This painting is based upon very specific shapes, colors and associations that your other than conscious mind will recognize and be particularly drawn to as it resonates with some aspect of your life. For more information on this, please read my essay The Wordless Language of Symbols.
The initial paragraph of this commentary speaks in feelings.
Followed by aspects of the symbolism and how this may apply.
Lastly a few questions that may be appropriate to ask yourself at this time.
Here is an example of how shapes, symbols, colors and associations can be used in art and self-help.
The seahorse passively holds on to its weedy leaf, denied of it’s maternal nurturing as his mother, strong, independent still oddly domineering, leaves the care to the father. However, all too soon, the seahorse is alone. Lost to the whim of the sea. Confused about his new life, and as much as he wants to undertake his new journey, he doesn’t feel strong enough. So feeling tiny and leaden, he sinks to the ocean floor and hides in the weed, wondering if this was all some sort of punishment by his parents. Based on this apparently toxic care giving his internal angst becomes resentment and his rage grows. However it remains buried deep down and this repression leaves him numb, depressed and strangely guilty. Unable to grow. Paralyzed. Unable to address his own needs. And no such thing as self-esteem.
Have you felt this? Maybe we have had moments where we feel like all the care giving has been stripped away from us, leaving us alone and weak. At the beginning of any journey, we can all benefit from that ‘mother’s touch’ though not too much of course as this brings about it’s own problems. Symbolically, lets take a moment to see what the humble seahorse has to tell us.
Yes—there is a lack of female nurturing. They also represent a resistance to change. Maybe, our lack of ‘umph’ is secretly because we’re so used to the status quo that we’d rather stay “here” than put in the effort to go “there”. Or we passively allow ourselves to the will and whim of external factors. Equally, the little seahorses are stoic creatures and hold on to their blade of weed, suggesting their inflexibility to succumb to the whim of the currents, so also showing us their calm persistence in ever moving, ever changing waters. This actually then earned them the reputation of strength and power to the ancient Greeks and Romans, who likened the little creature to Poseidon or Neptune. Naturally maybe, as he rules the seas and horses and earthquakes. So through all the turbulence of the ground shattering around one, we also have within us, the quiet, calm strength to hold on and by association, offer protection, for the seahorse is not totally lacking in care giving but as soon as it’s time, the father knows that the little ones must go forth and fend for themselves. Such is our lives. For in the end, no one else is responsible for us. We are responsible for ourselves. We must be our own caregivers. Nurture ourselves. Love others yet let others do the same. However weak or heavy the start has been, however confused or depressed, numb or furious we may feel, we’re always in the present. The future is our making.
It is time to let go of the weak rooted seaweed, rise and learn to swim.
Questions to ask yourself.
Can I support myself?
Do I put on others?
Am I ready to swim?”
Artwork on ahimsa silk by Ti Campell-Allen.