Sacred Painting

I do not consider myself an "artist" -- in fact my "training" (for want of a better word) is limited to a couple of sketching classes as an elective when I was at school. But every now and then I feel inspired to pick up the brush and paint.

For the Temple of the Dark Moon's annual Hekate Supper, I painted a rather rustic looking strophalos, or "Hekate's Wheel" that is an emblem of the initiatory lunar Goddess Hekate in her aspect of Diana Lucifera.  The 2nd centtury Alexandrian text, the Chaldean Oracle, described the emblem as a labyrinthine serpent (emblematic of rebirth) surrounding a spiral, symbolic of the Ignges - "Whirlings" or emanations of Divine thought.

And about three years ago for an upcoming workshop day in honour of the Egyptian Goddess Hathor, who personifies the principles of love, joy, beauty, music, and motherhood. She was one of the most important and popular deities throughout the history of Ancient Egypt.  Hathor was worshiped by Royalty and common people alike in whose tombs she is depicted as "Mistress of the West" welcoming the dead into the next life.   In other roles she was a goddess of music, dance, foreign lands and fertility who helped women in childbirth, as well as the patron goddess of miners.

One of my proudest achievements has been my "Dreaming of Malta" painting that I finished in only two days, working from a picture where the sleeping figure is actually facing the other way.The most spectacular monument in Malta is the enormous, labyrinthine underground sanctuary known as the Hypogeum. This more than 6,000 square meter, three level monolith may have been the ceremonial center of the island long ago.

This catacomb-like structure seems to have been at once temple, tomb and healing center. The main hall leads into the oracle room where two identical small sculptures of a woman were found lying on the floor where they were probably left when the shrine was abandoned.

The dreamer is lying on her side on a low couch, one enormous right forearm underneath her head, the other draped across her heavy breast. She is ample-hipped and topless.  Dressed in a full length, bell-shaped skirt she clearly appears to be asleep, almost visibly dreaming. The figures were probably part of a ceremony of dream incubation.

My latest work in progress is of the ancient Egyptian Goddess Neith, believed to be one of the creator of the Gods (depending on which legend you are reading).  Very little is actually recorded about her however she is considered to be linked to Goddess such as Ishtar and Inanna who are associated with both love and war.