Emotional Healing with the Sea Turtle Totem and Reiki Symbols

My most recent painting is titled "Emotional Healing", and focuses on the Sea Turtle Totem and incorporation of Reiki Symbols. I was inspired to create a painting that would be soothing and be symbolic for the healing of our thoughts...feelings...and emotions. The Sea Turtle and the Water itself, both are symbolic of the Feminine, Motherhood, and the Nurturing that is involved with our personal growth and evolving as we age. They represent the ability to find balance in one's emotions, thereby being able to make solid choices that make both the heart and mind content. That balance also helps us to "ride the current", or ups and downs in life's journey.

"Emotional Healing" with the Sea Turtle Totem and Reiki Symbols by Jeanne Fry

As a Traditional Usui Reiki Master/Teacher, I decided to incorporate a few of the Reiki Healing Symbols into the painting, to amplify the healing effects. The Cho Ku Rei symbol is a power symbol, and was painted to boost the balancing aspects. The Sei He Ki is a specific symbol that is used for emotional and relationship healing. And I used a Contemporary Master Symbol, for Soul Healing and to represent the Light of the Awakened Heart. 

This is a powerful healing piece of artwork, that I envisioned could be used as a meditation tool, or to display in a massage therapist's or healer's office. The soothing calming color work and the symbolism is engaging and brings one to focus.

The Original Painting has sold. Art Prints of it are available in my Fine Art America online shop. They will ship directly to you.
Emotional Healing with the Sea Turtle Art Print

The Horse Totem, Healing, and a Little Girl

When an artist is in the process of painting, they never truly know how important that piece is going to become in their life. When I am navigating through my process, the focus is on sharing my journey, my growth, my inspirations, and accessing my intuition.

This week the focus behind my paintings was "overcoming". I was immersed in a creative frenzy, painting almost non-stop for three days. Each night my husband urged me to go to bed at a decent hour, but the palette kept my attention until 3am each morning. 

One of the paintings from this run was of a horse totem, named "Run Fast, Run Hard". There was movement in the strokes and a portrayal of speed, as the painting is motivating you to move fast and work hard toward your dreams. 

Run Fast, Run Hard a Contemporary Folk Art Painting by Jeanne Fry

Occasionally over those three days I would post a few photos of what I had been painting on our Facebook art page. As soon as I would share the photos I would go back to painting. My cell phone alerted me of a private message through Facebook, with an inquiry of interest about the painting. 

As soon as I started reading the message from my phone, I was engaged in a story, and knew that I needed to sign into the computer and give it more focus.

A mother in California was interested in purchasing the painting for her 9 year old daughter. As she shared with me the reason that she wanted it, my heart moved to another place....a place in my own past.

Her daughter Ashley has a rare disease that she is battling, Pediatric Sarcoidosis. A lump in my throat started forming as I felt the link with my own Lupus, as both attack random organs in the body. She told me how strong Ashley is and how she loves to paint. She has been loving horses as of late, and since her mom can't give her an actual horse, she wanted to give her my painting.

She included a link to the fundraising site they have set up for Ashley to help cover her medical bills so that I could learn a little more about her. When I opened the link, the tears started falling. When I looked into her eyes, I saw my own when I was little. My mind raced back to when I myself was so young, when at the age of 4 I was in the hospital and became an amputee.

During my hospital stay I had been given a gift by a stranger. The man had stopped me in the hall and had given me a painting of Faith, Hope, & Charity. I never saw the man again, but I still have that painting to this day.

I knew that this painting had to be a gift to Ashley, of that there was no question. The gift that I had received had changed my life, teaching me that love and compassion exist in unexpected places. My hope is that Ashley will feel that too, and always be surrounded by love and support.

This trip back in time, flood of emotions, and decision making all happened in just a few minutes. I soon looked up with the tears welled in my eyes and showed my husband Ashley's link. As soon as he saw it, he said "She looks just like you when you were little", and he himself was fighting back the tears. 

