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Symbolism

Welcome to Symbolism/Portfolio page! On this page you will find majority of my mandala work along side with all the meaning and symbolism behind the pieces. All texts are written with help of lovely Avia at Whats Your Sign. She does an amazing job interpreting animal spirits and finding meanings behind signs. Please visit her page.

"LEAF PEEP"

This original mandala was painted with watercolors over a period of two years. Orginally started as a comissioned artwork for a massage studio in Birmingham, AL it ended up serving a different purpose.

Leaf Peep is a pure representation of effects of cannabis-- its colors and feelings, shapes and emotions. The possibilities of this magical plant are endless if consumed mindfully, with intention and ceremonial presence.

The colors in this artwork are carefully selected to represent the culture associated with cannabis.

GREEN - This hue is largely associated with luck, fertility, wealth, and prosperity in Western cultures. Green means go and traffic lights turn green when cars can go through them. In many Western metaphysical beliefs, the color green symbolizes health, wealth, and growth.

YELLOW - in Polynesia is considered to be sacred as it’s thought to be the color of divine essence. In local languages, yellow shares its name with the Curcuma longa plant, which is thought to be the “food of the gods”.

PURPLE - Amethyst crystals are one of the world’s most popular gemstones and have been in use for thousands of years. The believed healing properties of the stone are rather impressive and trace back to ancient Greek beliefs. In fact, the word ‘amethyst’ comes from the Greek word amethystos, which means sober and alludes to the idea of maintaining a solid, sober mindset.

"SACRED HEALING"

When combined, plants and liquids can make powerful medicine. Through the hands of a healer or shaman the medicine can be intentionally consumed providing us with powerful effects and healing. This mandala represents the medicine makers of the earth who have a clear vision of healing this planet and its inhabitants.

 

"TREE OF LIFE"

The tree is a magnificent symbol of life. Various parts of trees are metaphors for spiritual growth.This isn’t an original idea. In fact, the Celts and other ancient sages were very in tune with trees and their spiritual power. They felt an intrinsic connection with their surroundings and delved deeply into Nature for answers to the secrets of life.

The Celts understood trees as elegant illustrations of the deeper secrets to life. Observing t trees as a symbol of life takes soulful vision and the ancient Celts saw into deeper worlds of wonder, perfection, and arcane wisdom to tap into that symbolic essence of vitality.

"Owl"

Mystery
Wisdom
Protection
Transition
Foresight

The owl is sacred to the Greek goddess of learning, Athena and is even depicted on some Greco-Roman currency as a symbol of status, intelligence and of course, wealth.

In ancient Egyptian, Celtic, and Hindu cultures the symbolic meaning of owl revolved around guardianship of the underworlds, and protection of the dead.

Owl was honored as the keeper of spirits who had passed from one plane to another. Often myth indicates the owl accompanying a spirit to the underworld – winging it’s newly freed soul from the physical world into the realm of spirit. 

 Owl appears to us when transition is near. Owl will also assist us in moving through these transitions. This is especially true when we are changing ‘in the dark’…as in dealing with changes that deal with the unknown and unseen. Let’s face it – the owl is a master at maneuvering within the realm of unknown. It thrives in the world of shadow. Therefore, owl can help us manage these sometimes scary, dark spaces.

Being aware of the owl’s symbolic meanings is a good way to connect with this fascinating creatures, and also become more in-tune with the owl’s wisdom.

 Native Americans associated the meaning of owl with wisdom, foresight, and keeper of sacred knowledge. This may largely be due to the fact that owl is a great foreteller of weather conditions. Also its ability to see at night is legend among the Native Americans, and this attribute would be invoked during ceremonies when an oracle of secret knowledge was required.

"Husky"

Acceptance
Instinct
Survival
Intuition
Leadership
Focus
 
 Husky symbolism is reminding us that it is not always the destination that is important. It’s meaning teaches that the journey towards our destination is equally important if not more important than actually getting there. Thus, making the right choices now can greatly ease our experience and expedite any conflict and hardship along the way. We should also use our instincts to guide us. That way we can always stay centered to our sense of what is home to us.
 
