Living in the US, and in a sanctuary state, events last week are deeply disturbing. Many of us are choosing to be upstanders, rather than passive bystanders.
Our former pastor Kent, who is back in his home state of Massachusetts, is one of an ecumenical group of faith leaders activity standing in support of the people of Minnesota. Indigenous communities are singing honor songs. Friends in my community gather in candlelight vigils.
.... Last year, my friend Cindy Jacobs, offered a series of classes exploring Creative Resilience, and qualities that could help us find it, in these increasingly troubled times.
One of the qualities is Courage, and I used an image from a blogfriend's calendar, to craft this SoulCollage®️ card (and sent Leah a thank you note.)
My Courage Ally invites me to:
- Stand strong
- Stay grounded and do my daily practices
- Speak the truth
- Maintain vigilance
- Bathe in the water of life
- Remember starlight
Cindy included 'Wonder Woman' amongst a group of suggested images for embodying courage. One participant included WW on her card, and spoke of her lariat of Truth, and Bracelets symbolizing freedom from shackles.
Wonder Woman first appeared in 1941, during WWII, and 'was originally depicted fighting the f@scist/Axis forces and supervillains.'
Thank you Wonder Woman, for your oh-so Timely reappearance! We need your strength, clear vision and Courage.
Her symbols include
- Greek Golden eagle
- Lasso of Hestia (lie/truth detector)
- Steel Braclets - freedom from shackles
- Tiara - serves as projectile
- Strength of Gaia (Earth) from Demeter
- Wisdom, ability with language, crafts from Pallas Athena
- Alignment with the moon, animals, and enhanced senses from Diana
- Sisterhood with fire from Hestia
- Speed, flying and deflection from Hermes
- Beauty and kindness from Aphrodite
In the spring of 2019, I joined an online class painting our own Wonder Woman, with my European colleague, Jessica Enovald Duncan.
I love the image which emerged! She's on a gallery wall featuring several of my paintings at my daughter's!
Some of the Wonder Woman prompts and inquiries might be:
- who are my allies?
- What is my weakness?
- What superpowers do I demonstrate?
- Where is does my soul compass guiding me?
- How can I access my own strengths and abilities?
- Is there anything else you'd like mee to know?
Here's the altar from a Wonder Woman circle I offered I offered local SiStars in 2019.
Items included wool cards my great grandmother Mary brought along on the wagon train, and rose beads I made (using petals from our daily rose, inspired by ones she crafted) There's a tree card for grounding, a feather to remind us to soar!
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Your post has me thinking how I would create my Wonder Woman.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Kim - It's been a helpful practice for me
DeleteNadya
I’m moved by your commitment to be ‘upstanding’ rather than standing by. The artwork and symbolism are beautiful.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Tamara - I saw it in a clip about the general population in f@schist Germany 80 years ago, where up to 90% of the everyday people stood by, while 3% disappeared the 'others' (LBGTQ+, gypsies, Jewish, union members ....)
DeleteIn nearby Denmark, they stood UP! The king and citizens donned Stars of David, and the everyday people hid their neighbors, helped them escape to neutral Sweden, so less than 20 Jewish people were killed by the occupiers!
🙏 Nadya
Love your post, Nadya. It eases my madness. I love the Wonder Woman image as a creative. I wrote about being a Wonder Woman in my early writings. Thank you for reminding me.
ReplyDeleteYou're welcome, Lily!
DeleteWe're all lifting each other up -
Your post on your anger touched me deeply - and everyone who cares and says 'enough!' brings us closer finding solutions together!
What a beautiful image of Wonder Woman, I love the color combination! The alter is magnificent with your great grandmother's cards and using your daily rose petals for the rose beads. You are so creative!
ReplyDeleteOh, thank you, Martha!
DeleteCrystalline Heart is one of my favorite paintings! (And my daughter and her husband love superheros, so she 'lives' next door, in their gallery!)
I found out my aunt Letha also had a set of grandma's cards, so this were passed down to my cousins. And another cousin gave me the heritage rose, which has lovely, fragrant petals!