Chestnut Bud is one of the Bach Flower Remedies that is indicated when you are wishing to break a repeating dysfunctional pattern in your life. This particular Flower Essence has the ability to go underneath the dysfunctional pattern (for example the pattern of always attracting unhealthy relationships), contact your true core essence (such as finding your true value, lovability and self-worth) and then vibrate that core essence into a blossoming and fullness into the world.

The acupuncture point used to apply this flower essence is located on “Conception Vessel 20” (a little above the location of the heart) and is called “Flower Covering.” The conception Vessel acupuncture meridian can be visualized as the journey of a lotus plant growing out of the mud, up through water, and becoming an astoundingly beautiful bud in the sunlight. This particular point would then be considered the place where the lotus blossom opens.

As an artist I enjoyed painting this piece that harks back to classical 19th Century floral painting, with 20th Century impressionistic strokes. And I also wanted to introduce 21st Century Quantum concepts of reality by confounding the boundaries of foreground and background especially on the left side. This confounding element can open up the mind to multi-layered interpretations of reality, thereby offering the mind the freedom to let go of its limiting beliefs and structures. Beliefs like the notion that how we see reality is simply and forever unchangeable because, well, that is “just how things are.”

My intention is to have this painting be a visually energetic meditation that inspires you to manifest your true self out in the world, that inspire you to accomplish what you came here to do and to embrace the motivating realization that Helen Keller articulated so brilliantly: