a small paper for a small planet
Astral – Feathers of Light
Branches and Seeds – Silver Moon Reach
Trunk – Living Stone, Faery Door and Ring
Roots – Proceeding in Mother’s Shadow
Fruit – Circle of Golden Elixir
Flower – Perfumed Dust of Life
Leaf – Green Veins and Shade
Bud – Strength and Urgency of Ideas
Branches and Seeds – Lunar Cycles of an Open Mind
Astral – Dark Fibrous Reflections
Hello, Sylvia Thunder Bird here.
Thanks for reading at my bio, and thanks for the opportunity to register with the Upper Left Edge site.
I'm a painter, and I've lived on the beautiful North Coast of Oregon North for 9 years.
Watercolors reflect vulnerable and intimate aspects of my spirit path.
I am a feminist, polytheist student of Tarot, the Great Work, the philosophy of Magic, and a solitary practitioner of a Nature-based Old Religion tradition.
I strive to penetrate/understand the ancient feminine mysteries, goddess traditions by researching for source materials. This way of receiving/penetrating/expanding upon ideas allows me to establish workable connections to the feminine divine.
For me, art is about finding civilized expressions of rebellion, inspiration, excitement, whimsy, polarity, equilibrium/balance, beauty and peace of mind in a predominately patriarchal society.
My goal is to stir the Great Mother's cosmic cauldron and to tap into the power of metaphysical philosophies, images, symbols and colors, that are gleaned from historical and mythological sources. As cultures ebb, flow and change, I feel that people connect to and preserve ancient ideas through symbols.
My work represents a brew of images gleaned from ancient wisdom, pre-christian deities/spirits; from Greek, Roman, Etruscan, Italic (European/Mediterranean) , some Celtic, Norse, Germanic and Egyptian cultures that resonate with Nature, Star, Sun and Moon centered teachings, matri-focal, and matri-linear Goddess traditions!
I want to be free. I endeavor to reclaim the feminine (ancient feminism filtered through the veils of time) through historical, metaphysical correspondences: IE: elementals, the four quarters, planets, sun and moon, constellations, nebula's, galaxies, colors, symbols, plants, creatures (flora and fauna), deity/spirit, ritual and fun, etc., etc. Basically I find deep joy in practicing the Old Religion and visiting, with an open heart, ancient magical practices and knowledge!
My Influences: The technical treatment of these images stem from my love of the metaphysical paintings of Giorgio de Chirico, Greek-born Italian Surrealist Painter and Sculptor, (1888-1978), the life and art of Pamela Colman Smith, illustrator of the Rider Waite Tarot, and the popular art and cultural ideas of Andy Warhol, Pittsburgh-born Pop art icon and son of Slovak immigrants (1928-1987)."
Positive results:
My art and spirit practice gives form to my life. It is a gift that helps me to find the elements that form positive attitudes, enhance the powers of my special joy, enthusiasm for life, inspiration, imagination, intuition and mindfulness.
Solve et Coagula
Ars Longa Vita Brevis
Sylvia Thunder Bird
P.O. Box 1096
Cannon Beach, OR 97110
Send an e-mail
The last line of the Life poem:
“Astral – Dark Fibrous Reflections”
Thank you, Sylvia Thunder Bird
You have hereby raised the bar for bios to a cosmic height, Sylvia. Your background offers a rich sense of why readers should take time to reflect on this and other writing to follow.
My oldest teenage daughter is preparing for a major exam in advance placement biology. Earlier this evening she told me she is most challenged by the sections in her textbook on plants. Think I’ll print out this poem and suggest she use it as a bookmark.
Blessed Be!
Watt, Thank you for shimmering vibrations in your comment. I’m honored that you and your daughter are considering using my “Life” poem as a book mark to encourage a connection to “Spiritual Botany.” That is most satisfying indeed!
Blessings of the Old Ways, Sylvia )O(
P.S. Much appreciated request:
Somehow it got cut off. Could you please add this last line to my “Life” poem?
Astral – Dark Fibrous Reflections
Sylvia,
My screen shows “Astral — Dark Fibrous Reflections” as the last line of a ten-line poem published on this webpage. Is it missing from the page on the screen you are using? Or, are you saying that you want to repeat the line twice, with the poem being eleven lines rather than ten?
Gentle Watt, Thanks for your indulgence …
1. When I press the poetry button on the home page, I see my “Life” poem for the first time, that’s where the last line is missing.
2. When I click on the title of the poem, the page opens to the poem again, and my bio, and that’s where the full poem is revealed.
Hope this makes sense! I appreciate your help and thank you for publishing my two poems. I love the images you have provided for both poems, especially that beautiful thorn circle.
Power to the People, Sylvia )O(
Your song of the day: “London’s Burning” by The Clash.
The poetry button takes you to a page that displays excerpts from the works of many different poets. Clicking each title takes you to the respective work. The excerpt for this Life poem only includes 7 out of the 10 lines in the full poem. Excerpting is done for reasons of space and formatting.
Since our bookstore conversation I’ve been eager to read your first-person account of London’s punk scene during the 70s!