Wise Woman - a journey through generations
When researching and reading, I learned how many cultures bury the placenta in the ground, to root or stay connected to Mother Earth, here in the western world this is rarely done, and could be why we don’t feel as rooted or connected. As all my work is to help others connect to nature, this ignited something in me.
As you read through this page take a moment to reflect on the unseen bonds that tie us to our ancestors. Look for the symbols. Feel the deep-rooted lineage and the echo of past generations in the present moment.
My art exhibition for wise woman is a visual journey that explores the profound and magical connection between generations of women and the earth.
I didn’t know my biological grandmothers, my mum was adopted and my paternal grandmother died when my dad was just 5 years old.
I thought about who are the wise women in my life as this important lineage was broken before I was even born.
When a woman is pregnant with a female child, she carries within her the seeds of future generations. As her daughter develops in the womb, tiny eggs begin to form in the daughter's ovaries. These are not just any cells; they are the potential beginnings of life, linking the mother to her own mother and the daughter to both.
By the time a baby girl is born, she already possesses all the eggs she will ever have. These eggs, formed during her mother’s fetal development, create a living bridge to the past. This means that as a grandmother carries her pregnant daughter, she also carries a part of her future grandchild.
It took me on a journey of understanding my ancestral past and creating the grandmother archetypes I wish I had. You will meet them to on the canvas.
The yoni is a symbol of the sacred feminine, representing the vulva and by extension, the womb, creation, and the divine source of life. In many cultures, the yoni is revered as a powerful symbol of fertility, birth, and regeneration. It embodies the mysteries of womanhood and the creative power inherent in the feminine.
Yoni is translated from Sanskrit as the sacred temple.
The Connection Between Labyrinths and Yonis
The connection between labyrinths and yonis lies in their shared symbolism of the journey inward and the mysteries of creation. Both are ancient symbols that represent paths to the sacred, the cyclical nature of existence, and the transformative power of the feminine.
Pathways to Transformation: Walking a labyrinth is a metaphor for the transformative journey of life, much like the passage through the yoni symbolizes birth and rebirth. Both represent the idea that entering into the depths of one's being can lead to profound change and enlightenment.
Cycles and Continuity: Labyrinths and yonis both embody the concept of cycles and continuity. The spiral patterns of labyrinths reflect the cyclical nature of the seasons, life, and spiritual growth, paralleling the natural cycles of menstruation, fertility, and regeneration associated with the yoni.
Mystical Journeys: In divine feminine spirituality, the labyrinth is often seen as a symbolic yoni, a sacred space where one can connect with the divine feminine. The act of walking a labyrinth can be viewed as a pilgrimage to the center of the self, akin to the mystical journey through the yoni that leads to the source of life and creation.
Sacred Space and Ritual: Both labyrinths and yonis are considered sacred spaces. In many traditions, labyrinths are used in rituals and ceremonies designed to promote healing, reflection, and spiritual growth. Similarly, the yoni is often honored in rituals that celebrate fertility, creativity, and the divine feminine.
My imaginary Grandmothers….
When I thought about creating paintings of my imaginary grandmothers, I was originally going to create 8 paintings, but through the process of journalling and connecting with the two I painted, I knew this was enough, it felt right.
I knew their personalities would come through and they did, especially with Agnes, she lives in the forest and tells stories about the herbs, people are a little bit frightened of her because she is quite bonkers, but very knowledgeable, she doesn’t really like many people and prefers the company of animals. My biological grandmothers are actually called Veronica and Dolly (Dorothy), and I didn’t want to use the same names.
My youngest son actually picked Agnes, and I think it suits her well.
Amma is a spiritual Grandmother, she is connected to the elements and has deep wisdom, she is quiet and calm. There is a very grounded feeling to her, where you feel safe and nourished in her presence.
Creating these, I didn’t know who was going to appear and they are maybe two sides of me, and maybe they are who I could be as a Grandmother, or who I needed as Grandmothers growing up.
