Ancient Mysteries, Eternal Truths

“Ancient Mysteries, Eternal Truths” is a whole cloth wall hanging that seems especially appropriate for posting on Thanksgiving Day. The piece is loaded with symbolism of the things for which all people give thanks: the sun represents happiness, the eagle is Freedom, rainclouds for good prospects, the circle with rotating arcs stands for the four stages of life, the bear claw is good omens, and medicine man’s eye (diamond shape) is for wisdom. The Universal Mother, basis of the quilt, has no eyes because Truth and Love are known with the heart and soul, not with one’s eyes.  This quilt has powerful meanings for me, and it is one that I cherish. She occasionally makes the trip to art shows, but mostly stays at home and is displayed above our fireplace.   I have plans to make a series of quilts based on Native American legends that feature women, but they are hard to come by.

 

So far there is one other piece in the series: “Aliquipiso, The Warrior Woman”. This piece is based on an Oneida legend about a young woman who gives her life to save her people from being slaughtered by their mortal enemies. After her death her hair turned into woodbine, which the legend says is still referred to as the blood of a brave woman. All of the stitching on both quilts is done free motion on my trusty Bernina, and I think that both quilts are very powerful. A third one (White Buffalo Woman, a Sioux legend) is on the design board, but no progress has been made on it for awhile. Hopefully this winter I’ll be able to work on it once I am more mobile.