1
Feb
Watercolor on paper (12” x 16”)
Cover for THE TALON, February 2010
This month’s TALON cover, “the Fox Wife” is based on an old Japanese folktale that was used as a way to explain those “uppity” housewives some men were unfortunate enough to find themselves with! The way I understand the story, “fox wife” is similar to a kitsune but not quite the same thing. They are known to shape-shift and sneak out of the house (in defiance of their husband’s orders!) and have a powerfully willful streak to them. They can speak to foxes and call to foxes when the need arises. For a traditional Japanese man living during the time period we study, this is most unfortunate indeed! Many tales of mayhem arise from such feckless women refusing to be meek and obedient. Folk wisdom tells a man will know he is marrying a fox-wife because there will be rain on his wedding day.
The original painting is here, with the cover illustration for THE TALON featured below.
Original Painting "the Fox Wife"
February 2010 TALON Cover
Unfortunately for me, THE ACORN prints in black and white, so most of its readership will see the cover in gray-scale, as it is displayed below.
THE ACORN 2010 - 03 : "The Rose Garden"
Here it is, in full color, as it was meant to be seen.
"The Rose Garden"
Skull, Side View
Jaw: Mandibular Notch
After I finished my BFA in Illustration at the University of Buffalo, I went on for post-graduate work at the Rochester Institute of Technology in Medical Illustration. While times were lean, I spent several years working in health-care, and have seen the insides if human beings more times than I can count. Still, they fascinate me, and I find the sharp contrast between the analytical precision of Medical Illustration and the whimsy of Fantasy Illustration to be such a marvelous thing.
I was reminded of exactly how much I missed it when I was commissioned to create several pieces to illustrate a class for professional massage therapist Ms. M. C. Lillibridge: “CEU : Massage for TMJ Syndrome.” A brief description reads “A&P focus is on TMJ joint area, movement of articular disk in the joint area in case of TMJ dysfunction, as well as knowledge of muscles of mastication (which is where we focus massage techniques): temporalis, masseter, lateral pterygoids, styloids, occipitals.”
I’m really enjoying this: much more than I had expected. I’m still as much of a med geek as ever, even if only for the science. I realize the conditions that most nurses have to work under would cause my brain to crack like an egg, and those who have the strength to give of themselves on that level, long-term, deserve all the respect I can give.
I can, however, help people to better understand medicine, and may have fund an avenue worth exploring. Commissions, of course, are always welcome: just drop me an email at portia@portiastluke.com!
Rose: Graphite study on paper
Graphite portrait study
(01, 2010)
O, Gather Me the Rose
by William Ernest Henley
O, gather me the rose, the rose,
While yet in flower we find it,
For summer smiles, but summer goes,
And winter waits behind it!
For with the dream foregone, foregone,
The deed forborne for ever,
The worm, regret, will canker on,
And time will turn him never.
So well it were to love, my love,
And cheat of any laughter
The death beneath us and above,
The dark before and after.
The myrtle and the rose, the rose,
The sunshine and the swallow,
The dream that comes, the wish that goes,
The memories that follow!
If I ever die, please play this at my funeral…
Part I, A Clearer Picture, Chapter 7, Part 1: the Way Out of Depression (pp. 61-73)
“I have developed a program that includes reading anything current on depression, forcing myself into self-help to slowly reverse the depressive cycle, using self-practiced cognitive therapy, and forcing myself to return slowly to life’s surroundings and functions. I must use all of these techniques; they work together. I have spent many years developing these techniques and I know how important they all are: it’s like a world-class chef who would never leave an ingredient out of his best recipe.”
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Mary Ellen Copeland
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Therese Borchard, author of the depression-centered blog “Beyond Blue,” which appears on beliefnet.com, describes her “12 step process” here. http://blog.beliefnet.com/beyondblue/2007/01/my-12-step-program.html I could write my version, and many other mentally ill folks could write theirs. Not all will be identical.
I would encourage you to pause and, if you have not done so, follow the link to Therese Borchard’s article and read it. However, to recap, she outlines her “12 steps” as:
Step One: Find the Right Doctor
Step Two: Find the Right Cocktail (medical)
Step Three: Exercise!
Step Four: Eat Well
Step Five: Sleep!
Step Six: Light Up (”If I can’t get outside for at least a half hour a day, I try to sit under my mammoth HappyLite, a lamp with 10,000 lux.”)
Step Seven: Support and Friendships
Step Eight: Get Involved
Step Nine: A Gratitude Journal
Step Ten: Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy and Personal Therapy
Step Eleven: Prayer and Meditation
Step Twelve: Time
Early Warning Signs.
Devastating tsunamis, triggered by a massive earthquakes originating in the Indian Ocean measuring and measuring 9.0 on the Richter scale, have created legendary amounts of destruction to communities in Southeast Asia. On Boxing Day (December 26th), 2004, a gigantic Tsunami, centered off the coast of Sumatra, Indonesia, came from a tremor in the pacific that read between 9.1 and 9.3, the second largest earthquake ever recorded on a seismograph. Many sea-port communities in Southeast Asia were destroyed. Yet, relief workers found a bizarre phenomenon: As the human death toll numbers continued to escalate, wildlife officials reported that they had not found any animal carcasses. Did the animals have a sixth sense?
