CPTSD ~ Painting Two

For this painting I began with circles, trying to smooth out the edges of my abandonment wound. Something that runs deeply in me that I've been working on healing for decades. The colors were chosen intuitively but after seeing them emerge I realized they were mainly earth and water tones. Aspects of nature that are both very therapeutic to me.

The spiral patterns came next. I didn't realize how similar the circle spiral and tree pattern spiral were until later. But the spiral in general has been an important symbol for me in the past year. It's an ancient symbol that represents the journey we must take inward to truly know and love ourselves. It's incredibly powerful for me at this point on my healing path.

I love feathers and have quite a few feather stamps and stencils and felt called to use them. I didn't know at the time I'd choose an eagle as well. But it all came together so intuitively I don't think I could have planned it consciously in the same manner.

I received a beautiful oracle deck for the holidays and the first card I pulled from it was Eagle. In Shamanic beliefs Eagle represents connection with Great Spirit and seeing the bigger view. The medicine of Eagle is the ability to dwell in the spiritual domain while maintaining a grounded presence in the earthly world. Something I strive greatly to do.

The feathers dropping from Eagle originally felt to me like parts of myself that no longer served me falling away. But a dear friend said to her they represent all the lives I touch. And when I look at the painting now I see the feathers not as falling away, but as dancing along with me as I soar.

I was honored to have this painting chosen as the May 2025 featured artist in the Society for Shamanic Practice!