An Art Book About Grief

Using black-and-white nature illustrations paired with pressed flowers and grasses, artist Michèle Saint-Michel takes you by the hand and leads you down the path toward healing. Step-by-step instructions assist even those unfamiliar with origami to fold a paper swan. Using poetic language and Japanese design aesthetics, Saint-Michel builds a robust world where escape is possible: a world of magical, flightless birds, where grief and loss can be embodied and explored. Give this book as a thoughtful, quiet gift to someone you care about in mourning or to yourself.

Begin to unfold your grief and remember those lost using the art form of origami. Learn to fold an origami swan using square, origami paper, and befriend the often confusing and sometimes unsettling feelings experienced during bereavement and after loss. With each origami swan that takes shape, meditate, grieve, and honor their memory. Learn that grief has no timeline and carries no expiration. Feelings, as confusing as they may be, are a valid and necessary part of the healing journey. Begin that journey today with this beautifully realized book. 

Fold an origami swan, embrace the complex emotions of grief, and discover the transformative power of this beautifully crafted book.

Grief has no timeline and carries no expiration. Black-and-white nature illustrations and pressed flowers fill the pages of artist Michèle Saint-Michel’s Grief Is an Origami Swan. Using poetic language and Japanese design aesthetics, Saint-Michel builds a robust world where escape is possible: a world of magical, flightless birds, where grief and loss can be embodied and explored. The book also includes step-by-step instructions to fold a paper swan as a method of processing grief. Give this book as a thoughtful gift to someone you care about or to yourself.

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A Glimpse into the Grieving Hearts of Swans

In the serene world of swans, where elegance meets tranquility, there exists a depth of emotion that often goes unnoticed—the profound grief experienced by these majestic birds when faced with loss.

Swans are not just symbols of grace and beauty; they are also paragons of devotion and loyalty. When a mate or offspring is lost, swans embark on a journey of mourning that speaks volumes about their tender hearts and unwavering commitment.

One of the most striking displays of swan grief is observed when a mate passes away. Rather than swiftly moving on, the surviving swan often enters a state of profound sorrow. They may linger at the site of their partner's demise, refusing to leave, as if holding onto the memories that once filled their shared space with joy and love.

In cases where cygnets are present, the surviving parent takes on the role of both mother and father, shouldering the responsibilities of nurturing and protecting their young ones with an unmatched sense of dedication. This selfless act of love is a testament to the depth of emotion that swans harbor within their graceful frames.

What is perhaps most remarkable about swans' grieving process is its duration. These birds do not simply mourn for a fleeting moment; they carry the weight of their loss with them for an extended period, honoring the memory of their departed loved ones with every beat of their hearts.

In a world where grief is often hidden behind stoic facades, the grieving hearts of swans serve as a poignant reminder of the universality of loss and the enduring power of love. As we witness these noble creatures navigate the tumultuous waters of sorrow, we are granted a glimpse into the profound emotional landscape that exists within them—a landscape marked by unseen tears and unspoken longing.

In honoring the grief of swans, we honor the complexity of our own emotions and the depth of our connections with those we hold dear. May we learn from these graceful guardians of the waterways and embrace the full spectrum of human experience, from joy to sorrow and everything in between.

Let us tread lightly upon the shores where swans mourn, offering our silent support and acknowledging the beauty that arises from even the darkest depths of grief. For in the tender hearts of these noble birds, we find a reflection of our own capacity to love, to mourn, and ultimately, to heal.

About Michèle Saint-Michel

Author Bio

Michèle Saint-Michel is an artist, filmmaker, and author. Her art books bend genre. The experiential books are designed to promote healing and to encourage healthy coping and recovery from difficult experiences.

Saint-Michel creates from a log cabin nestled among the rolling hills and river bluffs of the Missouri River in America’s heartland. When she isn't creating art books, she is filming, tending her land art piece the [poetry forest], and pressing flowers.

Grief Is an Origami Swan is the first book of her work to be published.

Book Release Information

Title: Grief Is an Origami Swan

Author: Michèle Saint-Michel

Publication date: August 28, 2020

eBook ISBN: 9780999902004

eBook price: $4.99

Paperback ISBN: 9780999902011

Paperback price: $19.99

Page count: 116

Paper: 70 lb / 104 gsm white paper in vivid color

Genre/subgenre: Non-Fiction, Grief and Bereavement 

Product dimensions:6.00(w) x 9.00(h) x 0.30(d)

Grief Is an Origami Swan: An Art Book About Grief by Michèle Saint-Michel out now!

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