myths symbols sandplay

Chinese Light Symbolism

 

 

 

 

 

 

In his introduction to A Dictionary of Chinese Symbols, Wolfram Eberhard states, “It is almost 50 years since Ferdinand Lessing spoke of the ‘symbolic language’ of the Chinese as a second form of language which penetrates all communication in Chinese; which is, as it were, a second-tier communication level, of greater potency of an ordinary language, richer in nuances and shades of meaning“. Following is a brief discussion of Chinese symbolism related to light and the graphic form of the Chinese symbols.

Candles    la-zhu     蜡烛

For over 2000 years candles have been used in China for varies ceremonies, rituals, and everyday life. Colored candles were used in marriage ceremonies as early as the 8^th century to represent the deflowering of the virgin bride. A set period of time was measured by the amount of time it took to burn a candle down. In the 5^th century candles of wax were very expensive, so much so that the Emperor of the Southern Dynasty gave the Emperor of the Toba ten candles as an imperial gift (Eberhard).

Fire    huo    火

One of the five elements is fire, which is associated with the color red and the direction South. Fire, as an element that changes a state of being, blazes and ascends. In Tibetan Tantrism, fire is a male symbol. Fire walking is a spring ritual that is still practiced today in Shamanistic and other purification ceremonies. An ancient New Year ritual took place on April 4 of the western calendar. The old hearth fire was allowed to die out and a new fire was lit with a fire stick to symbolize the transition from the old to the new (Eberhard ). The New Year celebration included fireworks to frighten away demons. The red star Antares is called the great fire and its rise and fall in the night sky marked agricultural seasons and tasks.

Lantern   deng    灯笼

Lanterns have long been a Buddhist symbol of illumination and knowledge. Made of many different materials and in varied shapes, lanterns and lamps have been a part of Chinese cultural for centuries. Currently, lanterns are symbols of fertility. Lamps that are known as children and grandchildren lamps are placed under bridal beds. All Night Long lamps were placed beside a bride and groom‘s bed. If they went out at the same time it symbolized a long marriage. Lanterns are also hung under the bed of a pregnant woman (Eberhard).

In China, lanterns signify festivity. As signposts for guests and also for the souls of the departed, lanterns are significant in the Feast of the Lanterns, which takes place in the first Chinese month on the 15^th day. This celebration marks the full moon of the year and the Chinese New Year. The lanterns serve to guide the ancestors back to the world beyond after the end of the festivities. Families competed for the most artistically decorated lanterns. Another celebration, a second Feast of Lanterns, is held in the Yunnan region on the 7^th day of the 7^th month. Lanterns are sent floating down the river and hung along the roadside. The ritual is used to guide departed souls back to the underworld.

For references see Bibliography post.

Festivals of Light

"Before the era of the great religions (Judaism, Christianity, Islam, Buddhism, Hinduism), the religions and ritual practices of many cultures marked rhythms and patterns of nature" (Donleavy-Johnston, 2001). Ancient cultures marked these patterns of nature and the changing of the seasons with special festivals. Even in equatorial cultures, where little change occurs seasonally, ancient people celebrated the spring and autumnal equinox and the summer and winter solstice.

The winter solstice was "celebrated in a remarkably similar manner by societies as different and as distant as the pre-Celtic stone circle builders of Northern Europe, the Native American Pueblo peoples, the ancient Egyptians and Chinese, and the Swazi of Africa" (Donleavy-Johnston). Light and its relationship to humankind were the common themes. Renewal rituals often share the dying and the resurrection of the king/savior/god and the waning light of the solstice sun. Following is a brief list of light festivals.

The Feast of Lights was held at the beginning of February. Torches and candles were carried in procession for protection against the plague, famine, and earthquakes. The festival was later adopted by Christianity as Candlemas (Cooper, 1995).

The Festivals of Midsummer occurred during the summer solstice and were associated with wild dances and fire. Bonfires burned all night to encourage the solar deity to return after its winter decline.

The Egyptian winter solstice celebration held December 25^th was called the Festival of Osiris. As King of the Underworld, Osiris represented solar energy dwelling within matter giving eternal life to the earth.

A pre-Christian Persian festival celebrated the birth of Mithras on the 25^th of December. According to legend, Mithraic cult figure Mithras was sent to earth by the supreme god of light to slay the Cosmic Bull which represented both world creation and redemption.

Incwala is the South African Swazi winter solstice festival; a kingship ceremony that lasts for eight days. Initially, the king represents the sun and is rejected by his people. Then, at the first full moon, the king is revitalized and symbolically reborn (Donleavy-Johnston).

Hanukkah, the Jewish Festival of Lights, is celebrated for eight days, generally in December. Hanukkah commemorates the victory of the Maccabees over Antiochus, King of Syria, and the rededication of the defiled Temple in Jerusalem. Hanukkah is closely associated with older winter solstice rites. The seven-branched candlestick, the Menorah, indicates divine presence. The candles of fat are sacred to Jahveh (Cooper).

See Bibliography post for references.

Light Quote

"Light awakens us to the inner call. It is the influx of energy that penetrates, 

bringing vision and knowledge, the logos of antiquity."  

~ David Applebaum

Past editor of Parabola magazine                                                                                           

Light Symbolism

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

As winter nears, the quality of light is changing in Colorado.  The days are shorter and the nights are beginning to cool. We may have snow this week which is an not an unusual first snow in the foothills of Denver.

Winter festivals celebrating the winter solstice often involve the use of fire and candles as explored in an upcoming post Festivals of Light. In sandtray scenes candles, lanterns, or lamps bring light to the scene. Sandplay therapist Kay Bradway explains, "The presence of light indicates an illumination, a greater consciousness...".  As I review pictures of clients' trays, I am reminded of the scenes where light was used in the form of candles. The placing of lighted candles or the use of lanterns often indicated the need for or the demonstration of some form of enlightenment. After lighting candles, clients may have requested to dim the therapy room lights. In the half-dark, the sandtray took on an even more numinous and sacred feeling. 

Illuminating Upcoming Blog Posts

Future blog posts:

• Symbols Associated With Light
• Festivals of Light
• Beings Associated With Light Symbolism
• Native American Fire and Light Symbolism

Thoughts

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Thoughts to get you through any crises:

• Instead of using the words, if only, try substituting the words, next time.
• Lie on you back and look at the stars.
• Learn to recognize the inconsequential, then ignore it.
• Put a lot of little marshmallows in your hot chocolate.

