Today I thought I would share with you pictures of some of my treasured spiritual items that I have been collecting over the years.
One of my favorite Pagan artists is a woman from the Midwest named Karen, who works with a clay compound to create some interesting “objets d’art.” I first met Karen several years ago at the Gaia Goddess Gathering, an annual women-only festival that occurs at Camp Gaia outside of Kansas City. It was there that I bought my first artistic piece from her, and since then I have added on to the collection with purchases at additional Gatherings, as well as at the Kansas City Holly Holly Hollydays sale – held the first weekend in December to spotlight local craftswomen and female artists.
Karen works with a special modeling clay, which she sculpts into figures of the Goddess in Her many aspects. Some of these pieces stand alone, others are sculpted onto objects such as picture frames, shells, pieces of wood, or bone. Some are left natural, while others are painted. Karen embellishes this artwork with shells, beads, yarn, feathers, and other items to bring out their beauty and add another dimension to the design.
As you can probably guess from my spiritual name, I have a love for anything connected to the ocean, such as shells, dolphins, and mermaids. Karen makes a lot of art that does relate to the ocean, and I have several pieces of such. Here you can see a picture of two sea goddesses:
In the following picture, Karen has created a mermaid figure that is sculpted onto a real seashell, creating an interesting piece that combines the natural beauty of the sea with her own artistic skill:
Finally, this is one of my favorite pieces, which hangs on the wall in my Spirit Room (which is actually an enclosed sun room). It’s sort of a wind chime kind of thing, although I would never try to hang it up outside or anything of that sort…it’s always hung up on the wall inside the house. The goddess figure is actually sculpted into a piece of driftwood, and has a small shell imbedded in her back. She’s lightly painted with gold metallic paint and decorated with yarn hair. The chimes themselves are large scallop shells. I wish I had a better camera, as these pictures just don’t do it justice…
I love these items for several reasons…
First of all, they were created by a friend, and they demonstrate her wonderful artistic skills. I enjoy them because they resonate with her energy, and her love. They reflect my own love for the sea, and they honor my connection with the Divine Feminine – the source of all life.
Blessings,
~ Ocean
This sculpture shows the sign for "connect"...and that is what Deaf Pagan Crossroads is all about - making connections. Connections between Deafhood and Paganism, connections between the Deaf Community and the Hearing Community, connections between myself as the writer and you as the reader. I hope you will take the time to read my various posts, some of which are listed below. Welcome to the Crossroads, and I hope you make some connections here!
They’re beautiful pieces of art. I like the last one best, too. Not sure why, as they’re all lovely. There’s just something about it…that I can’t put my finger on at the moment.
I think I know what you mean – it’s the same thing for me. There just seems to be something more… “sensually spiritual” about that piece that you just don’t feel in the others. It’s more evocative for me, it just seems to bring out something in me that the others don’t. While I agree that all of these pieces are lovely, this last one transcends being just “a pretty work of art” and becomes something…
deeper.
Those are really pretty, Mum.
Very creative, I like when people use there creativity.
Do I get these too in your will? Lol.. jk x)
I love the mermaid with the shell, I have to say that one is my favorite.
Trying to kill me off, daughter??? 😉
Interesting.
For me, I find myself more drawn to wooden objects, the moon and water itself. For example, my bedroom is definitely my sanctuary. Nearly all of the furniture in here are made from real wood, and my walls are adorned with pictures of nature scenes and they have both water and forests in them.
It is the only room *anywhere* that I truly feel at peace.
I think you bring up an interesting thought, Deaf Pundit…
The concept of “sanctuary.”
I believe all of us need a sanctuary, where we can get away from the hustle and bustle of the real world and feel truly at peace.
I try to create such a sanctuary in just about every house I live in – I’ve moved around quite a bit, but I always tried to have a “Spirit Room” in each of my houses. It’s a place where I can go in and meditate, read, do tarot readings, or simply just sit and relax.
Like you, I also love wood, and my house is filled with antique wood furniture, mostly made of oak. I also love to sit outdoors under the moonlight, or near water.
Being at peace is good for the soul.
their all beautiful but i agree that last one is the best bb birch
Lovely!
Ah, mermaids… fact or fantasy? I prefer fact, of course. I have a drawing of one that a friend of my mom’s did for her when she was in high school. She’s sitting on a rock in all her glory, with a ship in the distance. It amazes me that some people are shocked by her nudity, and others are like, wow, how beautiful. I, too, like the last one best.