Description
Watercolour, Micron Ink & Acrylic Pen
Acid-free Paper
42cm x 30cm
Symbology:
Girl
During trauma, dissociation takes place as a self-defence against pain,
suffering and abuse. The mind unconsciously detaches from reality,
from what you are feeling and experiencing in order to protect itself. As
a result, you feel emotionally disconnected from yourself, unable to feel
intense emotions.
Bound hands
When a child is denied justice for abuses against them, that hurt
becomes rage against those who was not held accountable, for what was
taken/stolen from them without their consent. It becomes a struggle to
let things go when you were wronged, made feel helpless and afraid.
Compass
A compass points you in the right direction to reach your destination.
It also represents balance, therefore, in order to find the right path, one
needs balance and harmony.
NORTH => ENERGY: Inner warrior, balance, mastery of mind;
SOUTH => MATTER: Healing of past, physical body and body truth;
WEST => TIME: Inner child, feelings, overcoming fear, death;
EAST => SPACE: Spirit, vision, illumination, service.
Symbology:
Broken Light Bulb
A broken light bulb usually represents a loss of thought, loss of
control, or even transition (into something better).
What consumes your mind, consumes your life, therefore, be selective
with your thoughts – this is a power you can cultivate.
In the frailty of being venerable and broken, find your courage and
strength in your mind.
Clock & Butterfly
Apart from the obivius, a clock often represents the delicate balance
between life and death, a reminder that time is limited (mortality). It
can also symbolize the ebbs and flows of life itself, the various phases
and importance of each moment.
The butterfly represents metamorphosis and transformation.
Therefore, with time you can move from one phase of your life to the
next, reaching higher, reaching outward, leaving safety to find your
own place in life.
Semi Colon ( ; )
This is used when an author could’ve chosen to end their sentence but
choose not to.
The semicolon represents a life with mental health struggles, like
dealing with depression, anxiety, PTSD, dysphoria (a state of feeling
uneasy, dissatisfied), etc.; a path that includes self-harm and suicide
attempts.
“The semicolon is a reminder that I’ve faced dark times, but I am still
here.” (Parker Molloy)
Survival Tattoo
“Trauma permanently changes us. There is no such thing as ‘getting over
it.’ A major life disruption leaves a new normal in its wake. There is no
‘back to the old me’. You are different now. full stop.
The goal of healing from trauma is not papering-over of changes in an
effort to preserve or present things as normal. It is to acknowledge and wear
your new life – warts, wisdom, and all – with courage.”
(Catherine Woodiwiss)
“I am not what happened to me. I am what I choose to become.”
(Carl Jung)
