She had nothing left to give.....so I gave to her what little I had

Time leaves its mark where it has traveled. A weathered surface and an eroded landscape can be its signature, or maybe just a memory lingering on what used to be.

Yesterday we visited our Sacred Space, a little area nestled along the river that hugs up against a mountain. Its a slow flowing river filled with large boulders that beg you to come sit and be hidden, hidden from everything, even your own thoughts. The mountain embraces and supports you, allowing you to be safe, relaxed, and open. While you are here, you can release your pains, let go of worry, and be filled with strength and inspiration.

We knew before we arrived that things would be different. We knew that there had been a change, new developers had come in to build their housing lots jammed up to the mountain and when doing so began roping off the river. It had always been open to the public as you would drive down the curvy road with pull offs, allowing one to spend time at the river.  But now being able to find even a little space that wasn't roped off, fenced off, and hammered with private signs was a job in itself. 

When finally we spotted a place where we could pull off, the path to the river was a challenging hike. As soon as we entered....it felt like a void.

The water still meandered as it always had, but the energy now was different. As I stood looking around, it looked as if someone had disturbed her. Fallen trees just didn't lay right, and piles of rocks were obviously not in there natural occurrence. Mostly she felt empty, that magical feeling of spirit seemed to have escaped.

I climbed through this new obstacle course and found a large boulder to sit on. I watched the water as it flowed down and sat quietly, but could not feel her (Gaia). There were no birds, no hawks flying over, no dragonflies skipping the water. I layed my hand down on the boulder in order to "hear" her....and I felt emptiness. Where normally I would feel energy, warmth, and life..now what I felt was like a weak pulse. 

She has become a parcel, a possession, fallen into the greed of man. Those that have loved her and cared for her are not longer allowed to come. The circle of life that filled this section of the world doesn't come to visit any longer.

As my hand lay on the boulder, I knew that in her emptiness she had nothing left to give....so I gave to her what little I had.

 I gave her the respect and love that she deserves. I thanked her with my deepest gratitude for the sacredness she had always provided. I attempted to give her what she had always given me....healing.

I got up and started climbing back to the road, so deeply saddened, shaking my head at when "man" will realize that not everything should have a price tag.

I know that we will not visit again, this special place that we gave and received such love. But a little piece of us will always be here with her.

Earth Day on a Spiritual Level

Earth Day became a recognized day quite some time ago. It becomes more and more popular each year as our global family becomes increasingly aware of it's importance and the things that we can do to give back to the land.  I stay in tune with it every day...trying to stay aware of my footprints on the Earth and how all of our choices have an effect on something else. But it's more than that for me, for it feeds my soul.

Respecting the land that we live on has become a part of my spirituality. Honoring the cycles of life, death and rebirth, and the seasons, correlates with all aspects of the spirit. My personal growth can run parallel to that of my surroundings. I find more solace in nature than in a self help book. When days run into each other and monotony sets in, things can feel stagnant. As soon as you step outside and are aware, you can feel  how immense the universe is, how there is truly an abundance in life to draw from, and manifesting seems so much more possible. Somehow all of those little things that we stress on, that snowball and become big things that we stress on...are more easily put in perspective when you allow your feet to feel the Earth again.

I am always impressed with the mood changes Earth has...she can shift from serene  and calming, to intense and passionate, to angry and tantrums....so much like us humans who walk upon her. And you realize...it will change. It always does. Nothing stays the same.

Maybe those large entities that take her for granted, who dump and pillage her resources out of greed, somehow lost touch with her long ago. I think they forgot how to see, feel and touch life. My hope is that one day they can remember...how it feels to have a bird in the hand, to nurture something as it grows, to feel the breeze on your face, or to be in awe of it's immense beauty and strength.

I hope that everyone has a meaningful Earth Day, and maybe you can share with someone else it's importance, and one by one we can change our responsibility level.

Nature, our Earth, is reflected in all of my art work, because of it's simple importance in my life. My hope has always been that when it is shared with others.....it raises their awareness as well.

 

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