The Healing Power of the Sea
If you would like to heal, the best place to start is near a body of water.
It’s no secret that water heals us physically; we wash away infections and soak our muscles and joint pain away.
Interestingly enough, water also heals us emotionally; being in water literally relaxes our central nervous systems which can reduce anxiety and depression. When you are exhausted from your day, or cold, or sad, or dirty (literally or figuratively), think about how you feel after taking a hot shower to wash away those emotions.
The most healing aspect of being near water for me though, is spiritually. I feel closer to my version of God, or the powers that be, or whatever your own beliefs are about those sorts of things. When I am near water, I feel closest to our beautiful world that we so often take for granted. I feel closer to the universe and all that is unknown.
What it ultimately comes down to is that I feel closer to myself. It is a place that I go to when I need to make an important decision, or when I’m struggling with my thoughts or feelings about something. Being alone near water helps me to come to enlightenment or a deeper truth. This is where I revisit questions such as what is truly important? Am I making choices that are good for my soul? Am I surrounding myself with people who are kind and caring? What are my aspirations for the next phase of my life? How do I begin?
If we do not take time to do this, to reflect on our lives, we often follow the thoughts and actions of others instead of being true to ourselves.
Let Me See is about seeing it all: seeing your past choices, seeing your future hopes, seeing all the ugly and all the beauty in your life, seeing the truth, and envisioning your next tiny steps to get to what is most important to you.
I painted Let Me See to invite you to take time alone for healing, in whatever way you need it most right now. She is a symbol, reaching out to you as a reminder that you too need to make time for yourself.
You may think that taking time to do this is selfish or that you simply don’t have time to fit reflective practices in your life. But what you will come to realize is that by doing so you’ll actually be happier and more self-fulfilled, which will allow you to be emotionally present for others, especially for those who matter most to you.
Let Me See (January 2020) Acrylic on Canvas 36H x 48W x 1.5 in