Kuan Yin Compassion Healing Art Shrine

Every piece of Art that I create has special meaning for me. I suppose that I just couldn't create something because I felt that it was "marketable" or the current trend. I create from my heart and my gut, subjects that I am engaged with. There is always a personal reason for each of my works and I trust that each creation will find the home that it is meant for...that it's meaning which is special to me also becomes important for someone else on their journey.

Kuan Yin Compassion Healing Art Shrine by Jeanne Fry

One evening this week while I was journaling, I was inspired to create more shrines. It has been a long time since I had created any and it was time once again. Immediately I knew that Kuan Yin needed to be the focus in the first one. Kuan Yin, the goddess of Compassion has always held a tender place in my heart. This healing shrine needed to embody compassion, to be a reminder not only to offer compassion to others, but to the Self. So many times we put ourselves at the bottom of our priority lists.  We play catch-up with our needs, giving ourselves a little tenderness when it is usually long over due, and then it's not usually enough. How can we expect others to treat us with compassion when we don't give it to ourselves?

And so the assemblage began, with complete and focused love. As soft music played and the smell of jasmine in the air, I worked...colors of turquoise and peach, soft rose and periwinkle started to cover the shrine.Various phrases were painted on the insides, charms were hung, paper flowers attached...all within a meditative mood. The wooden statue of Kuan Yin was secured to the shrine with soft pale yellow silk fabric flowing around her.

My hope is for whatever sweet soul comes to collect this healing shrine, they too will be reminded to nurture and protect their spirit, and to show compassion and love to Themselves and Others.

This shrine has been SOLD.



Mallard Duck Symbolic Totem Meaning

This week we had a visit from a Mallard Duck, inspiring me to share their symbolic meaning with you. Our visitor was a male Mallard, beautiful in his blue green colors. He happened to just come walking through our woodland tree line and across the yard to our home.

Mallard Duck

As my husband and I were sitting on our porch, we were intrigued and watched with curiosity at this little guy. At first when he arrived, he took a walk down our driveway, slowly turning from left to right as he walked, looking into the woods as if he was looking for something. We thought by chance maybe he was looking for his mate? (Just prior we had had a blustery thunderstorm and wondered if he had gotten blown off course). Mallards don't mate for life, but they do mate for the season.

 Once he got to the end of the driveway he walked back up toward our home, purposeful, directly for the porch.

He had no fear of humans, he was quite comfortable in fact. He was attracted to our front porch, and the flower beds planted around it. He spent a few hours walking around it, looking at us, looking at the flowers, and behaved as if he had been here all of his life.

Mallards imprint very easily and are very sociable. They don't like to be alone. This is something to look at if you have a duck for a totem ~ they reference to the need to be around those of like mind, where you feel comfortable and safe.

This mallard certainly felt safe with us. He spent plenty of time meandering around our porch listening to us talk, watching us water the flowers, even watching our dog who was enjoying her afternoon on the porch.

As much as the Mallard seemed interested in us, we were just as interested in him and his presence. Mallards are symbolic of emotions, as they are associated with the water element. They help in reminding one to take care of their emotional self, to nurture, and be easy on the spirit. They represent being able to handle your emotions with grace and strength. And after spending time with this mallard, I find they teach one to trust their instincts about others..and align yourself with those that have a kind spirit, fostering healthy relationships. (In Feng Shui, Mallards are symbolic for relationships and commitment)

And as evening approached, the mallard stayed on. Surprising us by walking up the porch steps and directly to our screen door. There he stood, for at least a half hour, as if waiting for someone to answer the door and let him in. We were amazed with his presence, continued watching, until finally we needed to go back inside for the evening. Several times we looked at the window, only to find him still standing on the porch.

He would take breaks and walk back down the steps to a nearby rain puddle, stand in it and drink the waters, then return to the porch.

When morning arrived, I immediately went to the door to see if our visitor was still with us...and he was.

