edition of 33
18.75″ h x 4.75″ w

Amidst

debris

amidst

the smoke

deathly river of blood

the utter

unforgettable

silence

of lives lost.

.

A voice

flutters

in the butter hued leaves

ignited by the Wind

offering

its language

of Wisdom

its mirror of reality

its voice of freedom.

.

Decades later

memories ripe

some raw

ginkgo reminds us

pleads with us

simply “let go”

now

of the vast, sprouting seeds

of separation.

.

War on land far away

war

within

our own hearts

against

our own hearts

“let go”

she gently calls

with absolute grace.

.

Yesterday is gone

tomorrow

yet to be born

birth tomorrow

with renewed resolve

to Be

one ray of Light,

trusting Your ray

to bless us all.

.

Ancient

ancient roots

ancient

ancient Wisdom

timeless Truth

Possibility

trust my miracle

to be your Light

and navigate your path.

.

Yin

Yang

inferior

superior

doing

feeling

all are truly

gracious wings

to set us free.

.

Hear

see

remember

weep

surrender

your love of illusion

then open your wings

and FLY

with the Wind of Love.

.

Seeds within

seeds without

all are potent choices

Love or separation?

Ginkgo calls

“let go” with me

as your witness of Possibility

and know

You are the Seed of Hope.

 

GINKGO:SEED OF HOPE was part of the American Women Artists Exhibition; at BOOTH WESTERN ART MUSEUM, Cartersville, GA  2014

The Ginkgo: Seed of Hope vessel was created as a privately commissioned piece. It stands tall and slender (a male tree) with a typically irregular form, smaller branches out-growing the long ones, and often crossing the trunk.

In Japan, the ginkgo is revered as the ‘Bearer of Hope.’ One ginkgo, growing adjacent to a temple in Hiroshima, is recorded to have survived the atomic blast of World War II, unscathed. The temple, less than a mile from the center of the blast, was destroyed. Ginkgo is highly resistant to storms, bacteria, viruses, pests, pollution, and fire – even radiation. The whispering leaves of the ginkgo continue to send timely and tender messages of hope, peace, and the unity of opposites.

We all endure various forms of large and small personal, community and worldly ‘blasts’ in our lives. And, we are influenced powerfully by these events, whether consciously or subconsciously. The ginkgo whispers a seed of Hope. Can I, regardless of the sometimes utter challenges of life, temptations to forget my deep and real connection to all others, hold my center in love and peace? Is it not our individual centers – our heart space – where the purest, proliferative seeds of hope and peace truly grow? What is created in my heart space when I witness the so-called pests, storms, viruses, bacteria, fires and pollution in my life? And, in our world of seemingly constant dualities and opposites, wars and separation, severe humanitarian needs, am I able to plant even a few small seeds of hope and peace, acceptance and love; or do I spout yet more separation and illusion?  Can I, like the ginkgo, trust my inner strength and power to act? Can I trust the power of love more than the illusion and love of power?

Another striking and unique attribute of the ginkgo is its brilliant autumn foliage – a breathtaking golden palette. In a few short days, or often even in the period of a few hours, it suddenly drops its hundreds of tiny, golden fans to the earth as if in complete and unreserved surrender – as if in one huge, deep breath. Am I willing to surrender without attachment, my most prized attributes, gifts, possessions? Am I willing to take a deep breath, and truly ‘let go’ – right now – of judgments, separation, old wounds? Can I trust I will bud and sprout anew when I do?  Through its rhythmic shedding, year after year, seemingly without notice, we might all be invited to seasonally look at ourselves in terms of what we might shed without hesitation. In our shedding, in letting go, we make possible the sprouting of yet another new season and a new vision of and for ourselves and our world. A Seed of Hope is born to bless ourselves, our earth, and all of us, at once.

The edition size chosen for Ginkgo: Seed of Hope is 33: combining the three doves with the three trees (three plus three equals six, a number of harmony and three times three equals nine, a number of completion.).  The three doves, a highly creative number and the result of opposites brought together are intended to give wings to Ginkgo’s inspiration and message.  The dove has long been regarded as a symbol of peace. According to Ted Andrews, author of Animal Speak, the dove represents the traditional feminine and mother energies – giving birth – and a symbol of peace. Doves are also associated, he suggests, with female sexuality through numerous goddesses, such as Isis. The male trees in the vessel join the feminine energies of the dove, birthing Ginkgo: Seed of Hope. May it create the same in our hearts.

Ginkgo Facts

• Male and female are separate trees with free swimming sperm
• Often lobed, always fan-shaped leaves
• Green leaves turning brilliant, golden yellow in autumn
• Long and short stemmed branches with short branches often growing into long ones giving it an often highly irregular form, particularly on older trees
• Leaves grow in clusters from tan, light brown or gray stems
• Branches often cross the trunk
• Trunk is dark gray and deeply textured
• Branches rarely droop, growing upward or at right angles to trunk
• Highly draught, storm, virus, bacteria, pollution and even radiation and fire resistant
• Not a conifer nor a deciduous broadleaf, perhaps closest to the cycads (a large group of seed plants often confused with palms or ferns)
• Can have a very long life span (1,000 years or more). A 3500 year old ginkgo is reported to live in China, where all ginkgos over 100 years old are listed as second class protected plants. It is certain that the ginkgo existed 60-70 million years ago and some report evidence of a geological history of over 300 million years. It is one of the best known examples of a living fossil.
• Drops all its golden leaves amazingly quickly, typically in 1-2 days and sometimes within several hours
• Can reach 100’ in height, some wide spreading and others quite narrow and slender with males typically being narrower
• Fan-shaped leaf resembles the shape of the Maidenhair Fern, hence the nickname ‘Maidenhair.’ Gingko itself means ‘silver apricot.’ Other nicknames include Duck Foot Tree, Silver Apricot, Temple Tree, Golden Tree, and Japanese Nut Tree.
• Seeds of the female have a quite disagreeable odor when decaying, though enjoyed in countries like Korea, China, and Japan especially for their medicinal purposes
• In Japan is it revered as ‘The Bearer of Hope’ and as a sacred tree in eastern countries symbolizing hope, long life, and the unity of opposites – peace