12/21/2023
“Women don’t need to make the journey. In the whole mythological journey, the woman is there. All she has to do is realize that she’s the place that people are trying to get to.” - Joseph Campbell, in response to queries about the interpretation of "The Hero's Journey", or its equivalent, for women
I loved Campbell's response as set forth in the above quote, because he viewed the hero’s journey as a journey toward wholeness, and in a patriarchal society in which men subordinate qualities traditionally associated with the feminine, the search for wholeness would lead to their reclaiming so-called feminine qualities and values. But it wasn't enough, not nearly - if only because of the dismissive assumption of wholeness being fully present in us as women, (and were it, none of us would be seekers, and fulfillment would be axiomatic). And so, it became necessary in my path to find a fitting alternative to Joseph Campbell’s Hero’s Journey narrative paradigm. One which addressed the psycho-spiritual journey of women.
I found a wonderful (and recommended) model in Maureen Murdoch's "The Heroine’s Journey: Woman’s Quest for Wholeness," My only contention is the thing I always find fault with: Doing the same thing in the same way albeit replacing certain elements to represent as feminine. In this, Murdoch used the *exact* same ten-stage male-oriented model Campbell espoused - a linear process of point A to point B with eventual deliverance/gestalt at its finality - only with different phases attributed to each step of the path along the way.
This is not only in direct opposition to the way of the Feminine, I am not even sure it works well for the masculine, although it makes for a wonderful explanation of the linearity of mythos.
And so I set out to embody in art this ineffable mystery, believing deeply that when understanding fails, the non-verbal visual reveals things to our psyche-spiritual sense in ways that supercede words.
Our path (as women) begins not on land, but in water. Where we began, that place from which all life emanates; the womb and the sea. The subject of this painting is every woman; a priestess in a red dress, which represents our spiritual status, inherent wisdom and sensual nature - things we are often asked to deliver ourselves *from*. We do not begin as fools (see the entire tarot course, or Campbell's ten stages), but fully cognizant, fully aware. We do not separate from the Feminine, but completely embrace it. We are unveiled.
Were I more honest, I'd have envisioned her naked entirely - but symbolically, that reference would have been muted.
She (we) begins in darkness, as all women do, with the light of the moon and her lantern to guide her - but you will note many obvious and not-so-obvious lights which are also purposed to assist her along the way. She firmly holds the oar by which to steer her course, which also serves as the source of her magic in the form of the mythological staff (or wand). There are no ogres or demons or beasts present - because these are not the things we wage war against. And though the fog of uncertainty surrounds her - these are not mists of confusion. Her way is clear, as is the constant moon, our Mother.
I find that some of my paintings are questions, other are answers. I created this image as both.
To tell you to question where you are, what you are doing.
To give you a story - the story of your self and your own unfolding.
As a totem that whispers that your journey has no specific beginning, and no specific end, but is the ever-constant and ever-changing revelation of your own comprehension, life's purpose, and soul's meaning.
To remind you that you hold the oar, that you steer this course.
That you are seen, ever in the presence of light.
And that no matter how vast, how dim, or how uncertain?
You are never alone.
(Prints are now available here:)
https://www.etsy.com/listing/885529025/the-pilgrimage-limited-release-8x10
