Shell of Mercury

doll-making workshop

I led 2 workshops at a camp making these simple dolls with sticks bound in a cross with material wrapped around.

Kids and adults alike enjoyed!

here is the camp website http://www.sacredartscamp.org/

Final Major Project Proposal  17/03/12

Fine Art

I have learnt a lot from the first stages of the course and experimented with welding, clay and pot throwing, spinning, weaving and lifedrawing, I have also learnt the basics of how to use garageband software for music editing. I have explored deeper my skills in collage and knitting. What I have learnt through this journey is more about myself on a personal level and has helped me to name the particular subject/s that I am interested in. Fine Art is a wide, open book which allows me to explore and cross boundaries between realities. I don’t see any limits to what fine art could be, so this is why It is my chosen pathway.

The aim for my project is to explore ritual and mythology and their relationship to Sacred Space. I hope to explore object symbolism and archetypes by means of various materials including found objects. I also hope to use these as instruments in performance. I intend to begin investigating space by use of objects, sound, with a possibility of making a structure to create a space within a space, an inside. I would also like to explore open spaces in nature and the relationship between the elements and light to objects, sound, performance. My research will be in anthropology, indigenous ceremony and mythology, crossing into ‘psychospirituality’.

There is a difficulty which I must solve which is where I place the border between show and secrecy, as the power in ritual is hidden and to show it, complying with the nature of exhibition, would mean leaving the sacredness vunerable and therefore potentially volatile. This is a serious matter that will need constant careful thought to adjust the balance. On the journey of exploring ritual and Sacred Space a certain need for privacy and psychic uninterruption is due, and therefore my method of recording will be a reflection of my findings and experiences in the form of writing and visual/ sound creation. I will keep a regular diary of thoughts, reflections, poetry and prose.

This difficulty of boundary is a fascinating one, so very relevant, so very sensitive and so very risky. The veil between the worlds, seen and unseen, inner and outer, earth and sky, sun and moon, many names. Where is the veil? Symbols provide a key into our unconscious, where we can pick up multiple layers of association that easily bypass our conscious minds. These links reverberate into the depths, into places undiscovered, vast and unknown, the relm of the deities. The ancestors we have forgotten, wisdom from the beginning of time, cellular, genetic, beyond. A melody that changes over time but never loses it’s message. We forgot how to listen. We drown it with dense sensations that keep our minds in duality, separation.

 It is time to clean our windows so the light shines through and we can see with ultimate clarity the beauty of truth. This is what it’s about, this is my message, my work.

Action plan

Stage 1

Research

Anthropology, symbols, ritual space, indigenous medicine, myth    2-3 weeks

Make poster

Stage 2

Exploration of findings

Making objects, figures     2-3 weeks            

Stage 3

Refined research

Evaluation of findings, strengths   1-2 weeks

Check in with tutor

Stage 4

Exploration of findings    2 weeks

Stage 5

Reflection on strengths   1 week

Check in with tutor

Stage 6

Planning and exploring visions of final piece       beginning of may

Stage 7

Making and setting up final piece   3-4 weeks

Heavy Roots

heavy roots
speak the truth
go so deep
like a bad weed
the most poisonous plant
will cure the deadliest heart

Life, death, rebirth, mysteries,
forgotten knowledge
is everywhere
darkness is blinding
and binding
and light is but a faint glimmer
of reflection in their eyes

The Red Man In the Sky

And the red man in the sky made of clouds
 opens his mouth to the small tree as if to say something.
The small trees many arms reach out to touch him,
 one last embrace.

The red mans mouth slowly dissloves,
the moment is gone.

His magnificent presence fades,
the rainbow sparkles disapearing,
changing the ocean into grey and blue,
and the last trace of pink fizzles out into the grey-blue sky

Some Creations

Organic Gardening

http://earthywomenandkids.wordpress.com/accredited-organic-gardening-course-starts-12-feb-2012/

a course i have been attending to expand my practical knowledge of nature

The Golden Ball

http://www.jungiananalyticpraxis.com/goldenball.htm

This is analysing a story i was told. my understanding is that the golden ball is the Solar Plexus.

The Royal Anger

Puppet Theatre

This is a puppet show i went to, made and delivered by Vlad. A story of a hypnotist who locks his visitors in a cupboard..

