"...an affiliation
of which you
are proud..."
"...seeing her
step into her
own personal
power."
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"Animals Speak"
"...someone is
trying to send
you a message..."
"earthdeva"
"She was in the
passenger seat"
"...you will
ascend through
this difficult time
you are moving
through."
"...challenges can
become your
greatest source
of strength
and wisdom."
"...I am touched
that he sees me
so full of love..."
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"earthdeva" (2010)
For the first time in an intuitive portrait, characters showed up within the background colour. Over the course of her post-portrait consultation, Molly identified them as the representations of specific guides and spiritual helpers (some of them people who've crossed over) that are connected to and aiding some of the people in her life-dream (herself included: the main character with brown hair). Being an incredibly gifted intuitive herself opened up the possibility of exploring this extra layer of detail in my work. I owe her a big 'thank-you' for helping to facilitate this, and for how it'll help successive portrait subjects!
Here's a write-up of elements that she chose to share:
this is my drawing David did for me~
the one thing i would like to share here is
on my palm i have the marking of the finger of YOD
when i was little, a lady of gypsy blood
saw my hand and spoke to me......
i have always known my spiritual
path, i came in with my eyes wide open...
hair is symbolic & significant of power/strength...
i am in a sense "plugged into source"
seeing this depicted in this way,
by someone who i have never met...
was very humbling, & at the same time
i have always felt honored to do
this work on my spiritual path~
on the far left is an interesting
message for me from nature...
i have always had an uncanny
sense of smell....
the blue headed bird is a heron...
he is very active on the property
i spend much time on....
his legs are depicted as 'tools' of my trade
so to speak...(they are supportive)
he is connected/entwined to one of my guardians
who is attempting to disguise himeself...
(bless his heart i know he is always with me!!! :)
there is an arrow... which says
to me "right on track" ~ straight as an arrow
and the spirit/essence of aromas...
shown as a venus fly trap
attached to the nose of spirit....
so the message for me:
doing what i love, in this area...
working with the plants in all
their aspects is a good thing for me...
& all is good~
thanks again so much David!
hugs, earthdeva
"Pigeon" (2010)
The subject of this portrait was unable to remember her dreams and wanted to understand what was blocking them. She said she found it really therapeutic to write up the interpretation of the portrait herself, based on the information revealed during the post-portrait consultation. Although I've edited it a bit, I'm presenting it in its uncondensed version to give you an example of how much detail presents in portraits.
She saw the PIGEON as representing the focus of the portrait. Pigeons "...symbolize that someone is trying to send you a message, or that an important communication might be flying right over your head." It's holding a WORM in its mouth, which "...represents sneakiness and a desire to be unnoticed as you inch through your life. You may be feeling insignificant and worthless because you have been feeding on negativity that keeps you feeling small." As the most brightly colored character, it really draws our attention. While it represents the challenge being presented to the subject, it also suggests that it's through overcoming these negative feelings that she'll be reborn - GREEN "...represents good health, nature, healing, positive change, new beginnings and springtime."
(Please note:
Words printed in italics are those of the subject.
Items in quotations are taken from "I Had The Strangest Dream: the Dreamers Dictionary for the 21st Century" by Kelly Sullivan-Walden.
Quotations marked with an asterisk (*) are from "Animal Speak: The Spiritual & Magical Powers of Creatures Great & Small" by Ted Andrews.
Quotations marked with the number sign (#) are taken from "Animal Spirit Guides" by Stephen Farmer.)
In her own words...
The theme for this portrait seems to be a 'coming home' - clearing and integrating past, present and future events. To understand why things are [what] they are now, we need to understand the past and the history that came before us to know how this affects the Now we live in...
The [next] several characters to the left of the pigeon are related to my childhood. The first character is a YOUNG GIRL (me) whose EYES ("...your ability to see what is really going on") are opened really big as she is exposed to being hurt as a little girl. To the left of [her] is a MAN (my father) in a MASK ("...shame about your authentic self, fear that you are not good enough, powerful enough, or strong enough, and that you are unwilling to be authentic and naked"). [You'll notice that it's] a partial mask; the lower part is missing and his real mouth is exposed and is shouting [in an] angry way. [He's] covering up - [he presents] a peaceful persona to the public; when with family he is Not. His character is also wearing a WORM on his head; as HAIR is symbolic of memory and power, this suggests that he is/was also feeling insignificant and worthless. [This theme] seems to have been handed down through the generations in our family history... [His] character seems to morph into another person who was very connected to him as a family member when he was growing up (her CHIN looks as though it has a big callous on it). [It's] his Sister - they were used against each other by their mother, who often said things like 'stiff upper lip' and 'just take it on the chin'.
The next (flesh-colored) character is also a morphing of several things; on the right is the DINOSAUR, "...representing outdated systems and prehistoric ways of thinking... it is time to change your obsolete and clumsy ways of doing things and take the risk of trying something new." Then on the left is an ELEPHANT, "...a fortuitous sign that there is something important for you to remember." Also, an elephant never forgets being hurt.