The best guess was that, somehow, the animals had an “early warning system,” and knew to head for higher ground, where they might be safe.
This, for me, has become crucial in understanding and living with this disease. Much like the common cold or a bad migraine, if you can feel it coming on, you can, “Head it off at the pass.” In doing so, maybe all that’s needed is an hour or two of peace and quiet instead of weeks or months.
“As you become more aware of the subtleties of your depression through your research, and by charting your moods, you will become familiar with your own early warning signs of expression. These may be quite subtle indeed: for instance, an early warning sign of depression for me is that I don’t look both ways before I cross the street.
“When you notice such signs there are simple, noninvasive, safe, and inexpensive techniques you can use to slow or halt the downward spiral. By being aware of your early signs of depression and taking action early, you may be able to avoid plummeting to the depths of depression.”
-MEC
What are the warning signs that you are on a downward spiral?
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Withdrawal |
Poor ability to concentrate |
Anxiety |
Inability to show affection |
|
Inactivity |
Confused |
Agitation |
Void of emotions |
|
Tire easily |
Cry easily |
Sore shoulders and neck |
Everything seems disorganized |
|
Excessive sleep |
Despondent |
Low back pain |
Hair becomes wiry |
|
Slow speech |
Self-destructive thoughts |
Low libido |
Any learning disabilities are more pronounced |
|
Premature awakening |
Inability to experience pleasure |
Extreme grief-type emotions |
Eczema |
|
Poor appetite |
Unable to do what I normally do |
Overeating |
Seeing white spots |
|
Irritability |
Insecure |
Eat junk foods |
Having trouble getting dressed |
|
Feelings of regret over past decisions |
“I start wearing a coat all the time” |
Low self-esteem |
Suicidal ideation (thoughts about suicide) |
|
Not wanting to do anything |
Stay in bed for long periods |
Lack of interest in everything |
Feel like nobody understands |
|
Inability to function |
Nausea |
Boredom |
Fear |
|
Low energy level |
Craving for carbohydrates |
feel like giving up on life |
Desire to be taken care of |
|
Trembling |
Swollen thyroid |
Skin problems |
Negative attitude |
|
Easily frustrated |
Avoid people |
Feel clumsy, drop things |
Eyesight changes |
|
Senses shut down |
Paranoia |
Eat a lot of salty foods |
Insomnia |
|
Talk little |
Mind slows downloaded |
Ache all over |
Headache |
One study participant wrote:”A sign that depression is imminent is that to my ears everybody speaks to me in a critical tone of voice. ‘You’re so quiet tonight,’ is heard by me as ‘Thank God you’re quiet – you’re usually such a loud mouth.’ Everything my husband says seems to be in a fault-finding tone of voice. Strange, because he never criticizes or belittles me.” -MEC.
The next several pages of the workbook of ways that the study’s respondents found worked to help relieve their symptoms. The author has them arranged into checklists of “Have tried successfully,” “Should use more often,” and “Would like to try.” After all, this is a workbook. However, sharing just the lists may e enough to get some ideas flowing. Not all ideas work for all people, but maybe you’ll find an idea or two that help.
Activities
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Exercise |
Listening to music |
Working with wood |
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Sports |
Long, hot baths |
Working with clay, pottery |
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Long walks |
Making love |
Drawing, painting |
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Yoga |
Gardening |
journal writing |
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Dancing |
Long drives |
Writing poetry |
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Reading |
Needlework |
Management
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Medication |
Full-spectrum light |
Spending time outside |
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Keeping busy |
Eating a diet high in complex carbohydrates* |
Eliminating foods that worsen my depression |
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Rest |
Forcing myself to get up in the morning |
Forcing myself to go to work |
|
Doing whatever I need to do to meet my needs |
Maintaining a balance of rest and good times |
Spirituality
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Prayer |
Getting in touch with my spirituality |
Meditation |
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Keeping up with a 12-step program |
Using Scheduling and Planning to Help Depression
“A person who is experiencing depression may spend a whole day or many days literally doing nothing. This inactivity and lack of accomplishment can deepen your depression and lower your self esteem. If you accomplish anything, you may belittle it as ‘insignificant.’” (MEC)
Mary Ellen Copeland goes onto detail the following three strategies:
-Make and stick to simple plans
-Break down tasks into smaller components
-Learn to give yourself credit for whatever you accomplished
Everyone’s lists will be different, of course; a mix of things that need doing and things that we enjoy doing. From there, she provides two examples of schedules, broken down into 1-hour increments, of such schedules: one for a person who is depressed but able to work, the other, unable to work. Each has 4 columns: the hour, planned activity and expectations, actual activity, and, finally, how it felt. She closes by saying:
“Review these charts after you have completed them. When people are depressed, they often feel quite negative prior to undertaking an activity. Upon completion of the activity, you may realize that you actually had a better time, or did a better job, than anticipated. Being tuned in to this can encourage you to have more realistically optimistic expectations.” (MEC)
This is where I would like to pause for this week, as the following questions ask the participant to try this method and see if it works for them. Then, answer the following three questions:
“How I felt on a day when I was depressed and did not follow a plan:__________________________”
“How I felt on a day when I was depressed and did follow a plan:_____________________________”
“Based on my experience, I intend to take the following action with regard to scheduling my days when I am depressed:________________________________________________.”
