“I wish I could show you,
when you are lonely or in darkness,
the astonishing light of your own being.”
– Hafiz, 14th Century Persian poet

Video Concept and Images: Jamie McHugh naturebeingart.org

Music: “Begin Again” from”Timeless”
by Jami Sieber jamisieber.com

The images in “Astonishing Light” are from Glacier National Park in Montana, where I was Artist-in-Residence for the month of October. The incredible beauty of that ecosystem enlivened and inspired me; at the same time, my heart was broken as I witnessed intimately the scale and magnitude of the glacial depletion. I asked myself: “with such rapid destruction happening, what purpose does my artistry serve”? Wendell Berry’s words came to me: “We know enough of our own history by now to be aware that people exploit what they have merely concluded to be of value, but they defend what they love.”

In alignment with Berry’s words arose a compelling purpose: to share the beauty of this magnificent planet through NatureBeingArt as a way to inspire love for this creation as well as mobilize energy for healing the disease of climate chaos. It is clear our creativity needs to express itself in multiple ways for healing to happen. In that spirit, one of my commitments this year is to donate 10% of all art sales to 350.org, an advocacy organization dedicated to immediate transition from fossil fuels to renewables. The planet offers itself so benevolently to us; may we generously reciprocate in whatever way each one of us can on behalf of all life.

Please support your National Parks system in preserving the wild now and for future generations to come and get on board with all the various advocacy groups advancing renewable energy – such as 350.org, Earthjustice.org and others.