Husky encourages us to use our inner strength and wisdom to tread lightly through challenges and obstacles.
 
People who identify with Husky totem tend to have an outgoing personality. They are also intelligent, gentle and friendly. It is also well known for them that dealing with hard times in their lives is always easier if they use their instincts and intuition. Husky totem holders tend to be conscious of their environment as a whole. These people love to recycle, re-use and re-purpose everything and anything. Folks with Husky spirit animal totem are the true crusaders who are focused and driven on their path following their purpose.

"Deer"

Grace
Love
Creativity
Abundance
Beauty
 
The deer is linked to the arts, specifically poetry and music in ancient Celtic animal lore due to its graceful form and tender beauty. The Celts also believed that deer were associated with the fairy realm, and would lead troops of fairies – hundreds of them trailing behind them as the stag cut a path through the forest.
 
Both Celts and Native Americans observed the deer to be savvy when it came to finding the best herbs. These earth-bound peoples would follow the deer to prime herb patches – many of which proved to be highly beneficial in their medicinal purposes.
 
Just as the deer has an uncanny sense of where to find the green freshness earth provides, we can ask the deer within ourselves to seek out our inner treasures. In meditation or day dream, go on a spiritual hike with the deer. See yourself walking in the woods with the deer leading you into amazing depths within your soul. Each step you and the deer take will lead you deeper into your spiritual knowing, and to limitless treasure within.
 
In China the deer is a symbol of happiness and good fortune. Indeed, its name in Chinese is a homonym for the word abundance.

"Baloo in the jungle"

Peace
Joy
Freedom
Simplicity
Bravery
Motherhood 

 


Bear may hold many contradictions.On the one hand, we get a picture of tranquility with the bear, and on the other, it’s a symbol for warrior and power. When all conditions are favorable, bear carries an amicable, mellow, easy-going energy. 

 There is a lot to learn from bear’s lifestyle:  Simple food, simple pleasures. Sometimes the highest states of bliss can be caught in a deeply simple moment. Bear asks us to step out of the chaos of complexity and savor simplicity.

Bear could also come across as a symbol of patience and connection. Hibernating with our ideas or projects until a better time presents itself.

Picking the right time to connect to the flow of life to get stuff done.


Bear mothers are very committed and serious about their offspring. Whether your offspring is in children or ideals, the bear will lend you the determination required for rearing up strong results. Spirit of the momma bear is nurturing and protective.


The bear was a very big deal for indigenous people of Russia. An annual festival was held honoring the bear and imploring the bear to bestow blessings of abundance upon the clan. In this culture, the bear is also closely associated with family, roots, connection. In fact, the bear was considered an ancestor, and the people descendants of the bear.

"The New Beginning"

Fortune

Blessings for new beginnings

Strength

Patience

Community

 

 Elephant speaks to us in terms of sensitivity, loyalty and determination. The elephant is a superior guide when we are on a journey that requires our patience and devotion.

Symbolic elephant meaning deals primarily with strength, honor, stability and tenacity, among other attributes.

To the Hindu way of thought, the elephant is found in the form of Ganesha who is the god of luck, fortune, protection and is a blessing upon all new projects.

In Christian symbolism the elephant is an icon of temperance, patience, and chastity.

 The Mandala around the elephant symbolizes community or tribe, advanced sensitivity, social and spiritual connection.

Mountains serve as a symbol of obstacles in life as well as spiritual or mental “rising” or improvement.

The sunsets indicate the completion of a cycle in ones life before the new beginning. Orange and green gemstones serve as energy reservoirs and protectors.

 

"Monkey Realm"

Honor

Confidence

Community

Playfulness

Creativity

 

Monkeys bring messages of intelligence, intensity, and involvement.

In their social habitats, monkeys display amazing depths of compassion, understanding, and bonding. 

When it comes to interactions with other animals, the monkey can be erratic, threatening, and defiant. This demonstrates defensiveness and reactivity. Monkeys can represent both change and resistance to change. 