Connecting both animals is a foot just showing the TOES ("...paying attention to the details, and honoring the little things in life that make all the difference"). There is a lightly drawn character [to the left] that David described as someone who is no longer living, a male relation. [He's my late] Granddad on my Mom's side - he was very loving and kind and also felt insignificance, I believe. He's holding onto the baby TOE ("You are getting a grip on your life and finding your balance"), as well as touching the head of the BLUE (~ clarity, peacefulness and truth, or "...drawing attention to an underlying sadness") character, another aspect of me - the growing awareness in me. I believe that my Granddad is working in spirit form to bridge the insignificant feelings of the past into the Now, for what it really is, the past, and to let go of this to move forward into the New. The blue character has WINGS, which "...signifies a desire for freedom, abandon, glory, self-expression and to take flight from the confines of your earthbound life that you may feel a closer connection to God/Goddess/Spirit." [The color here shows her as] angelic, caring and protective.
LION (far left): *"If lion has shown up as a totem, you can expect lessons and issues dealing with community and groups to surface. There may be a need to examine your own role in the group there will be opportunity to awaken to a new sun. Trust your feminine energies, creativity, intuition and imagination. [Also] feeling protective of children." I believe that this is also me; the powerful and sometimes overbearing aspect of me that is in conflict with my son - I can speak too harshly and overpower by Not listening to what my son has to say about how he is feeling. [The lion] has its hand on a RABBIT ("...a fearful state of mind") that is not drawn in very clearly (~ past history, [need] not be in this lifetime) coming out of a cube. The rabbit looks really mad at the lion as the lion's index CLAW ("Feeling protective and defensive, setting boundaries, acting on animal survival instincts, giving permission of letting go and releasing blame) is poking its EYE ("...cluttered with unresolved emotional issues").
Below the lion is a Crab-Claw-Nosed character; CRAB: "...empathy and depth of feelings... been crabby and taking things too personally", CLAW "...represents acting on animal survival instincts - giving permission of letting go and releasing blame", and NOSE "...your ability to use your instincts and intuition to sniff out a situation... consider if something smells funny, bad or good to you... your nose knows." I believe this to be my son as he is today - breaking away from my authority and wanting his personal freedom and space to BE himself as a young man - not a boy any longer as he is taller and bigger than I am. The CLAW is being squeezed by the lion and there is BLOOD coming out of it ("...life force, power and connection to your family or spiritual source"). This character looks really angry and intense towards the lion - my son asserting his need for freedom and fighting with me to gain some power and control of his own. There is a littler lion that is being cut with the SAW ("...destruction that leads to creation, sometimes your life structures need to be torn down before they can be recreated").
[More about] LION: *"...associated with the rising sun is most significant. Since the females of the pride do most of the work, it actually reflects the idea of the rising of the feminine energies. The sun has not always been a masculine symbol. It does give birth to new days, and it nurtures and warms life... to see the lion as the assertion of feminine energies to bring forth birth and new power." This lion cub has a HEART for a nose, (representing "...love, will-power, commitment, and the strength of love") and has a sense of love about it. I believe the little lion cub is how my son views me - small now compared to his towering height and his strong-willed male teen attitude this year. He sees me not as threatening to him any more. He knows I love him and yet needs to strike out on his own. The message in this scene: the claw character is not aware that it's cutting the little lion's power short - doing a disservice to it. The big lion has a lot of potential, but it's not being realized due to the blaming situation that is going on around it.
This is spot on David; my son and I were engaged in a power struggle for months and it got to the point where there was no middle ground for either of us. We were both mad and were not listening to the other - a no-win situation - and we were both blaming the other for all the anger.
Next I'll return to the top of the portrait and go back to the Pigeon with the green worm... The worm has some HAIR (~ power) in its MOUTH (~ speaking) that's on top of a HAND [posed as a puppet, with LIPSTICK on it]. The RIGHT hand is drawn (the thumb opening for the mouth is the right-handed side); RIGHT HAND "...is demonstrative, influenced by and connected to your father or the right hand of God, helpful, active." General meaning on the hand: 'get a handle on life and take control'. PUPPET... I Googled "puppet meanings in dreams" and got this as the best meaning fit: "Either you are trying to control someone or someone is trying to control you. Puppets are manipulated by strings or a hidden hand. Is it you who have the power or is someone else pulling the strings?" The worm is trying to take the power away from this puppet, but then the hair turns into an Owl. David believes Owl is a totem animal for me - I also believe this to be true, I just didn't know how much I related to the Owl meanings until now - night time is my time of personal power and manifestations - I'm a night owl. *"The owl is a symbol of the feminine, the moon, and the night. It has been believed to have great healing powers... The owl is the bird of magic and darkness, of prophecy and wisdom. The most predominant [superstition] is that of the owl being able to extract secrets... One who works with owl medicine will be able to see and hear what others try to hide. You will hear what is not being said, and you will see what is hidden or in the shadows. You can detect and pinpoint the subtleties. This can make others uncomfortable because they will not be able to deceive you about their motives or actions. Owls have a unique ability to see into the darkness of others souls and life. This is very scary to most people. This vision and hearing capabilities has metaphysical links to the gifts of clairvoyance and clairaudience as well." From David's intuition regarding the Owl here: "It's really powerful, but is getting eaten away by the feelings of insignificance. You'll claim it once you get clear that this insignificance is Not yours to own. It was handed down to you from past ancestors, and you chose it as a lesson as you knew you were stronger than this, and knew you would be capable of doing great things with having gone through this experience even before you came into this world..." I'm going to get back in touch with this power.
