THE MIRACLE OF FORM
Taylor here!
Today, I want to share with you the story of Alison’s Bardo Series, and the meaning behind the first of these paintings ~ The Bardo of Becoming ...
In 2019, we all traveled to Asia together and spent time in Taiwan & Singapore.
We collected flower essences in Taiwan, and worked really hard in Singapore–hosting Flowerlounge events & expanding partnerships.
In tropical Singapore, it rains almost every afternoon. You know not to go out without your umbrella … unless you want to get soaked from head to toe!
One afternoon, while Katie & I were away working for the day, Alison was back at the apartment watching the rain fall through the window.
At that moment, she received one auspicious download for an entire series of paintings!
This download became what is now her Bardo Series – a collection of 6 paintings:
The Bardo of Becoming
The Bardo of Living
The Bardo of Sleep
The Bardo of Sleeplessness
The Bardo of Ocean
The Bardo of Dying
“Bardo” is the Tibetan word for “in-between.”
Intermediate state. Transitional period.
In a Bardo, we are alone. When we sleep, when we die, when we take birth – we are alone.
In a Bardo, we are in our own mind’s projection – how we see the world & what we believe to be true.
Alison painted these pieces during the Bardo of Covid – the in-between that felt eternal.
So let’s start from the beginning ... with The Bardo of Becoming.
Story by Alison:
New life forming; not yet inhabited by spirit.
An invitation fraught with drive to grow.
When I got the download for the Bardo of Becoming, it was very specific: the initial curl of migrating cells forming the central column of a fetus.
I’m not an expert, but according to my understanding of the development of a fetus, the cells of the central column are the first cells to migrate together in the womb.
Isn’t it totally mind blowing that everything knows where to go?
The spine, the brain, the fingers, the eyeballs … the miracle of form!
In the center of the canvas, you see the central column taking form as a folded saddle or a green leaf or a curl.
There’s a primal force coming through the center of the painting, but one without any thought, as there’s no consciousness or spirit in the body yet.
It is taking form.
Mysterious & miraculous.
With the leaf there’s a tether, or cord, which represents the attachment to the mother or the womb.
The left side of the painting feels like open space. Air element.
The paint strokes on the top left look almost like wings of a bird or an angel.
The idea of spirit.
Formlessness.
These three elements on the left ... I can’t tell you what they are or what they mean.
I actually found them to be irritants in the painting – so much so, that I tried removing them several times!
But when I took them out of the painting, the painting became meaningless.
Not to say they’re the meaning of the painting, but there’s definitely a purpose to them … yet to be discovered.
Do you see something in them?
What do they mean to you?
The right side of the painting is more suggestive of form. Body. Flesh.
From emptiness → to the realm of form.
When I see this painting hanging in the hallway at the SAN Center, it always looks unfinished.
But maybe that’s because it’s … becoming.
As we all are.
In every moment.
Over & out,
Alison
The Bardo of Becoming is featured on Wisdom Nectar’s Happy Belly Tea!
This enriching tisane tastes like soft mint, with a note of sweet licorice!
Enjoy in moments like this:
After dinner as a soothing digestive
To ease an upset stomach
To build gut health strength
Note: If you're nursing, this is a nutritive & safe tea to drink for a happy baby & happy mama!
My wish is that a soothing wave of calm flowed over the top of you while reading this story. If you want your belly to feel the same, try the tea. :)
Until next time,
Taylor
P.S. Head to the next painting in this series ~ The Bardo of Living ~ here.
