Psyche

Psyche- from the Greek word meaning breath or soul. The story of Psyche's journey to wholeness is a lovely myth that has often been depicted in art. In short, Psyche is a human woman who has to go through seemingly impossible tasks, assigned by Venus, the jealous mother of her beloved Cupid. She is aided all along the way by creatures of the earth and at her most desperate hour by the true love of Cupid. In the end she is made immortal by Zeus.
So here are the elements of my "altar" to Psyche-I think of birds and butterflies as the embodiment of the human soul. In ancient days it was believed that the soul was a bird that flew to the heavens in the ship that was the crescent moon. This "moon boat" journeyed through it's progressive phases, to the sun.
I was delighted to find these little arrows that had the shape of a crescent moon on them. Arrows of course being the chief symbol of Cupid himself. The number three is also significant, because of Psyche's association with the number three ( Body, mind and soul). I lined them up to indicate that her path was lined up for her. When the soul is weary and confused there is always help. If you look for signs , they are there and help is always at hand in our darkest times. The map further underlines this point. Half the canvas is covered with what I hope reads as water- specifically waves, a reminder that she was sent on this mission by the one who was born of the seafoam. Water is the element that most describes our soul.

I wanted to use glass in this piece- we so often hear the phrase "window to the soul". I guess that's mostly in association with the eyes- but the idea that a soul can be glimpsed, even sensed, though not really seen intrigues me. Glass- fragile yet strong, it can be destroyed in seconds if handled carelessly or endure for millenia. It isn't the stuff of the soul, which though as numinous as the seafoam, is eternal. I made a window in the canvas- the beautiful blue-green glass hides a secret. Beneath the drawing is nestled a little golden butterfly. Gold, I believe (chemists, please advise...) is the only element that doesn't decay. At any rate, it's meant that when the illusion of life is gone- when all the beauty of the flesh has ceased (and Psyche was the most beautiful mortal ) The soul lives forever.