Sacred Tree Sacred Moon

"Sacred Tree, Sacred Moon.....thank you for illuminating the path for me...for reminding me of what is truly important...and for helping me to keep my breath in step with the heartbeat. Thank you for melting my stress away when I come to sit beneath your boughs. Thank you for teaching me how every living thing is connected to Mother. 

I am grateful to you for teaching me to Stand in my power...to reach ever higher...and to be flexible in the winds. I am grateful for your Sanctuary, as your presence always give me comfort. I am grateful in knowing that while years of change can happen, yet you will continue to stand tall.

You are my, Sacred Tree Sacred Moon, always."

(c) Copyright Jeanne Fry All Rights Reserved

The writing above accompanies my Original Acrylic Painting on Wood.

Not Everything is Black and White - Original Symbolic Tree of Life Painting

Each one of us are here to walk our Path in Life, and the road is different  for each person. We have a lot of conditions and expectations put on us: by society, our communities, our politicians, our families, our friends, and even ourselves. What others think we "should of " or "could of" done isn't always possible, for they're not aware of all the steps that led up to this space on our path called Now. 

Wouldn't Life be easy if there were an instruction booklet that was passed out on our arrival. It's all a Learning Curve, and we try to do the best we can with what we've got. 

Some think that the Directions are so simple, as if the map has been written out in black and white, "This is the way you are supposed to go". While we are all heading to the same destination, we all have to find our Own path. Some may have a straight flat road to journey, while others may have to navigate rocky terrain. We're going to get lost, we're going to make mistakes, and sometimes we may have to back track to get on the right road. 

We're Humans, and while our journey might be messy and difficult at times, we also have those times when it is joyful and sweet. Not Everything is Black and White.

When I created this painting I wanted to symbolically portray colors of our human existence amidst the starkness of the literal black and white. I used the Tree of Life to bring our emotional colors out in its leaves. Within the center of the Tree the shadow of a Face can be found. Abstract direction is given with the black and white, while as you get closer to the Tree you will find shades of greys and beige and alternate movement - our own personal navigation on the path. 

We All See the Same Moon - Seeing Similarities and not Differences

When I raised my children there were many ideals that I thought were important to pass on to them. One of the most important ones, was to see beyond our differences. As I myself was born with a birth defect that left me with a physical handicap growing up, I knew first hand the types of discrimination, misconceptions,  bullying and ridicule that exist in the world. My wish was that my children would grow up to see beyond color, disability, race, sexual orientation, and social class. I had many things I wanted to teach my children. Some were successful and some were not...but this very important ideal was learned quickly. I was always proud of them, noticing that when they were put in a situation where people's differences came into play....they saw the human...the things that make us the same, and the differences were overlooked.

I've been saddened the past few years (since our hard fall in the economy), that we humans are becoming more and more divided. Bullying, hate crimes, road rage, and an intolerance for others and their beliefs seems to be on a continual rise. I associate some of this with the economy decline, as I feel that so many have been living their lives in a day to day state of fear....and fear leads to these negative behaviors. I also feel that we are losing the art of communication. While it may mistakenly seem as if we are more connected because of technology, our young ones are losing the practice of effective and compassionate conversation. These two things combined isolate us in a sense, within ourselves...making it easier to fall into the trap of feeling as if no one understands us. Then, our differences become more prevalent. 

I painted "We All See the Same Moon", as a reminder of our similarities.

"We All See the Same Moon" Original Contemporary Folk Art Painting by Jeanne Fry

I tried to bring my thoughts to the canvas within a celestial scene. Four moon gazers are standing together looking upon the moon. Each of the figures are different, yet the same. They all have their own distinct styles, yet fit together in common bond. They are able to look beyond their differences and unite as one under the moon in peace.

This original painting has been sold, but it is available in my Fine Art America shop here:
"We All See the Same Moon" Art Print by Jeanne Fry

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

Moonlight Messages from Crow

During that magical time in the evening when the sky transitions through color and awaits the rising of the moon...the Crow sits quietly. 

During this time of peaceful silence our weary spirit, tired from the day, can connect with our inner wisdom. Our authentic self emerges in order to nurture and revitalize through the night. This primal part of ourselves will "recap" from the day and think about what "could" be tomorrow. It listens for messages, as the intuitive inside readies us for the dream time. All the answers are within, we only need to be reminded.
 Sometimes we get distracted, or lose our connection with our intuitive self, and this is why Crow is here to help us. He is the Carrier of the Messages.

Moonlight Messages from Crow, contemporary folk art by Jeanne Fry

If you would like to see more of the painting, or to collect it, you can find it listed in our Artfire Shop here

Moonlight Messages from Crow - Original Painting on Artfire