Category: nature

April 2020: Spring Blooms

April 2020: Spring Blooms
By Christina Wilke-Burbach PhD, RMT, CA
Mind, Soul, and Self LLC
mindsoulandself.com

My PhotoBlog: I have come to understand, true ways to heal spiritually, psychologically and emotionally are non-verbal: through art, music, movement, meditative states, and bodywork/energy work. The language of the soul/psyche is symbols, images, colors, vibrations, sensations, and patterns; we communicate this non-verbally. I have been on an incredible personal growth journey of my own the past few years into the world of art. I have become very involved with John Michael Kohler Arts Center (JMKAC) in Sheboygan, WI. I am the chair of the JMKAC Indoor Gardens, a member of the Friends of the Arts Council, and a museum docent (teacher/tour guide). I try to take a new art class every month. I started joining my artist husband in his art studio to paint and experiment with making art. Coincidentally, my old office space was located in an art gallery and my current office space is in an entire building of art studios. My preferred social media has become Instagram. I try to post a new photograph every day. I have enjoyed experimenting with art and photography as ways to express myself. So I have decided to have a photoblog to complement this personal and professional journey that I am on.

 

April 2020 Photo Blog: Right now, the World is in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic. The whole month of March slipped right by me. It was a month of uncertainty, fear, panic, and anxiety as I temporarily shut the doors of my physical business location until Safer at Home orders expire and the public health situation improves.  Its like time stood still as it simultaneously sped up. As we moved into April, I started adjusting to this new normal, almost enjoying it in a way. Nature is very active this month as it continues waking up from winter slumber. I feel the birds and animals are also more lively right now with less human interference since many of us are sheltered in our homes.  In fact, right now as I write this, I hear coyotes outside in our yard! We live in the city limits! Many cities are reporting bears, wolves, coyotes, etc venturing into residential areas since there are fewer humans around. Pollution is less and the air is clearing up.  Nature will always win. This is an auspicious time to be alive. I do believe there is a great spiritual shift happening right now and on a deeper level, something for the higher good of all will come out of our current situation. Spending time out in my garden this month, my observation is, that while humans survive, nature thrives. We are all stuck at home hoarding our toilet paper while nature is blooming. My photo blog this month is titled Spring Blooms. My questions for you to ponder this month, What is the silver lining in our current situation for you?  How can this help you thrive? Remember the metaphor of the lotus, the flower representative of the spiritual journey….it grows through the muck and murky, dirty water to transcend and float above it, a gorgeous flower.  Sometimes we need difficult experiences in order to shine. ~Light, Love, and Blessings. Stay safe and healthy this month. Christina~


**All photos are the property of Christina Wilke-Burbach. All rights reserved ***

February 2020: As Above, So Below. Plants & Spirituality

As Above, So Below. Plants & Spirituality.
By Christina Wilke-Burbach PhD, RMT, CA
Mind, Soul, and Self LLC
mindsoulandself.com

Christina in the Glass Gallery at JMKAC

You may be wondering why a holistic healing and spirituality business offers so many plant and gardening classes. Let me explain to you why…..

As above, so below, as within, so without, as the universe, so the soul…”― Hermes Trismegistus

This is my favorite quote. It deeply resonates with me for a number of reasons. The concept implies that the cosmos is linked to nature and that the microcosm and the macrocosm are connected. We are divine and the divine is us. The earth is a mirror of the larger universe. One way I personally interpret this quote is that we can connect to the divine through nature. Plants and Spirituality. Spirituality is a personal and individual practice of developing one’s inner reality/inner path. Spirituality is feeling like a whole and complete person with meaning and purpose. It’s searching inside yourself for the answer. It is an inner path enabling you to discover the true essence of your being; the deepest values, morals, and meanings by which you live. It’s a feeling as if there is something greater than yourself; a higher power or a higher being, nature or the cosmos. You feel that you are more than just a physical body. You feel connected to others and to your surroundings. Spirituality is often experienced as a source of inspiration or orientation in life.

