in late April in this newsletter and on my website. The course is scheduled for early May.
Pictured above, left to right: the iron cover on the well at Chalice Well Gardens, which is a stylized depiction of the Vesica Pisces, the basic building block of sacred geometry; the interior of a Chambered Nautilus, and a cone from what is believed to be the oldest living longleaf pine tree on the continent, located on the grounds of Weymouth Center for the Arts & Humanities. Both the shell and the pine cone perfectly depict the Divine Ratio.
Writing Update
My forthcoming book! I’ve been working with the publisher’s marketing team to develop the best ways to tell you how you can get a copy. The cover reveal and pre-order information is coming soon! The book is beautiful and I can’t wait for you to see it.
I’m co-writing a play! We’ve finished the first draft. A table read is scheduled, and we’re excited to listen to the words we’ve written be spoken by a group of talented actors.
I’m working on a poetry collection.
I’m working on an environmental essay.
I’ve started packing for the writer-in-residency program to which I’ve been accepted in April. I’ll tell you more about it in my next newsletter.
Click on the links below to read my most recent works in Salvation South:
“A Tale of Two Hauntings”
https://www.salvationsouth.com/a-tale-of-two-hauntings-essay-deb-bowen/
“Let No One Turn You Around”
https://www.salvationsouth.com/let-no-one-turn-you-around-joan-baez-essay-deb-bowen/
“Sunday Fatback”
https://www.salvationsouth.com/sunday-fatback-essay-deb-bowen/
“The Coyote’s Journey”
https://www.salvationsouth.com/the-coyotes-journey-nature-essay-deb-bowen/
“Takin’ Up a Poundin’”
https://www.salvationsouth.com/takin-up-a-poundin-christmas-story-deb-bowen/
“Tidal Wave Terror”
https://www.salvationsouth.com/ground-truth-from-the-climate-reckoning-janisse-ray/
“Where I’m From: Seven Decades in Seven Scenes”
https://www.salvationsouth.com/where-im-from-seven-decades-in-seven-scenes-deb-bowen-poem/
“Mending Nets”
https://www.salvationsouth.com/mending-nets-north-carolina-barrier-island/?mc_cid=c4bb217ffc&mc_eid=fae2a9a622
“A Talisman for Poseidon”
https://www.salvationsouth.com/a-talisman-from-poseidon-hurricane-donna-1960/
Podcasts
Psychic Teachers
I’m so excited that many of you are listening to BOTH of my podcasts! PsychicTeachers will soon celebrate its 15th year on-air!
Real Deal Divas
Real Deal Divas Podcast is growing! Tune in for lively conversations and exciting guests! We are excited to interview poet Kari Martindale a couple of weeks ago. Click here to listen:
https://shows.podcastle.ai/real-deal-divas-jGn8EGDf/season-1-episode-6-guest-poet-kari-martindale-nbeocQpC or listen wherever you get your podcasts. More interviews coming soon!
You can find out more about the podcast and each of us on our website, or Facebook page.
Deb’s Facebook Pages
Another way you and I can connect is through my Facebook pages. I’d be honored if you’d follow my pages. They are a great way to see up-to-the-minute news! I so hope you’ll LIKE and FOLLOW and feel free to comment and share posts!
Deb Bowen, Author
PsychicTeachers
Real Deal Divas
Please note: I will never send friend requests or offer services through Facebook comments on any of my Facebook pages. If you have any questions regarding our communications, please contact me through my email. deb.bowen.crone@gmail.com
Just One More Thing Before You Go
I write of spirals, of those whorls and twists and turns that teach me who I am, and where my place is in the world around and within me.
Thank you!
I just love the idea of healing the broken pottery with precious metal that accentuates the beauty in making it whole again.
I am truly enjoying Janisse’s journaling course. I love it when she brings sketching into the writing.
I can’t wait for a Sacred Geometry course! I’ll be there!
Love pottery as art and I drink out of my art mugs and eat out of my art bowls. It makes life more beautiful. Pottery art brings us close to the earth. Art is sacred. I treasure the connection between art and nature. Janisse Ray's garden journaling class sounds fabulous. Thanks for sharing all.