Friday 30 November 2007

November BJP

"Thérapie"

So this is my November BJP effort, turning around the idea of speech therapy, and cleaning my wounds. My children thought I was doing an advent calendar, a good idea for next year.

I have used a bit of a fabric designed by Kaffe Fassett, which made me happy just to look at it, and the three others are textiles I bought more than 6 months ago with the idea of turning them into spirit dolls.

The water one I actually intended to use for my first BJP page, it may relate to a famous text by French philosopher Gaston Bachelard entitled "Water and Dreams" (which I haven't read but should have really), it may also have something to do with the fact that I spent my whole childhood on a riverbank. The shell comes from a Tahiti necklace that I was given.

The jaguar relates to my therapist, and is also a reminder that I have been busy reading the superb "Secrets of the Talking Jaguar" this month.

The green peas relate to the Princess and the Pea, a fairy tale that I disliked as a child, and it is also a salute with a touch of wry sense of humour to my oversensitivity. Above them is a bush with pink and white flowers. This can relate to a fairy tale about two sisters, Snow White and Rose Red, or to the War of the Roses between York and Lancaster (my dad was raised in Yorkshire), as I was told as a child that when the war was over a rosebush with red and white flowers was invented. Or maybe it relates to the Queen of Heart in Alice in Wonderland (I have been very impressed by Sacred Artist's november page).

Between the flowers and the water are white feathers, like Finist the Falcon feathers.

In the middle is a path in golden thread, with no visible beginning and no visible end - it is said that the uncounscious is not aware of Time... Magic gold threads are often found in myths and fairytales.

But I have worked improvisationally, the meanings came after :o)

I guess you could sum it up by the idea that human beings are made by stories as well as flesh and blood. Compared to last month's page I have the feeling that I have grown up a lot. Funnily enough I had to expand the format a little in oder to prevent the cloth from tearing next to the openings. Therefore it carries the meaning that through therapy I am extending my options, opening up.

4 comments:

KV said...

Helene, this page is amazing. Your post regarding it was equally amazing, too.

When I took the link for the Secrets of the Talking Jaguar, I found myself smiling that the author was right here in New Mexico. Printed out the order form and will definitely get that book. Thanks for leading me to it.

Kathy V in NM

Padparadscha said...

Thanks Kathy :o)

I hope you enjoy the book as much as I did - let me know what you think about it.

Tally said...

Hélène, what a piece! I won't put an adjective to it because there is no right one.

So many details, so much into it. Those little doors!
Those shells looking like ears.
And yes, the Keith Fasset fabric is happy making. I might have in my stash, because at the end of last year I got me sent many FQ's from his lines.

I might not have read your blog carefully, so I maybe missed it. And also my conclusions must be wrong, because I thought you are working as a speech therapist, like a logo therapist for instance.
If it is not too private, why do you take those?
< hugs >
:-Tally-:

Padparadscha said...

Thanks Tally ! I hadn't thought about the shells looking like ears, I like this, it's a great idea !

I'm not working as a therapist but I follow a therapy as a patient, mainly psychoanalysis but also other things too such as holotropic breathwork. I do this because a few years ago although I had "everything to be happy", I sort of collapsed. Well, that was before I knew about beading and the joy that comes through fabrics of course :o)

I was kind of stuck in a web of toxic emotions and stories, and I couldn't hear myself anymore (you're very perceptive). Now I am learning to stand on my feet, relax and stop lying too. It's a great journey ! :o)

Hugs

Hélène