This is an anthropomorphic photographic I took in in the Santa Monica Mountains. Please view the image in the art section.
When I see a special photograph, I often want to write about its meaning not knowing where the writing journey will take me. I believe this also applies to all the expressive arts;photography, poetry, painting and art. I follow a process not knowing the destination and find out by letting go, that the key element of the artistic journey is to feel free to unlock many doors that will reveal layers of our conscious and unconscious mind. I was walking in the forest and met a special woman seen in this photograph who greeted me and told me her name was Sabrina. She belonged to the Naropa tribe, a wise tribe of primitive people guided by elderly members who most insightfully teach many fascinating stories and lessons handed down through the generations. Sabrina said she had learned traditions and spiritual teachings about many Gods and Goddesses in mythology. She talked about the hidden presence of the Dark Goddess in the psyches of men and women. Seen and unseen, appreciated or denigrated, in history, myth, and culture as well as in individuals, the Dark Goddess carries transformative power and feminine wisdom. Sabrina’s stories are too long to elucidate here, but I must tell you I was affected by the infinite wisdom of this young woman as I might be if I were having a major dream or reading an evocative poem. Two important writers that I find inspiring are Jean Shinoda Bolen, M.D. who wrote Crossing to Avalon and Goddesses in Everywoman and the brilliant writings of Marion Woodman who writes about the feminine psyche and the dark goddess in the transformation of consciousness. Sabrina’s depth of insight was provocative and reinforced many of my own perceptions of the unvisited corners of the psyche. The feminine that exists in both men and women, one of Jung’s major concepts that explores the nature of the anima (female) and animus (male) are two of Jung’s important concepts. The need for both sexes to integrate these powerful forces in their individual psyches is a very important concept in today’s world. Sabrina told me it is an important tenant in the beliefs of her tribe to recognize the dualities that exist in ourselves, dark and light, male and female. In this way we can achieve a true sense of interdependence with the rest of creation. The feminine leads us to the sharp edge of experience. The essence of the journey and the true nature of the sword of the Goddess has been captured by David Whyte entitle “No one told Me.”
“No one told me
it would lead to this.
No one said
there would be secrets
I would not want to know.
No one told me about seeing.
seeing brought me loss and a darkness I could not hold.
No one told me about writing
or speaking.
Speaking an writing poetry
I unsheathed the sharp edge
of experience that led me here
No one told me
it could not be put away.
I was told once, only
in a whisper,
The blade is so sharp-
It cuts together
-not apart
This is no comfort.
My future is full of blood
from being blindfold
hands outstretched,
feeling a way along its firm edge.”
Female intuition and our connection to feelings in our bodies lead us to compassion for ourselves and others. The mind has its logic; the heart alone knows wisdom, bridges chasms and can make peace. She invited me to meet Allione, her famous Indian Buddhist teacher who was a great scholar of the Naropa tribe which he organized before Sabrina was born. His teachings explain that words and ideas are necessary containers, but they take on meaning only through reflection on lived experience. She told me that we are just beginning to have some understanding of the interdependence of nature and all natural systems. If we pollute the earth, we our polluting ourselves. If we destroy the rain forests, the loss of oxygen affects every living thing. Weather patterns change; habitats change. This has always been true over millennia. The earth systems have changed dramatically for one reason or another I said nodding my head in agreement with Sabrina’s wise words. Yes, she said, but there is a difference now and that is that we are aware of such systems and are, therefore compelled to take a conscious position towards them and towards ourselves. We talked for hours and she invited me to her village to meet her spiritual teacher and the totem of their tribe, The Shadow Bird. I will certainly let you know more about my experience with this amazing woman who was on her way back to her tribe carrying water and supplies on her head to help feed her village.