Two Sylvias' Weekly Muse: June 8, 2025
Issue 161
Hello, Poets!
We came across an inspiring article to help combat the stress many of us are feeling right now—political and societal divides and a future that feels tenuous and nerve-racking. Those of us who identify as “creative types” are often extra-sensitive, and we carry this stress deep in our bones—affecting our energy levels and our creative drive. And yet, just as the world spins on, so does our need to find meaning through art. What would happen if an activity that is optional—wandering through an art gallery—were reframed as essential? Imagine art being considered a remedy and not just a luxury.
That’s the thinking behind a new pilot program in Neuchâtel, Switzerland, where doctors are issuing museum prescriptions—official referrals for patients to visit one of the city’s four museums as a way to support mental, emotional, and even physical health. The program builds on a World Health Organization report showing that exposure to the arts can:
Reduce the impact of trauma
Lower th…