My bath, my sanctuary

If ever I have the opportunity to build a house again, it will center around the bathroom. No more big lounges and braai-areas for entertainment, but rather a big bathroom, with a spa bath .Oh, and big glass doors that opens onto a private garden with a water feature, from  the Japanese philosophy that one’s house should extend into the garden.

I absolutely love to bath, I do so twice a day. With fragrant candles burning, therapeutic oils or salts, enriching soaps….. its “me” time. To me it’s not just about cleaning my physical body, but it’s also a spiritual experience. Yes I know, it sounds odd, being spiritual while lying in the bath naked. The stoic churchleaders will turn in their graves. But I figure clothes were made to hide from man, to present an image to others, but in my nudity, I’m just “me” before God – nothing to hide. I have my time in the morning when I meditate and do my studies, but when I bath, I just talk to God. I tell Him about my dreams, my worries, I plan my day and I sometimes cry.

When we visited Pompey a couple of years ago, I was amazed at the lovely public bath area they had. To think that at the time of Christ, these Romans already knew the value of having a good bath, contrary to public thinking that everybody before 1900 was filthy. These bath areas had their changing rooms, with hooks for your clothes, and seats for your slaves who watched over your belongings. The next room, you would be scrubbed with salts and then pampered with exotic oils. After that you would go for a hot bath. Because most of the upper class men would be there, these areas were also good for political debates and served as a place for doing business, basically like the golf-course today. Then there are the Turkish baths, The spa’s at Bath in England, Karlovy Vari in the Chech Republic, oh and many more. The value of the modern day spa, where not only do you get the “hot” and “cold” treatment, but different massages and alignments. All based on knowledge from yesteryear.

There is great value in a good bath. Yes, a shower saves water, and it’s quicker. I know most people just want to get rid of the dirt, but in these hectic times, instead of lying on the couch “relaxing” in front of the tv, rather have a long, relaxing bath in nourishing oils, with good music in the background.

Aaaaahhhh heavenly……….

Visiting art museums

“Art is not what you see, but what you make others see.” Edgar Degas.

It is the dream of almost every art-lover, whether artist or just admirer to visit the world’s famous art museums.

Visiting these museums can be an exciting, educational experience, but also an extremely tiring one. Standing in line for sometimes up to 2 hours at the Louvre in Paris or the Academia in Florence can be overwhelming, not to mention the amount of people inside. Some of these museums are so enormous, one would spend a whole day in them.

A couple of pointers when visiting Major Art Museums:

 Book your entry tickets before hand. Most of the museums have websites where one can acquire tickets. This saves a vast amount of time. When entering, take note whether you are allowed to take photos. In Italy it is not allowed, but most other Museums in Europe do not mind, as long as you don’t use a flash. Make use of the lockers for bags and coats, they do get heavy when strolling through the museum for a couple of hours.

When you visit a museum like the Louvre or Musee d’ Orsay, decide what tipe of art you are most interested in, whether Modern, Renaissance, Romantic, Sculptures, Egyptian etc. You might not have the time to do the whole museum.

Some of the most famous art museums include Metropolitan Museum of Art, NY; Tate Modern, London; The Hermitage, St Petersburg, Museum of Modern Art, NY; Uffizi, Florence; Louvre, Paris; Musee d’Orsay, Paris; Vatican Musuems, Rome; Smithsonian American Art, Washington. It is also worth mentioning that if you are a passionate follower of modern art the Guggenheim Museums in Venice, Bilbao and NY are not to be missed.

These are but a few, for in Europe every city has a couple of art museums, including artists’ own, like the Picasso Museum in Barcelona, Salvador Dali in Paris, as well as the Musee Marmottan Monet in Paris.

For those who adore art, and there are millions, experiencing the beauty firsthand is the most exhilerating experience. Standing in front of the Mona Lisa or David just takes your breath away.

The impact of social and political art

Though a lot of people would state that they would not hang a political piece of art in their living room, it is also true that social and political art have an enormous impact on the art world and society. In the words of Beverly Smith “ True art, art that comes from the centre of people, from their very core, is inherently political.”

Probably Picasso's most famous work, Guernica is certainly  his most powerful political statement, painted as an immediate reaction to the Nazi's devastating casual bombing practice on the Basque town of Guernica during Spanish Civil War.Guernica shows the tragedies of war and the suffering it inflicts upon individuals, particularly innocent civilians. This work has gained a monumental status, becoming a perpetual reminder of the tragedies of war, an anti-war symbol, and an embodiment of peace.