Nature has been an incredible teacher to me in developing and deepening my spirituality. Nature is my church. A beautiful sunset is a mystical experience. Admiring beautiful plants and flowers inspires me. Walking through the forest, I feel so connected and a part of something much greater than myself. Caring for a garden; watching it grow; harvesting it; then making food or medicine or art from those same plants I grew gives my life so much purpose and meaning.  I am both a creator and a caretaker. Humans forget that we too are nature. When we get out of sync with the natural rhythms, the seasons, and earth’s creations we can feel existential emptiness. Being attentive to the cycles of nature can impact your spiritual, physical, and emotional health for the better.

The human/plant connection can be traced back all the way to prehistory (the time before writing systems were developed). We find that different cultures around the world, for thousands and thousands of years, have been utilizing plants as medicine, for fun, for ritual, for divination, for altered consciousness, for decoration, for food, for clothing, for art, and for aroma/perfumery. Plants are and have always been the principal form and oldest form of medicine for the majority of the world, since the beginning of time. Several diverse lines of evidence indicate that medicinal plants represent the most widespread form of medication. The use of herbal medicines has been documented for over 6000 years. Anthropologists and archeologists have found evidence that prehistoric man took medicinal plants and botanicals to cure health problems. In addition to using plants for medicine, the act of gardening and caring for plants can also improve all areas of your life and wellbeing…physically, emotionally, spiritually, and socially. Spending time outside is good for our bodies and our minds. Research has shown gardening can help us: connect to others, connect to nature, connect to something greater than ourselves, help us be in the present moment, reduce stress and depression, improve mood, provide us with exercise and fresh air, and helps us reach higher states of consciousness through mindfulness. Plants are amazing!

My mother and grandfather were both avid gardeners. I grew up a little girl among the flowers. I started my professional and personal journey into holistic healing over 20 years ago with aromatherapy and essential oils. I then evolved into an herbalist and more recently, a gardener. I had a spiritual awakening in 2005. At that time, I lived on a 200-acre farm in the middle of nowhere. That time immersed in nature changed my life. I am a Certified Aromatherapist, Herbalist, Natural Perfumer, have Wisconsin Master Gardener Training and a PhD in Health Psychology with 22 years of higher education and experience in psychology, spirituality, holistic healing, and natural health. I am a Member of the American Botanical Council, I am the Project Chair of the John Michael Kohler Arts Center Indoor Garden, I teach Continuing Education Gardening Classes at University of Wisconsin Green Bay, I am a Botanical Artist, and a supporter of organic farming and non–GMOS. My business-Mind, Soul, and Self LLC believes plants are essential to spirituality and holistic healing. Enhance your spirituality, connection to nature, and holistic healing abilities. Join me for upcoming gardening, botanical healing, and herbal medicine classes in 2020! Click on the name of the event for more info:

Holistic Healing with Herbs Certificate Series starts April 18, 2020.

Earth Day Event: Miniature Indoor Upcycled Garden. Saturday April 25, 2020 from 2pm to 5:30pm

Gardening 101. Sunday May 3, 2020 from 9am to 12pm

Gardening 102. Sunday May 3, 2020 from 1pm to 4pm

Mini Indoor Garden Workshop. May 7, 2020 from 5:30pm to 8pm at JMKAC

Family Gardening Workshop June 4, 2020 from 6pm to 8pm at UWGB: Sheboygan Campus

 

Ok….now to the Photoblog…..

February 2020 Photoblog: Care for yourself while caring for mother earth! Connect to the divine by connecting to nature! It’s hard for me to put all of this into words, so let me show you with pictures:

**All photos are the property of Christina Wilke-Burbach. All rights reserved ***

My PhotoBlog: I have come to understand, true ways to heal spiritually, psychologically and emotionally are non-verbal: through art, music, movement, meditative states, and bodywork/energy work. The language of the soul/psyche is symbols, images, colors, vibrations, sensations, and patterns; we communicate this non-verbally. I have been on an incredible personal growth journey of my own the past few years into the world of art. I have become very involved with John Michael Kohler Arts Center (JMKAC) in Sheboygan, WI. I am the chair of the JMKAC Indoor Gardens, a member of the Friends of the Arts Council, and a museum docent (teacher/tour guide). I try to take a new art class every month. I started joining my artist husband in his art studio to paint and experiment with making art. Coincidentally, my old office space was located in an art gallery and my current office space is in an entire building of art studios. My preferred social media has become Instagram. I try to post a new photograph every day. I have enjoyed experimenting with art and photography as ways to express myself. So I have decided to have a photoblog to complement this personal and professional journey that I am on.