Photo from https://thecookful.com/how-to-make-hot-cocoa/

This Life is a Test

 

 

 

 

 

 

This life is a test. It is only a test.

If this had been an actual life,

you would have been given further

instructions about where to go and what to do.

The Hero's Journey: Conquering the Queen

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Jobes’ Dictionary of Mythology, Folklore, and Symbols is one of my most treasured resources. In the introduction, Gertrude Jobes writes about how her curiosity about symbols and her desire to understand dramas, epics, poems, vase paintings, and other works resulted in her two volume dictionary. “I must confess that as the work progressed it served me more and more in another way; it opened a vast expanse for flight, a boundless space for contemplation“ (pg. vii). As I look through the dictionary to understand the meaning of miniatures used in clients’ trays, I also see the many meanings as an opening to more “wondering“ and “what about…?“.

During my internship, I received a referral to work with an 11-year-old gifted boy. He was small for his age, somewhat shy, and very bright. In our first meeting, his mother seemed both dominating and anxious and reported becoming quite frustrated with her son’s current behavior. The presenting problem was enuresis with occasional encopresis, which happened both at school and at home. Over the course of his therapy, we worked together on the “problem“, his anxiety in general, and his relationship with his mother and father.

In the sessions I employed a variety of play therapy techniques and sandplay. He was studying myths in school, so I asked him if he would like to try his hand at using the sandplay to depict a hero’s journey. (He created three separate trays over three consecutive sessions.) My instructions were brief. He was to decide on a “hero“, three “helpers“, three challenges, three “things“ gained after each challenge, and a treasure or reward at the end of the journey. He eagerly chose the miniatures and began to create his hero’s journey. Each tray was powerful and revealing regarding his struggles and his challenges. Yet he also demonstrated his use of “helpers“ and his acquisition of skills he used to deal with the presenting problems.

In the second tray, he acted out the hero’s challenge – the evil stepmother/queen, from Snow White, and the hero’s battle to stand up to and to conquer her anger and negativity. The item gained was a key, which he used in the third tray and added to the treasure. His ability to conquer the queen (perhaps his frustrated, critical, over-protective mother) manifested in his ability to stand up for himself and to take control of certain aspects of his life (such as it is for a gifted, slightly built, 11-year-old boy). I still think about his hero’s journey and the resulting positive changes in his demeanor and in his interactions with his family and his peers.

Psychological Significance of the King

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Alchemical symbolism of the King and Queen

In the fairy tales and legends of Europe, the king usually symbolizes the “end-point of all the hero’s travels and adventures on his way to education and maturity. Noble birth is not involved here: the ‘kingship’ of the protagonist, who is usually of modest social origins, consists in his identifying himself symbolically with ‘the finest in the land’ and developing his own abilities as fully as possible“ (Biedermann, pg 196).

“In the symbolism of alchemy the king usually appears in conjunction with the queen, representing the sun-and-moon duality…in accordance with the theory of sulfur and mercury, which together, after alchemist purification, form the ‘philosopher’s stone’, usually represented by the crowned androgyne” (Biedermann). Cirlot writes that the king and queen represent the perfect union or hieros gamos and “–according to Jung-they also signify the spiritual ‘conjunction’ that takes place when the process of individuation is complete, with the harmonious union of the unconscious and consciousness“ (pg 168).

Biedermann writes that “Jungian psychology has subjected the alchemistic tradition to extensive analysis and views the king less as an image of paternal authority (a ‘father imago’) and more as an archetype, in the psyche’s great store of inherited symbols, of higher insight and wisdom“. Cirlot states that “the ‘aged king’ – such as Dhritarashatra, the aged monarch of Vedic epics, or King Lear, or all those aged kings of legends and folktales – is symbolic of the world-memory, or the collective unconscious in its own widest and most all-embracing sense”.

See Bibliography post for references.

The Queen List

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Antique Chess III by Ethan Harper @ Art.com

 

In a game of chess the queen, or vizier, is the spirit, the Mover at Will, the moon (Cooper). Following is a queenly list.

Queen of clubs – the idea of soul

Queen of hearts – model of soul

Queen of spades – processes requisite to the manifestation of soul

Queen of diamonds – actualized manifestation of soul

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Queen Mab – English Queen of the fairies

Queen Mother – widow of a king, mother of his reining heir

Queen of Heaven – Isis, principal goddess of the Egyptian pantheon; Hera, Greek queen of heaven; Astarte, Phoenician great-mother; Juno, ancient Etruscan great-mother

Queen of love – the fertility mother; Aphrodite; Astarte; Benten, one of the Shichi Fukujin, the seven deities of happiness; Sarasvati, Hindu river goddess, source of the Japanese Benten; Venus

Queen of Sheba – great woman dignitary; a haughty woman; called on Solomon to impress him with her wealth, he was so taken with her she became his wife; called Balkis by the Arabs

Queen of the May – “a village lass who presides over the May Day festivities. She symbolizes the spring maid“ (Jobes, pg. 1131)

Queen of Virtue – a symbol of poverty in the Christian tradition

Queen’s rocket – a plant; in the language of flowers - the queen of coquettes

To the queen’s taste – “Equal to the most discriminating requirements“ (Jobes, pg. 1312)

The White Rose of alchemy – the queen, whose sceptered power is secondary to that of her consort and opposite, the king

For references see Bibliography post

Summertime...

and the livin' is easy.

The King List

 

                                  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Antique Chess I by Ethan Harper @ Art.com

In the game of chess, the king is the sun, the heart, the forces of law and order, his moves are limited by manifestation (Cooper). The evolution of the king’s position of power and influence and the symbolism of the king is reflected in the following list.