He continued to spend time with us that morning, grazing for food in the moss near our trees, and then back to the rain puddles. He made many trips up and down the steps of the porch, talking all the while...until finally as the sun was shining brightly he walked to the end of the porch and flew off.

Now of course me, who always feels that there is a reason for everything, and finds a deeper meaning in life's actions, pondered on why this little guy came to visit. I think he was a reminder...a reminder that no matter what is going on in the world, what challenges you face, find solace in those loving spirits in your life who are kind, bring you comfort, and make you feel safe. Because in the end...it's all about the love.

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The Adaptation of Gaia in an Everchanging World

I have been spending a great deal of time thinking on our Earth and how our progress has changed not only our society, but the effects it has had on our world. This is what had inspired my most recent painting "The Adaptation of Gaia". Looking back through history and at the changes, growth, and progressions we have made, one has to wonder...have the changes been made in a responsible way? (Well, certainly not.) Has Greed won out over the long term changes we have placed on this world we live in?

Close view of The Adaptation of Gaia by Jeanne Fry

I marvel at Mother Earth's flexibility, and her ability to adapt. Though I know that everything has their breaking point, a point where something can only bend so much before it in fact will break. My hope is that big business, corporations, and those in authority will begin to factor the future into their decision making. That the all mighty dollar will not control every venture, and that on a global level our Earth, our basis of life, will become of high importance once again.

The Adaptation of Gaia Contemporary Folk Art Painting by Jeanne Fry

In ancient Greek religion, Gaia was known to be the great mother to all, Mother Earth. Here in my painting, I have created Gaia, rising from the Earth. Atop her head, symbolically for atop our world, is the industrialization of our society..the architecture of our inventions. Freeways and roads intertwine through her hair. Her balance of earth and sky, and the appearance of vines and leaves growing on top of....in spite of....is her adaptation to the change. Here I am portraying the fragile balance of our Earth and our Progress as Humans, both valued. My hope it that more conscious thought be placed on keeping a balance.

The "Adaptation of Gaia" painting is available for sale in my Etsy Shop here:
Adaptation of Gaia Painting for Sale on Etsy



Emerging of Greenwoman

With the arrival of Spring, and my personal journey of healing and peace within, I have been spending considerable time outdoors in our woods and forests. Always carrying a camera or a sketchbook, inspiration fills me after my walks, and that is where my most recent painting of Greenwoman came.

Greenwoman Original Folk Art Painting by Jeanne Fry

Masks and Wings have become prevalent in my artwork these past few months, and so this is a first in a new series I am creating. I am attracted to the concept of the masks and wings, maybe because they are tools.....tools to take us to another place...tools to take us Within. They allow us to go where we want to go, be seen when we want to be seen, and free us to be who we are.

Greenwoman has always been special to me, representing to me a woman's connection with the Earth.

The original painting of Greenwoman is available for sale in my Etsy shop here
Greenwoman Original Painting on Etsy

Answers.. Art... and the Garden

Knowledge is Power.

We tell ourselves so often when we are stumbling for an answer to Why.."if I only knew the root of the problem..things would be better". I could fix it. I could change it. We can tell ourselves that so often, that we begin to believe that once we have the knowledge of "what it is", things will immediately be different. But nobody told us that is not entirely all there is to it.

Yes, things will be different, but once you have the knowledge..it is up to YOU how it will change. The knowledge is the stepping stone.

For four years I had been searching for an answer. Why am I in so much pain? Why don't I feel well? What is wrong with me? Doctor after doctor, test after test, and endless days of discouragement led me to endless searching for the answer, as if the answer would be the solution. All the while not knowing that once I had the answer....it was only a step. And that step is your choice in how you will make it change. In which direction, what path will you take, toward your solution?