October 2019: Autumn Glow

October 2019: Autumn Glow
By Christina Wilke-Burbach PhD, RMT, CA
Mind, Soul, and Self LLC
mindsoulandself.com

Intro to 2019 Photo Blog: 2019 is a journey into the world of non-verbal healing and personal growth here at Mind, Soul, and Self LLC. I have come to understand, true ways to heal spiritually, psychologically and emotionally are non-verbal: through art, music, movement, meditative states, and bodywork/energy work. The language of the soul/psyche is symbols, images, colors, vibrations, sensations, and patterns; we communicate this non-verbally. I have been on an incredible personal growth journey of my own the past few years into the world of art. I have become very involved with John Michael Kohler Arts Center (JMKAC) in Sheboygan, WI. I am the chair of the JMKAC Indoor Gardens, a member of the Friends of the Arts Council, and a museum docent (teacher/tour guide). I try to take a new art class every month. I started joining my artist husband in his art studio to paint and experiment with making art. Coincidentally, my old office space was located in an art gallery and my current office space is in an entire building of art studios. My preferred social media has become Instagram. I try to post a new photograph every day. I have enjoyed experimenting with art and photography as ways to express myself. So I have decided to have a photoblog this year to complement this personal and professional journey that I am on. I just recently had a revelation regarding my photography and am working on a project I hope to release later this year. I hosted a 4 day weekend retreat this past weekend (October 24 to 27) and the whole retreat explored non-verbal healing through music, breathwork, meditation, bodywork, art, and aromatherapy. This weekend definitely solidified my beliefs about the power of these modalities to bring about transformation.

October 2019 Photo Blog: “Just before the death of flowers, And before they are buried in snow, There comes a festival season, When nature is all aglow.”-Author Unknown. I love the month of October so much! To me, October symbolizes the death of one cycle and preparation for a new beginning. My birthday is in October, my wedding anniversary is Halloween/Day of the Dead, and I love Halloween! But my favorite part of October is the color, the harvest, and the transformation of nature. I have had so many moments of gratitude, peace, and joy this month being outside and watching the sunset, taking a walk, and harvesting my garden. Below is my month in pictures….this festival season when nature is all aglow. Light, Love, and Autumn Blessings. Christina~

 

 

September 2019: Herbal Mandalas

September 2019: Herbal Mandalas
By Christina Wilke-Burbach PhD, RMT, CA
Mind, Soul, and Self LLC
mindsoulandself.com

 

Intro to 2019 Photo Blog: 2019 is a journey into the world of non-verbal healing and personal growth here at Mind, Soul, and Self LLC. I have come to understand, true ways to heal spiritually, psychologically and emotionally are non-verbal: through art, music, movement, meditative states, and bodywork/energy work. The language of the soul/psyche is symbols, images, colors, vibrations, sensations, and patterns; we communicate this non-verbally. I have been on an incredible personal growth journey of my own the past few years into the world of art. I have become very involved with John Michael Kohler Arts Center (JMKAC) in Sheboygan, WI. I am the chair of the JMKAC Indoor Gardens, a member of the Friends of the Arts Council, and a museum docent (teacher/tour guide). I try to take a new art class every month. I started joining my artist husband in his art studio to paint and experiment with making art. Coincidentally, my old office space was located in an art gallery and my current office space is in an entire building of art studios. My preferred social media has become Instagram. I try to post a new photograph every day. I have enjoyed experimenting with art and photography as ways to express myself. So I have decided to have a photoblog this year to complement this personal and professional journey that I am on. I just recently had a revelation regarding my photography and am working on a project I hope to release later this year.

