Psalm 23 is perhaps the most well-known passage of ancient spiritual literature, loved by Jews and Christians all over the world. This is my second illustration of this timeless poem. In my first version, the Christian publisher who commissioned the piece insisted that the woman be clothed. I complied, but to me it didn’t look right. Years later I created this second version as an illustration for my other newsletter, The Art of Health, for an article about nutrition for relaxation & sleep. I wasn’t sure Substack would allow full nudity, either, so I stylized the woman’s body, simplifying her form into a spiral. I was happy to put her bare skin to the earth, from which she draws deep tranquility. If you’ve done this lately, even if just by walking outside with bare feet, you may be familiar with this feeling.
When the young King David wrote the Psalms some 3000 years ago, he did not know about the electromagnetic energy of the earth – nor did he understand the positive effects of immersing oneself in the negative ions near a stream. He only knew that to “lay down beside still waters” was deeply comforting, yielding a sense of connection to something greater than himself. For though Psalm 23 refers to what is translated as “the Lord,” the original Hebrew word יהוה may be translated in a number of ways. Sacred and unutterable for Jews, this four-letter tetragrammaton serves more as a spiritual signpost than a name, indicating the Eternal, Source of Life, That Which Is Becoming, or even just Life Unfolding. This is the guiding force, the metaphorical “shepherd” to which David, who began as a humble shepherd and rose to become King of Israel, refers.
For me, what is comforting about this ancient Psalm is this promise of connection to the earth and its sustaining waters, the sunlight that illuminates it and the atmosphere that cocoons it. To rest as a part of this vast eternal whole is to be free of fear. These forests, fields, and flowing waters are the “House of the Lord,” the “table spread for me,” the anointing oil, the goodness and steadfast love referred to in the passage. The woman in this image dips her feet in this Edenic stream, relaxing as part of Creation.
I’ve always loved lying down on the ground with my feet uphill from my head – a habit that took hold during my pregnancies to relieve the downward pressure of the fetus within. The slight feeling of vertigo in this downhill position makes me feel even more aware of the great swell of earth that supports my body. Upside-down positions also suggest a non-ordinary state of being, one which defies gravity and the constraints of reality. In the magical world he created, Chagall frequently painted upside-down figures.
The stylized plants pictured here are holy basil (tulsi), lavender, and chamomile – all gifts of the earth that help us relax and sleep when made into a tea.
This painting is for sale. Please inquire for more information if you’re interested.
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!