A dryad is a mythological Being o Nymph, that lives in trees and looks like a beautiful woman. In Greek mythology a nymph was mortal: in the case of a Dryad: when the tree dies, the nymph dies as well. They often accompany Greek Gods and Goddesses. There are many different nymphs: nymphs of the sea, the mountains, the rivers, the fountains, the lakes, and the meadows. A nymph is considered to be a half goddess with elemental powers and the personification of life itself. Nymphs are considered to be magical beings. For me, magic is still there in the mystery of Life. The only question is: are we present enough, awake enough, perceptive enough, curious enough, open enough, loving enough to return to that magic?
This painting is a homage to the living presence and beauty of nature, and I was inspired by the movie Avatar, where the Na’vi, the indigenous people of the island of Pandora, live in complete connection with nature. Like ancient cultures and tribes, they believe that every living creature, plant or animal, has a soul. They actively make connection and live harmoniously with their environment. Avatar shows how breathtakingly beautiful nature is. How all is connected and communicating: through their tail the Na’vi make a soul-connection with each other, animals and plants: a bond that is called Tsehelu. This connection is pure and unconditional; it asks from you to be aware of the one-ness, to surrender and trust and to let go of your controlling mind and your ego. Separation creates loneliness. Connection creates love. In the tree in this painting, you see little white fluffy things: they are the Atokirina, the seeds of the Eywa, the tree of souls that contains the knowledge of the ancestors. The Atokirina are pure and holy creatures and by looking at them you can remember your own pure, innocent and beautiful Essence.
This painting takes you to the world of magic and helps you to disidentify with your ego-self; to sense your core essence, your aliveness and openness. To sense your connection with yourself, your environment and the energy around you. To sense the inherent goodness and abundance of the Universe and open your Mind for the unknown and the mystery that life is as are you…
The wings of the butterfly symbolize our power to transform: to spread our wings, to be glorious in our full presence. The moon on her left wing represents the feminine and the mystery, connected to the right hemisphere. The mandalas refer to the 8 chacra’s: 7 from the Indian Yoga philosophy (channeled in a different way than the original yantra’s) and the eighth symbolizes the Universal Heart: that is the place where you are one with the Devine.
The owl
The owl as a totem animal symbolizes the deep connection with wisdom and spiritual consciousness. The owl helps you see that which is hidden in the dark. The owl also symbolizes the female, the moon and the night. In ancient Greece the owl was the sacred animal connected to the goddess Athena, symbolizing her wisdom. (She was called ‘the owl-eyed’). The owl was also the guardian of the Akroplolis.
The owl has amazing sight and hearing, both at night and during daytime: in a second he can change from telescopic to microscopic view: his pupils react in milliseconds on subtle changes in light intensity. The eyes of the owl are designed to register the smallest movements.
At the same time the color of their eyes is symbolic. They are yellow and represent the sun in the darkness. The ears of the owl are also special: they are asymmetric and located on different places on his head, so that he can know with more clarity where his prey is.
The owl is a night bird. The night is historically the symbol for the darkness within; the place where people hide their secrets as well as the place where their hidden potential slumbers.
The owl invites you to look into the hidden places in your soul: the sharp vision and hearing are connected to clairvoyance and telepathic power. The owl invites you to go down and look, invite all that is in the shadow, appreciate what you find, thank it for being there, use it when you need it, and let it go when it does not serve you anymore.