Calling the Circle

"Passion"

2012

In 2003, I experienced the beauty, the 

wisdom, and the joy of participating in a women's retreat held in a serene space in the Hill Country of Texas.  Our weekend of self-reflection, circle communication, personal creative writing, and so much more was led 

by Christina Baldwin.

"Spirit of the Blue Hole"

2012

"Stairway to Heaven"
2012

On a personal level, much of the energy generated during that gathering arose out of the spiritual discussions and activities along with the shared ideas and questions generated from one of Ms. Baldwin's published works, "Calling the Circle". 

In Ms. Baldwin's own words, when a circle is called, 

the collective energy of the gathering 

"grounds the universality of circles past and present 

and brings this lineage into modern application 

that teaches readers the essential infrastructure 

to call the circle at home, at work, and in community settings."

Circles.

"Rising from the Deep"

2012

This morning, I embrace quiet time to reflect 

on the stories and the power and the presence of circles 

in my life and, now, in my art.  

"The Return to Earth"

2012

The questions are endless, but a few stand front-and-center.  Are the Circle-Strokes on the canvases birthed subconsciously?  What Universal Energy moves my spirit in such circular motion?  Are the back-stories behind the circles that dance upon my canvases part of my very own larger-than-life Circle Story? 

"Dancing the Sardana"
2012

The symbolism of the circle is universal; it is sacred and divine.  From our own eyes--orbs through which we see the world--we observe the moon, the sun, the stars, the planets.  With our hands, we pick up a stick and draw a circle in the earth to communicate without speaking, to illustrate the idea of cosmic unity.

"Weeping Moon"

2012

As I contemplate many of the works I have created, 
I become aware of the precious nature of circles. 

I only need to research its symbolism, and I fall deeper and deeper in love with the beauty and the unspoken messages of the circle.  

"Fade to Black"

2012

And so it is that on this winter's morning, I sit deep within my own private circle and send to you ripples from my art, from my heart. 

My heart is wide open as I share this gallery walk.

"Heart Wide Open"

2012

"Entering the Spirit World"

2012

"They say we have been here for 60,000 years, but it is much longer.

We have been here since the time before time began.

We have come directly out of the Dreamtime

of the great creative Ancestors.

We have lived and kept the earth

as it was on the First Day.

All other peoples

of the world

come from

us."

Aborigine Elder, Australia

"The Spirit of One"

2012

In-Joy, Susie