When you said this to me David, I became very emotional and touched as it struck such truth in my very being. Yes, I too believe that I chose this theme and that I am learning to overcome these self limitations and insignificant feelings. Time to get clear and to clear out the old.
Another character is also on the hand puppet, a worm coming out of its HEAD (~ thoughts and intellect). The worm looks like it has teeth and is eating my mind out; at the same time, the worm is on FIRE (~ transformation). This worm has two FACES ("What you put forward to the world... your image to the world"), one coming out of the puppet's NECK (~ flexibility). David's summary of the meaning in this scene: the ideas of yourself are ready to change and are changing.
Next I'll go right below the hand puppet and Owl scene; there are two other characters... The farther right character is a DOG. I believe this to be my Daughter. DOG: #"Very loyal to friends and family... do your best work when you can serve humanity in some way... work best in groups rather than alone and when someone needs something you respond the quickest." One EYE ("In touch with your intuition and your ability to see what is really going on") is smaller than the other, [suggesting that she] has taken up the feeling that there isn't love there for her. She has a HEART ("...love, will-power, commitment, and the strength of love") that is really big and the only thing on her that is colored - the heart is only half colored in bright. Her ARMS are really long and she has PEN NIBS for hands. David strongly felt that she will be writing something significant in the future about this whole continuum experience.
This is spot on again David; my daughter has expressed her feeling not loved enough recently and we are working on this through counseling together. She expressed feelings of depression a few months back, and she is definitely healing in this area. She very much enjoys writing and has very recently started a story on her own. She's quite a gifted storyteller. She says she wants to use writing as a hobby for now, possibly as a career later on.
The RABBIT character to the left of my daughter I believe to be my son. "Rabbit can [also] represent a fearful state of mind." This rabbit has long EARS (~ hears what's going on). [One of them] is touching my MOUTH (~ speaking) and my daughter's forehead above her eye (her Third eye), [suggesting that] what he hears is keeping everything connected. The rabbit also has an overbite (my son had a large overbite and had recent orthodontic work done on his teeth to correct this). The conflict that my son and I were engaged in caused my daughter huge distress. [She was] feeling unloved and invisible in our family. The constant fighting kept us all in the same unhealthy connection and was very destructive to all.
Next is an ANTEATER... #"Beware of anything that 'smells' funny or is out of place and use extra caution if this is so. You need to take a stand with someone who is pushing your buttons and irritating or threatening you in some way." PURPLE (Taken from the crystal-cure website: crystal-cure.com) "...is the color of good judgment. It is the color of people seeking spiritual fulfillment. It is said if you surround yourself with purple you will have peace of mind. Purple is a good color to use in meditation. Purple has been used to symbolize magic and mystery, as well as royalty. Being the combination of red and blue, the warmest and coolest colors, purple is believed to be the ideal color. Most children love the color purple. Purple is the color most favored by artists." This anteater has SIX EYES (6 = prominence, a sense of responsibility, feeling idealistic, role model, aloof, distant and wise... ability to attune to higher realms, symmetry of mind, body, spirit and my sixth sense. Meaning: to follow your intuition). The top pair of eyes has GLASSES on them (~ either seeing a situation clearly or need glasses to see the situation clearly). The largest eye (Third eye) has a cover over top, which is coming off ("If the eye is cloudy, then you are not seeing your life situation clearly perhaps because it is cluttered with unresolved emotional issues"). As the cover is coming off, this is my impression: I am beginning to see my life and life in general more clearly and I am trusting intuition more for both.
The anteater is VOMITING ("...you are purging negativity, guilt, shame and undesirable energy or programming. You are also releasing resistance to creativity, love and abundance that you desire. This dream could be a message to you find a healthy way to express and communicate your true feelings"). It also has snot running out of nose and my son is catching both. The Anteater also has big EARS (= big intuition). This character is sooo about intuition, but suggests that purging needs to take place [and is taking place]. My Son is catching it - [I need to be aware, and] make sure that he doesnt take on [the stuff that I'm releasing].
The BOY character at centre is [also] my son. He has as a worm touching his head and hair - [an] event on the left side has to do with how much he's going to take on [the feelings/energies of] insignificance. "Dreams of a boy represent connection with your youthful male essence, playfulness, sense of adventure and creativity." The Boy has FOUR EYES (4 = balance and symmetry). He has potential to be very intuitive and is looking in two places at once. The anteater's ear is connected to his own ear, is holding his ear closed or possibly providing stability as in: How I'm hearing things is affecting how he hears things and he needs to work out his own ideas. This IS the crossroad that influences his life patterns; how I/we resolve this is what he in turn will take on in his own life. There is a hand that is holding a gun (it's unclear as to whose arm this is). GUN: "...asserting your power and boundaries to get what you want and need." The gun is firing fingers - a big finger first, then a smaller one with a flash behind it. FINGER: "To throw blame, scorn or look for fault or put your finger on the answer. The finger may also be pointing you in a particular direction in your life." Son and gun fingers are both pointing to the character with the big nose.
