Sunday, June 18, 2023

THE TENSIONS OF THE OPPOSITES

 

The conflict between the opposites can strain the psyche to the breaking point, if we take them seriously or if they take us seriously…if all goes well the solution, seemingly of its own accord, appears out of nature.  Then and then only it is convincing.  It is felt as “grace.”

…it represents the result of the joint labors of consciousness and the unconscious and attains the likeness of the God image in the form of the mandala, which is probably the simplest model of a concept of wholeness.

…The clash, which is at first of a purely personal nature, is soon followed by the insight that the subjective conflict is only a single instance of the universal conflict of opposites.  Our psyche is set up in accord with the structure of the universe, and what happens in the macrocosm likewise happens in the infinitesimal and most subjective reaches of the psyche…

 

...I am thinking here of the simplest basic form of the mandala, the circle, and the simplest (mental) division of the circle, the quadrant or, as the as may be, the cross.

C.G. Jung, Memories, Dreams, Reflections (Late Thoughts), pages 335-336.


12 inches diameter
Cotton and metallic threads on linen


DETAILS

Upper right quadrant


Upper left quadrant, Albedo; Alchemical symbol silver


Lower left quadrant; alchemical symbol lead



Lower right quadrant


Moons


SIDES OF THE CROSS

Lower cross
serpent upward to cylinder spiral



Upper cross
Dove downward to cylinder spiral


Right cross
Dung beetle pushing left to cylinder spiral



Left cross
Dung beetle pushing right to cylinder spiral



CENTER
Alchemical symbol Philosopher's Stone









Thursday, January 26, 2023

PEARLS OF A GREAT PRICE

 


24" diameter
Cotton threads on linen




Details













Monday, October 17, 2022

 MOTHER PHOENIX

AND HER FOUR GOLDEN EGGS




COTTON THREADS, GLASS BEADS ON MUSLIN FABRIC





















Sunday, May 8, 2022

TREE OF LIFE 2022

 THE HIRONDELLES (SWALLOWS) CARRY THE NEW GOLDING THREAD 


Regard this new-formed golden token

Replacing the old thread frayed then broken

Held in the beaks of golden swallows

A circle of unity all this follows

Omphali centered with beads of gold

Alchemy’s mystery: Golden tree to behold.






24" diameter

Cotton threads and beads on antique linen







LOCKDOWN 2020/2021

 


12" Diameter

Cotton threads, beads and pearls on linen

Quoting CG Jung and his dismay of Europe's lockdown in WWII.




The swallows carry pearls of great price to our world

As even

"The spirit of the depths

have seized Mankind

demanding sacrifice..."

CG Jung

Thursday, December 5, 2019

Ode to Albedo Frog and Friends



16x16
Embroidered on ancient linen
Cotton threads
With pearl and sapphire accents


DETAILS



























Friday, August 3, 2018

MOURNING DOVES, MORNING GLORIES, AND JUNG'S EGG


Cotton and metallic embroidery threads
on antique linen
Art 11" diameter
Cloth 14"x 14"


Details







From CG Jung's Red Book
The "Incantations"

Oh
light of the middle way,
enclosed in the egg,
embryonic,
full of ardor, oppressed.
Fully expectant,
dreamlike, awaiting lost memories.
As heavy as stone, hardened.
Molten, transparent.
Streaming bright, coiled on itself.

--verse 52/53


We asked the earth.
We asked the heaven.
We asked the sea.
We asked the wind.
We asked the fire.
We looked for you with all the peoples.
We looked for you with all the kings.
We looked for you with all the wise.
We looked for you in our own heads and hearts.
And we found you in the egg.
-
-verse 59/60