The Surprise: An Ascendant Encounter
Emotional Habitat: Desolate mountainous and rocky landscape with a single branch from a living tree; Darkness.
Spirit Creature(s): Earthly Eidolon with Celestial Ascendant
Color Archetypes: Black = Emptiness/Uncertainty/Inevitability; Purple/Blue = Loss/Depression/Despair; Browns/Orange = Youth; Gray = Aging; Green/Pink/Red = Life; Yellow = Fear; Yellow/Red = Renewal/Death; Rainbow = All Possibilities
Background: Less than a year after the COVID-19 Pandemic had begun my Grandmother and her partner got sick. Her partner passed suddenly within just a few days. My Grandmother recovered. She was 98 years old. A tenacious and loving woman who probably could have lived over 100 years. Unfortunately, the loss of her partner had broken her heart. Although she had no illness and was in relatively good health, she quietly passed away over the next two weeks. My Grandmother was the one person who loved me unconditionally. We had an incredible bond and love for one another. In my life’s travels across the country, I didn’t get to see her very often. Every time I was able to visit over a 5 year period, we always seemed to embrace and say good-bye to one another as if it would be our last.
Although I had accepted my Grandmother’s death under these circumstances, when I began to paint during this time, this moment in the Nooscape emerged.
Interpretation: The dragon-like creature represents me as an Eidolon. It symbolizes an emotional state and identity where I was concentrating and working hard on my growing career as a wildlife biologist in Alaska. I was settling into a marriage and my life as a home buyer. That winter, I was feverishly analyzing data and writing peer-reviewed papers for several research projects I had at the time. I was a very busy person, and I think this Eidolon conveys a creature that is working really hard to get somewhere. They have obviously taken the most efficient path to traversing through the Nooscape by taking the Rainbow Road where all its possibilities lead.
However, the Eidolon must travel this mountainous landscape while its anxiety to get through it rises with every step. They have become so hyper-focused on their journey because everything in life seems to be going pretty well. But, this desolate landscape is symbolic of the difficult, challenging, and uncertain times of the Pandemic. While the Eidolon is accustomed to their journey, they are not familiar with this harsh landscape. Almost blind to what may be in store, the Eidolon is surprised to encounter an ominous owl with black eyes, fiery features, and intricate, majestic feathers.
In this shocking momentary encounter, the Eidolon realizes its own mortality as this Celestial Ascendant symbolizes a powerful message that the inevitability of death is waiting for me on my life’s journey. I believe the subject of this painting came to me as an awareness that I must acknowledge this inevitable fate and prepare myself to live my life accordingly. It is not clear whether this Eidolon succumbs to be prey to this Ascendant or whether it carries on in its journey. I have come to understand that nothing is killed or dies in the Nooscape so the symbolism of this moment is profoundly reflective that no matter how focused I become on success and how hard I work to reach my goals, I must be aware that every moment is precious and we must all face the Owl Ascendant some day.