The five Buddhist kings of Tibet – known as the Mahapancaraja; comprised of astrologers, magicians, protectors of monasteries, and state oracles; often depicted with broad brimmed hats and flowing garments:

    Bi-har – king of deeds

    Chos-skyon – king of magic

    dGra-lha – king of the body

    Klu-dban – king of speech

    Thok-chho – king of accomplishments

King of clubs – the idea of spirit

King of hearts – the pattern of spirit

King of spades – processes requisite to the manifestation of spirit

King of diamonds – actualized manifestation of spirit

King Arthur – dragon slayer; liberator of the enchanted, protector of women

King of beasts – lion

King Brown – also known as King Bruin, a title of King Lud, British sun deity known as Imanuence

King George – a corruption of Saint George

King of Goldmar – German folk lore house spirit; an invisible wind demon also known as King Vollmar

King Lear judgment – shortsighted judgment

King Noble – lion in medieval satirical beast epic; symbolizes royalty

King of horses – Chinese symbol depicted as an ugly monster with three eyes and four arms holding weapons, found at wayside shrines, believed to protect horses from evil spirits

King of Ireland’s Son – legendary Irish character, lured away to the lands of the immortals by fairy-women

King of Kings – Christ or God; title also used by oriental rulers

King of metals – gold

King of Misrule – during the middle ages an officer attached to English aristocratic houses; “he presided over Christmas revels, and he and his attendants, grossly attired, provided with dragons, hobbyhorses, and musicians, created a great din. At the end of the ceremonies the king suffered a mock death to the feigned grief or genuine delight of the populace“ (Jobes, pg. 930“); also known as Abbot of Unreason, Bishop of Fools, King of the Bean on the Twelfth Night, Lord of misrule, Master of unreason

King of Saturnalia – ancient Roman king who impersonated the god of the sprouting seed; after five days of glory he was sacrificed in a fertility rate

King of Tenedos – ancient Italian king who passed a law stating anyone who committed adultery would be beheaded with an ax; he did not spare his own adulterous son

King of terrors – Death

King of the forest – the oak

King of the jungle – tiger

King of the May – vegetation spirit of medieval Europe; he was dressed in bark and decked with garlands; during a fertility rate, he was pursued by armed attendants who performed a mock decapitation; this ceremonial death was followed by a resurrection

King Pecheur – from the Holy Grail; uncle of Percivale and possessor of the Holy Grail and sacred lance

King Petaud – a lesser king who subjects ignore his authority; from the French phrase, King Petaud’s court, meaning confusion and disorder

King Sacripant – a brave and boisterous man, from Tassoni’s poem

King’s evil – Scrofula (tuberculosis); from the belief that the king’s touch could cure disease

Lame king – “Holy kings acquired lameness either as a penalty for a victory or in imitation of a dislocation suffered in a wrestling match. Jacob, who wrestled all night with an angel, was so lamed“ (Jobes pg. 931); ruler of a diseased kingdom suffering from winter or drought – the land’s health tied to the king’s health

Unblemished King – represents the spring sun; the ruler of a flourishing kingdom

See Bibliography post for references.

Queen Bees

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Bees are "very much associated with the feminine, fertility, growth, and motherhood.  The queen bee is often the sole survivor when winter arrives, and she is the one to build the new hive in the spring."

From: http://www.pure-spirit.com/more-animal-symbolism/401-bee

Queen Symbolism

 

 

 

 

"In the history of symbols the importance of the queen is not necessarily comparable to that of the king; she appears rather as a complementary term in dualities, rarely standing alone, at least in secular texts" (Biedermann, pg. 276). However, Biedermann goes on to state that in legends and fairytales, there are "female royalty from the supernatural realm…that in older times…women were allowed more influence than in the Judeo-Christian era".

According to Jobes, the queen symbolizes "Dignity, fertility, motherhood, noble birth, stateliness, wealth. Figuratively, a gifted woman, a woman leader. From the root gan meaning to produce or germinate. Word akin to Kwanyin" (pg. 1311).

In alchemy, the queen represents quicksilver. The psychological significance of the queen, appearing in dreams, may be as a symbol of the feminine principle or the Mother. In the tarot deck, the Queen card represents the soul and the “inner pattern of a particular human personality” (Jobes). Attributes of the queen are the crown, the crown of stars, the turreted crown, crescent moon, stars, orb, scepter, chalice, and the blue mantle. The queen’s color and metal is lunar silver.

Survival of the Fittest...my brain aneurysm adventure

I share this part of my journey here as I have been helped by reading about and hearing about other peoples' experiences and paths forward.

For eight years I wrote and distributed a quarterly journal, called Dragonfly, which was about myths, symbolism, and sandplay.  I stopped writing because of an unforeseen event.

I moved to Colorado in March of 2005. Four months after I moved, I had emergency brain surgery for a ruptured brain aneurysm.  Family came to Colorado and sat vigil while I was in intensive care in a drug induced coma for 21 days.  After being discharged, my parents stayed another month to see if I could be on my own.  They decided they could return to California after I could walk around the corner to get my mail, do a load of laundry, and make a simple meal. I am very grateful to my daughter for her strength, my parents for their patience, and friends in California who sent best wishes and kept tabs on my progress.

Initially I had to work to improve my balance, regain strength, find the right words, learn to overcome my distaste for food, and to understand what happened by having my family tell me the story over and over.  I was constantly fatigued, had a bad headache 24/7, and had poor judgment.  I was not allowed to drive.  Thank goodness for Access A Ride - my ride for a simple trip to the store and doctors appointments.  I even went to the movies once (that was an experience as the visual and auditory onslaught almost had me fleeing the theater).

One of the best books I read during that time was I Had Brain Surgery, What's Your Excuse? by writer-illustrator Suzy Becker - an honest and humorous memoir.

My sense of humor and life experience of always landing on my feet made for an interesting few years while I discovered my limits and marked my progress.  The hardest part was the limited amount of energy for anything - from the simplest tasks to just getting through the day.  Known to me as "hitting the wall of fatigue".

It was a major turning point in my life. I am very fortunate to have survived the event and I am almost back to my old self…or should I say my new self (known as the new normal).  I no longer practice psychotherapy as I have some minor cognitive deficits which are more evident when I am fatigued.  As for the headaches, they are like constant low grade background noise.  Now I can drive, I have found a new interest in jewelry making, and am still grateful everyday for friends and family.

Train Symbolism in Dreams

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The following is a brief look at the possible significance of trains in dreams. I believe that the symbolism here may also apply to trains used in sandplay therapy.

To see a train in one's dream represents conformity. One may just be going along with what everyone else is doing. Alternatively, a train means that one may be very methodical. One needs to lay things out specifically and do things in an orderly and sequential manner. In particular, if one dreams about a freight train, then it refers to the burdens and problems that one may be hauling around. It is also symbolic of manual labor.