Seeing the Light in All

Seeing the Light in All

Books of Interest

Essene Gospel of Peace
http://www.essene.com/GospelOfPeace/

Sepher Yetzirah
http://www.sacred-texts.com/jud/yetzirah.htm

Kabbalistic teachings
http://www.kabbalah.info/engkab/education-center/your-first-course-in-kabbalah

Musical Teachings

Perry's ballad by Lee Scratch Perry
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BkTMMsKNUSE
Purity Rock by Lee Scratch Perry
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YYziLlfOInU&feature=related
A collection of Musical teachings from Lee Scratch Perry
http://www.upsetter.net/scratch/sounds/index.htm

The magicians Crown

http://www.tarotforum.net/archive/index.php/t-137965.html

http://gloria-ao-egito.blogspot.com/2009/09/uraeus.html

http://www.encyclopedia.com/topic/ouroboros.aspx

http://tarotjourney.net/tarot-cards/major-arcana/1-the-magician/

http://www.worthpoint.com/worthopedia/ouroboros-dragon-statue-wall-plaque-dark-goods

http://www.aseekersthoughts.com/2010/06/mirror-symbol-of-reflection.html

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/13_(number)


this is research for an idea of a crown to make as a ritual object.

My Thoughts On Ritual

"Clarity of mind is God manifested" lyrics from Divine Communication by Kashmere

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EhPQs8CWGmk

Ritual is about creating space. A sacred space, which is an intentional space in which focusing tools are present and often manipulated to resonate and communicate with deeper parts of the psyche that we are not usually aware of. These are often powerful forces of Nature- essential qualities that govern our minds, such as Judgement and Mercy, which are the polarities of the soul triangle with the equilibrium being Beauty, the heart in the kabbalistic tree of life. These deeper parts of the psyche are also universally represented as deities, Gods and Goddesses. These are seen as higher states of being as when one embodies one of these qualities they are acting from beyond the animalistic traits of the ego-self.
 Ritual is an invitation to Meditation, which is the Art of focussing on Space to gain this ultimate clarity of mind in which the mind becomes purified so that each action is concious and intentional, so when the mind is focussing on space, it is Spacious and therefore present in the moment. Therefore aware of the chain of cause and effect and so the patterns of action. The past and the future are one. The awareness of this is awareness of the Higher Truth, the only real truth, the Laws of Nature. When this becomes ones everyday reality, when the chatter of the mind and all whimsical relative truths are transcended, then one is living in concious harmony with the Laws of Nature, and ones will is aligned with these Laws, therefore able to conciously create.
 Creating Ritual Space to 'open the door' into deeper relms involves purification. Cleaning of the outside and the body to signify and aid the clearing of the mind. Purification of the body is often done with water, burning sage and fasting. These means of purification are mostly kept to certain times in line with the seasons, and menstruation is a natural rhythm of purification. Some Holy men and women this is part of an everyday spiritual life (such as breatharianism).
 When ritual Space becomes more part of an everyday reality then a sustainable purification is necessary. Light food in its purest form.
 Food is a universal ritual tool, and often the first pickings of the harvest are offered as a sacrifice to the deities to show their respect, honor and rememberance- and ultimatley the submission of thier egos, to the higher forces of nature. To eat the food is a rememberance that we are all One.

Herb research

Info on He Sho Wu
http://www.dragonherbs.com/prodinfo.asp?number=542

Info on Ashwaganda
http://www.chopra.com/ashwagandha

My own Food Art

 Raw Chocolate Cake

Ingredients:
cashews, lucuma, raw chocolate powder, xylitol, vanilla, sesame seeds, olive oil, he sho wu, ashwaganda, avocado, agave nectar.

Spring Maiden

Ingredients:
broccoli, brazil nuts, himalayan crystal salt, avocado, kalmata olives, spring onions, parsley, sundried tomatoes, rocket, lettuce, alfalfa sprouts, dates, miso.

Food Art research

Forgotten

Spanish Gypsy doll

what more needs to be said? she tells her own story

Mop angel

Spirits of rubbish

Voodo teaches to never throw things away, to make use of everything so as not to offend the spirits.
In the teachings I am receiveing, everything has a story, how it came to be in this form, each particles journey. One beings shit is anothers food. I will dedicate my work as an offering to the sprits of the dead- the Gede family and Baron Samedi. Making spirit dolls out of rubbish is a statement of finding Spirituality withing the rejects of consumerism, amongst the piles of waste our materialist society deems 'useless'.

