With a certain amount of unplanned
spontaneity, the quilt starts to emerge in mirror image, at least of the two female
figures, the Birdheaded Snake Goddess and the Sheela-na-gig, sitting diagonally
across on the opposite borderlines. It then becomes apparent that the spiral
can sit at the top or bottom of the quilt, unfolding in the anticlockwise direction
with a new moon below, or a waning moon above. Of course at all stages of the
moon’s cycle we are living “between the worlds”, which may become more visceral
as we draw closer to the end of our days living with Mother Earth. The large
green leaf at the beginning edge of the spiral reflects the changing light of
autumn evenings as the sun sets over the gully below, all green, with patches
of light dotted throughout the bush. Living between the worlds is a name that
starts to resonate for this particular quilt, with its reversal capability. So
I make pockets for hanging at both ends.
In the Daughters of the Moon tarot by
Ffiona Morgan, in the Aether Arcana as the spiritual element, the card usually
referred to as the ‘hangman’ in traditonal tarot is given the title “Reversal”,
and makes strong reference to the changing nature of a flowing river, or ‘a
voluntary surrender, or letting go of outworn ways of thinking’, which is found
by being suspended in time, made entirely vulnerable by events that have us
stop and listen to the inner for the metamorphosis to occur. And our reflection
in water guides us to a new pathway, to validating ourselves as a changer and
reverser of destiny offered by our new insights.[1]
As a sacred space for such communion with
self, the spiral facilitates the surrender and the transformation, hence the
second part of the title. I’m not sure where the little meditation came from;
it may have been Jean Shinoda Bolen, but it is widely used in many circles.
Here is the version I printed as dedication for Jan’s quilt to her croning
process. It is enclosed by the orobourous, the snake making a full circle by
grabbing its tail, symbol of rebirth and new beginnings.
"Between
the worlds: in the Sacred Circle of Self"
'It is a private space, created by whatever makes you
feel safe and protected.
You can make it as large or as small as you need, and
fill it with whatever takes your fancy at the time. Fill it with whatever
nurtures, supports and loves you. It is adaptable and flexible to your needs as
they change and arise. Stay in your circle until you sense your boundary is in
place, ready now and always to protect and nurture you.'
You can create this circle at any time,
just by going there in thought and spirit. A powerful way to create this sacred circle
to self in a deliberate way is to call in the cardinal directions of East, North,
West and South, by welcoming the full cycle of Earth’s creative process
(according to a Southern Hemispheric perspective, and moving anticlockwise):
East is the dawn air, the
first breath of inspiration;
North is the spark that
ignites and awakens courage and determination;
West grounds us to bring
inspirational dreams into form;
South is the watery womb,
from which all creation springs.
There is so much more I envisaged going
into his quilt, but I am finishing this quilt in the spirit of the very old Japanese tradition of ‘wabi sabi’, that nothing is ever
perfect or ever complete. It is also complete through the circle being...
‘…open,
but unbroken. Merry meet, and merry part, and merry meet again’, the
way we “close” a circle gathering…in readiness for the next circle.
[1] Ffiona Morgan,1991, Daughters
of the moon tarot. Daughters of the Moon: Forrestville, Ca., p.28.
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