Other sites I maintain filled with Writing and Art are through taking part in a place called ~Soul Food Cafe~.

~Making Descansos~

~Exploring Archetypes – Art & Writing~

~Celebrating Advent In European Style~

~Celebrating Advent – A Lemurian Tour~

~Writing Combined With Art~

***Recently, I have not added to these various blogs. I usually put more time into them through the long winter months while awaiting Spring which seems to come late in Upstate, New York. The art and writing I work at seems so scattered and I wanted to give it some order on my personal blog.

Heather Blakely, (aka – Sibyl and/or Enchanteur) guides all those
who pass through these portals with a white glove treatment,
a full heart of generosity, and the promise of an adventure with
relentless pursuits.

Do you enjoy blogging or have a desire to try? Do you enjoy the
company of other writers and artists through community groups found on the Internet?
Are you interested in finding your own door at Soul Food Cafe?
Are you bringing with you a desire of journey and perhaps getting
to the core of your being? Then Soul Food Cafe is where you should
be.

Contact Heather Blakey:

heatherblakey at fastmail dot fm
And, be sure to visit Soul Food Cafe !!!

To me, the clown is more than an archetype – clown images are filled with wonderful memories. This card is from my personal deck. It is the Hierophant, and the clown posing with me and my little Scots terrier was called Clown Lez. That was his professional name, I never knew him by any other. He was kindness in human form. A truly gentle philosopher who had travelled far amd wide and learned in his long life that the most perfect expression of humanity is compassion. He taught me this little verse by Joseph Grimaldi, the `father of clowns’:

Life’s a game we all must play;
The wise enjoy it,
Fools grow sick of it.
Winners laugh while losers pay,
And that’s the trick of it.

I think that’s all of it but it’s been a long time.
To me a clown with always personify kindness, and the genuine joy of a child’s laughter. No wonder I wanted to be one of my heroes, and I was for a time. Truly making people of all ages laugh is one of life’s great joys.
Another link with clowns is Billy Joels beautiful song, Leningrad, about meeting a circus clown while he was in Russia. Viktor became a circus clown because “the greatest happiness he’d ever found, was making Russian children laugh.”
Thank you for stirring my memories with this activity, and reminding me why I love the clown.

Personally speaking, I don’t associate the clown archetype
with the fool. At the same time, I hadn’t considered the clown
one of archetypes.

My associations came about unexpectedly while working on an
altered book project in 2005. I also had joined an on-line
yahoo group called ‘SoulCollage’ and started making the cards
based upon Seena B. Frost’s book, ‘SoulCollage’ – An Intuitive
Collage Process for Individuals and Groups. I enrolled in an
on-line course called, ‘Transformative Doll Making’, the author
and instructor being Pamela Hastings. Last but not least this
journey of discovery started in about 2002 with another altered
book project based upon Caroline Myss’s book, ‘Sacred Contracts’.

***  all links are located in the sidebar of this blog

While working on the project in 2005 extraordinary insights
started to occur for me.

1- the same images, symbols, and numbers repeated themselves
through my artwork
2- archetypes I had not used in the altered book project of
2005 coincided with those I did use.
*** example – the lonely child and the clown
3- I found each type could not exist without the other
4- combined, clearly they make up the whole person in a conjoined
manner

The lonely child could not exist without the clown. The clown
would not have come into being without the lonely child.

The clown allows me freedom and yet is vital to my existence.
One of the gifts the clown gives is the freedom of speech. I
can be sarcastic – its okay – she is so…ooo funny. She is never
serious or deep. The clown residing in me uses humor to manage
an apartment complex with deeply, anxious tenants. The clown,
through humor can defuse anxious situations. I am not taken seriously,
not liked and not disliked. I maintain a neutral position. I am in
reality a very serious person. This is my way of coping and
this is my bread and butter.

In ‘Sacred Contracts’ the clown archetype is described as having
three major characteristics – making people laugh, making them
cry and wearing a mask that covers one’s real emotions.

Perhaps and more often than not we all have found ourselves
in situations where the archetype of the clown has surfaced.
If you have had such a time create a card or collage representing
the clown.

Brushes  Jenns’ Sanity    http://jennssanity.blogspot.com/

The Collective Unconscious

It is a place where all souls are connected and have been through
the ages. These are the archetypes you find contained in stories,
myths, legends, and prototypes.

Jung believed this collective unconscious was inherited rather than
developed. It is a kind of knowledge we are born with – a container
of our experiences as the whole human race. The contents of this
container come from the dominants, imagos, mythological or primordial
images.

pg. 109  ~Sacred Contracts~ by Caroline Myss

‘ … archetypes have their own origins in the dawn of human history.
The psyche is not of today … its ancestry goes back many millions
of years. Individual consciousness is only the flower and the fruit of
a season, sprung from the perennial rhizome beneath the earth …’

‘ … the collective unconscious, which is distinct from the individual
unconscious …’

We had briefly touched on the subject of the collective unconscious in
the last activity and I felt it very important to give it some attention
or a place of its own while exploring archetypes.

