Theme Thursday is all about castles this week. Castles can be historical, metophorical, psychological, mythalogical and even astrological. This week I began an online 'Creative Astrology' workshop hosted by the amaizing artist Patricia Ariel of 'Mesmorized by the Sirens'. The workshop is based around our birthcharts and by the end of the 10 day course we should be able to produce our own personal mandala's which tap into our creative energies using the ancient art of astrology.
So far we have discussed the historic and psychological connections to astrology. I have learned that Jung and other psychologists incorporated astrology in helping clients understand the positive aspects of their personalities and to build on them. I have learned how astrology is used as a tool in assisting self actualisation.
Coming from the helping professions and having studied counselling I was fascinated to hear psychological and counselling terminology being used in reference to astrology. I had never considered astrology in this way before. Eager to find out more, I searched the web and came across an essay 'The Astrology of the Birth Chart and The Castle of the Psyche'. In brief, this essay discusses the theories of Jung and Hamaker-Zondag by metophirically likening the midheaven position of the birth chart to a castle standard. It discusses how the standard (flag) helps those apoproaching the castle decide whether you are friend or foe and if they should proceed or turn back. The essay discusses how judgements have already been made and opinions formed before the oncomer ever reaches the castle (self) and this influences relationships. The castle standard represents the Jungian concept of the 'social persona', the reputation. The social persona protects the inner 'psyche' showing the world what we want it to see.
It is interesting to see how well this is acheived. Do others regard us in the same light that we regard ourselves? Does the way that we regard ourselves reflect the true self?
Yesterday, I was presented with my birth chart. I don't really understand it so will spend some time this evening coming to terms with it and learning what the symbols and positions relate to. Before I understand these symbols, I thought it would be intersting to create a pseudo mandala incorporating symbols that I connect with myself and that astrology has given me to see how it compares to my birth chart.
If your home is your castle and home is where the heart is, my home and castle is under the canopy of an ancient tree in a wildflower meadow. Below is a painting I began in the summer while my friend was visiting from Seattle. Painting and drawing have never been strengths of mine but I have enjoyed making this painting and the mandala above.
To see some beautiful Goddess and fantasy artwork please visit Patricia Ariel at 'mesmorized by the sirens'. Thank you.
43 comments:
I beg to differ about the painting. It is one of the most beautiful I have seen.
It is just that you are so talented in so many areas Jasmine.
The painting is wonderful.
Love Renee xoxo
Thank you Renee, you are kind x
Renee is right... that is a nice painting.
Jasmine i love your painting and mandala very much. I would love to see this in textile.
XXXm
there is so much details in this work !!!
it is really cool to look at it .
free free free .
see you Jasmine !!!
Jungian psychology is very visual.
I enjoyed your painting and your post. I love the castle flag metaphor! I am already putting this in my mind's eye and deciding which flag to hoist.
P.S. Thanks for the
"standard/flag" clue! I needed that :)
again you stretch the bounds i have put on your infinite creativity...
intriguing article as well.
definitely a unique take on the theme.
Jasmine - these are really nice, as is the article you wrote! I think your intuitive understanding of astrology is much stronger than you know! Trust it...xoxo
Your work is so lovely!
thank you for posting this, jasmine... i am very interested in the workshop and have left my name in ariel's post in hopes of getting on a waiting list... i'm reading jung's 'memories, dreams, and reflections' now, and it is touching me deeply. and of course i'm looking forward with great anticipation to the release of his 'red book' in early december.
your mandala and your painting of the tree and meadow are both beautiful and powerful...
thank you...
I think you are wrong about painting not being a strength of yours. This is beautiful. A very interesting post.
I like the painting, it is simple and personal and beautiful. It is art, just as much as anything else someone would make. :)
I like this art work . Very playful adn delicate even.
This is a fascinating post. Thanks for sharing the 411 conncection between astrology and psychology. Good luck with your course.
This was really interesting! And I learned something new!
this sounds like something i could definitely use...so very interesting! love your paintings too!
oooooh, i love the description of your home. very interesting read.
Hi Jasmine,
Thank you for your visit. I have to agree with the others here, that those are beautiful pictures you have painted. I have no talent for painting and really wish that I could even paint half as well as you have done.
Astrology is an interesting subject and will be nice to see what you do.
Nice meeting you.
God bless.
This is fascinating - thank you for sharing! It's actually a bit of synchronicity because I have been pondering the intersections between psychology and astrology for a bit now myself.
This post is really interesting, you share what you´re learning and discovering, and your own questions give a lot to think. The paragraph about the castle and the standard is wonderful and concise. And I would say that in your standard, the sentence "Painting and drawing have never been strengths of mine" should not be written: they are non-sense words, surely your castle is full of images and you can, obviously! give material birth to them, as you´ve already done (I liked the painting a lot)
Enjoyed reading your post, learning about interesting facts I didn't know about and seeing your wonderful pieces of art, beautiful!!