If one dreams of a passenger train, then it relates to mental work. If one sees or plays with a model train in dreams, then it indicates that one may want more control and power over one's own life and where it is headed. Dreaming of trains may also be a metaphor that one is "in training" for some event, job or goal.

To dream that one is on a train symbolizes one's life's journey. It suggests that one may be on the right track in life and headed in the right direction.  Alternatively, the dream may mean that one may have a tendency to worry needlessly over a situation that will work out in the end.

To dream that one is in a train wreck suggests chaos. The path to one's goals are not going according to the way one planned it out. One may be lacking self-confidence and having doubt in one's ability to reach goals. If one dreams that a train collides with a car, then it indicates that one's life goals are in conflict with one's belief system. Perhaps one is pursuing a goal that one is not passionate about.

To dream that someone is hit by a train implies that they may be on the wrong path in life. Perhaps one needs to seek understanding to guide them in the right direction. Such dreams may also be a projection of one's own Self. In other words, one may be on the wrong life path and may need to alter course.

To dream that one is the train engineer signifies that one may be in complete control of a particular situation in waking life.

King Symbolism

 

 

 

 

 

 

The king represents the masculine principle, sovereignty, temporal power, the supreme ruler, and is equated with the Creator God and the Sun. “In many traditions it was held that the vitality of the king reflected, or was responsible for, the vitality of the people and the fertility of the land, hence the sacrifice of the king, or, later, his scapegoat, when his vitality waned“ (Cooper, pg. 91).

 

 

 

 

 

Rê

Biedermann states that “Within his kingdom he embodies the divine order of the cosmos, parallel to the sun in the heavens. Thus the Pharaoh is the earthly counterpart of Rê; the Inca…of the sun god Ynti. The successor in the ideological tradition is the adulation of the rulers of Rome in the period following the deification of Julius Caesar, and the ensuing creation of the title emperor. The common basis for all such belief is the desire for an embodiment of authority that will guarantee the welfare of the people” (pg. 196).

Early rulers, or priest kings, we believed to be descendants or reincarnations of divinities. “A king’s word was law by divine right; he could do no wrong; his judgment was infallible and above the law; his promises were irrevocable“ (Jobes, pg. 928). Jobes also states “A dead king was looked upon as a celestial benefactor of the people“ and “from the Anglo-Saxon cyng (tribe)…is allied to khan and may also be a corruption of saint”.

The King is symbolized by a castle, crown, eagle, lion, orb, scepter, sword, and throne and, in Egypt, by a male sphinx. The king’s color and metal is solar gold. In the Tarot deck, the king symbolizes the father, spirit, and essential self in man.

According to Jobes, in “Egyptian antiquity the king walked around the walls of a temple in a ceremony intended to keep the sun on its course and assist it in moving across the sky. In Japan, the king or emperor is the Son of the sun“. Jobes states, “The Israelites had no king before Saul, having first been governed by elders as in Egypt; then by rulers appointed by God, as Moses and Joshua; then by judges, as Ehud, Gideon, and Samuel”. Kings were anointed by prophets or high priests, given a crown and scepter, thus being both a temporal and sacred leader much like the Tibetan Dalai and Tashi Lamas”.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

King Wu of Zhou by painter Ma Lin (13 Century AD)

Read more at: https://www.shorthistory.org/ancient-civilizations/ancient-china/the-zhou-dynasty-of-ancient-china-1050-256-bc/

 

 

King Wu of Zhou by painter MaLin 13th century AD

King Wu of Zhou by painter Ma Lin (13 Century AD)

Read more at: https://www.shorthistory.org/ancient-civilizations/ancient-china/the-zhou-dynasty-of-ancient-china-1050-256-bc/

In Chinese tradition the supreme leader of the Zhou dynasty was called wang. This term was later applied to rulers of the feudal states and then to princes in general. Currently “Great King” is used for anyone with a specialized skill. “Among the Hakka, a non-Han minority in South China, ‘King’ is a metaphor for fish” (Eberhard, pg. 155). The attributes of Chinese Emperors were the arrow and the throne.

For references see Bibliography post.

 

What...no Queen?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

As I reviewed my books on mythology, folklore, and symbols I was quite surprised to find that J.E. Cirlot had neglected to discuss the symbolism of the queen yet devoted a page and a half to the symbolism of the king. I wonder what Maria Gimbutas would have made of his omission.  I also found no mention of king or queen symbolism in my dictionaries of ancient Mexico and Mayan cultures nor in my Native American mythology books.  Although there was a brief mention of king symbolism in my dictionary of Chinese symbolism, no word about the symbolism of the queen.  The queen and king together represent the perfect union, completeness, the androgyne, the sun and the moon, heaven and earth, and day and night. 

Hear Ye Hear Ye

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Upcoming posts will be of the royal kind:

King Symbolism

Queen Symbolism

The King List

The Queen List

The Hero's Journey:  Conquering the Queen

Liminal Space

The liminal space in sandplay therapy:

the transitional place between conscious and unconscious; a space where change takes place.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Image: Daria Shevtsova

Live in the sunshine...

"Live in the sunshine. swim in the sea. drink the wild air ~"

Hand Symbolism Part 1

The symbolism of the hand is rich and varied. According to Jobes the hand represents amity, authority, benediction, construction, divine grace, divine presence, faith, force, greeting, honor, labors, mastery, oath, pledge, usefulness, vigor, and work. The fingers, the thumb, and the palm all have their individual symbolism. Hands made of gold, studded with jewels, or of glass or base metals, have been revered as talismans against evil influences (Jobes). Cirlot writes, "two hands joined signifies mystic marriage-the Jungian individuation" and "In Jung's opinion, the hand is endowed with a generative significance". In alchemical images, the king’s left hand grasping the queen’s left hand "may refer to the unconscious character of their union but that it may also be indicative either of affection or superstition" (pg. 137).

Walker writes, "The hand with an eye in the palm was shown in the Oriental fear-dispelling gesture by certain Tibetan bodhisattvas, and also, half a world away, in the symbols of the Native American mound builders. The entire field of palmistry is summed up in this symbol implying that insight is to be found in the palm of the hand. Walker goes on to state that the oriental "eye of mercy" can be linked to the pierced hands of crucified saviors. Following is a list of hand symbolism.

