Shelley Brucar
"Maia, Roman Goddess of Spring"
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| (Photos by Patrick Fraser) |
… represents the forces of growth and the return of the warm rays of the sun.
“Leap and the net will appear.” -- John Burroughs
Imagine walking through the rear doorway of the mask, walking away from the drabness and lassitude of winter to the front of the mask where buds sprout and green leaves appear. Winter has become Spring, season of rebirth and renewal.
The doorway symbolizes the weathering of adversity and landing where one can savor the current moment with a sense of abundance. It means not worrying about those things over which we have no control and, instead, living life as fully as is possible each moment.
My mask project became personal; work on the mask is symbolic of, and actually mirrored, my shift from passivity back to a strong and healthy way of living. Generally, progress on the mask flowed along as I worked on rebuilding a healthier lifestyle. At times however, coping with personal issues coincided with a struggle over the technicalities of building the mask. Later, as worries eased, the design and creation of Maia progressed wildly. What synchronicity!
“Wherever you go, there you are.” -- Unknown
Green leaves are a symbol of rebirth and renewal. Part of rebirth and renewal, for me, is about paying attention to the moment instead of having preconceived notions of outcomes. It’s about being willing to accept where you are, focusing on the journey rather than the destination. It’s about finding the positives when you can and being proactive about growing and healing always.