Elisabeth Ladwig on Science, Nature and Magic

When Life Hands You Lemons

By Carlie Currier

Elisabeth Ladwig is a conceptual photographer, or photographic artist. Her artwork, often mistaken for paintings, are created from original photographs. Elisabeth began as a graphic designer then later merged her career with her interest in collage art. The subject matter is a manifestation of her interpretations of the world through both observation and study.

“Since childhood, I have pretty much synonymized science, nature, and magic,” Elisabeth said. “But what I noticed early on is that, out in society, all the mystery seems to get stripped away once we've found a hard algorithm for something. This always made me sad. I want to view the world with fascination and wonder, so my hope is that my art inspires others to make a habit of seeing just how incredible the world is.”



Once Upon a Time

Elisabeth claims to do things backwards, in the sense that she won’t take an idea or personal experience and create a piece of art about it. Instead, the visual idea for the artwork comes first. Only after she has started working on it, and often not until it’s completed, is she able to sit back and analyze the significance.


“I let the art tell the stories. Of course, what I see isn’t always what someone else sees. Everyone will find a different story, and that’s what I love about it.

Her top selling piece, Once Upon a Time is featured in the Nov-Dec issue of Spirituality & Health magazine. Other fan favorites in her portfolio include, “When Life Hands You Lemons”, “Walk with Me”, “Underhill Road”, and “End of the Earth”. She attributes their popularity to the sense of joy that they bring out in people, in a world where joy often gets left behind to collect dust. “Catching the Light”, “The Writer”, and the “Dryad of Nurture” are also artworks that get regular attention. ”

Elisabeth’s pieces make great gifts, and come in various size prints.  The beauty of her work is that it fosters a sense of intrigue and mystery about the world, strengthening the connection we each have with nature, with others, and with ourselves.

End of The Earth

Gift

Although she doesn’t have a personal favorite, she’s drawn to her more still, quiet pieces, such as “Gift”, “Kingdom of Old”, “Healing”, and “Permission”.  

“There is a mystery in [my art’s] stillness that is awe-inspiring to me, like an ancient wisdom whispering so softly that your only choice is to become equally still yourself,” Elisabeth said. “We don’t listen much these days. Listening and observing from a curious place – and using all of our senses to do so – is a wonderful exercise to stay connected. It’s one thing to go out and observe Nature from an outsider’s perspective; it’s quite another to really allow yourself to become part of what you’re observing, to feel immersed in and compassionate about the bigger picture.”

Dryad of Kinship

Many of her pieces like, The Chakras, No More Games, Fly, The Caged Bird, The Dryad of Self-Empowerment, and Where the Wind Blows, are just some that touch on the idea of making conscious choices to shift our perception, inviting us to see beyond the superficial walls we’ve built around ourselves so that we might embrace a happier life. 


Both Dryad of Death and Rebirth, and Dryad of Renewal were included in Mind Key's second, full-color, glossy anthology, Yin and Yang: The Duality of Balance, a great gift idea for anyone looking to venture on the path of intrigue and self discovery.

“Thing is, we don’t have to know how we'll get there,” Elisabeth said. “All we need to figure out is the first step... then the next, and the next… eventually, you get into a rhythm and the path becomes clearer.”


Her exceptional artwork, “The Dryad of Kinship,” merges with Mind Key’s December theme of staying connected with others, and those they love.

Although Elisabeth typically requires 2 to 3 weeks for delivery of unframed pieces and longer for framed pieces, if ordered early enough, in-stock pieces can be delivered by Christmas for a fabulous and connected gift idea.  Visit her website www.elisabethonearth.com to see all of her art, exhibitions, and to purchase.

Catching the Light

The Writer

Discover Elisabeth on Earth

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December's issue: Connection

Image by JoAnna Schillaci

This month's theme is about how we work together as a community to remain connected--how we connect with others, with those we love, with the world around us. The holidays are a time when we work so hard toward a sense of connection while at the same time often feeling completely disconnected. As your resource for everything health and happiness, Mind Key believes that the idea of connection, whether to each other, to spirit, or to ourselves, is essential. That’s why we’ve devoted this month to spotlighting members of our community that offer resources via products and services that promote all forms of connection.

As you peruse this month’s spotlights, utilize your intuition to determine which offerings best match your personal energy patterns, and those of your loved ones. This is about more than gift-giving, this is about understanding what we inherently need, feeling that need in those with whom we're connected, and creating personalized gifts that bring  us together with the tools to success.