American Indian – denotes supplication to the master of life or Great Spirit; the use of universal hand gestures and sign language helped unite the linguistically divided Indian nations and allowed for communication

Buddhist – Buddha’s hand symbolizes protection; "with the palm upward it represents unlimited giving; in Buddhist iconography the right hand of Buddha touches the earth, depicting his lordship over it, calling the earth to witness; it is the active pole. His left hand, holding the alms bowl, or turning upwards, is receptivity and surrender; the passive pole" (Cooper, pg. 78)

Celtic – the "long hand" of Lugh represents the rays of the sun

China – symbol of longevity, called shou

Christian – the hand of blessing represents God, the Father, and the Divine Logos; rising from a cloud denotes the power of the Father; "Christian authorities claim that witches transferred the ‘hand of blessing’ to the left, though this was perhaps the pagan custom from the beginning. Christian Europe also demonstrated great fear of the witches’ so-called Hand of Glory, said to be the severed hand of an executed criminal, steeped in beeswax and made into a candle with a flame at the tip of each finger. Such an article would have been difficult to manufacture, to say the least, so it was probably just one more of the witch-hunters’ macabre fantasies" (Walker, pg. 315); in art, the hand represents "descent from heaven to earth or reascent to heaven or descent to the grave and then ascent to heaven" (Jobes, pg. 721); when three fingers are extended, symbol of the three hypostases, the three-fold benediction

Egypt – symbol of fortitude and handicraft; in the "Egyptian tongue, the term designating the hand was related to that for pillar (or a support, or strength) and for the palm. In esoteric doctrine, the position of the hand in relation to the body, and the arrangement of the fingers, convey certain precise symbolic notions" (Cirlot); represents manifestation, action, donating and husbandry; in Egyptian hieroglyphics the open hand represents magnetic force

Greek – "the votive Hand of Sabazios, has the thumb and first finger extended, with the third and fourth fingers crooked (the Cornuto), and has on it the cone, snake, cross, crescent, caduceus, lizard, insects" (Cooper); represents the helping hand of the god, protection, healing, blessing

Continued in Hand Symbolism Part 2

Hand Symbolism Part 2

Continued from Hand Symbolism Part 1

Hebrew – bestowal of a blessing, consecration to office, or divine gifts; "the hands of the high-priest [are] laid upon the scapegoat, as if transferring the guilt of the people to the animal" (Jobes, pg. 717); symbol of obedience, submission to God; right hand out-stretched symbolizes assistance; placed on left shoulder denotes anxiety, hope, martyrdom, sacrifice; charm against ill luck and the source of the superstition of throwing a pinch of salt over the left shoulder; when three fingers are extended, symbol of the three hypostases, the three-fold benediction

Heraldry – symbol of the pledge of faith; equated with hind of dawn and hound of heaven

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hindu – both Hindus and Buddhists use a system of hand gestures, called mudras, comprised of more than 500 gestures used in dance and rituals; the mudras are the manual expression of divine power; the hands of Siva are the uplifted hand meaning peace and protection, the lowered hand depicts deliverance, the hand beating the drum is the creative act, the hand with the flame symbolizes the destruction of the world by fire

Islamic – Use as an amulet; "according to Berber thought, the hand signifies protection, authority, power, and strength" (Cirlot); the hand is depicted with the star, the dove, a bird, the fan, the zigzag, and the circle; the open hand represents benediction, adoration, hospitality; the hand of providence and generosity; as the Hand of Fatima "the thumb is the Prophet and the fingers are his four companions, the first the lady Fatima, second Ali her husband, third and fourth Hasan and Hussein, their sons. The fourth finger is also spiritual and moral excellencies and the five together are the five fundamental dogmas and the five pillars of religion" (Cooper, pg. 79)

Mandaen – the gnostic religious group, which originated in Jordan, believe they descended from John the Baptist; they join hands in ceremonies to symbolize truth and faithfulness

Manichean – a religious group, whose doctrine is based on the separation of matter and spirit and of good and evil; originating in 3^rd century Persia, they combine elements of Zroastrinism, Buddhism, Christianity, and Gnosticism; shaking the right hand denotes the saving power of the deity

Native American – "In Yupik Eskimo stories and masks, the thumbless hand with holes in the palms is a motif representing impaired grasp. On masks it also represents the spirits (tunghak) willingness to release an abundance of animals for hunting. Hands are responsible for connecting the human world and the world the inuas of the animals dwell" (Gill & Sullivan, pg. 116) no quotes. Inuas: Eskimo; an independent human like entity, sometimes described as a spirit, which is possessed by all living things–not only plants and animals, but also mountains, bodies of water, and air

Roman – Mano Pantea, the Hand of the All–Goddess; carved examples depict the hand with thumb and the first two fingers raised in a blessing gesture; often engraved or encrusted with magical symbols and signs of the zodiac; the raised fingers stood for the Goddess and God respectfully; "The magic mother finger–which points, and cast spells–and the phallic father finger were also part of the Egyptian Amulet of the Two Fingers, which invoked the protection of parental spirits; the thumb stood for the child (Horus); Moslems adopted the Mano Pantea as "Hand of Fatima" (Walker, pg. 315); The manus symbolized the authority of the pater familias and of the Emperor

Sumero-Semitic – the hand is an attribute of the Great Mother as a bounteous giver and protector

Toltec – the long hand of Huemac represents the rays of the sun

See Biblioraphy for references

 

Symbolism of the Thumb

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

In the symbolism of the hand, the thumb is the symbol of the Child. The index finger is the Mother and the middle finger is the Father. The thumb and first two fingers raised is the hand of blessing. "The yogi’s mystic gesture places the index finger and the thumb together, while the other three fingers extend and make the sign for a triad. This was once the expression of the unity of mother and child under the protection of the triple Goddess, connoting security, love, blessings and other fortunate qualities" (Walker, pg. 326). According to Hindu scriptures, each person's soul is a small manikin the size of a thumb, living inside the heart, performing in ongoing dance felt as the heartbeat. Walker writes, "This thumb-soul is ‘the lord of time, past and future’ ".

