In meditation, a lot of people use visualization. They imagine a sandy beach, or a peaceful hillside. My device is the River. My soul is tied to the River. The water flowing endlesslly to the Ocean, the Sea refusing no River. We as humans try to control the River. We contain it, divert it. But still it will not be stopped, not forever, anyway. The Heron lives in the marsh and on the River, carefully picking it’s way around tall reeds, dodging cattails. The Heron is a death bird in many cultures, The druids carved them over doorways and arches, so that even their likeness guards over the liminal places. The birds in Egypt were thought to ferry the souls of the departed to the place of judgement. These gloriously weird creature’s calls at night were thought to be the sound of someone’s death. These humble, precarious looking birds have all this responsibility, and you never see them upset or even all that concerned. Heron teaches us stillness, as it stands and stares into the water, waiting on its next meal to swim by. In my mind, on that river, the Heron is surrounded by all the plants that grow on my lovely little Ohio river’s edge. The Heron sees me, but I am not moving, in my contemplation. It comes closer, observing me as I see it. The Heron dips her graceful head as she steps closer, always watching. She turns her head, quizzically, staring at me. I hope the Heron of my mind River imparts some sort of grace, stillness, and sure footedness upon all of us. I hope we can all learn what Heron has to teach us. This painting is my whimsical, maybe slightly surreal take on things that are naturally occurring. Based in reality, though not adhering strictly to its established parameters. I hope you enjoy how I view my world!