South Africa has had many artists that made their mark in the art world through political art. William Kentridge’s  pieces were often inspired by aspects of social injustice that have transpired over the years in South Africa. Gerard Sekoto, Willie Bester and currently Johanes Phokela have all had an immense impact on the art world. So are there many contemporary artists who through their passion, see their art as a voice to make others aware of injustice.

“I don't think artists can avoid being political. Artists are the proverbial canaries in the coalmine. When we stop singing, it's a sure sign of repressive times ahead.” Theresa Bayer

If people open themselves up to understanding the message, they will be pleasantly surprised that political art can be beautiful too. It too will liven up a living room or office space, the only difference -  it will move you, it will make you look inside yourself, and just maybe it will change you.

“If everyone would paint, political re-education would be unnecessary.” Pablo Picasso

Good picture or a great painting

Whether it is on the streets of Rome, along the canals of Venice, at the Santa Maria del Fiore in Florence or at the Montmartre in Paris, street artists are hard at work, painting and selling to tourists. Mostly beautiful little paintings of the surroundings or a very good likeness of you or your family.

Why are these obviously talented artists still working on the streets? Why do they not exhibit in galleries or are their work not known?

When critics look at an artwork, there are a lot of aspects they consider, which set a painting, and therefore the artist, apart.

An important criteria is whether the painting is technically sound. That basically means  that they would see whether the artist knew the medium he painted in, well. When painting in oils, one would use different techniques than when using watercolours, as an example.

Also, the critics will identify whether an artist understood the subject painted. For example, in South Africa we see a lot of wildlife artists, but very little where the animal really comes alive. That happens when artists paint from what they see, without understanding the mechanics behind, for example how an animal’s muscles work etc. Critics will also look at lines, brushstrokes, composition, colour usage and so forth. But the most important aspect, of any good painting is “soul”

Portraying emotion can be the most difficult element an artist has to deal with , but that is the one thing  that “speaks” to art critics and buyers alike.

In the words of Emile Zola, French writer and art critic of the late 1800’s : “ An artist must be absolutely devoted, body and soul. He must have the kind of character that will take nature boldly in both hands and put it straight down in front of us, just as he sees it”

Art - different strokes for different folks

“Our willingness to acknowledge that we only see half the picture, creates the conditions that make us more attractive to others. The more sincerely we acknowledge our need for their different insights and perspectives, the more they will be magnetized to join us. “ Margaret J Wheatley

Eccentric or brilliant, either  can be fitting to describe Salvador Dali. When asked to explain the motivation behind his painting, “Persistence of Memory” he said: “It suggests Einstein’s theory that time is relative and not fixed.” The idea for clocks functioning symbolically in this way, came to Dali when he was staring at a runny piece of Camembert cheese on a hot day in August.

Some people would describe Edvard Munch ‘s “The Scream” as haunting, though critics describe it as pure poetry. Edvard Munch explained “ I was walking along a path with two friends, the sun was setting, suddenly the sky turned blood red. I paused, feeling exhausted, and leaned on the fence – there was blood and tongues of fire above the blue-black fjord and the city. My friends walked on, and I stood there trembling with anxiety and I sensed an infinite scream passing through nature”

Some people prefer a calming landscape, some a bright bunch of flowers. Another’s taste leans more towards naïve art, African art, or nature. Whatever one’s personal opinion there is no denial that in the world of art, there is a definite place for expressionistic art. For artists who put their emotions and experiences on canvas for others to be moved .It is no wonder that both “Persistence of Memory” and “The Scream” are both on the Top 10 list of Iconic and Influential works of Art. They do just that. They rip you apart and make you look inside yourself.

The imprint of money

I grew up in a pretty normal middle class household, where money was concerned. We had enough, but not for extra luxuries. Both my dad and mom had the same outlook as my friends’ parents – “ money doesn’t grow on trees”, “think well before you spend, because one works hard for your money” etc.

This philosophy was imprinted on my brain from a young age, and being a responsible person, I always looked after my belongings ( to the point that when my children were small they could still play with my dolls and tractors – impeccable after more than 20 years).

At 17 I got my first pair of contact lenses – hard ones. They scratched my eyes terribly. One late afternoon, busy finishing up for a Pre-primary concert where I had to go and help with the kids, I lost my one contact lens. I searched my whole room, but that lens was nowhere to be found. Now how to tell my mother…. It was just impossible to face my parents, telling them that I have been irresponsible and wasted valuable money. I was in such a state that I saw no way out. In a haze of depression I decided that I had no choice, I had to commit suicide. Lack of knowledge drove me to the medicine cabinet. The only full packet I could find was a packet of “brook lax”. I emptied the container and went to fulfill my duties at the concert, fully aware that nothing will happen there, but anticipating for my stomach to just collapse during the night (preferably in my sleep) and so I never need to disappoint my parents.