Thank you all for the supportive feedack on my painting and drawing. The tree is the first/only canvas I have ever done. I only really started it as I had a friend visiting from Seattle who is a painter, and it was a nice activity for the garden on one of the days we didn't do a day trip. I wouldn't have finished it if artsparker had told me she liked the piece in progress. Drawing, I'm not confident there either. I think its easy to be self critical. Its the first time I've picked up colour pencils in around 20 years.
So I guess, if I don't think I can draw and paint, ut you do, then maybe if you don't think that you can draw or paint, we might think you can! Give it a go. If nothing else its good to e immersed in the colours whilst painting and its fun to do even if its not a great master peice. x
as martine said, i'ld love to see your mandala in felt too:))
great job!!!!
Martine & Assayya - You know me well! Since visiting Dories log the other day and seeing the wonderful felt mosaics it has been in the forefront of my mind to create a felt mosaic mandala. A project like that may have to wait until after Christmas as i am making all my own presents this year and running out of time, but before then I will certainly be sketching designs. Thank you xx
Jasmine, The course sounds quite fascinating, and im intrigued by this - my sis and i were having a discussion about the very same subject - do others see us as we see ourselves etc. . . and do we portray our innerselves honestly. mmm. your painting is beautiful! I am a huge fan of patricias work. have a good weekend, hope all is well x x x
Sweet Jasmine, never fear. I can't even find the comment you are talking about. But irregardless I would have known what you mean. You see I know your heart and it is beautiful.
Have a great day.
Love Renee xoxo
Hi Ruthie - Patricia's art is lovely isn't it. I'm really enjoying the workshop and getting to know Ariel, Delphyne & Lynne Hoppe better too. There are a lot of surprises on this course. I am an air sign and have always identified with that but Fire is strongest in my chart followed y water which is marginally more than air, leaving a very insignificent earth. Maybe that is why a fewest earth friends but can't say I have ever met an earth sign I didn't like.
Renee - My comments seem to be disappearing into the ether a lot right now. I initially wrote about the power of positive frame of mind and the healing virtues of laughter. Keep smiling dear one xx
I love your painting - very dreamy. I feel like laying in the grass and making daisy chains!
No wonder you mentioned in your comment how excited you were about the course!
A really interesting post - thought-provoking about the different aspects of 'self'. Love the painting too!
Sounds fascinating, I love all that stuff even if I don't really believe it although I'm embarrassed now, I just commented on another TT post about mandelas! Haha. . no not the old SA President, I meand Mandelas! *slaps self on side of head*
i like the mandala - the turtle section looks a little aboriginal.
and the painting is great - I can see this as a felt piece too.
And so interesting about the Jungian "stuff", I'll be thinking about this today
Jasmine, your painting is so beautiful!
It's a pity you cannot see it yourself....I'll visit the goddes and ot...it's meriono wool felted on silk and later hand dyed.
lovelovelove
yvette
So beautiful like a nice dream!!! :)
Have a nice weekend
Parisa
P.S.About my post:no,it's not etched.
I draw on a white paper with pen and then use paint program to change it.
Hi Jasmine, This is so intriguing. I can't wait to see all the work you do inspired by this class. So far, it's beautiful!
: ) lulu
By embracing Nature, we can find our own true Nature...it is indeed one of many castles.
I see that if people live in judgement and in duality, then they can not truly see or listen because they are projecting themselves upon the object of their attention. Therefore, they are seeing an apsect of their personal self that needs resolving and not the soul based you that we all want people to see within us. However, when we truly engage within the moment beyond duality, we can truly merge with the object of our attention. This is Love beyond projection. Reflection is bypassed in favour of accepting the gift that is before us.
How have I missed you sweet one? Your blog is lovely. I especially love your ecchinacea scarfette in the previous post. It is beautiful and so RED!
Have a happy Sunday
Carolyn ♥
Jasmine,
It sounds as though you are entering into a sacred exploration! Your mandala is oozing with charm and meaning. I love the sweet painting of the tree and flowers also. So full of life. xo
Good Day Jasmine, Your Mandala drawing is very detailed and pretty. What is your astrology sign???? I would be so happy if my heart and home would be in the Mountains with a Mountain stream rippling by. Your wildflower and tree painting is great. You are a very talents Jasmine. Hugs Judy
Hi Jasime, great post! The natal chart becomes important when we are crossing our Saturn Return... Hopefully we get to see the 2d and third return! -Jayne
You are very talented Jasmine, but I have said such before; you will tire of me soon!
I do enjoy coming here to this place/your space and finding all the hidden treasures within.
hiya Jasmine, interesting post and your artwork looks strong to me.. especially love the painting tis beautiful x
I've just finished reading Avilion - a sequel (finally!) to Robert Holdstock's Mythago Wood - have you read any of his work? you might like it...
Post a Comment