I believe what this [next] scene is showing is the recurring arguments that my son and I kept having - me being the purple anteater - I have LOVED purple since I was 9 years old, watching the Donnie and Marie show (Donnie always wore purple socks). I had the feeling that my son was being sneaky and was trying to deceive me in what his true intentions were. As for the arm pointing the gun that shoots fingers, this is a great depiction of both of us pointing the fingers of blame at the other. My son kept saying he didn't want to have a crappy family relationship with me as I have in my first family; then he would be untruthful with me (behaviors that I despised having done to me as a child and youth growing up in my first family). Our blaming each other got in the way of our true feelings and of clear communication. This keeps on playing out the same way, the same power struggle that stems back for generations. My son knows that this power struggle is not healthy for either of us and he made the decision to move out of the house (he is 17.5 years old and still in high school and is living at a friend's house with a parent there. This was not my idea of trying to work on our relationship and communication skills. However, he chose this as a way to break the holding pattern of conflict we were engaged in. Much calmness has come into my home now and my daughter and I are building our relationship back. Things seemed to be mostly focused on the fights with my son before - not about her and how she was feeling and being.
My son calls me weekly and has had a few family suppers with us. I have seen a big change in my son - a peacefulness that I haven't seen in a few years. Again, this was not what I had wanted as a solution to our fighting, but has been a huge life lesson for us all. The result of this drama playing out as it did: my son has broken the chain that links the past generational insignificance feelings and has brought to light the needlessness of carrying this feeling forwards into the present and future. We can create a New Normal built on the present and how we chose to move FORWARDS.
At bottom-right is a BRUTISH MAN character (my ex-partner). His RIGHT (~ giving) eye is blank, while his LEFT (~ receiving) is really big [suggesting that hes more capable of receiving than giving]. He has a HOOK ("...seduction, manipulation and ego tricks to lure someone in") for a LEFT HAND (left = receiving, hand = "...the ability to get a handle on life and take control") in the shape of a DUCK ("...sitting duck, vulnerability"). [As a left arm, suggesting that he takes advantage of others' vulnerability].
His right hand RING FINGER is exaggerated (~ unions and grief); he is not wearing a ring (we never married). He is holding a WOMAN down (me) and feeding off my emotions of anger and vulnerability. I have a small notch in my forehead as if I'm missing a part of my head; he's pulled something out of there and has taken it for himself (my power and reason). I lost a sense of my self (my Spirit Being) when he abused me. [I had] the sense of giving my power over to him so completely, I felt like I lost a piece of myself that I haven't fully gained back yet. The woman's NOSE ("...ability to use your instincts, intuition and to sniff out a situation") has RED on it (~ rage, anger, passion and sexuality), suggesting that my emotions were keeping me from utilizing my intuition properly.
On his left arm he has a DOG (~ loyalty). The dog is wearing a JACKET and his eyes are HEARTS, but the hearts are not colored (~ love that he's loyal to is not real love - he also presents a false love). He has a FILE (~ sharpening a perspective on something) for an arm [that] is pointing to a specific direction.
This was a horrible time in my life for me, but a powerful one as well as I learned many lessons. When we first met, he said the right words, did the right things and made promises that I longed to hear and believe. This was the hook that he used to lure me in. As a single parent to my son and without much of a support network, I had very low self-esteem and was looking for someone to save me and love me right. I was with this abusive partner for almost two years and he is my daughter's father. He was verbally, physically, emotionally and psychologically abusive to me and was a pathological liar that caused many family and friends to turn away from me due to his lies when we were together. I became withdrawn and told no one of the abuse that I was going through. I felt very ashamed and felt so alone in those dark years. I really disconnected from my feelings at this time as a means of survival. I woke up one day and got fed up with the abuse and kicked him out for good. Boy, did I choose the perfect partner to learn the tough lessons that only I can save myself and only I can love myself whole.
[Now to the characters at bottom-left] I never met any of his family the whole time we were together. He spun so many tales about his family and why we couldn't meet or why he wasn't on speaking terms with them. I don't know if they know that we have a daughter together. There has never been a phone call or inquiry about me or my kids to date. I really didn't want to meet his family or have any other connection to him at all. This (portrait) was all new territory for me to know some inside details of what made him who he was. Here you have the details that I didn't know, so I'm using David's interpretations and dream symbol meanings since they seem to all fit...
The BOY with GLASSES on is my ex as a boy (the dog is pointing to this character). He has where his hands would be (~ is powerless to receive or give) and is holding a PAPER ("...to begin anew and a desire to express yourself creatively"). He looks smiley and happy. David sensed that he had dreams of creativity but didn't get to express these dreams. I remember that he enjoyed drawing, but didn't pursue it as an adult. The glasses suggest that he was not seeing the situation clearly. He has a BLOCK ('blocked' in the literal sense of the word) in between himself and the MAN figure holding him up (and his little block is bleeding out). The phrase 'chip off the old block' came to mind for David.
