Below are poses from the Archetypal Emergence pilot project from 2013.  See more poses and writings from these amazing archetypal explorers in the Archetypal Emergence ebook.  Visit the Video Gallergy page to see the moving meditation that was inspired by the poses of these amazing women. 

Compassion:  Trish Breedlove

Photograph by Ed Breedlove

Trish's comments:  "The month I focused on this Archetype, Goddesses of Compassion, was very transformational. I'm very into the visual, so I first searched Pinterest, found images and created Boards for the four archetypes I chose. Then I selected Compassion for the first part of the project. I then began noticing more "sign this petition" requests on my facebook page and started to read them. I started signing petitions, which as you can imagine, generated more requests on my email. That was one aspect of reaching out (which is what the pose represents for me). I started printing photos that were part of the petition requests, cutting them out and creating a collage to function as a reminder to stay involved and connected to others. The images are on a photo of a waterfall symbolizing the infinite source, glued onto a file folder. For me, it is a portable altar. This focus allowed me to be spontaneous in offering support for a new friend who mentioned she needed help "walking through a door" she didn't think she could walk through alone. She lost her eldest son (17) to a heart attack in September. The door led to a grief support group. We went there together; the next one she had the strength and confidence to go to alone. The shadow side of compassion or the caregiver is caring and assisting to the detriment of self. I was diagnosed with Fibromyalgia over twenty years ago. As a result of this project I have started taking better care of myself, finding the strength to cancel an outing if I'm having a bad day, listening to my body, listening to my intuition and making time to do things I find creative and enjoyable. The other bonus is a new-found feeling of Joy and happiness in my life, my everyday life."

Mother:  Lara Radkey

Photograph by Iveagh Lehmann

Lara's comments:  "The Mother is giving birth to herself.  She has a look of pain or is it Ecstasy - maybe both?  Her hands channel the energies of the earth and sky to support her fertile body during this time. Her hips have grown large to accommodate all the knowledge she has learned and the secrets of self love and nurturing.  They undulate with sensuality, gently massaging her very core.  She is wearing red for the blood of menstruation and child birth."

Inner Warrior:  Evie Lindemann

Photograph by Evie Lindemann

Evie's comments:  "I am wearing the pink shawl.  In this piece of my art, you will see a hand with red asian paper behind it as background. The hand in the art work is rising up, reaching out and up into the world to engage it, to be in it, to take it on in particular ways. My right hand touches the hand in the drawing, as perhaps companioning it. The warrior knows inwardly what must be done, though it is sometimes difficult. The hand in the art represents the inward knowing, and my actual hand represents my willingness to listen to it, to meet it, and to take action in the outward world. So in a way it represents a kind of union between the inner and the outer, a correspondence that is the sign of a true warrior...not a fighter.....a warrior is highly conscious."



Priestess:  Tamara Brody

Photograph by Allen Brody

 

Tamara's comments:

 "The Priestess/Shaman has been a part of me for a long time, although I am only recently allowing her to emerge.  I have feared her power for some time and now see that it is my destiny to channel Spirit and to share it in ways that help others deepen their awareness and connection with the Goddess and Source energies."