Leslie's Story

The Collective Soul

By Leslie Pruneau

Oil on canvas from top left to lower right: Forest Bathing, Meadow Hopping, Breaking Bud, Headroom, When Water Flows to Its Desired Place

Coretta Scott King:

"Women, if the soul of the nation is to be saved, I believe that you must become the soul."

The soul of us is a connected thing. It is where we find perspective, strength, and balance, as we are all rooted together in these sunlight-absorbing, water-holding, and air-breathing bodies. But the soul of us does not stand alone within ourselves; it surrounds us as we walk, or run, or take a stumble, a fall. It is evidenced by sympathetic care and love that we receive, and a profound sense of belonging.

My soul is not just connected to lung breathers. I put my hand in the soil, on the bark of a tree, in the waves of the ocean, and it is there that I feel the soul of countless others, both present and past. No barriers can separate us, not skin nor walls. Our collective soul is quite a common place.

And when my part of our soul needs care, I walk her out into the night, barefoot and without armor, to collect some air and connect with the stars and unknown mysteries that have flown before me. I take a moment to meet up with her… to rally my feelings of gratitude and boost the energies of kindness in the face of adversity. And I let her know that I, too, am listening.

I chose to write this prose surrounded by the soulful shelter of great and well-rooted oaks, pines, and fruit trees. It is a story unfolding at this very moment as I breathe in the woodland kingdom around me. And soon enough, my paintings will try to present this collection of soulful connections, for nothing is denied access to my palette. Your story is my story…you and I and the crabapple trees…we are one collective soul.