My ex's Dad is holding the boy up. His RIGHT (~ giving) arm is really muscular and has a flat top with a space where his own block used to be; he has given this block to his son. Where his nose would be, snot is coming out, passing through his son's head to his EYEBROWS (~ expression). This suggests that he spread an infection to his son [and it affected how his son expressed himself]. The arm has an eye on it and no hand, but has a SCORPION stinger ("...feelings of revenge and that you should tread with awareness lest you get stung. This dream is giving you the message to release your resentments otherwise your poisonous thoughts will prevent you from attracting that which you desire") on it instead (~since it's his giving hand, this is what he gives). His stinger is pointing to the character that is in front of him, the cartoon-looking brutish man (at bottom). This character has one eye combined rather than two separate eyes (~ not discerning where his vision lies). He's running with a KNIFE (David got the sense that the knife was/is not real, but a figment of his imagination); it represents "...the use of force or violence to end a destructive pattern, or to eliminate a person from your sphere of influence." [This character indicates that running away did not sever his connection to his past and its dysfunctional patterns/energies.] The BAG above the young boy's head is upside down, suggesting that he was "...careless and reckless" with what was valuable to him [his creative talents], and because of this, he was left "...feeling disillusioned by goals and life."
My ex's mom [above the knife-wielding man, with a Raccoon on her head]... looks horrified at what happened to her son. [The faint yellow character beside] her head (a LION) is non-descript, as she does not own this power. She instead held all her power in disguising herself. She wanted her son's dreams to become a reality, but they didn't because of what his dad handed down to him. She has a RACOON (~ disguise) on her head. She would have had to disguise herself to survive in the family.
David sensed that the WOMAN figure (at bottom-left) is also related to my ex's family, perhaps a sister... She is more lightly drawn in. She looks like a superhero [with] goggles on and a star on her chest. [While - to all appearances - she may have given] off the impression that she has a lot of power by the way that she handled her father, [the panties she wears seemed to suggest that] she used seduction and feminine powers to appear strong. She is holding pain and anger in her hips and thighs, as is indicated in the weight she carries there (OBESITY: "...concealing past pains and hurts). She's also wearing a RUNNING SHOE ("...running away from a situation").
The last character in the portrait is the lightly-drawn BIRD character (left of centre) - apparently, it was the first character that David drew and the least understood for him. I believe that this character represents Me and potential power to change the past/current/future events in my timeline. BIRD: "...imagination, intuition, creativity and desire for freedom. Perhaps you are in the midst of leaving the nest for a more expansive reality spread your wings and venture out beyond your self-imposed restraints." [The LION and blue BIRD character are where his/her right hand would be. Since the RIGHT HAND is "...demonstrative, influenced by and connected to your father or the right hand of God, helpful, active"), this suggests that this area is giving help [in the form of divine energies]. The LEFT (~ receiving) hand looks a little like a (really big) CLAW ("You are in touch with your animal/survival instincts, and this dream is also giving you the message to release your fears and let go of a person or situation you are holding onto"). As children we don't have a lot of choices, and may end up taking stuff on that is not ours to take on. Now as an adult, you have choices and can make up your own mind for life direction. This bird's hand seems to be able to reach out and take off the worm on my head and on my son's head, as well as my dad's worm, to remove the insignificance we have all been handed down. The bird is wearing a DIAPER, symbolizing "...protection, release of negativity and perhaps an inability to control your feelings and urges. This dream could be reflecting a place within you that is immature and in need of personal responsibility. Alternatively, you may be purifying and releasing ways of the past." This character even seems to be able to take the bright green worm's tail, and plant the seed for new growth!
The bird is in a position to be able to oversee everything in the portrait. It is not fully drawn in as this is a possibility of things to come - not for certain yet (concept of me having the potential to change this whole situation around). It has a FLIPPER (~ going into the water - able to navigate the feminine energies). [He/she] has the potential of flight and a connection of water, and so can navigate the ethereal realm, physical realm and feminine realm.
I believe what this scene is showing is that I have the ability to move backwards and forwards in time and to undo and remove the feelings of insignificance and to empower myself, my children and future generations in my family line. All I have to do is to step into this power and accept that this can be done, and then it will be.
I need to resolve this 'insignificant and smallness' baggage that was handed down generation after generation, not just for my family but for a larger picture. My daughter and son are watching me to see if I have the courage to fully come into my own power; they will follow this and come into their own power. My daughter will write something significant on this subject that will contribute to many.
"Sarah" (2010)
(The definitions of dream-imagery symbolism are taken from "I Had The Strangest Dream: the Dreamer's Dictionary for the 21st Century" by Kelly Sullivan-Walden.)
With so many characters and details in this portrait, the post-portrait consultation took over three hours. I'll try my best to relate the essence of its essential message to the subject.
Sometimes when interpreting characters in a portrait, looking at what isn't there proves most informative...
At top-left is an idealized male image that has no STOMACH. Normally, a stomach symbolizes "...your personal needs, hunger and gut instincts. This dream is showing you that you have the courage and the guts to follow your intuition. This dream also reflects how well you are assimilating or stomaching a new situation or perhaps digesting a new relationship... [it's] asking you to contemplate what you are truly hungry for". But because - as mentioned - the stomach is absent in this case, and because the green character (the mouth of which the man is walking into) mirrors the HAIR (~representing 'power and memory') trailing behind a character below, its being suggested that this vision that has attached itself to the portrait subject ('Sarah', depicted as the WOMAN in the blue DRESS) is one that has been duplicated.