I'm sharing her link here, in the case that you might want to donate to her cause, and should you choose to you are not only helping her and her mom, but my own inner child spirit as well.

http://www.gofundme.com/ashwoodfund

I am grateful for this moment in my life as an artist, as it has been one of the most meaningful exchanges I have ever experienced.

In Love and Light,

Jeanne


 

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.

Healing Journey an Inspiration from Turtle Totem Symbolism

The turtle totem has always been present in my life since I was young. It wasn't until later that I actually formed an appreciation for its wisdom. Turtle's wisdom can be a wonderful addition on our  path. It teaches us about moving with the flow of life, having patience, learning tolerance, and how we perceive time. 

Healing Journey with the Turtle Totem by Jeanne Fry

Our journey in life is full of lessons, challenges, and joys. It has its ups and downs. One of the most important lessons we can learn from Turtle is to be consistent on the path, even when it feels like a roller coaster ride. It reminds us to just keep getting up every day and moving toward our dreams and goals. Some days may be harder than others, and some will be truly magical. It teaches us not to become consumed with the dramas, but to keep our sense of peace while we navigate. As long as we stay grounded, we can keep a perfect balance between our heart and our mind, producing positive choices as we travel this journey.

My newest painting, "Healing Journey", focused on the turtle totem. Within the painting, the turtle's shell is a map, representing our journey, reminding us of where we are going. This mixed media piece uses the addition of Golden's Fiber Paste to create mountains on the landscape (to represent our challenges). The turtle is surrounded by healing spirals, to represent the healing that occurs in our life as we navigate the journey.

Detail in Healing Journey Painting by Jeanne Fry

The Original of this painting has sold.It is available as an Art Print in our Fine Art America online shop here
Healing Journey with the Turtle Totem Art Print

Bear Totem Medicine Wheel, Illustrative Painting and Symbolism

The "Bear Totem Medicine Wheel" is an illustrative original painting, created with acrylics on a birch wood panel that is mounted on a pine cradle. It represents the sacred journey of Strength and Healing. The painting is rich in detail and symbolism. Upon the earthy layered background of raw sienna, honey brown, and turquoise, is a large medicine wheel. The colors on the medicine wheel are red, yellow, white, and black with a small turquoise center. There are 4 feathers painted hanging from the bottom of the medicine wheel, and a tie at each direction each of which is embellished with silver tin cones.

Bear Totem Medicine Wheel, Illustrative Folk Painting by Jeanne Fry

The Bear Totem is the focus of the medicine wheel's energy, for Strength and Healing. One large black bear is resting in a most comfortable sleep in the bottom of the wheel, symbolizing comfort, relaxation, and restorative rest. Above him are 7 black bears walking the outer rim of the medicine wheel with a tree of life and abundance between each. Within the center of the wheel are 13 (power symbol)  smaller black bears, all walking the journey, helping one another, encouraging strength amongst themselves and promoting a healing journey.

The original of this painting has been sold, but it is available as an Art Print. You can find it here in our Artfire Shop
Bear Totem Medicine Wheel Art Prints available in our Artfire Shop

It is also available as an Art Print in our Fine Art America online shop. It is available as an Art Print, Matted and Framed, on Canvas, On Metal, or as a Greeting Card
Bear Totem Medicine Wheel Art Print

Sun Spirit in the Ancient Healing Garden

The Sun Spirit brings a remembrance of an ancient time, when life was simpler, when we lived in more natural ways, when we were connected more strongly with nature. When she is present our days seem to be in a more positive light and we feel as if anything is possible. She watches over us in our days, warming us, helping us and everything around us heal and grow.

Sun Spirit in the Ancient Healing Garden by Jeanne Fry

She is a reminder when life gets hectic or we don't feel quite right, to get back to basics and honor the things nature brings to us.

Strong ~ Vibrant ~ Positive ~ Healing

This is the third painting in my series, "Healing in the Ancient Garden"

Earthy colors of yellow ochre, turquoise, burnt umber, burnt orange, and titanium white were used in the painting, which is 12 x 12 and sealed with a satin finish. The spirals are representative of the healing energy from the Sun Spirit.

SOLD



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.