Skip to main content

Storm Moon


This mixed media drawing is called “Storm Moon,” named after this month’s full moon.  I observed her in her full glory and saw a halo of multi-colored lights around her giving Storm Moon an eerie glow.  True to her name, it has been a stormy time, punctuated by deadly tornadoes and storms; some hitting portions of Illinois and surrounding regions.  I have been watching the footage of the destruction from the tornadoes and I’m pretty sure it is the source of this abstracted imagery in this drawing.  There is a feeling of arrested movement to this piece and while many things are topsy-turvy, there are also peaceful sanctuaries where there is safety yet it is all unpredictable. In the drawing, there is structure within the destruction that offers hope.  I am not fond of drastic changes and I can only imagine and empathize with those who were victimized by the storms. I am relating to this Storm Moon heavily because I feel big changes afoot in the weather and in my life.
Labels:

Comments

  1. paulineMarch 13, 2012 at 10:22 AM

    Storm moon....yes... Big changes are afoot for many of us, i think. Hoping they are good changes for you, and if not, wishing you strength and trust to carry you through the storm. xoxo

    ReplyDelete
  2. Stephanie BirdMarch 13, 2012 at 2:47 PM

    Hi Pauline. So, you can feel it too? I'm expecting changes for the better and feeling optimistic about Spring. It's so warm already!!

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

Go ahead. Make my day by leaving a comment.

Popular posts from this blog

Goddess and Prince of Flowers

While teaching painting and drawing at the School of the Art Institute, I was always drawn to the  Codex Borgia . Sadly, seldom did I actually find ways of incorporating that gorgeous, ancient, illustrated manuscript into my lesson plans. I would just go through the book of images and savor them on my own. Now I understand why it was calling out to me. It is the tool of healers, diviners and scribes--it contains prophesies. It is going to take a while, still, but some day I will understand the lessons it seeks to teach me. Now in "Mama Nature's Spiritual Guide to Weight-loss" as I write, I am finding my book is being fleshed out by Aztec and Mayan deities. They just showed up and wanted in. I find myself questioning their appearance and loving it all at the same time. Pictured above is Aztec Goddess, Xochiquetzal, pronounced Sho-chi-ket-sal. Her name is in the language Nahuatl. The first part Xochitl (flower or to flower) and the second Quetzal (bird of splendid fe...
2 comments
Read more

Dancing

D is for Dancing Zulu Dancer So, what can you do for free, that lifts your mood by elevating endorphin levels that also helps your fitness level? Dance! As a girl, I was blessed with a unique opportunity. My mother had danced in her youth and wanted to share that experience with me. Through her encouragement, I grew to love my dance lessons and ended up studying dance about 4 nights a week and then performing on the weekends. One of my favorite activities was dancing outside. I enjoyed practicing my turns outdoors (poor grass!). So, I’d put our large speakers outside the door and then turn and turn, and turn some more, using the trees across the lake as a spotting tool. In case you’re unfamiliar spotting is a place you focus your eyes so that you don’t become dizzy. Now, some of you reading this will think this sounds crazy. Others are living in a place wherein doing something like this is not possible. I’m not suggesting you twirl outside, but hey, if you can, g...
14 comments
Read more

Xochitl--Flower

                                     (Winter Poinsettia by Stephanie Rose Bird, oil on wood) One of my Facebook friends does daily posts and shares called "I love Flowers." I love flowers too, in real life, in my garden, in paintings and as they are related to the gods and goddesses, in healing, as well as their use in folklore like Hoodoo. Not long ago I posted about Xochipelli (Sho-CHEE-pee-lee) prince of flowers and Xochiquetzal (Sho-CHEE-ket-zul) goddess of flowers in anticipation of April's blooming season.  The Goddess and Prince of Flowers post  is here. Today, I want to focus in on the root word of their names and it's symbolism. This word is Xochitl (Show-CHEE-tul) in the Nahuatl language of the Aztecs. This word means flower.                                         ...
20 comments
Read more