I knew my nanna who adopted my mum, but not very well, she didn’t have a good relationship with my mum, and died when I was 12. I mostly remember her pantry being full of Fray Bentos pies and her fat dog who was fed too many sausages. It is a weird thing not really remembering someone and trying to fill in the blanks. It felt so much easier for me to know these imaginary ones, who grew on the canvas and came to life to soothe me.
The numbers 13 and 28 are deeply interwoven with the cycles of nature, human biology, and ancient timekeeping.
They represent natural rhythms and cycles that are fundamental to life on Earth. The lunar cycles, menstrual cycles, turtle shell patterns, and even human bones reflect these numbers, highlighting their significance in both the natural world and human culture. These connections underscore a holistic view of time and life, illustrating how ancient cultures observed and honored the natural order.
In various mythologies, the number 13 can represent death and rebirth, transformation, and the movement from the material to the spiritual world.
The number 28 is often associated with cycles, balance, and completeness due to its connection with the lunar month and natural rhythms.
There are approximately 13 full moons in a year. This aligns with the number of lunar cycles within a solar year, which is roughly 365 days. Each lunar cycle is about 28 days long, making 13 cycles fit almost perfectly within a year.
The average menstrual cycle for women is about 28 days, aligning closely with the lunar month. This has long been recognized in many cultures, linking female cycles with the moon's cycles.
Many indigenous cultures view the turtle as a symbol of the Earth and cosmic order. A turtle’s shell is divided into 13 large plates or scutes, symbolizing the 13 lunar cycles in a year. Surrounding the 13 large plates are usually 28 smaller marginal plates, which can be seen as representing the days in a lunar month.
There are 28 phalanges (finger and toe bones) in the human body and 13 main joints.
I love how there is an interconnected significance in the numbers 13 and 28 across the rhythms and patterns of nature
These numbers are visible in most of my paintings as a nod to the magic of them.
If you would like to learn more about magical numbers, I have created a Magical Numbers Zine which is available on my Etsy by clicking here
If you prefer to get a downloadable copy click here
Birthing a new world
The final piece in this exhibition encompasses all the things I researched and studied. As women we birth many things, not just babies, but for this piece I wanted to create something that showed connection to all life, there is the day and night, dualities we need to survive, a labyrinth where the Yoni is, in divine feminine spirituality, the labyrinth is often seen as a symbolic yoni, a sacred space where one can connect with the divine feminine. And the umbilical cord going from the labyrinth into the placenta which is buried in the earth.
In native American cultures there is a belief that western people don’t feel rooted into the earth because it is not the norm to bury our placentas in the ground, this really struck a chord with me, and I wish I could go back to the birth of my babies and have this knowledge to keep and bury the placentas in ceremony.
This painting took me on a huge journey within the project itself, and I ended up putting myself in the painting because it was so personal to me. Underneath there was a painting of an earth mother connected to a tree, (second photo) but it didn’t seem enough for the project so I changed it.
I gave the painting to my dear friend Angela, who is a doula and runs a beautiful place for pregnancy, motherhood and menopause. There was no other place in the world that this painting belonged. You can find out more about the beautiful soul, Angela on her website here.
From the start I didn’t realise what a journey this would be, it took me to places I didn’t know needed exploring, and helped me root into my ancestry and long line of women before me and also made me reevaluate my role as a mother to 3 grown up male children.
I am grateful for the experience and grateful to Cali from The Witches house of healing arts for asking me to be part of this exhibition. It unlocked a part of me that I had forgotten about, my capabilities, the deep value in research and creating as a way to shift energy, and the birthing of a new way of being.
I created a Live your life like a beautiful romance zine after finishing this project.
This 28 page zine is perfect for anyone who wants to bring some more self love into their lives
Every page is filled with the essence of a beautiful romance, we celebrate the art of living life as a grand love affair with ourselves, where every moment, no matter how seemingly ordinary is imbued with magic and wonder.
There are recipes, journal prompts, a playlist to listen to, ideas to help you step into a slower, more in connection life, affirmations, tips and more. Order your copy here.
