Healing the Sick
This illustration portrays a tale from the Book of Luke, in which Jesus heals a crippled woman. According to the story, he banishes a fever that has kept the woman bedridden for eighteen years. As the mysterious force of healing moves through her, she rises up and immediately begins to serve others. Healing begets more healing, suggesting a continuous cycle. For this reason, a circular image came to mind. The assignment called for a vertical rectangle, however, so I made it into an oval.
In my religious illustrations, I prefer to let the viewer imagine a divine presence as much as possible, without depicting anything too concretely. In this image, I focused on showing this miraculous transformation as an energetic phenomenon. The woman is surrounded and encapsulated in light, as if emerging from a luminous egg. A supportive hand rests upon her shoulder, while another gently lifts her to her feet. Meanwhile, her pure soul, symbolized by a gazelle – innocent in its animal nature, carefree and agile – waits patiently inside her, ready to emerge with a joyous leap. The colors of spring prevail, symbolizing a new beginning.
That’s all it takes to express a Biblical story. My editor was pleased.
Truly, the healing journey is a mystery, an individual path that can unfold in myriad ways. Apart from medical interventions, it seems there’s often some kind of helping force, whether a supportive presence, a critical insight, a powerful dream, or a waking vision. These inspirations are like having the wind at our back as we navigate troubled waters.
For people in ancient times, faith in something numinous was an important asset. The Roman conquest of ancient Israel was brutal, and the story of a transcendent messiah fell on fertile soil. To this day, we still yearn for healing miracles – perhaps of the ordinary type, as gentle and peaceful as a grazing gazelle on a warm spring day.
A good week to all –
D. Yael Bernhard
https://dyaelbernhard.com
Have you seen my other Substack, The Art of Health? In addition to being a visual artist, I’m also a certified integrative health & nutrition coach with a lifelong passion for natural food cooking and herbal medicine. Now in its second year, this illustrated newsletter explores cutting-edge concepts of nutrition. I strive to make relevant information clear and accessible, and to anchor essential health concepts in unique images. Check it out, and if you like it, please subscribe and help spread the word. Your support keeps my work going!