Following the hair to the NEGROID character at the left (~primal energy), we find it attached by the cheek to the hair of an angry-looking woman that Sarah recognized as a representation of her MOTHER. "My mom doesn't look like that, but that's what she looks like inside... [she's] very angry, and shes an alcoholic". Looking at the finger pressing down on Sarah's right WING, it seems that this link to her mother's inner seething is one of the things keeping her down (since WINGS "...signify a desire for freedom, abandon, glory, self-expression and to take flight from the confines of your earthbound life that you may feel a closer connection to God/Goddess/Spirit").
Perhaps the most significant aspect of this portrait is in its revelation of how Sarah's feelings of insignificance are keeping her from accessing her own personal power. This is depicted by the WORM that extends from the bottom left towards the centre of the portrait ("You may be feeling insignificant and worthless because you have been feeding on negativity that keeps you feeling small"). It creates a barrier between what's happening below and the uncoloured (~disempowered) characters in the left-of-centre area that represent the personal power that's available to Sarah that she's not accessing; they include a wolf, a bear, a Yeti-like figure (directly above the fish), and a couple of her inner (male) children. They're not solidly drawn in because they're not fully realized. As indicated by the large double TONGUE ("...your feelings about expressing yourself") touching the HAT ("...your egoic thoughts, opinions, judgments, and ideas") of the character below, the influence of the things expressed by Sarah's mother have influenced how Sarah communicates and identifies herself (you'll notice that there's a HOLE in Sarah's THROAT - the place from which her own words would be vocalized).
The key to understanding the help being made available through this portrait is the little pink character at the left; he's wearing a WATCH on each arm, suggesting the need for a reality check. He's calling out for help in unraveling the TAIL of the worm where its kinked and knotted ("Dreams of a tail signify that you are following the leader, allowing someone else to guide you, influence you, or take precedence over your needs").
Help is coming in the form of a FISH ("...because they are aquatic, represents the feminine essence and are the symbol of the Christ... unconscious wisdom that you have yet to understand"). It's carrying a CAN OPENER (~looking to open a 'can of worms'?) that's been temporarily borrowed from the WOLF at the bottom of the portrait (Wolf: "...connecting with your feelings of fidelity, loyalty, strength, psychic power, and protectiveness over your family and loved ones"). You could say that the wolf is the totem animal of the MAN in blue. "That's what my dad looks like. He's a big man. He always wears blue. He's got hair like that, false teeth, a big nose... My dad has always been a huge, huge support for me, always. He's been like my best friend. He's my role model and he's someone that I've always turned to". Incidentally, notice the FLAG in her dad's hair; "Dreams of a flag represent an affiliation of which you are proud. Perhaps this dream represents familial or national pride, or maybe you desire to outwardly share your innermost feelings and beliefs. If the flag is being waved, then you are proud of what the flag represents".
As represented by the REFLECTING pink HEART (beside the wolf, at bottom), it's this loving influence from her father that Sarah would do well to recognize within herself, as compared to aligning/identifying with her mom's influencing behaviours and vision of life, which have arisen from her rage at something that's out of view - something that's been an influence to her, but ought to be considered irrelevant to Sarah's own life, and its connection untangled, so that the worm can be free to transform from a symbol of insignificance to one that can serve as a tail for the BLUE BIRD (at the centre of the portrait), the tail of Sarah's own dreams.
"Animals Speak" (2010) size: 34 x 27cm approx
(mouse-over image for view of 'transformative' portrait)
What I knew about my subject from the outset was that she's an amazing animal communicator and healer.
When I first sat down to begin pulling images out of the background I'd prepared (in the presence of C and her three huge dogs), it appeared to me that I might be drawing a series of totem poles. When she first saw her portrait, she commented that the animals and characters looked like they were piled up, "...like totem poles". She had brought her own reference book to help with the interpretation, "Animal-Speak: The Spiritual & Magical Powers of Creatures Great & Small" by Ted Andrews. I ordered my own copy immediately after our 'first-stage portrait' consultation. If you'd like to research your own animal guides to learn what 'medicine' they are coming to present you with, do yourself a favour and get this book. If you're not sure who your animal guides are, do yourself a favour and have an intuitive portrait done!
(From the book and) being so in touch with her intuitive abilities, C gave me so many insights into the relevance of her portrait's characters that I couldn't possibly do it justice with anything less than a novella. That said,... her portrait includes (of course) representative images of many of the people in her life, both present and past (and 'passed', as in the case of her grandparents) and animals (naturally) that she knows either through her healing work as an animal communicator, or as spirit guides (and, again, present, past, and passed).
From what was discussed during her post-portrait consultation - and from both my own intuition and my own personal experience of her - the prominence of the images of HEART and HANDS is especially descriptive...
"That's where I think all your healing energy comes from, is your heart." The EYES (on the heart) signify how in touch you are with your intuition. In this case they're small, because her intuition works precisely that way; as she put it herself, her heart is more capable of scanning where healing needs to take place than are her eyes. To that point, she told me that one of her eyes only functions at twenty percent! (You may have noticed on a couple of the characters that one eye is larger than the other.) Referring to the heart chakra, she added, "If you don't make a heart connection with someone (some-'being'), then you don't get as good an intuition."