Papa Legba Open the Gate.

Baron Samedi

in the squat- junk

In the squat- ground floor

Sunrise

Sunrises in Spain.

Island Bird

The Island Bird was sitting in a very tall palm tree. It was very peaceful, swaying in the cool breeze. It sat and swayed for a very long time, as it had been doing for most of its life. ...

Suddenly a thought occured to it. It was very shocked as this was a very rare event. Wouldnt it be good if i had arms! then i could swing from the branches and dance like the coconuts! The Island Bird swayed in the breeze, for a long time, still in shock by this miraculous thought.

The wind picked up and the Island Bird ruffled its colourful feathers. Give me some arms! it squawked.
You can have my feathers!

The wind whirled round the Island Birds head, and whipped at its claws.

It blew so hard that the Island Bird lost its balance and began to slip from the branch. As it tumbled down, arms started to reach out to break its fall..

Arms!

The Island Bird did not like this sensation of falling, it was something it had never done before. It hit the ground with a thud and rolled over to see lots of colourful feathers dancing and spiralling in the air.

It watched as the coconuts fell to the ground beside it like the rain of a storm. it reached and caught one in its hand.

wow! it was quite exhilarated. i can dance like the coconuts!

The Island Bird started to climb back up the tree. after a long time of trial and error, it made it back to its favourite branch and continued to sway in the subsided breeze. it wiggled its fingers and tried to catch the air, dancing, weaving, playing. Thanking.

But after a while, it longed to fly again, to feel the freedom, to stretch out its wings, to nosedive and dance with the other birds. But its beautiful feathers where gone.

Even the trees have feathers!

It squawked, shocked at yet another thought! it hugged the branch and swung around it in joy. Share with me your feathers! so that i can fly again! and i will be your friend and hug you with my long arms!

The tree swayed and its feathers ruffled gently in the breeze. A few of them flew off, jumping and floating in the air. the Island Bird shimmyed over and caught them.

Somehow after a long time of finger dancing, the Island Bird managed to weave the ends of the leaves together. More leaves flew from the tree and it caught them and weaved them in.

Eventually the Island Bird had made two wings. Then it begun to attatch them to itself, using more leaves, around its arms.

The Island bird leapt into the sky, its fingers spread like the feathers it once loved, and was lifted up by the breeze.






     This story came from a wooden bracelet made in india and a peacock feather earring- and my imagination- the wisdom of the ancient mind.

The Spring Maiden

She grows with the rising of the Sun, stretching out to embrace the sky.
Her crown of flowers start to open with the sweet melody of birdsong,
Kissing the fresh winds that breathe new life into All.

The Awakening

Collage/Poster

Yoga :D

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kundalini_yoga

http://www.brightonbuddhistcentre.co.uk/yoga.html

Illustration of Chakras and Sephiroth (spheres of existence-kabbalistic)

UV Acid Party Life-drawing

Totem Goblet/ Flower of Life

My Characterful Shoe

Clay animal pots

The Kundalini Serpent

http://www.templeofthesacredfeminine.com/articles/SnakeHerstory2.pdf
http://www.transpersonal.com.au/kundalini/serpent.htm
http://www.dreamtherapynow.com/id20.html
http://adelaideartscult.weebly.com/rainbow-serpent-myth.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Serpent_(symbolism)#African_mythology

Mami-Wata

Medusa Myths

http://www.english.illinois.edu/maps/poets/a_f/bogan/medusamyth.htm

Medusa of Ancient Greece holds many parallels to Kali of Indian mythology. They are both powerful goddesses of rage and destruction and therefore guardians of the gates of the underworld. Kali represents the untamed Kundalini energy. She has 8 arms, the number of infinity showing the infinite cycle of destruction, death and then rebirth. Medusas' snakes are very much the powerful kundalini.

Ritual Anthropology

http://pages.swcp.com/~ldraper/slim/biblios/morris.html

this is a bibliography i found searching for clues about rituals in different cultures.

Living Art: stepping into my shoe

The lining of a shoe

soft furr fabric, reaching up, down, into the soul.