“(Time of day) ____________ is the best time to make plans when I am depressed.”
*Please remember: diets high in Complex Carbohydrates were the thing back in 1992, when this book was written. As I write this, in 2010, we have gone from 4 food groups to a pyramid, and I have seen “power protein” come and go. I’ve met Vegetarians, Pescatarians, Vegans and Breatharians all of whom believed they’d found the Holy Grail of Health. Nutritional research is advancing rapidly. Check with a trusted medical professional for the latest information.
Next Week:
Part I, A Clearer Picture, Chapter 7, Part 2: the Way Out of Depression (pp. 73-85)
The above comments are expressed in the hopes of becoming a tool for healing others. Portia is part of “The Depression Workgroup,” a small group within the Church of the Ancient Paths formed with the intent of working with one of our church’s senior ministers, Rt. Rev. Adrian Tremayne on depression (revauntieadrian on livejournal, email is adrian@churchofancientpaths.org), using The Depression Workbook, A Guide for Living with Depression and Manic Depression, by Mary Ellen Copeland, M.S., M.A. As a tool towards healing Depression and Manic Depression. The version we have is the second edition, so that’s what ’s forming the background of this work. Please feel free to follow along. (Picking up a new or used copy is advised, as I’m typing only brief excerpts and the questions themselves.) The answers provided here are based solely on the opinions of Portia St. Luke. They are not necessarily the opinions of the Church of the Ancient Paths.
Crossposted from Nancy, 15.2.09
“I always call him Lewis Carroll Carroll, because he was the first Humbert Humbert*. Have you seen those photographs of him with little girls? He would make arrangements with aunts and mothers to take the children out. He was never caught, except by one girl who wrote about him when she was much older.”– V.V. Nabokov, interview, Dec. 1966 Vogue
*Humbert Humbert: The protagonist in Vladimir Nabokov’s 1955 novel, Lolita. The book has been considered controversial because middle aged Humbert Humbert, becomes obsessed and sexually involved with a twelve-year-old girl named Dolores Haze.
The most brilliant minds are always the most curiously bent.
foto: Lewis Carroll
The extreme right is armed, dangerous, and coming to a town near you
by Larry Keller, from Intelligence Report
(This article is part of a package on right-wing violence and militias. For a counterpoint from the libertarian magazine Reason, read The Paranoid Center.)
In Pensacola, Florida, retired FBI agent Ted Gunderson tells a gathering of antigovernment “Patriots” that the federal government has set up 1,000 internment camps around the country and is storing 30,000 guillotines and 500,000 caskets in Atlanta. He says it’s all for the day when the United States declares martial law and moves in to round up or kill citizen dissenters…
(You can find the original article in its entirety by clicking here)
Brian Dettmer’s book art is so damn good, I don’t want to waste your time talking about it when you could be looking at it. Want more? Have a peek at Dettmer’s studio over at The Donut Project.
World Books: Altered set of Encyclopedias, 2009
World Science: Altered Book, 2009
World Books: Altered set of Encyclopedias, 2009
Do It Yourself: Altered Set of handyman books, 2009
(Thanks, The Donut Project.)
All image courtesy of the Brian Dettmer and Packer Schopf.
Anne Trubek didn’t make any friends when she suggested that schools stop teaching handwriting in a column for Good. The online essay left a trail of 1,400 comments in its wake, many of them angry. Now she’s at it again, with an essay called Handwriting is History, published in the latest issue of Miller-McCune.
“For many,” she writes, ”the prospect of handwriting dying out would signal the end of individualism and the entree to some robotic techno-future… But when we worry about losing our individuality, we are likely misremembering our schooling, which included rote, rigid lessons in handwriting. We have long been taught the ‘right’ way to form letters.”
Good lord, if anything was robotic, it was learning proper handwriting. What anybody with good handwriting may be oblivious to is the shame of bad handwriting. Ridding classrooms of that shame makes room for other things, like ideas. “Typing in school has a democratizing effect,” Trubek writes, “as did the typewriter. It levels the look of prose to allow expression of ideas, not the rendering of letters, to take center stage.”
Want more of this? You’ll find nearly 4,000 words of it at Miller-McCune. Enjoy!
Source: Miller-McCune
Image by lucianvenutian , licensed under Creative Commons .