In Catholicism, the thumb is the symbol of the chief person of the Godhead. "The thumb, the master or phallus finger is assigned to Venus as bringer and increase" (Jobes, pg. 717). Seal rings were worn on the thumb and represented virility and authority. According to Cooper, "Power and transmission of power; the thumb upwards is beneficent power, good luck, and good will; downwards it is the reverse" (pg. 172).

Bite the thumb – a sign of contempt

Rule of thumb – measurement by thumb, hence any procedure based on instinct or practical experience and not on science

Under one's thumb – under another's influence or control

Vestal's thumbs – in Roman times, turned up or down to save or the gladiator’s life

photo from https://organicallyjamie.com

See Bibliography post for references.

C.G. Jung Quote

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

From: www.southernsandtray.com

Mid-Winter

 

 

 

 

 

 

It is mid-winter in Colorado. Very cold nights and a biting cold wind some days. At times like these I am grateful for memories of warm sand and sunny California summers. Feet in the sand like this fun photo. (Not a pic of me, but I have spent many, many hours at west coast beaches.)

Winter Has Arrived

 

Goodbye Fall

 

Colorado Autumn

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

My Amur Maple trees never fail to brighten my autumn garden.

Hope you have some awesome fall color in your life.

Map of the Hand

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

In A Dictionary of Symbols, J. E. Cirlot states, "Of great importance is the fact that the hand has five fingers, firstly, because if its broad analogy with the human figure (composed of four extremities plus the head) and, secondly, by reason of the symbolism of the number five (denoting love, health and humanity)" (pg. 137). The meaning or symbolism of the hand is explained by Gertrude Jobes, "The palm heel is assigned to the underworld goddess, the center is assigned to Mars as it grips weapons and its principal lines form the initial M. The forefinger, digit or index finger is that of direction, fortunate guidance, or rule, assigned to Jupiter. Called furze or oak finger. The middle or fool’s finger assigned to Saturn, the Christmas Folly, and death. Called heather thinker. The fourth or wedding ring finger is also that of the leech or physic, and anciently physicians mixed medications with it on the theory no poison could adhere to it without communicating information. Assigned to Apollo, the healer, called gold or poplar finger. The small or ear finger, anciently was used by priests to stop the ear as an aid to inspiration, thus a divinatory finger. Assigned to mercury as a conductor of dead souls into the yew tree" (pg. 717).

In Catholicism, the third finger represents Christ and salvation as it is the tallest finger; the index finger symbolizes the Holy Ghost; the "two remaining fingers denote respectfully the divine and human nature of Christ" (Jobes). Walker writes "Our common symbol for silence, placing the finger on the lips, dates back to a Greek understanding of an Egyptian god. To the Egyptians, the newborn sun of each day was the child Horus, shown at dawn as a small toddler sucking on his finger. The Greeks took this as an image of secrecy concerning his Mysteries, enjoining silence. They called the child Horus Harpocrates, God of Silence, and invoked him by the finger-to-mouth gesture" (pg. 310). In Greek lore, the index finger on the mouth is the symbolic attitude of Polyhymnia, the muse responsible for songs and dances to the deities, and Nemesis, the goddess of punishment and vengeance. Commonly, the index finger was used to curse enemies and currently it is considered rude to point with the index finger or to shake it at someone.

In Greek mythology, the Dactyls were spirits born from the goddess Rhea’s fingerprints when she gave birth to Zeus. From her right hand spring five male Dactyls and from her left, five female Dactyls. There is a question of which Dactyl is associated with which finger. "According to some systems, the index finger, middle, ring, and little fingers were assigned to Apollo, Jupiter, Venus, and Mercury, respectively. Others referred to call them Jupiter, Saturn, Apollo, and Mercury; another instance of Goddess-erasure. However, the Venus/Apollo finger is still connected with the mythic ‘love vein’ and wears the wedding ring" (Walker).

"A hand with three fingers, or a mutilated hand, depicts the phases of the moon; with fingers extended and ending in the sun’s rays it is the life-giving power from heaven or the sky" (Copper, pg. 78). In Christian art, a hand emerging from a cloud represents divine power.

Hand image from:  https://www.prints-online.com/palmistry-map-hand-570381.html

Sea. Sand. Love.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sand, Sun, and Waves

 

 

 

 

 

As a California native now living in Colorado, I miss the ocean. The smell, sound, and feel of it. The warm sand, the ocean spray, the gulls calling. I do like Colorado..it has many wonderful outdoor adventures and even though it is snowing today, the sun will be out again soon to warm things up.

Left and Right Hand Symbolism

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The hand is the body part most frequently depicted in symbol. Hans Biedermann writes in Dictionary of Symbolism that "tracings of the hand in Ice Age cave temples (along with other evidence) suggest that humans have always been predominately right-handed. It is probably for this reason that the right hand side has been treated predominately as better and luckier than the left" (pg.  283). The right arm holds the sword and is aggressive while the left hand holds the warrior’s shield and represents passivity. The left is also "The non-aggressive hand associated with decay, death, weakness. In the East, to except anything with the left hand is an affront, as it is considered vile" (Jobes, pg. 71). The left hand is also associated with deviousness.

In Tibetan tradition, the hand is symbolic of the holiness of an incarnate lama; the left hand grasping the right at the center of the waist in ancient Sumer was a posture of prayer. Pointing downward, the hand denotes the calling on the earth to witness (Jobes, pg. 721). The right hand represents Deity. The aggressive hand, hand of growth and strength. Right hand laid on a person conveys authority, blessings, power, strength. Right hand lifted to heaven, and oath, swearing" (Jobes). The right or left is not always opposite. In the Cabala, both hands have positive meanings. The right hand symbolizes the hand of blessing and mercy while the left hand is the hand of the king and represents justice. The right hand is also associated with rectitude.

In Africa, circumcised boys point their right hand to heaven, left hand touching the earth, to call upon the earth to witness their status of adulthood and for membership into the tribe, called the heaven and earth or witness sign. In China, the right hand is yang and strong and in time of war the hand of honor, which holds the sword; the left hand is yin and honor.

Hands in the Sand

 

 

 

 

 

 

An image of hands in the sand has stayed with me since I read an article in the Journal of Sandplay Therapy written by Mary Jane Markell. The title of the article is The Manifestation of the Compassionate Heart. Markell writes about the transformative process of sandplay, the subtlety of inner and outer change, the mind-body, the concept of our original nature, and healing and health.