These past few months as I had felt even worse, physically, emotionally, and spiritually. My inspiration to create Art became more and more difficult, my pain dictating my every move, and fatigue controlling my days. Then Tuesday morning an unexpected phone call came, and in ONE minute the stepping stone appeared in front of me. "You have Lupus". Stunned I hung up the phone and became quiet. I needed to process this, and realized things weren't immediately better now that I had an answer. The stepping stone was in front of me, but I was not ready to take a step. I gave myself permission to sit with it, think, and BE.

 I needed to eliminate the noise that surrounds us in the world, no TV, no phone calls, no drama....just to get to that simple state of breath. So, I spent that day and all the next outside, the one place that can make you feel better just by it's existence. The one place so easy to find perspective and balance.

I decided to listen to Me.

I felt compelled to to have my hands in the Earth, the simplicity called to me...work in the garden. Flowers needed to be planted. I needed to surround myself with color, reds and blues and purples. I needed to feel the soil in my hands.

The afternoon was spent planting. Loosening the soil and digging the holes was immediately hurting me, the pain was aggressive...but I needed to do it. My husband saw the difficulty and began doing the strenuous parts for me so that I was left with the simple pleasures of placing the flowers and plants in the earth and filling them in. Finished, we spent the rest of the day on the porch..quiet, peaceful and meditative.

The next day we spent our day driving in the mountains and then again back sitting near the garden, until I then found a sense of peace with where I was at...a sense of peace that there was a stepping stone in front of me. I had come to the state of Now. The past did not exist and the future did not exist..only the present. And I took a step forward on to the stepping stone. I made the choice to fully immerse in my healing, to listen to my intuition and my body and act accordingly and move forward. I have no expectations that it will be easy, but will strive for the best quality of life, to be easy with myself and put my needs to the forefront. I will continue with my Art on a relaxed level, because it is like breath to me, it is part of my essence.

 Breathe in. Breathe Out. Follow the Stepping Stones.

Celebrate International Women's Day

The question was asked, "How do we as a culture involve, educate, and inspire girls in a positive way?"
Our responsibility as women is to lead by example, to show our strength and diligence in the things we believe in and move in that direction in a consistent and graceful manner.
When we find that healthy balance of strength and grace together, we become a role model for the younger ones.

 I feel that this is the time when women need to reconnect, and let go of the divisions that society often times can spark within us.
So then, how we do we extend that to young women and girls? Creating mentor programs on a local, regional, national, and global basis. If each woman were to mentor a young woman, how would this world be different? We would be re-establishing the bond of women, sharing our wisdom and experiences, and creating a support system. Every business and organization could develop a mentor program. Art organizations, Medical fields, Business technologies, Charity organizations, Retails Shops, the Entertainement Industry....the list is endless. If each woman took under her wing a young girl or woman and shared support, strength and encouragement, the first step would be taken in creating a healthier society for women everywhere.

Her Tree of Life and the Symbolism Original Painting by Jeanne Fry

If you are familiar with my artwork, you know of my attraction to the Tree of Life, and may have seen some of my latter paintings of it. Recently I began another Tree of Life, but this time wanted to tie in the influence of the Divine Feminine and was very pleased with the result.

"Her Tree of Life" Original Folk Art Painting by Jeanne Fry

I worked with the new Golden Acrylics "Uncommon Blues" paints, wanting to bring in a feeling of serenity, healing, and spirituality. Viewing it now in completion, the shades of blue almost give it an "otherworldly" feel, which I appreciate.

I painted the Divine Feminine into the trunk of the tree with her hair as branches wrapping around it's base. Her eye is represented as a blue bird, for happiness, and it is as if she is looking through the eye of the bird.

Close up view of "Her Tree of Life" by Jeanne Fry

Another silhouette of the goddess face can be found among the tree branches. Three small blue birds are stop their perches gazing at the tree, and one more who will make his home there.

The Original Painting of "Her Tree of Life" is available for sale in my Etsy Shop here:

Her Tree Of Life Painting for Sale on Etsy