 

September 2019 Photo Blog: I teach my Holistic Healing with Herbs series once a year (from April to November). Every September/October is the Spiritual Healing with Herbs class. Three days ago I taught this year’s class. As a group, we spent an hour walking the area around my office by the Sheboygan River and Wildcrafted herbs and botanicals. It was magical! We practiced connecting and communicating with nature. When we returned, we crafted herbal mandalas. Below are some of the Mandalas I have created with students over the past few years.  Mandalas are a spiritual/personal growth technique to pull the unconscious into the conscious. As you look at our mandalas below, ask yourself…..What do you see? What does this remind you of? How does it feel to be in this space? What words pop into your mind? Happy September! Light and Love, Christina~

 

August 2019: The Places We Hold Dear

August 2019: The Places We Hold Dear
By Christina Wilke-Burbach PhD, RMT, CA
Mind, Soul, and Self LLC
mindsoulandself.com

 

Intro to 2019 Photo Blog: 2019 is a journey into the world of non-verbal healing and personal growth here at Mind, Soul, and Self LLC. I have come to understand, true ways to heal spiritually, psychologically and emotionally are non-verbal: through art, music, movement, meditative states, and bodywork/energy work. The language of the soul/psyche is symbols, images, colors, vibrations, sensations, and patterns; we communicate this non-verbally. I have been on an incredible personal growth journey of my own the past few years into the world of art. I have become very involved with John Michael Kohler Arts Center (JMKAC) in Sheboygan, WI. I am the chair of the JMKAC Indoor Gardens, a member of the Friends of the Arts Council, and a museum docent (teacher/tour guide). I try to take a new art class every month. I started joining my artist husband in his art studio to paint and experiment with making art. Coincidentally, my old office space was located in an art gallery and my current office space is in an entire building of art studios. My preferred social media has become Instagram. I try to post a new photograph every day. I have enjoyed experimenting with art and photography as ways to express myself. So I have decided to have a photo blog this year to complement this personal and professional journey that I am on. I just recently had a revelation regarding my photography and am working on a project I hope to release later this year.

 

August 2019 Photo Blog: AUTOFOCUS is the new exhibition that just opened in the Community Gallery at John Michael Kohler Arts Center in Sheboygan (where I am a docent and a Master Gardener volunteer). AUTOFOCUS contemplates the places/spaces the Sheboygan community holds near and dear. The arts center asked community members to submit photos of places they hold dear in Sheboygan. These photos may be the same places featured on postcards that a visitor to Sheboygan would collect/send. The art center asked community members to submit their own ideas for Sheboygan postcards, thinking about the following idea: What image represents Sheboygan to you? Below are the 4 photos I submitted for the exhibition.  As you can see, Lake Michigan is incredibly dear to my heart.  I live about a mile away from the Lake.  The Lake is both incredibly peaceful/calming and powerful/destructive at the same time. It fills me with feelings of awe and wonder.  So this month I ask you to contemplate, what places are near and dear to your heart in the community in which you live? Why? Happy August! ~ Christina Wilke-Burbach PhD

 

July 2019: California Dreamin’

July 2019: California Dreamin’
By Christina Wilke-Burbach PhD, RMT, CA
Mind, Soul, and Self LLC
mindsoulandself.com

Photo by Christina Wilke-Burbach

Intro to 2019 Photo Blog: 2019 is a journey into the world of non-verbal healing and personal growth here at Mind, Soul, and Self LLC. I have come to understand, true ways to heal spiritually, psychologically and emotionally are non-verbal: through art, music, movement, meditative states, and bodywork/energy work. The language of the soul/psyche is symbols, images, colors, vibrations, sensations, and patterns; we communicate this non-verbally. I have been on an incredible personal growth journey of my own the past few years into the world of art. I have become very involved with John Michael Kohler Arts Center (JMKAC) in Sheboygan, WI. I am the chair of the JMKAC Indoor Gardens, a member of the Friends of the Arts Council, and a museum docent (teacher/tour guide). I try to take a new art class every month. I started joining my artist husband in his art studio to paint and experiment with making art. Coincidentally, my old office space was located in an art gallery and my current office space is in an entire building of art studios. My preferred social media has become Instagram. I try to post a new photograph every day. I have enjoyed experimenting with art and photography as ways to express myself. So I have decided to have a photo blog this year to complement this personal and professional journey that I am on. I just recently had a revelation regarding my photography and am working on a project I hope to release later this year.