The image is striking; two hands in the center of the tray, along with two feet and a skull. The images made by the client with her own hands, feet and face; impressions in the sand, embellished with items from nature, the fingers depicted by the use of colorful beads. "The left foot contains stones from mesas and cliffs of Southwest America. The left hand contains a spiral mollusk shell millions of years old" (pg. 60). The palm of the right hand contains one large flat grey rock and two smaller shiny black rocks. I believe the thing that has stayed with me is that the client put herself in the tray, literally; the items are naturally, profoundly beautiful; and the result is a powerful image.

Journal of Sandplay Therapy, Volume VI, Number 1, 1997

Artists' Hands

Hands. Hard-working. Expressive. Creative.

I often think about the time I visited an art gallery in Pasadena, which featured the work of a photographer who had taken pictures of hands. The black and white photographs showcased the hands of famous artists, potters, weavers, metal workers, etc. The hands were photographed against dark fabric so the viewer was left to contemplate the hands and imagine their role in the creative process. My favorite photographs in the exhibition were hands coated with clay, or marked with paint, or stained with fabric dye. All the hands pictured in the exhibition were part of the creative process as they brought the artist's vision to reality.

When I think of clients selecting and placing miniatures in the sandplay tray, I observed how they approached the miniatures and the developing sand scene. And, because they worked at my eye level, I could watch the action of their hands as they worked to create their scene and reveal their process.

On the Mend

Physical Therapy can be an amazing process. I am almost back to full functioning of my right hand and arm. And...I am happy to report...the pain from pinched nerves in my neck  is so much better.

Please check back for new blog posts as I will be able to get back to blogging very soon! Looking forward to interacting with blog readers. Feel free to comment on posts - I would enjoy communicating with interested readers. Thanks for your patience and support.

Regarding my absence...

Hello blog readers...

I am still recovering from pinched nerves in my neck that have caused a great deal of discomfort (she says wincingly). My right hand and arm are also affected with numbness, loss of strength, and coordination. Typing is a challenge! So is physical therapy.

I am on the mend, albeit slowly. I look forward to getting back to blogging as soon as I am able! 

Upcoming topics will include:

• Map Of The Hand - a discussion of the symbolism of the hand
• The Thumb - symbolism of the thumb in ancient cultures
• Hands In The Sand - A discussion of a sandplay tray with the impression of the client's hands
• Left and Right Hand Symbolism - a discussion of the hand as the body part most frequently depicted in symbol

 

Sandplay Quote

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

"Sandplay allows a movement within the client that is profound. It identifies unspoken issues and brings solutions. Sandplay is for everyone. Children love it and adults marvel at it."

~ Marg Garvan, Sandplay Australia

Deities Associated With Goats

Artemis – Greek moon goddess, virgin of the hunt, protectus of maidens; daughter of Zeus; wild goat was sacred to her

Augusta Caesar – had coins stamped with the image of the mountain goat as Capricorn was the sign of his birth

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Agni – Vedic fire god; a goat pulled his chariot; Agni was also depicted riding a he-goat

Baphomet – medieval idol or symbol of the mystic rites of the Knights of Templar; sometimes portrayed as a goat

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dionysos – Greek deity; the goat was an attribute or form of Dionysos; sometimes depicted wearing a goat skin

Ea-Oannes – Assyrian fish deity; Lord of the Watery Deep; associated with the goat or goat-fish

Faunus – Roman son of Picus; ancestor of the fauns; god of shepherds; goats for sacrifice to him; identified with the Greek Pan

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Marduk © Juulijs/Fotolia

Marduk – Sumero-Semitic; originally a god of the spring sun who became a supreme god of the Assyrian and Babylonia pantheons; son of Ea (sea god); Marduk created heaven and earth and placed the 12 mansions of the zodiac in heaven; also known as Bel; one of his attributes was the goat.

Ningirsu – Sumerian agricultural deity; son-husband of Bau; depicted as a goat; analogue of Marduk

satyrs – one of the race of woodland spirits; half goats with goat horns and tail; originally represented the wisdom of fertility; later symbolized abandon and folly; also represented unbridled lust

witches – in late Middle Ages, were "portrayed as being transported through the air on goats. In these representations the devil appears usually as a male goat whose rump the witches kiss” (Biedermann, pg 153).

for references see Bibliograpy

 

Fairy

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Enchanting garden fairy. I wish I could find the name of the photographer to give credit for this charming image. 

 

Heart Shaped Stones

In my wanderings along beaches or rivers, I am always on the lookout for heart shaped stones. I have a small collection of them in my garden. They get moved from place to place in the garden so I can see them anew.

Different sizes of heart shaped stones would be a wonderful addition to a sandplay therapy miniature collection.

image from https://www.123rf.com

Stone Searching as Earth Therapy

There is something about stones. I am drawn to them. Love to search the beach, rivers, and creeks for them. It is earth therapy for me. Meditative and calming. Are you drawn to stones?

from http://www.stoneswillcry.com/index.html/photos/

 

 

 

Spring Tulips

Yellow. Tulips. Happy! 

 

 

 

 

More Goat Symbolism

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 Thor's goat drawn chariot.

 

Four horned goat – emblem of the prophet Daniel

Goat blood – in ancient Scotland, a cross is dipped in goat’s blood and set on fire to call the clans to war

Goat disposition – licentiousness, whoremaster

Goat-drawn cart – chariot of Thor or Pan

Goat gallbladder – African symbol of honor, placed in the hair

Goat poetry – ancient Greek poetry about the crimes and mysteries of man

Goat reins – in ancient funeral rites, black goat reins were sacrificed and given to the dead man as a viaticum to assist his resurrection

Goatskin – used to make shields

Goat’s rue – symbol of reason, also called cat gut

Goat with fish tail – ancient Babylonian symbol of the god Ea, supreme sky deity sometimes depicted as a goat-fish or merman; corresponds to Capricornus in western zodiacs

One horned goat – biblical depiction of Alexander the Great representing his swiftness in battle and his great strength

Ride a goat – part of an initiation into a secret society, often done with humor

Scapegoat – to bear blame; among Jews of antiquity a goat was used. “Over its head on the Day of Atonement the high priest confessed the sins of all people, thus placing them on the goat, after which it was driven into the wilderness as propitiation to Azazel" (Jobes, pg 666).

