Ionian Roots

Ionian Roots, 5 x 7", watercolor and Neocolor II

One of the outcomes of studying to become a healthcare musician is that I am seeing connections that I had never noticed before. The world seems to favor certain patterns and in their beauty, repeats them over and over again.
   While focusing on the musical modes, I realized that they could be naturally paired with the 7 chakras, or energy centers of the human body. That idea was spurred on by a chart created by Kay Gardner for her book, Sounding the Inner Landscape. An obvious starting point is that the Ionian Mode is typically described as C major. The musical pitch assigned to the Root Chakra in Gardner's book is C. Aha!

Iconic Ionian

The Ionian mode is neutral to the  Western ear. It is made up of a progression of notes which we anticipate; think of do, re, mi, fa, sol, la, ti, do. We could consider it as the baseline of diatonic scales. You can read a little bit about the Ionian mode in my blog from March 19, 2015, Iconic Ionian. The scene I painted to represent the Ionian mode contained all the elements needed for human life. These elements also appear in the most universally appealing paintings, so there is something fundamentally and materialistically necessary about the Ionian mode. Stella Benson, in her book The Gift of Healing Modes, points out that this mode is sometimes referred to as a "maternal" mode. it provides the sense of a "safe haven".


Likewise, the Root chakra is home to our founding energy. Our lives are grounded in the elements necessary for life and these elements are the concern of the Root chakra. For me, this makes a connection between the Ionian mode and the Root chakra. The chakras are linked with colors from the spectrum (vibrations, once again). At the lower end of the spectrum is red. The Root chakra absorbs the color red; and according to Kay Gardner, it transmits a turquoise color. Recently, in a discussion with friends, it was suggested that the perfect representation of the Root chakra could be beets, with the red root bulbs and turquoise (green) leaves. That will have to wait for the autumn crop! In the meantime, I invite you to join me on this exploration of the musical modes and chakras.

It is All Coming Together

Brackets for our newly-covered entryway. Designed
by Graham Pohl of Pohl Rosa Pohl and built by
Montgomery Construction

     We have a house project happening right now and it is providing appropriate visuals for my current thinking about work/creativity and life in general. We will be integrating two households into one, making for less upkeep work, and more flexibility visiting far-flung family (and them visiting us). Our resulting home will be more supportive of all the activities we enjoy. Our love of making things will be sheltered comfortably under one roof; we will have our industrious cottage!
     I have decided to embrace all my interests and make joyful use of past and present pursuits. I can "paint" landscapes with my little harp and illustrate my imagination on paper using all the materials I have accumulated. I can design a vest with pockets to carry essentials while playing harp at hospice. It is quite remarkable how naturally this has all come together. Friendships from decades past have been rekindled; at just the right time with just the right inspiration and lessons. I will have a roomy atelier that allows the intermingling of art forms.
     The day can be met looking over the back yard and the sun serenaded with a song over the front. The sensitivity that has gone into this project is a wonder. The design is so perfect that from the beginning I could envision creatively integrating interests in this one beautiful space. I am so grateful to Graham Pohl of Pohl Rosa Pohl Architecture and Design. The care and skill that have gone into crafting the new spaces are exquisite; many thanks to Robert Montgomery, Daniel Shute and John Donahoe of Montgomery Construction.

Early evening shadows--I hear a song coming on!