July Photo Blog: This month I went on my yearly adventure to California and spent a week in San Diego. I love California for so many reasons. The culture, energy, open-mindedness, the ocean, the weather, and the horticulture! The flora is so different than the Midwest (where I live). My heart belongs to tropical plants! Plumeria, jasmine, palm trees….oh my!! This year I was lucky enough to come across Lantana. I had seen pictures of this stunning plant on Facebook (in one of the plant groups I am a part of) but had never seen it in person until last week. Amazing plant! It is in the Verbena family. Lantana are aromatic, colorful, and pollinator-friendly. But what I find the most fascinating is its different stages…from budding to blooming. The closed buds form beautiful geometric patterns. The flowers are multi-colored. The blooming order of the flowers is interesting as it blooms from the outside inward. The flower clusters also change color as they mature. The flowers then mature into toxic berries, which start off as green and turn black as they mature. This plant definitely made me think about transformation, personal evolution, and change. 

As you view the photos, I’d like you to think about the many transformations you have gone through in your own life…from bud to bloom. What started your transformation(s)? How did it end? Is it still occurring? Has it changed you for the better? Is your life more beautiful as a result?  Light, Love, and California Dreamin’~ Christina

**All photos are the property of Christina Wilke-Burbach. All rights reserved ***

June 2019: Magical Moments

The past few months I have written my blog at the end of the month instead of the beginning. Unintentionally, it has become a way for me to reflect on the past month and my experiences. June was an inspiring month for me. I had several revelations and magical moments. A more formal term for these magical moments is “peak experience.”

June 2019: Magical Moments
By Christina Wilke-Burbach PhD, RMT, CA
Mind, Soul, and Self LLC
mindsoulandself.com

Intro to 2019 Photo Blog: 2019 is a journey into the world of non-verbal healing and personal growth here at Mind, Soul, and Self LLC. I have come to understand, true ways to heal spiritually, psychologically and emotionally are non-verbal: through art, music, movement, meditative states, and bodywork/energy work. The language of the soul/psyche is symbols, images, colors, vibrations, sensations, and patterns; we communicate this non-verbally. I have been on an incredible personal growth journey of my own the past few years into the world of art. I have become very involved with John Michael Kohler Arts Center (JMKAC) in Sheboygan, WI. I am the chair of the JMKAC Indoor Gardens, a member of the Friends of the Arts Council, and a museum docent (teacher/tour guide). I try to take a new art class every month. I started joining my artist husband in his art studio to paint and experiment with making art. Coincidentally, my old office space was located in an art gallery and my current office space is in an entire building of art studios. My preferred social media has become Instagram. I try to post a new photograph every day. I have enjoyed experimenting with art and photography as ways to express myself. So I have decided to have a photo blog this year to complement this personal and professional journey that I am on. I just recently had a revelation regarding my photography and am working on a project I hope to release later this year.

June Photo Blog: The past few months I have written my blog at the end of the month instead of the beginning. Unintentionally, it has become a way for me to reflect on the past month and my experiences. June was an inspiring month for me. I had several revelations and magical moments. A more formal term for these magical moments is “peak experience.”

“Peak experiences are sudden feelings of intense happiness and well-being, possibly the awareness of an “ultimate truth” and the unity of all things … the experience fills the individual with wonder and awe….he feels at one with the world, and is pleased with it ….” Abraham Maslow. They are moments when you feel more at one with yourself and the world, more integrated. You feel happy, even ecstatic, interconnected and in harmony. Peak experiences are one type of mystical experiences. Peak experiences play an important role in becoming-self-actualized. Peak experiences are not restricted solely to self-actualized individuals, however. Maslow believed that all people are capable of having these moments, but he also felt that self-actualized people were likely to experience them more often. Peak experiences are often described as transcendent moments of pure joy and elation. These are moments that stand out from everyday events. The memory of such events is lasting and people often liken them to a spiritual experience.

Maslow suggested that one of the best ways to think of peak experiences are to think of the most wonderful experiences of your life. Those moments of ecstasy and complete and utter happiness. Being in love is one example of a peak experience. Such moments may also occur when you are in a creative moment or when reading a book or listening to a movie. You might feel a sense of “being hit” by a particular creative work in a way that strikes an emotional chord inside of yourself. In one survey, people reported that peak experiences tended to occur during artistic, athletic or religious experiences. Moments in nature or during intimate moments with family or friends were also common. Achieving an important goal, either a personal or collective one, could also lead to a peak experience. You cannot create a peak experience at will. They are surprises and come unexpectedly. They are spontaneous. Below are photos that represent my magical moments this month. As you view the photos, I’d like you to think about the recent moments in your life that took your breath away…that inspired you….that filled your heart and made it burst. Light and Love~ Christina