In an attempt at an overview of the first portrait stage (the one done in pencil), the figures on the left side of the portrait are mostly representative of the personal challenges of her present life; the right side portrays mostly the divine help providing her assistance. Her interlaced dark/light healing hands bring both aspects together. The SMOKE in the middle represents the veil between the two, with one of her spirit helpers wafting it over to the other side (*"Native Americans consider smoke to be a visual demonstration of prayer and communion with Great Spirit"). The visual elements of the portrait show how it takes the interweaving of both sides of her (/our) life-dream experience to fully realize her (/our) full loving, energetic, healing power.
As for the second, transformative stage of C's portrait, I'll leave it to you to spot the differences! Cheers!
"Blue Rabbit" (2009)
I don't often do intuitive portraits of people that I know, but I felt really good about making an exception in this case; this is the portrait I did for my daughter, Ruby. It may have been more of an eye-opener for myself than it was for her. This is the interpretation we arrived at...
(Note: quotes marked with an asterisk (*) are taken from "I Had The Strangest Dream, The Dreamer's Dictionary for the 21st Century" by Kelly Sullivan Walden)
Ruby is represented specifically by two characters; probably the best one to start with is the GIRL carrying the PURSE (bottom). She's wearing the skin of a jungle CAT which represents her power animal. In considering the fact that items from her PURSE are being eaten and that a hand from the front of the purse is feeling around for something suggests that the way that she self-identifies is going through a change right now (PURSE: *"...important aspects of yourself, your soul, your identity, and purseonal power; it can feel like youve got your life in there. If you dream that you lose your purse, then you are going through an ego-identity transformation."). She's patting a CATERPILLAR (another symbol of transformation) on the head, as though she's telling it to be patient.
Ruby is also represented by the central GIRL WITH GOLDEN BRAIDS *"...if the braid is made of your hair, then you are strengthening your personal power." She has a red-haired GODDESS on her head, *"...your desire to connect with a higher aspect of yourself, your greatest potential. You are evoking divine assistance or a higher view into your life." The goddess' arms make up Ruby's braids; her right 'hand' is loosening its attachment to (or reaching for?) the OLD MAN (top-left). I felt that this character referenced someone specific; it took quite a while, but - when thinking about how a person might sometimes refer to their father as 'my old man' - I came to the realization that it was myself...
Steering the old man is a RABBIT; it at once symbolizes *"...abundance, luck, and that good things are multiplying for you..." and, at the same time, "...a fearful state of mind". The rabbit being BLUE suggests that clarity will be gained by looking at the fear that drives this character. The fear being referred to here is tied to the SKULL on the man's back *"...mindlessness and that you are venting out your fear of losing your mind by opening up to another persons point of view. You might also be opening to your ability to read other peoples minds." As part of our personal life-dream, the skull is (at the same time) likely a reference to the death of Ruby's sister Hannah (who died before Ruby was born) and the (fearful) instinct I acted on to run from my family in an attempt to escape the pain of her death.
The message here seems to be that clarity and transformation can come for Ruby through the recognition that it was fear that motivated me at the time I ran from her (and her mother... my family at the time). Although a STORM (*"...a change is in the air and transformation is afoot.") is coming, she has her Goddess powering her, family encouraging her (the three figures with powerful hair to the right), and the support of her native heritage (the TOTEMIC BIRD, top-right) aiding her on her journey. Everyone who loves her (including me) is excited at the prospect of seeing her step into her own personal power.
"Andy's Snapshot" (2009)
Apparently, (since doing one of our own cat) I do intuitive pet portraits now as well. After reading over this description that my wife wrote, a sceptic would say, "Yes, but he's your cat; you're just illustrating what you know!" One thing I didn't know at least, was that my sister-in-law's favourite bird is a penguin; I'm sure my guides slipped me that one. Regardless, I learned an awful lot about how our own baggage affects our pets, and about what they take on for us in teaching us the life lessons we need. I find it so interesting that we'll commit to dealing with our issues for the sake of our pets and children, but not as readily for our own sakes.
(Since this write-up, we've learned that the man in the bottom left-hand corner - that Jenny identifies as her late father - is signing the word "mother", although we have yet to fully comprehend the message implied)
"I am constantly amazed by the incredible portraits that David does, and this one was no exception. It is a portrait of my beloved cat, Andy, who has been in my life for fifteen years. He was feeling pretty unwell, thanks to a liver problem, and I guess we both started thinking this may be the beginning of the end. Andy's been through a lot in his cat life -- he's older, he's diabetic, he had dental surgery this year that left him with only three teeth, he's moved four or five times, seen many people come and go, and for me has represented the one constant thing amidst emotional turmoil and constant changes.
This wonderful portrait is what he sees (if I'm reading it right) and it not only shows his perspective, but shows David and I what we could look at and change in our behaviour patterns. We are all energy, affecting everything around us, sometimes unwittingly hurting the creatures and people we share our lives with through unconscious emotional leftovers.
