The human body: we see the outside — the color of our eyes, our hair, arms and legs, our weight, our shape (are you an apple or a pear?), the pigment and texture of our skin. But the inside, now there’s a mystery!

In August of 1999, I began training to become a registered nurse. I studied human anatomy and physiology. This opened a whole new world where I saw what lies under the skin and I began to get a glimmer at how we are put together and how we function.

With a background in Qabalah and Anthroposophy, I see the body through lenses of spirituality living in the world. But how do I communicate this revelation of human’s literally being made in the image of God? PAINTING! I’ve been painting since 1995 and lost interest in many of the common subjects such as, landscapes, still life, etc, but anatomy really captivated me. Why not paint anatomy? Artists have studied human structure and form throughout history including, Leonardo DaVinci who exhumed corpses of the recently deceased.

In addition to studying Western spiritual traditions, I have also studied Hinduism and Buddhism. I love learning about indigenous cultures and always find rich spiritual symbols there. The combination of anatomical research and spiritual symbology has given me the realization that the human body literally is made up of spiritual archetypes.

My first anatomy painting, Crown of Thorns and the on-going art/healing project Anatomy Awake was thus born1. My goal is to share my vision, knowledge, and enthusiasm for human creation as spiritual beings, as well as cultivate a new relationship to ourselves facilitating self-love and health.

My current project, full body human dissection, allows me the opportunity to explore the human form in the most intimate way. This research, coupled with meditation and painting reveals incredible mysteries. The Garden of Eden lives in our brain, Hinduism’s cosmic web exists in all of the connective tissues, and the Christos lives in our heart.

I invite you to visit my online gallery. Each painting includes a description of the subject and where it lives in the body and suggested starting points for your own deeper investigation. Prints with further information are also available for purchase. I love talking to people so drop me a line with your own insights, questions or to schedule an Anatomy Awake presentation at your facility.

Deborah Finn-Romero is a mother of two, a Registered Nurse, certified herbalist, and painter. She is currently involved in human dissection with Marcie Woolsey, PhD, and Jeff Changaris at American River College. Deborah graduated from Consciousness Studies with Dennis Klocek in 2001.

May 8th, 2010 6 — 9pm CARES parking lot on O St. between 20th and 21st Streets.

Deborah is getting her Public Health Nurse (PHN) certificate, just as soon as she completes her community project…

So, she decided to have an art show.

In response to the State of California’s decision to cut all funding for sex education including STD’s and HIV/AIDS, Deborah choose to partner up with the Center for AIDS Research Education and Services (CARES) to provide education and support for our community. Come by, say “Hi”, buy some baked goods and art, get free condoms, and sign up your support to stop new HIV/AIDS cases in Sacramento.

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Deborah’s work has received local press in the Sacramento NewsReview.com site, in an article by Keleigh Friedrich.

Read the full article here.

Phantom Gallery at 920 Del Paso Blvd, Sacramento, California

Second Saturday, June 9th, 2007 opening reception, through July 13th, 2007.

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Sutter Memorial Hospital, 5151 F Street, Sacramento, California

from mid May to June 7th, 2007.

Visit the Heart and Transplant Outpatient Clinic, Monday through Friday 9 am to 5 pm.

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Public Lecture and Art Showing at Sunrise Unity Church

Spiritual Vision As Art

4440 Marconi Avenue, Sacarmento, California

Sunday, March 18th, 2007 1:00pm

Suggested Donation $10

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Deborah is presenting her work at East West Books, White Rose Light Center May 25, 2006 at 7pm.

Located in at 2216 Fair Oaks Blvd., Sacramento, California.

Drop by and ask them for a flyer. You can contact them at 916–920-3837 or go to www.eastwestbooks.com for more information.

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My husband and I just recently went to the Crocker Art Museum’s showing of photographs from Philadelphia’s Mutter Museum. I can’t help but feel that although the knowledge of human anatomy is valuable beyond measure, these types of exhibits lack reverence or appreciation for how we are created. They focus more on the bizarreness and potential flaws of being. I am reminded of how latin is a “dead” language and all of our scientific studies utilize it. The horror movies often focus on our fears of a “dead” body being reanimated to haunt and terrorize us. What is death but lack of spirit, breath, or ruach as it is referred to in the Qabalah.

Gunther Von Hagen’s show Body Worlds, I found equally curious. I went looking for inspiration for my own work and instead realized that fascination for our creation frequently stops at the flesh and matter. What has been the most interesting and enjoyable at these shows are the people I met. One gentleman at the Body Worlds show was a neuro surgeon who taught me much about the limbic system and the RAS (Reticulating Activating System). These types of conversations were what was special: connecting with others who are in love with what we are and how we work — not our “deadness”.

Working with cadavers and models are great learning tools, but it’s what we do with the knowledge gained that makes it amazing, valuable, and beautiful. The heart surgeon that just saved a young man’s life yesterday has given him a great gift. Shows of anatomy could be awe inspiring and beautiful to uplift our soul and inspire us to take care of ourselves, not so we can gawk in disgust at the unfortunate that formed as a Siamese twin.

There is much beauty in our internal forms. Different ways of approaching the foundation of our making from the base materials to the spirit that moves through is integral to a whole understanding of being human. I am thankful for these exhibits as they remind me of how important it is to remember the essence of all our existence in the physical forms.

I am also reminded that these types of shows are often the only glimpse the general public has of our anatomy in its basic “dead” form. Look carefully when you attend these shows but keep in mind, the forms you are seeing no longer contain Spirit. Take a moment to ponder the life that once was or tried to be. Thank it for it’s gift and offering of knowledge as it reveals all that it was, that has now been made of for us ponder. Then you could ponder your own creation and wonder again how are we made this way?

Alex Grey and Deb

I recently had the opportunity to visit Manhattan, NY and Alex Grey’s Chapel of the Sacred Mirrors. It is a wonderful display containing images of human anatomy with the lines of energy moving throughout the pieces. Alex spent some time with me looking at my work. His feedback was supportive and he is a very sincere man as well as full of insight. You can check out his web site at www.alexgrey.com.

We also went the the Metropolitan Museum, the Whitney, the Museum of Modern Art, the Museum of Contemporary Art, the Neue Galeria, the Goethe Institute and the outside of the Guggenheim. If you go then plan on spending at least one full day each at the Met and the MOMA. WOW is the best way to describe them both.