MARIANNE NORTH
English 1830-1890

Marianne North traveled more miles in 17 years than most
travelers cover in a lifetime. She set out at 40 years of age in
response to her own self-inquiry:

“What am I going to do now?”

Indeed, a question many women face at times of great change
– at those junctures in life when the unexpected or inevitable
has happened. In the best of circumstances one is thrown into
a whole new perspective, a new worldview. Such was the case
for M. North.

In her early adulthood she fulfilled her duties as daughter of
a wealthy Englishman who required her to nurse and care for
him. Until she was forty North managed the household,
nursed her father, and, between duties she took up oil
painting. She loved flowers, studied them and painted all
kinds of flowers for the rest of her life.

At forty her life changed so completely that Marianne North
offers us not only an entire gallery of over 800 painted
impressions of flowers from around the globe but the written
and oral history of a woman who broke loose from cultural
norms and let her heart be her guide.

Her heart was well balanced by a developed ethic that
provided her with particular parameters for both travel and
aesthetic. In two circumnavigations of the globe, traveling a
wide trail north to south, North never picked a flower,
always painted her subject in its natural environment, and
always used oils.

Let’s now look into our own hearts ~ let’s begin with self-
inquiry ~ I can only offer to you as the reader my
appreciation for your attention and offer you questions that
arise for me:

‘What is it that you would do if only you had the time or the
energy?’

Or perhaps you have an inner dialogue that goes something
like this: “If only someone had encouraged me to ______________
(you fill in the blank) then I would be so happy or successful or famous
(whatever your story is).” Then you may even answer yourself
with something like this: “Well, I didn’t get that encouragement so I
may as well make the best of this and just settle for a ‘run-of-the-mill
life.” After all, who do you think you are anyhow?”

You get the idea of how we sabotage ourselves and how our
dreams and the core desire of the heart is not only squashed
by others, but, eventually by ourselves.

So, take a good look inside of your heart. In fact, imagine
being in the center of your heart. Breathe . . . and enter the
center of your heart – as if you are entering a most exquisite
and glorious chamber of a mansion. Because you are . . . let
yourself feel your own heartbeat and give yourself the gift of
listening to your heart. Then let your hand be led by your
heart’s desire and write out longhand all that you hear.

For those who are ready to take the leap and be courageous:
Vessel of Voices invites you to sign up for:
“Energize your Heart” 29 March 1-4 pm

“Dolphin Heart” 12th of April 1- 3:30 pm

Both are in San Anselmo, CA with an ongoing series to follow
in May. Workshops in MN+ Hawai’I follow in June – Sept.

Please see Vessel Of Voices for details or email
vesselofvoices@mac.com with your request for information.
Most of all, be kind to your heart; take the time to stop and
listen to what your heart has been trying to whisper to you
while you have been busy doing what you have declared (or
someone else commanded) is more important.

If you do this, and you follow through, you will reap such
sweet and powerful rewards . . . and more than that . . . so
will those whose lives you touch . . . and the ripple effect
shall so begin anew!

Thank you for caring enough to read this and to take care of yourself.

With a heartful of courage & handful of spring wildflowers,
Roxanna