Ascension Portal

"Ascension Portal" 153 x 183 cm oil on canvas 2013

wave and seagull (detail)

lion/leopard hybrid (detail)

sacred trees (detail)

energy shifting (detail)

"Shady Portal" ~ collage, inspiration for the painting

The initial inspiration for "Ascension Portal" was inspired by the collage above named "Shady Portal".  I started this painting in the latter part of 2012, during the build up to the Winter Solstice date of 21st December, which marked the end of a time cycle predicted centuries ago by the Mayans. Many ancient civilizations such as the Aztecs, Hopis, Incas, Maoris and Egyptians studied the sky and planetary movements and were stunningly accurate with their projections. The galactic alignment of our sun with the centre of the Milky Way on 21.12.12 corresponded with the procession of the equinoxes that happens only once every 26,000 years.
I won't go into detail about this as an astrological/cosmic/spiritual "event", as there is too much information to cover, and plenty of information out there if you are interested. I do believe that we are experiencing an epic evolutionary leap into a new (fifth) dimension, which is predominately a spiritual leap as well as a physical shift for the Earth's axis. This shift has taken us into a higher consciousness urging us to live more in our hearts and less in the ego/fear based lower levels which have dominated and divided humanity for so long.

 Although I have an initial starting point, I rarely know how my paintings will pan out. I like to let the painting unfold intuitively and then later,  start my inquiry into the deeper meanings behind the symbolism that shows up. I feel I am a conduit to receive and transmit messages from the Universe and so like to be as open a channel as I possibly can. I feel very much that my work is a projection of an expansive healing process that starts within and reaches outwards. The more work I do on myself, and the deeper the connection I have with my own truth, the more the messages seem to draw on the wider truth of a universal nature.

In the collage, the central focus is the floating leopard/human head. In the painting, this morphed into a lion/leopard hybrid. Hovering with some authority at the top of the canvas, it seems to me like a knowing behind the consciousness of the painting.  I looked into the meaning of a lion and a leopard and they are both giving strong messages which are very relevant to the present time. The lion is a symbol of the sun and the female as a hunter. We are now entering into a feminine paradigm shift, having been dominated by the masculine/patriarchal for so many centuries and the sun and the female as hunter is a kind of fusing of the masculine and feminine principles. The lion also gives us life lessons involving living harmoniously in groups and working co-operatively. This is very relevant for today, in order to move forwards, we need to join together as a whole in order to live a sustainable life and have utmost respect for our planet and all the creatures that inhabit it. Lions avoid confrontation, but when absolutely necessary, they will fight. This I believe reflects the need to live together peacefully as a universal family, see an end to war and unnecessary bloodshed. Lions also symbolise courage, self-control, leadership, creativity and wisdom, they are the "kings of the jungle" so this is also a message to face your fears and live with absolute confidence and strength.
The leopard symbolises the ability to communicate with other dimensions. In ancient and modern Egypt, the leopard is seen as a sign of divinity. They are solitary animals and they are masters at negotiating their environment and they have an incredible stealth and ability to stalk. They possess vision which is six times as strong as humans and their hearing is twice as acute as humans, and one of the keenest of all land animals. They can literally see and hear things which others cannot. They are extremely beautiful and are camouflaged to protect them from predators, this symbolises the ability to out wit any negative forces in our lives, namely the ego or the false self.
The seagull crept into the painting quite a long time after I thought it was finished. Seagulls symbolically represent spiritual messengers who show us how to see above situations with a higher insight and teach us that there are many perspectives to consider. They, like lions show a sense of community and the co-operation that is needed to successfully operate as a whole. They teach us how to ride the currents of the mental,emotional and physical worlds and soar above your problems. They also give us lessons in the timing of action, awareness and being.
So this painting really symbolises a portal into a new dimension. There are omnipresent spirit guides (hence the swirling misty formations and notice the little faces in the trees and rocks) and the landscape is very dreamy and warm, suggesting an invitation to change our perceptions of our outer reality ~ which is really a projection of our inner landscape.  I decided to draw the 7 sacred trees in pencil as I wanted them to emanate a vulnerability and sensitivity which would contrast with the other rather unshakeable sacred tree.  I see the green tree as being very strong and rooted in its environment, healthy and solid, providing protection and longevity whereas the pink trees are a little uncertain and exposed symbolising the vulnerability and exposure we can encounter on our healing journey. We will inevitably face some great obstacles when we are on the spiritual path, from which we need to learn some important lessons, (see the black spikes coming out of the roots of one of the 7 sacred trees, the uprooted tree and the waves in the water).  But ultimately the painting contains everything and all is being held by an unchanging peaceful awareness so there is nothing to fear. The water element is symbolic of the vastness of ourselves as the ocean, and the waves are the expressions of consciousness.. Every wave that appears is an experience and an expression of the ocean, and every experience is already accepted by the deepest part of ourselves. The acceptance is what you are, not what you do.
When we accept the healing process as a gift, even the challenges which we may perceive as painful, can be transmuted into joy. Once we are on the path to finding out who we truly are, of surrendering and saying "yes' to every moment, we can really start to see the transformation in our lives.