**All photos are the property of Christina Wilke-Burbach. All rights reserved ***

May 2019: May Flowers

May 2019: May Flowers
Art, Music, and TranscenDANCE
By Christina Wilke-Burbach PhD, RMT, CA
Mind, Soul, and Self LLC
mindsoulandself.com

2019 is a journey into the world of non-verbal healing and personal growth here at Mind, Soul, and Self LLC. I have come to understand, true ways to heal spiritually, psychologically and emotionally are non-verbal: through art, music, movement, meditative states, and bodywork/energy work. The language of the soul/psyche is symbols, images, colors, vibrations, sensations, and patterns; we communicate this non-verbally.

I have been on an incredible personal growth journey of my own the past few years into the world of art. I have become very involved with John Michael Kohler Arts Center (JMKAC) in Sheboygan, WI. I am the chair of the JMKAC Indoor Gardens, a member of the Friends of the Arts Council, and a museum docent (teacher/tour guide). I try to take a new art class every month. I started joining my artist husband in his art studio to paint and experiment with making art. Coincidentally, my old office space was located in an art gallery and my current office space is in an entire building of art studios. My preferred social media has become Instagram. I try to post a new photograph every day. I have enjoyed experimenting with art and photography as ways to express myself. So I have decided to have a photo blog this year to complement this personal and professional journey that I am on. I just recently had a revelation regarding my photography and am working on a project I hope to release later this year. 

As a Master Gardener/Herbalist/Natural Perfumer, naturally, much of my photography inspiration is plants, trees, and flowers. Nature is the greatest work of art. I find so much beauty in the sky, water, and land. In animals and botanicals. I feel closer to the divine when I am surrounded by nature. As above, so below. Spring is one of my favorite times of the year because nature wakes up from her winter slumber. Animals come out of hibernation and all the blossoms and blooms of new life. The days get longer and warmer. Its a time of growth and positivity. I find it as gorgeous as it is inspiring because we forget that we humans are nature too. We are not separate from nature. We are a part of nature. When we consider ourselves distanced from the sun, moon, stars, birds, bees, and the trees it can lead to feeling unbalanced, depressed, and ungrounded. We too ebb and flow with the cycles of nature whether we realize it or not.

“Spring is a time of outward growth, not only in nature but in us as well. Spring is a great time to look at the goals you’ve set for yourself for the year and to plan them out so you can move forward to meet them. It’s also a time of renewed energy. Paying attention to the rhythms of the seasons can help us to feel more stable and centered as a person. It can also help us see ourselves as part of the bigger picture of nature where everything is working together synergistically. These things can help us to focus and live more mindfully during the coming season. Being attentive to the cycles of nature can impact your physical and emotional health for the better.” Meagan Visser

Below are pictures of my May Flowers in my own personal garden. As you view them, contemplate if you live a life in flow with the cycles of nature. How can you take the energy and new growth of springtime and use it as a catalyst to blossom in your own life?

 

**All photos are the property of Christina Wilke-Burbach. All rights reserved ***

April 2019: Magnolia

April 2019: Magnolia
By Christina Wilke-Burbach PhD, RMT, CA
Mind, Soul, and Self LLC
mindsoulandself.com

2019 is going to be a journey into the world of non-verbal healing here at Mind, Soul, and Self LLC. I have come to understand, true ways to heal psychologically and emotionally are non-verbal: through art, music, movement, meditative states, and bodywork/energy work. The language of the soul/psyche is symbols, images, colors, vibrations, sensations, and patterns; we communicate this non-verbally. Many times talk therapies are Band-Aids and do not get to the root of the problem. Non-verbal modalities help individuals discover the underlying root issues causing their challenges and symptoms and enables them to gently resolve them; thus moving them closer to wholeness and wellness.

I have been on an incredible personal growth journey of my own the past few years into the world of art. I have become very involved with John Michael Kohler Arts Center (JMKAC) in Sheboygan, WI. I am the chair of the JMKAC Indoor Gardens, a member of the Friends of the Arts Council, and a museum docent (teacher/tour guide). I try to take a new art class every month (I was a workshop docent last week and assisted with a Botanical Silk painting class….Amazing!) Coincidentally, my old office space was located in an art gallery and my current office space is in an entire building of art studios. My preferred social media has become Instagram. I have enjoyed experimenting with art and photography as ways to express myself. So I have decided to have a photo blog this year to complement this personal and professional journey that I am on.

