Swan Lake Daily Painting #12

This Painting is Available at My Art Store

Daily Painting #12

October 14, 2007

“Swan Lake” is an acrylic painting on an unframed, 9”x12” canvas. The subject matter is from a photograph I took this summer at our friends home in Fenton, Michigan. Maria and Adam live on a beautiful lake and they took Blaine and I for a boat ride /cruise through the lakes. It was just picture perfect. We stopped the boat and found this swan just hanging out looking for something to eat. I just adore this photograph. I think the swan is the perfect symbol for grace.

I always enjoy pulling out my Animal Medicine Cards, and as I read what Swan was about, it immediately gave me Goose/God Bumps and tears to my eyes. I just HAVE to copy what was written so you can read the message too. So here it goes (I apologize for it is a bit long):

Little Swan flew through the Dreamtime, looking for the future. She rested for a moment in the coolness of the pond, looking for a way to find the entry point to the future. This was a moment of confusion for Swan, as she knew that she had happened into the Dreamtime by accident. This was her first flight alone and she was a bit concerned by the Dreamtime landscape. As Swan looked high above Sacred Mountain, she saw the biggest swirling black hole she had ever seen. Dragonfly came flying by, and Swan stopped him to ask about the black hole. Dragonfly said, “Swan, that is the doorway to the other planes of imagination. I have been guardian of the illusion for many, many moons. If you want to enter there, you would have to ask permission and EARN the right.” Swan was not so sure that she wanted to enter the black hole. She asked Dragonfly what was necessary for her to earn entry. Dragonfly replied, “You must be willing to accept whatever the future holds as it is presented, without trying to change Great Spirit’s plan.” Swan looked at her ugly little duckling body and then answered, “I will be happy to abide by Great Spirit’s plan. I won’t fight the currents of the black hole. I will SURRENDER to the flow of the spiral and TRUST what I am shown.” Dragonfly was very happy with Swan’s answer and began to spin the magic to break the pond’s illusion. Suddenly, Swan was engulfed by a whirlpool in the center of the pond. Swan reappeared many days later, but now she was graceful and white and long-necked. Dragonfly was stunned! “Swan, what happened to you!” he exclaimed. Swan smiled and said, “Dragonfly, I learned to surrender my body to the power of Great Spirit and was taken to where the future lives. I saw many wonders high on Sacred Mountain and because of my faith and my acceptance I have been changed. I have learned to accept the state of grace.” Dragon was very happy for Swan. So it is that we learn to surrender to the grace of the rhythm of the universe, and slip from our physical bodies into the Dreamtime. Swan medicine teaches us to be at one with all planes of consciousness, and to trust in the Great Spirit’s protection. Swan medicine is telling you to accept your ability to know what lies ahead. If you are resisting your self-transformation, relax; it will be easier if you go with the flow. Stop denying that you know who is calling when the phone rings. Pay attention to your hunches and your gut knowledge, and honor your female intuitive side. (from MEDICINE CARDS by Jamie Sams & David Carson)

Is that not just the most perfect thing you’ve heard all week?!?! Funny how fitting this is with my life right now.

As you know I’ve been working up in Saugus painting the big Oscar statues with my business partner, Dena D’Angelo. Well we are almost finished with the job, just two days left. Unfortunately, there was a serious truck pile up on the freeway that we take home from the job site so we are not sure when we’ll be back to finish. As tragic as the accident was, it reminds me to not be strict and stuck to my plans. One of my favorite quotes is, ‘Want to make God laugh? Tell him/her your plans.’ Well, I am going to stay in a state of grace about the whole thing and take my time back to finish up some web projects and to of course continue with my daily paintings.

I hope you enjoy this painting as much as I do.

Peace & Blessings,
Gayle Etcheverry

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