True Nature

by Barbara Bash

In the tradition of Anne Morrow Lindbergh's Gift from the Sea , writer-illustrator Barbara Bash brings a spiritual awareness to her surroundings as she caringly records encounters with animals and plants during solitary walks around the countryside of upstate New York. In this four-color book—designed to look like a one-of-a-kind hand-bound journal—she creates the look and feel of a spontaneously composed diary chronicling her experiences and reflections during a series of solitary retreats. Her handwritten notes and exquisite drawings capture wondrous moments in the natural a dragonfly's brief pause, a surprised deer in tall grass, woodchucks watching her from a distance, a raindrop making its way down a windowpane. Nature lovers, gardeners, and anyone who enjoys walking in the woods will recognize a kindred spirit and find hours of pleasure in these pages.

Genres: Art, Nature, Nonfiction, Buddhism, Writing

144 pages, Hardcover

First published October 26, 2004

About the author

Barbara Bash grew up in Barrington, Illinois and has worked for many years as a calligrapher, illustrator and teacher of book arts and botanical drawing. She currently lives in upstate New York.

Reviews

[Alison Zak · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beautiful artwork. The writing is honest, raw, and relateable. A unique book. I'm glad it exists.

[cj · Rating 4 out of 5]

[read for school]

I loved how open she was with her struggle in solidarity.

[Stef · Rating 3 out of 5]

Beautiful illustrations!

[Greta · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beautiful watercolor nature sketches - and the author’s honesty about her struggle with solitude certainly resonates in these uncertain times.

[Susan Tweit · Rating 4 out of 5]

"This is the story of four solitary retreats spent in a cabin in the Catskill Mountains of upstate New York. During these times I practiced sitting meditation and nature journaling. Both activities are contemplative, developing awareness and attentiveness to the world. I wanted to see how they might weave together when mixed with the simplicity and starkness of solitude."

True Nature is so much more than a simple journal of Bash's solitary retreats, one for each season. The book itself is beautiful, written entirely by hand in Bash's fluid calligraphy and illustrated with sketches and watercolors from her field journals. Sometimes the words become BIG, sometimes they dance around on the page, sometimes they stand out in bright colors; always they are as lively as the world Bash observes within and without. Her calligraphy and illustrations give the book a vivid and personal feel, like a hand-written letter from a friend....

The book ends with a series of field sketching exercises that will make readers' hands itch for pencil and paper—even those who feel they can't draw. And these wise words: "Stepping into the unknown always takes fearlessness. What we find on the other side is our tender-hearted aliveness. What else is worth doing in the end?"

Read my full review on Story Circle Book Reviews
http://www.storycirclebookreviews.org...

[Kasey Jueds · Rating 5 out of 5]

It was so interesting to read this book at pretty much the same time as Anne LeClaire's Listening Below the Noise--such similar topics (solitude and silence), and such different treatments. I loved, loved, loved True Nature. First of all, it's beautiful to look at--Barbara Bash's watercolors are graceful and full of feeling. And the writing is spare, lovely, honest. It allows for mystery and contradiction. It's very present to both the joys and the challenges of solitary spiritual practice, and it moves seamlessly between the two. Bash's writing feels deeply true to me, in the sense that it works the way the mind seems to work: that seamless shuttling from one thing to the next to the next. I so much appreciated her forthrightness about the fact that spiritual practice is often hard. She writes about loneliness, her too-high expectations for herself, her self-criticism, her sense of disappointment and failure and fear of the dark. She also writes about newts, skunks, apple blossoms, meditation, sleep, confronting her fears, and feeling at peace. She doesn't provide any easy answers... actually, she doesn't provide any answers at all. Which is one of the things that makes the book so nourishing, like spending time with a friend. It's a self-help book that isn't.

[Kate · Rating 5 out of 5]

"In this colorful journal, writer-illustrator Barbara Bash has re-created her chronicles of meditation and contemplative wandering during a series of solitary country retreats. Combining beautifully hand-calligraphed journal notes with watercolor-and-pencil drawings, she captures exquisite moments of magic in the natural environment: a dragonfly's brief pause, a surprised deer in the tall grass, a lumbering skunk's visit, the woods at twilight. Nature lovers, gardeners, and anyone who enjoys solitary country walks will recognize in Barbara a kindred spirit and will find hours of pleasure in these pages."
~~ front flap

There's nothing I could add about this exquisite, comforting book.

[Kayla · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gorgeous. The drawings and colors are beautiful and peaceful, and I felt relaxed just reading through and looking at the pictures. I did appreciate, though, when she went into the woods at night even though she was afraid and she reflected on the death of her mother. Over the past two years, I've lost two beloved grandparents and have seen the grief of my darling Nana, and I was touched by reading her honest and insightful reflections on death and nature.

[d4 · Rating 1 out of 5]

I liked the idea, but not the execution. The artwork was okay (not exceptional), but the writing managed to both bore and annoy me. You would think the author was held at gunpoint and forced to go on retreat after retreat, by how little she seemed to enjoy her time outdoors. Lots of fear and sadness, with hardly any explanation. Life is short; maybe I should start abandoning books more often.

[Lee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Although this is supposedly a children's book, I bought it for the amazing watercolor paintings. I love the sweet story also. I have added it to my collection of "adult/children's" books.

[Kit · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beautiful.

[Abby Newberry · Rating 5 out of 5]

I happened upon this book by accident, and what a lovely surprise! It is a charming and inspiring body of work. I actually read it all in one sitting!

[Will Jeffries · Rating 5 out of 5]

Truly a delightful, easy read.