Needless to say, one cannot die from “brook lax” overdose. The next morning I courageously told my parents about my lense, nothing about my suicide attempt though – my dad, engineer that he was, vacuumed my room and retrieved the lense.

When my son was born , and later my daughter, I too had to face the daunting task of teaching them about money and how to be responsible, but my own experience made me wonder whether unknowingly parents put their children under a lot of pressure with their outlook. Without teaching our children to waste, shouldn’t we teach them to enjoy money? To attract money? That money, as everything else in the universe is in abundance, for us to create? That money is just a commodity and not worth people’s lives?

If not, our children might  also lead anxious, depressing lives, only focusing on want. And when they too feel they have fallen short, will they not like so many decide to commit suicide?

Different forms of respect

We so often hear that people, especially “the youth of today” do not have respect any more, which I think in a sence is true. If you look at how most people dress and act (oh and I’m not talking about the youth), they do not have any self respect. It is a fact that you never feel as good as when you know you look good.

But what is respect, how do we show it? In the Afrikaner culture we teach our children to say “Oom” and “Tannie” to older people. How I feel about that, I do not dare mention. Let’s just say, I love the way the young men in Paris treat a lady in comparison. Is respect really in wording or is it more than that? The old saying goes that respect should be earned, and here is my big problem. How many “grown-ups” live in a way that young people can really respect them? How many parents get wasted over weekends and then expect their kids not to. How many parents live ethical lives and run their businesses according? How many parents are deeply spiritual , and lead calm, faithful lives?

In old Eastern, Indian and even African cultures, the wisdom of the aged is revered. But do we even have wise old people any more? Can children go to their parents and grandparents and really ask advice on issues such as love, relationships, business etc.

Should I really say “Oom” or “Tannie” to somebody who I think is an absolute idiot just because that person is older than I am? I know young people with more knowledge and wisdom than most of the old people I know, and I respect them.

How do I know if someone respects me? I see it in their eyes, I read it in their body language. It’s about how they relate to me, definitely not what they call me.

Dr Zaida Rivene at the Gerson Institute in San Diego, USA

Most people in my home-town Swellendam, South Africa know of Dr Zaida Rivene, but only her patients know the remarkable woman who call Swellendam her home.

Dr Zaida, a dr of chiropractic, dr of naturopathy and homeopathic physician, as well as international veterinary chiropractic, moved to Swellendam with husband Jim Montrose, after a successful career, with a practice in San Francisco to “retire” on the Red Roan Ranch with their Egyptian Arab stud. However, her practice in Swellendam, with patients coming as far as Hermanus and Cape Town, has been keeping her rather busy.

This May Dr Zaida was honoured, to be invited to the Gerson Institute in San Diego, USA, as well as the Tijuana, Mexico clinic  to fine-tune her experience of 30 years of clinical experimentation of Dr Gerson’s work and to implement it with all of her patients.

Dr Zaida was inspired by Dr Max Gerson when she started her practice in 1981 after  reading his book “ A cancer Therapy” written in 1958. He had amazing results by using a plant-based food program  which consisted of 8-13 fresh squeezed fruit and veggie juices a day, oatmeal, veggie soups, baked potatoes, and slow cooked veggies, with no salt, caffeine or oils. Also having coffee enemas 3-5 times a day to cleanse the liver to release more toxicity into the colon. All based on the knowledge that the  body is able to heal itself when the body is allowed to be in an alkaline state. Incidentally Dr Otto Warburg received a Noble Prize in 1931 for his work on proving that cancer cells grow in an acidic environment due to the fact that they live without oxygen, whereas healthy tissue need an alkaline, oxygen rich environment  to flourish.

Dr Zaida has helped her patients with this knowledge that there is no need to wait for a disease to create -  a plant-based food program is for everyone.

 Her immense knowledge of her field and dedication to her patients has not only allowed her to help them heal physically, but also to change their lives in changing their attitudes. For most of her patients, Dr Zaida has been doctor, mother and mentor, inspiring them to follow their dreams – no wonder a patient of hers is currently studying chiropractic at the University of Johannesburg.

Dr Zaida, I’m sure I can honestly say on behalf of your patients in Swellendam, we thank God every day for bringing you in our lives. We are immensely grateful and extremely proud of you for what you have achieved in your field, for the benefit of us all.