Separate sheep from goats – separate good from evil, from the Last Judgment

Three goats – emblem of the notorious Becchi family of Florence, mentioned in Dante’s Inferno

Denver Sunset

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Denver Sunset. I love all the colors! What if sandplay trays had different colored sand? I have Purple Jurassic Garnet Play Sand and Jurassic Play Sand that is burnt orange in color. I have only used the traditional white play sand. What do you think?

You can find colored sands at www.jurassicsand.com

The Aegis

 

 

 

 

 

 

The female goat and the male goat have opposing symbolism. The female goat is usually viewed as nurturing and protective while the male goat is interpreted negatively. In Greek mythology, the she-goat Almathea nursed the infant Zeus. Her skin became the aegis, the projector and preserver, and her horn became the cornucopia that symbolize abundance and plenty (Cooper).

Jobes describes the aegis as "the skin of the goat which acted as Zeus’s foster mother and, by Hephaestus, made into an invulnerable breastplate or shield for Zeus. Zeus lent it to other deities and finally gave it to Athena" (pg 38). Jobes goes on to describe the aegis as "a goat skin covered with dragon scales, bordered by serpents, and had the head of the Medusa attached to it, all symbols of fertility and growth. 

The origin or use of goat skin as an item of clothing is discussed by Beidermann, "The divine robes of Pallas Athena include the original Greek ‘aegis’, the skin of the female goat, which according to  Herodotus [IV, 189] was a garment worn by Libyan women and (along with the Olive tree, which was sacred to Athena and imported from Libya) suggest the North African origins of the goddess" (pg 152). Cooper states that the aegis represented "protection; preservation; fecundity. The aegis was worn, while the shield was carried" (pg 10). The aegis was worn by Minerva, Italian goddess who is "represented in art as grave and majestic, wearing a long robe, bearing the aegis on her breast, armed with helmet and spear" (Jobes pg 1106).

See Bibliography for resources.

Goat Symbolism

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The 10th sign of the western zodiac is Capricorn. "Its dual nature, expressed allegorically in the form of a goat whose body terminates in a fish’s tail, refers to the dual tendencies of life towards the abyss (or water) on the one hand, and the heights (or mountains) on the other; these two currents also signify, in Hindu doctrine, the involute and evolute possibilities: the return to or the departure from the ‘wheel of rebirth’ (that is, the Zodiac)." (Eberhard, pg 38).

The goat has a broader symbolism aside from the zodiac sign of Capricorn. As with most symbols the goat has positive and negative symbolism. The goat represent agility, fertility, generative heat, reproductiveness, sociability, abundant vitality; also lasciviousness, poverty, stench, stupidity, and winter. In some traditions, the goat symbolizes the masculine principle and the reproductive powers of the sun. "The goat typifies foolishness in the valley, but that which is far-seeing and sure footed when on the mountain" (Jobes, pg 665).

The dream significance of a black goat is inconstancy in love; a white goat represents coming misfortune. In heraldry, the goat is the symbol of "the warrior who wins a victory by diplomacy or policy rather than by physical valor" (Jobes). In the northern sky the constellation Capricornus is also known as the Horned Goat. According to Jobes to goat is "in various European languages called gat, ged, geit, get, goot, gote, the radical of all being ‘at’ Egyptian for goat, which also meant heat. In Sanskrit the word is aga," which yields might A, which means mighty sun.

In China, the goat represented yang and is guardian of the direction south, southwest, and west; the hours one to three p.m.; and Wei, the eighth of the twelve terrestrial branches. The goat also symbolizes the good and peace.

In Christianity, the goat "symbolizes those damned in the last judgment…[and is] shown to distinguish sinners from the righteous" (Jobes). The scapegoat is Christ burdened by the sins of the world. The goat is also a familiar of witches and a form of the devil. The goat represented sharp hearing in Egyptian and Hebrew symbology. Early Hebrews considered the goat to be clean and therefore sacrificed goats to Jehovah to atone for sins. "In Greek mythology a goat nursed the infant Asclepius. The aegis of Athena was made from the hide of Amalthea, that she-goat which had nursed Zeus" (Jobes). The goat was also a form of Dionysus, the god of the grape harvest, winemaking, and wine. Pan had the ears, horns and limbs of a goat. The Minoan god of the waning year was the goat.

See Bibliography for references.

Goat Miniatures

 

 

 

 

 

 

As I review photos of clients’ sandplay scenes, the most frequent use of the goat is its placement among other farm or domesticated animals in several children’s scenes. I am aware that the children may have access to several petting zoos whose main attraction is usually an active and hungry heard of small goats. Is the use of the goat in their scenes a reflection of their possible interaction with goats at petting zoos, their association with typical farm animals, and/or a representation of a deeper symbolic meaning? As I recall the cases associated with the sandplay scenes, there are other more dominant themes and miniatures in their sandplay. As I research information for goat symbolism, I generate more to think about than answers to my questions.

Crown Shyness

"If you look up toward certain types of towering trees—including eucalyptus, Sitka spruce, and Japanese larch—you may notice a unique phenomenon: the uppermost branches don't touch. Known as “crown shyness,” this natural occurrence results in rupture-like patterns in the forest canopy that seem to perfectly outline the trees' striking silhouettes.

Since scientists first started studying the topic in the 1920s, crown shyness has been observed between trees of the same and different species in locations across the globe. Regardless of tree type or environment, crown shyness appears to always culminate in the same aesthetic, characterized by gaps that resemble meandering channels, zig-zagging cracks, and winding rivers.

While no one is quite sure why certain trees exhibit this unique behavior, several hypotheses have been presented by numerous scientists. One possibility is that it occurs when the branches of trees (particularly those in areas with high winds) bump into each other. Another suggested explanation is that it enables the perennial plants to receive optimal light for photosynthesis. Perhaps the most prominent theory, however, is that the gaps prevent the proliferation of invasive insects."

from https://mymodernmet.com/crown-shyness-trees-phenomenon/

Photo by Samuel Counil

Tree Rock Art

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 Perfect combination of two of my favorite things: stones and twigs. I could not find the artist who created this Tree Rock. I think it is awesome!