“The strawberry arose from [Skywoman’s] heart. In Potawatomi, the strawberry is ode min, the heart berry. We recognize them as the leaders of the berries, the first to bear fruit.”
— Robin Wall Kimmerer in Braiding Sweetgrass.
Here begins the most abundant of seasons—spirit of the heart, expression of joy, governed by Mars, star of fire.
This year, the exuberance of flowers has been particularly outstanding, and the first fruits—berries, soon followed by corn—mark the earliest harvests the Earth offers. I cherish this quote from Kimmerer, which reminds us of Native American creation stories: the strawberry, the first red, heart-shaped berry of the year, holds a unique place in the cyclical rhythms honored by Indigenous cultures. It’s called the heart berry—what an evocative image!
Growing up listening to Greek mythology at bedtime—my mother is a Latin and Greek professor and now vice-president of L’Université du Temps Libre —I associated the seasons with Persephone and Demeter: the sorrow of the mother, the laughter of Baubo, the dual love of Persephone… But since I moved to the beautiful continent of America, I am really interested by how other cultures narrate the cycles of life.
Female archetypes are central in mythologies, bridging the act of giving life with the grief of loss. Both Birth (Spring) & Death (Winter), along with Love (Summer) & Great Age (Fall), are inseparable seasons and necessary stages to perpetuate existence. I’m now exploring how we might collectively heal our wounded female archetypes which impact our internal worlds as deeply as external patriarchal systems shape our societies. Connect with me if it speaks to you!
“Time is the moving image of eternity“
« Le temps est l’image mobile de l’éternité »
Plato in Timaeus
Questioning memory—both collective and personal—is central to my work as a facilitator and artist. Honoring cultural traditions and myths, cultivating knowledge, and upholding the power of storytelling—alongside recognizing that Time is not merely linear—are essential elements of our shared Agora. Since antiquity, philosophers, aoidoi, and storytellers across cultures have delved into the ever-unfolding topoï of memory and time.
I invite you to read my reflection on Substack about Kairos and Chronos, the two Greek conceptions of Time. In it, I explore how these ideas inform my process as a neuroarts facilitator. I’m also honored to now be featured in the NeuroArts Resource Center, contributing to this incredible field which demonstrates how the arts and nature improve and support our mental and physical health.
Spring workshops
During my Earth Day Eco-Art Workshop at Fernhill Wetlands with Pacific University, one student created a powerful art piece about Time. He explained how he felt Time was slipping away too fast, and collaged a calendar being “eaten” by the tentacles of an octopus—his symbol of Time. The act of translating an ineffable feeling into imagery was, for him, both relieving and healing. His work perfectly illustrates how art can transform difficult emotions or anxiety (chronophobia, GAD, PTSD…) into meaningful expression.
Another workshop I deeply enjoyed facilitating was at Mount Pisgah Arboretum, just before their amazing Wildflower Festival. We explored the principles of the honorable harvest, which I share again here, through the words of Dr. Robin Wall Kimmerer:
Ask permission of the ones whose lives you seek.
Abide by the answer.
Never take the first. Never take the last.
Harvest in a way that minimizes harm.
Take only what you need and leave some for others.
Use everything that you take.
Take only that which is given to you.
Share it, as the Earth has shared with you.
Be grateful.
Reciprocate the gift.
Sustain the ones who sustain you, and the Earth will last forever.
This was also a family-friendly event, and I loved working with children. Their curiosity, their language, and their nature observations remind us of the importance of nurturing our inner child—by fully engaging with our sensory selves. As Dr. Holby Welder said: “Science fills our toolbox with many useful tools, and art refers to how we use those tools.”
Personal Transformation & Artistic Recognition
This Spring was also a celebration of women, friendships, and ongoing healing—especially for those of us still navigating the strata of grief and loss. In Joshua Tree, under the Milky Way, I witnessed the desert’s metamorphosis: the blooms of cacti and nolinas at the shoulder of the season, before the heat hits.
My 45th Spring, spent on the road exploring sacred places along the west coast, inspired a poem written in French. If you’re a francophile, I invite you to read it: Mai Tisse, encore Pénélope
I was also honored that my photograph “Windy River” was selected by Analog Forever for their Spring online exhibition WILD, curated by Catherine Couturier Gallery in Houston, TX.
Go check it out! There is an impressive and versatile selection of how wildness can be interpreted in contemporary analog photography.
Eugene – May 2025
THIS SUMMER…
June 29 – Creative Retreat at Hoyt Arboretum in Portland
“Embracing Summer’s Bloom: Art & Seasonal Transitions”
A celebration of balance, bloom, and creative fruition through nature connection and mixed-media art.
Limited spots available—reserve your space now!
En plein Air ! French Conversation Group in Portland
Last Spring, we explored the Rhododendron Garden, Hoyt Arboretum, and the International Rose Garden—some of my favorite places in Portland. This summer, join us at the Portland Art Museum to discover Monet’s Nymphéas and expand your French vocabulary in a relaxed, small-group, artistic setting.
Spots are limited – Contactez-moi !
Collaboration with Caldera Arts in Central Oregon
I’m thrilled to be partnering with Caldera Arts in August, supporting youth outdoors through creativity and connection to the natural world.
September 4 – 📚 Mother Foucault’s Poetry Festival in Portland
I’m honored to perform at the opening reception of the exhibition:
Seconde Main – Exphratic Poetry by contemporary American painter David Camarck Lewis. I will read a selection of French poems written by Michel Lagrange, Officier des Arts et Lettres and Chevalier de l’Ordre National du Mérite.
Buy your Poetry Festival ticket here and support Mother’s Foucault Bookshop!
et enfin…
Take a moment to breathe.
Summer is a season of expression, exploration, and liberation of the senses. I hope you’re embracing it with presence, grace, and love—making each cherry bite, each breeze, each refreshing pause an act of intention and kindness.
We need heart-led souls in these times—sensitive, wild, rooted—in the face of megalomaniac and fascist chaos.
With love & gratitude,
Sincèrement,
Clara-Julia
🌞
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Clara-Julia Peru 