Transform

In Metamorphoses, Ovid weaves together tales of gods, goddesses and mortals through the theme of change- of transformations. My little artwork here was inspired by his story of Apollo and Daphne: Apollo had insulted Cupid and as punishment, was shot by an arrow which caused him to fall hopelessly in love with Daphne. Daphne in turn had been shot with a leaden arrow, which caused her to refuse Apollo's love. In his burning passion, Apollo pursued her, literally chased her, until she begged her father, the river god Peneus to change her form so as to save her from his, and perhaps her own, carnal desires. Peneus changed her form to that of a Laurel tree (from whence comes the name of this blog!) Apollo lovingly tends this tree throughout eternity- her leaves are imbued with his own immortality and are ever green and become his symbol as well as the crown of leaders, scholars and poets.

Although this is obviously a tragic tale of unrequited love and repressed sexuality, this story also speaks to larger issues of living an authentic, and human life. Daphne refused a form of transformation- that of child to woman- and in her refusal was thus changed anyway. I spoke to my daughter Ashley about this recently who reminded me that Joseph Campbell writes in "The Power of Myth" that again and again in countless traditions the hero who refuses the call to the Quest is often turned into a non-human form. By rejecting Life's imperative to live fully and to our true nature we are utterly lost.