On April 6, 2019 I visited the Missouri Botanical Garden in St. Louis. Founded in 1859, the Missouri Botanical Garden is one of the oldest botanical institutions in the United States and a National Historic Landmark. It is also listed in the National Register of Historic Places. Its Herbarium is the 2nd largest in North America. When I was there, all the Magnolia Trees were in bloom. I am a Herbalist and Master Gardener, so I was in heaven! I took dozens of photos and spent the entire day in the blossoms. When I returned home, I research the spiritual significance of this gorgeous flower. Magnolias are thought to be one of the first flowering plants to evolve on Earth with fossil evidence that they are close to 100 million years old. Ancient magnolias are still recognizable today as magnolias. Magnolias have found a great way to survive and may even outlast humans. These trees can live for at least a century. Therefore, a magnolia means stability and grace through the ages no matter the changes.

Below are some Magnolia pictures I took at the Botanical Garden. This month, I ask you to explore the beauty in you that you draw on to help you survive and thrive when times are tough. What traits within you make you resilient? What, who, or where is a source of stability for you?

 

**All photos are the property of Christina Wilke-Burbach. All rights reserved ***

 

January 2019: A Journey into Non-Verbal Healing

January 2019: A Journey into Non-Verbal Healing
By Christina Wilke-Burbach PhD, RMT, CA
Mind, Soul, and Self LLC
mindsoulandself.com

2019 is going to be a journey into the world of non-verbal healing here at Mind, Soul, and Self LLC. The theme of my 4 women’s wellness weekend retreats this year is ‘Art, Music, and TranscenDANCE.’ We will explore music, art, dance, meditation, and bodywork as doorways deep into the psyche to facilitate healing and personal growth. I also have a new Spiritual Psychology Program starting in March 2019 that will explore the powerful modalities of Spiritual Psychology that are largely non-verbal: art, music, dance, bodywork, and energy work. I have come to understand, the only true ways to heal psychologically and emotionally, are non-verbal: through art, music, movement, meditative states, and bodywork/energy work. The language of the soul/psyche is symbols, images, colors, vibrations, sensations, and patterns; we communicate this non-verbally. Many times talk therapies are Band-Aids and do not get to the root of the problem. Non-verbal modalities help individuals discover the underlying root issues causing their challenges and symptoms and enables them to gently resolve them; thus moving them closer to wholeness and wellness.

I have been on an incredible personal growth journey of my own the past few years into the world of art. I have become very involved with John Michael Kohler Arts Center (JMKAC) in Sheboygan, WI. I am the chair of the JMKAC Indoor Gardens, a member of the Friends of the Arts Council, and a museum docent (teacher/tour guide). I try to take a new art class every month. (I am taking an Art and Yoga class tomorrow that I am super excited about!) Coincidentally, my old office space was located in an art gallery and my current office space is in an entire building of art studios. My preferred social media has become Instagram. I have enjoyed experimenting with art and photography as ways to express myself. So I have decided to have a photo blog this year to complement this personal and professional journey that I am on.

My sister Michelle and I recently went on an adventure to the Mitchell Park Domes in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. It was 14 degrees outside and cloudy that day. I really struggle with seasonal depression in the winter, so this trip was exactly what I needed. It was heaven on earth to me and I didn’t want to leave! The tropical dome was 80 degrees inside! Being immersed in nature was incredible as was my opportunity to photograph these beautiful plants. Below are some of my photos from that day. Enjoy and thank you for reading/viewing my blog!

 

About: Christina Wilke-Burbach PhD, RMT, CA is a Spiritual Counselor, Holistic Health Consultant, Certified Aromatherapist, Herbalist, Master Gardener, Docent, and Reiki Master Teacher with a PhD in Health Psychology. Her business, Mind, Soul, and Self LLC is based out of Wisconsin. She has 20 years of experience in psychology, spirituality, and natural health. For more info on Dr. Christina and her upcoming Retreats, Classes, or to schedule an individual reading or appointment, please visit mindsoulandself.com. Many Blessings and Be Well!