In the Chinese zodiac, the monkey represents versatility, movement, and activity. 

The Indian Hindu god Hanuman is associated with the monkey. He is worshipped as a divine protector and an embodiment of strength. The mere mention of his name is said to dispel and remove negativity.

InMayan Symbology the monkey held a place of great honor. It was considered to be a silver-tongued talker – meaning, a great orator – one who can speak with grace and persuasion. The Mayan’s also revered the monkey as an artist. In both instances, the monkey in Mayan ideology reinforces the idea of alacrity in expression, and intense creative productivity.

"Mufasa"

Wisdom

Power

Courage

Royalty

The Lion is a symbol of strength and wisdom. The animal of the sun helps to keep an even mind and have the authority over the subconscious thoughts. 

Animals like lions who are crepuscular are creatures who are most active during twilight. This means lions do their best and busiest work during the times of dusk and dawn. This is big juju. Countless cultures – from Celtic to Native American – view twilight as magical, mystical moments in time. Why? Because it is liminal. That’s a fancy word that means “neither here, nor there.” Liminal is the space in-between. On a deep, symbolic level, the space in-between represents 100% pure potential. It’s a place in time where anything can happen.  So here we have the first lesson from the lion.  As you are working, try to put yourself in a suspended state…a state of mind that is open to all ideas an opportunities. It’s a cool way to produce inspired, creative work.

lion is considered by many ancient cultures to be a solar animal symbol. And yet, it is also hailed as a lunar animal.

Specifically, the male lion represents the sun in various cultures, and the female lioness is associated with the moon.

"Journey to the Top"

Intuition

Intelligence

Independence

Communication

 

The Wolf is a symbol of intuition and connection to our instincts. It brings forth intelligence, appetite for freedom and awareness of the importance of social connections.

This design represents the leader of the pack who is staying present on his journey to the top of the mountain, guided by sense of freedom and instinct.

"Baby Hedgehog"

Love

Unity

Protection

Fertility

  

The Hedgehog is a symbol of fertility and vitality, birth and beginning of new life. As the seasons change, the colors do too. This piece has huge sentimental value and is full of symbolism related to the 9 month journey until Oleg's baby son was born. This mandala brings warmth and a sense of unity and love.

 

"Shaman"

Death

Transformation

Roots

Ancestors

 

Death can be scary. At the same time it is the best teacher for us to value what is truly important. This sugar skull is connecting us to the wisdom of our ancestors and taking us through the journey of death and rebirth - a total transformation. 

"Rise Up"

Guardianship

Patience

Silence

Strength 

 

The symbolic puma meaning deals a lot with strength, power, energy and vitality. As a big cat,  puma is also a symbol of stealth, cunning and skill. As a totem, the puma reminds us to employ patience and strategy to hunt down what we want.

People who have identified the puma as their animal totem are people who typically come into this world with a spiritual knowing. Those who attract this animal totem have a deeper understanding of spiritual things. They are very psychic, intuitive, and are likely to be artistically inclined.

"Fox"

Cleverness

Awareness

Intelligence

Wisdom

 

The Fox is commonly perceived as a sly trickster, but as a spirit animal it is a smart teacher who guides us and helps us make quick and smart decisions in tricky situations. The Fox is witty, intelligent and quick; she has an amazing vision and hearing.

The Fox is also associated with dreams, dream work, visions and other nocturnal activities.

You might think that she wants to trick you, but actually it is her way of teaching you a lesson.

"Muertos"

Death

Transformation

Roots

Ancestors

Spirits

 

This piece was started in South America after visiting all of Central America. It’s inspired by the Mexican holiday called Dias de los Muertos or The Day of the Dead. This holiday focuses on gatherings of family and friends to pray for and remember friends and family members who have died, and help support their spiritual journey. 
Death can be scary. At the same time it is the best teacher for us to value what is truly important. This sugar skull is connecting us to the wisdom of our ancestors and taking us through the journey of death and rebirth - a total transformation. 

 Make sure you check out Avia at Whats Your Sign. She writes about many animal spirits and does incredible job interpreting the meanings.