Having known Andy for his fifteen years, here's my attempt at interpretation:
Front and centre in the portrait is a woman, with a big pink heart, reaching her hand out towards the viewer. This I take to be me, always reaching out to pet him, and give him love. I am touched that he sees me so full of love, because I sometimes have a hard time seeing myself that way. That probably explains the woman on my back, trying to force my head to move in a certain direction, her own head covered by a sort of demonic figure. This is my Mom, a woman who gave birth to me and from whose energy I have been trying to free myself for much of my life. Her legacy of fear, anger and negativity has pervaded almost everything I have done, and I find it slightly troubling that Andy sees this as a huge part of who I am. According to Chinese medicine, the liver is the organ that processes these emotions, and since it is Andy's liver that is having trouble at the moment, I wonder if there's a connection. I thought I had come much further in working through some of this old stuff, but apparently there's always work to be done!
To the right of this woman is a cartoon character female, with a potato on her head, which is feeding a worm to a bird. I get the sense that this cartoon character is coming to drag my Mom away, but I don't know what that means. According to the dream dictionary, a cartoon character signifies that *"...you don't take that person seriously or that you think he or she is laughable." A potato symbolizes *"...sustenance and creative fuel that is found underground, in the more earthy aspects of your nature." A worm symbolizes *"...sneakiness and a desire to be unnoticed as you inch through your life. You may be feeling insignificant and worthless because you have been feeding on negativity that keeps you feeling small." If I was to hazard a guess at it, it is time that I stopped conforming to my mother's way of thinking (negativity, feeling small) and embraced the earthy part of my nature (shouldn't be too hard, I have seven planets in Virgo) that makes me stronger. The cartoon part of me is the way that Mom continues to see me, not taking me seriously, but it is sneaking up behind her and knocking her off my back. She is still trying to guide my head, although her arms have no hands, so I guess her grip is not as strong as it used to be. I used to be the worm, now I'm a potato riding on a cartoon character. Sexy!
(Man, this cat is SMART!)
In the right hand corner of the oval is David, wearing a bear's head and a wolf's head on his own. I think this refers to our power animals David is a wolf, and I am a bear. Andy is possibly telling us that our strength lies in these animals and in order to move forward, we have to embrace them and become them, claiming our power in the process. I am bear, hear me roar!
I think the images directly behind me represent the spirit world. Some believe that cats can see other dimensions, and if that is true, he is seeing all the spirits that lead me through each day. I think his three brothers are there (directly behind me), and my Dad, in the lower left, counting with his fingers. Beside him is my Granddad, with the balding head and open mouth. I dont know who the guy with the Mohawk and long tongue is, but I like his energy!
On my Granddad's head is my sister, Annie, who was also Andy's Mom for a number of years (or should I say co-Mom?). On her head is a hatching chick, which I think represents her new life in the far north. She is starting fresh, reinventing herself and releasing some of her old patterns and emotional leftovers. She is with the spirit side of things, because for Andy, she is a distant memory, but he sees her every once in a while. Just behind her is a penguin-like bird, which could be Annie as well, as her favourite bird is a penguin. And, according to the dream dictionary, penguins symbolize *"...loyalty, formality, and extreme coping skills to be able to function and survive in a relatively chilly emotional climate." Wow does that ever describe her relationship with our Mom! Not to mention, she lives in the far north where its very cold. (Okay if youre a penguin!) It makes perfect sense, the penguin is actually fading in the background, and making way for the new chick, a new way of being, a new way of seeing once the chick's eyes open." ~Jenny
"Fox Medicine" (2010)
(Quotes marked with an asterisk (*) are taken from "I Had The Strangest Dream, The Dreamer's Dictionary for the 21st Century" by Kelly Sullivan Walden. Quotes relating to 'Fox' symbolism are taken from Animal Speak: The Spiritual & Magical Powers of Creatures Great & Small by Ted Andrews)
The subject of this single-stage portrait has been diagnosed as clinically depressed, and was told that he would have to remain on anti-depressants for the rest of his life. While I cautioned that - since he was now chemically-dependant on them - it might be some time before he'd be able to live without them, I proffered my whole-hearted belief that - through the process of identifying and dealing with the scenarios illustrated for him here - he would be able to live his life-dream drug/depression free.
Originally, the intended title of this portrait was 'Purple Haze', in reference to the purple JELLYFISH (representing *"...feelings of helplessness and powerlessness. Perhaps you are feeling spineless about your effectiveness in your current challenge"); it's present as a symbol of the subject's depression. As his portrait suggests, he wears his depression as a HAT (*"...your egoic thoughts, opinions, judgments, and ideas... can also symbolize that you feel the need to protect yourself from the influence of those around you). Contrary to how he felt at the time of the original portrait sitting, his portrait shows his depression starting to lift.
The power available to the subject is the FOX that his character rides upon. Short of describing the more personal details of his portrait (~his present life-dream), I'm posting some information about Fox medicine as it relates to the subject, and for those of you who have it (or need it) in your life at this time:
"It is a totem that speaks of the need to develop or the awakening of shapeshifting. It is one of the most uniquely skilled and ingenious animals of nature. It can teach these skills to those whose life it enters."
"It can reveal what is growing and shapeshifting (or needing it) within your world."
