Feminine Archetypes have existed for millennia. Maiden, Mother, Queen, and Wise Woman (Crone) are recurring themes in women's lives. They are not necessarily chronological but often are. The transition between them can be tumultuous, while beautiful at the same time. As we follow the footsteps of all the women who came before us, we can learn from their wisdom, rather than fear the passage of time.
Embedded Files
Shedding the Mother for the Queen - Digitally manipulated photography, Procreate
As a student of Jung, the concept of Feminine Archetypes has driven many of my pieces in this body of work. The journey from Maiden to Mother, to Queen, to Wise Woman (Crone) is easily seen in the progression of my work. I am in a transitional stage. As I have moved from the Sandwich Generation, the dynamic has changed. Mom is gone, and my son is almost out of the nest. My daughter has gotten married and is moving out of state. Once what felt like bookends closing in on me, now I feel so much space, almost to the point of abandonment, but for my kids, there is joy in seeing them thrive without me. Now internally, I wish I could pull the bread back together. I am somewhat missing my sandwich, but I'm truly excited about this next stage of Queen.
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"Transitions"
Birth~
Awake, looking out, everything new
Everything alive, seasons, sensations, everywhere.
Awareness~
This is when it comes. Power.
The ability to alter one's surroundings.
The world, like an Apple, succulent and sweet, ready for biting.
Swallowing~
it down, making us strong, but beware the arsenic, so gently hidden within the Seeds.
Taking it in, making it our’s.
Loving It.
Consuming it.
Engulfing it.
Nurturing it.
Losing it.
Letting go~
Power seems gone.
Alone, afraid.
But remember the power within.
From no external place:
Strength.
Command.
Happiness deserved will come, everything new.
Transitions ~ Four Generations- Digital Animation, Photography, Photoshop, FaceMorph App, Poem
Upon looking at some old poems I wrote years ago, when I was at a very different stage of life, I found this poem, written in 2007. After creating a series of works inspired by a photograph of my grandmother in her latter years, I had my daughter, myself, my mother, and my Nona, four generations of women in Four Seasons of life. I used Photoshop to create layered images combining multiple generations. I imported them into an app called Face Morph to literally “transition” from one face to another. In this poem, I reflect on different seasons of birth, life, and loss.
Birth and alchemy of the Female Archetypes - Digital Photography, Digital Drawing, Photoshop, Gemini
I had a very specific vision to show my concept of the different seasons of Womanhood, that each gives birth to the next while passing on wisdom gained. I wanted to portray myself in all the archetypes, except the maiden, who is my daughter, Isabella. This piece is very autobiographical, more so now than when it was created. This piece is extremely Jungian. The Old Wise Sage is the rock, the one holding all the pieces together, protecting her line with her wisdom. Below her is the Queen. It is in this stage that individuation truly takes place. No longer needing to please, nurture, and protect, she finally comes into her own. She learns to love herself and live life by her terms. She has gone through the change that has allowed her not to care what others think. Inside her cape is her younger self, The Mother, holding a baby. She has entered the stage of motherhood and is learning her way in the world as the protector, the nurturer, and the provider. She can do it alone, if she has to, and many do. Running off the mountain, into her new life, beginning the individuation process, is the Maiden. She has leaped out of the nest to begin her life away from her parents. Though there is still a connective thread in her scarf. This piece is so much like the journey of my daughter and me. Seeing her get married and move away has been bittersweet as I feel the loss while also the anticipation and excitement for her as she discovers herself. The letting go is part of my individuation.
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