We’ll be exploring some of our community’s products and services, but more than that, we’ll offer a glimpse into each business’s philosophy, how they started, introduce their team, all while talking about how their products and/or services can provide help and healing to you on your journey and the world at large.

Most products will arrive in time for the holidays without the need for expedited shipping, and all services offer mailed paper certificates, or printable files via email that are worthy of the most discerning gift-giver. Many of these businesses are also offering holiday discounts to the Mind Key community as a thank you for being a part of our online magazine. Sign up for our mailing list with the term "December Blog"in the "referred by" line, and get an additional 10% off any item in Mind Key’s new online store.

As they’ve worked on their articles, some of the questions our writers have pondered this month include things that have helped them feel happier, healthier, and more connected; trusting intuition to discover that which is missing; those things that have helped them heal, grow and expand; as well as how Mind Key has helped on this path, and some of the experiences/services/products that they would recommend.

Image by Charla Durycharladury.com

 

The Making of Yin and Yang: The Duality of Balance

See how editor, Danielle Rose compiled the art and writing from contributing artists and writers to create Yin and Yang: The Duality of Balance, an anthology of art and writing that speaks to balancing the shadows and light within.  She takes us through the inception stage of the book, the program used to create the spreads, and how the file was rendered for proofing before being sent to print.  Plus get a sneak peek of the interior art!

Help us get this project rolling by preordering your copy today at www.mindkey.me/anthology --we guarantee it in your hands by the holidays... makes great gifts for anyone on your list interested in the beautiful, as well as the dark in life.

Having trouble ordering?  We've got you covered:

Amaryllis: Bring pride, beauty and success into your home all winter long

Images from www.gardennewsbreak.com

The plant hippeastrum, commonly known as amaryllis, is a a member of the lily or Liliacea family. Robin Rose Bennett, herbalist and author of The Gift of Healing Herbs said that although amaryllis are not edible, the liliacea family contains many edible and medicinal plants such as garlic and chives. Tulips are also part of this family. Amaryllis are often sold as gifts around the holidays as they provide vibrant color indoors during long winter months.

The beauty of these bulbs is that they are fairly easy to grow, and within 5-10 weeks after planting (depending on growing conditions and variety), horticulturist Christian Curless of Colorblends, a third generation wholesale bulb merchant, says they produce multiple flowers on two to three towering stalks that can last for weeks during the dreariest days of winter.

Garden Guides, an online resource for gardeners, writes that this stately flower symbolized success after a battle or struggle, and that the amaryllis' height symbolized intense pride in Victorian England.  They were often given as gifts of recognition in the arts. It has also been said to symbolize inner beauty.

In Greek Mythology, Garden Guides notes the story of the shy nymph named Amaryllis, who pierced her heart with an arrow to win the heart of the shepherd Alteo.  From the drops of blood that fell, a vibrant amaryllis sprung from the ground. Bennett said that amaryllis embodies her name, which is derived from the Greek word amarysso meaning "to sparkle."

Amaryllis bring vibrancy and life to any home, particularly in the process of caring for it and watching a nondescript bulb grow into a magnificent symbol of self-love and life—a lovely gift for anyone with a tendency to cabin fever or the winter blues.

"Recipients unfamiliar with amaryllis don’t have a clue what’s coming," Curless said. "The initiated are immediately thrilled. Prepare to be thanked all winter long."

To care for your amaryllis, Gardener's Supply Company recommends planting the bulb in a heavy six to eight inch pot, pointed side up, leaving approximately one-third of the bulb above the soil line.  Place it in a sunny location, and water it once. Thereafter water it only to keep the soil from drying out. Once a couple inches of new growth appears, water it regularly, turning the pot so the stalk grows straight.  Once it blooms, keep the plant out of direct sunlight to keep the flowers from fading.

To have amaryllis bloom year after year, Garden Supply Company suggests cutting the stalk down to one inch after the flowers fade. Water and feed regularly, allowing a few new leaves to grow.  As summer draws to a close, stop watering as frequently, allow the foliage to die back and then store the pot in a cool dark place until about five to ten weeks before you want the plant to flower, at which
time care for it as above.

visit mindkey.me/danielle to learn more about connecting with and healing through the spirit of nature and plants.