For the artist part of the activity I would suggest a collage with your
personal interpretation of what the collective unconscious could resemble.
At the top of this activity is a collage I did a few years back. The
collage itself was very plain and I wanted something that spoke of minds
being together in one place and yet retain an ancient look of all time. I
found some ancient map brushes that are easily applied to any artwork from
adobe photoshop elements – a wonderful affordable image program. The brushes
were free and downloadable at:

Jenns’ Sanity

http://jennssanity.blogspot.com/
is where I downloaded the brushes – she appears to be revamping her site. But have a look as it is an interesting place. I have a link below that works for other brushes. Also try a search – you will find many.

http://braggadocio.org/

There are many places / artists that give free brushes for downloading for a link back.
Personally, I use them very often and have found no problems with the download.
 

For this activity I would like to discuss the aspects of the
‘amimus’ – (the male aspect present in the collective unconscious
of women) and its connection to art and writing.

Taking an on-line writing course a few years back I came to
discover what I thought was my ‘muse’, while doing a visualization
exercise. After I finished the exercise I was somewhat disappointed
to find my ‘muse’ was not the exotic female I had pictured, but
a distinquished, stone faced gentleman who’s name became Jeffery.
Not only was I disappointed but I never felt comfortable calling
on him for artistic endeavors.

Through working with archetypes over the next six years I have come
to know ‘Jeffery’s’ identity. He is what Jung refers to as the ‘animus’
or male aspect that exists within the unconscious mind of the female.

Please, if you have the time read this article by:
Dr. C. George Boeree
This is where I have gathered my information.
http://webspace.ship.edu/cgboer/jung.html

anima = female aspect of the collective unconscious present in men
animus = male aspect of the collective unconscious present in women

anima + animus = syzygy

Examples:

anima – young girl, a witch or the earth mother
      – spontaneous and intuitive

animus – wise old man, a sorcerer, a number of males
       – logical, rationalistic, even argumentative

It is my theory the anima/animus would probably be the ‘other half’or
‘better half’ as it is so often referred to in our coupled society.
Also being an important part of our collective unconscious and important
to discover.

Unknowingly, Jeffery became a constant character in much of my writing.
He appears in many of my stories and I also use variations of him through
my artwork with different themes.

Example:  A Number of Males

I had made several collages of what I considered male ‘muses’(again – I
would refer to these male figures now as animus) for an artist exchange.
As I look at these pieces now, with specific numbers and letters I see
the connection to the animus.

Another story character is the ‘hero’, archetype. Jung’s writings refer to
this archetype as our ego – always fighting with the shadow. The shadow
taking different forms such as: a werewolf, a dragon, or dracula type.

The hero is guided by ‘the wise old man’ and another example of the
animus. His job is to reveal the collective unconscious to the hero.

In my writing I find my heros in need of much guidance, lessons are learned
the hard way, and the ‘wise old man’ always shows up when all other
alternatives are lost to the hero.

Here is an example of my ‘hero’. I find again, he shows up in many different
collages.

Archetypes can be a wonderful writing aid. I find I usually create a collage
first and then the writing comes second. The order doesn’t matter and it
can also be accomplished in the reverse.

Exercise:

- create two cards both being the animus or male aspect of yourself
one of the cards could include the wise old man.

- I suggest creating the card first and leaving the card out where you can
see it for a few days. Take some notes as you stroll by, ask questions.

- write about your cards, your animus. Sometimes a poem can develope.

Ideas for Questions

- where did you first meet this person – what did the room look like?

- what color is his ora? Can you step inside it?

- if he wears glasses what is behind them?

- his clothes are – perhaps a suit? perhaps blue jeans?

- is the wind present when you walk with him? Why or Why not?

- he has a walking stick – what does the handle look like?
what does it represent?

- his friends are?

Some time ago I decided to start designing a set of Tarot cards, using old family photos. The photo I used for the fool was taken many years ago (I don’t look like that now alas!) but its one of my favourites, taken in the Blue Mountains of NSW. But the background I used is actually a Scottish scene. I spent four years in Scotland as a young woman and fell seriously in love with that country.
To me, the Fool is a very personal card, which is why I put this picture on it. The Fool is an adventurer, setting off on the road with next to nothing, just going where it leads. I was born into that kind of life, and it has sunk into the very marrow of my bones. I have always rushed in where less headstrong people wisely choose not to go – I was, and still am, hungry for experience, for knowledge. I have taken many wrong turns in my life, and indeed my life has that quality of opening up a new road and beckoning wickedly – and of course, I have to see what is there. I’ve ended up in a lot of blind alleys, but I have had a lot of experiences as well, and I hope I have learned what every fool learns – not to judge others as fools when you are one yourself.
Life used to be much more entertaining for fools like me. I have just been reading Aletta’s essay and agree with her that life has not changed for the better. My children can’t do half the things I did without government nursemaids getting in the way. Maybe we were fools, maybe we were mad, but back in the 60s, we had fun – and if the Fool isn’t having fun, then its time to grab the backpack and move on.

I am shadow fool.

I forget to listen to my inner voice and so learn lessons the hard way.

I find taking steps forward difficult as I fear the future.

I am naive and so people take advantage of me.

I am afraid to take the time to play for fear of other’s disapproval.

I am shadow fool.

Barbara F. a.k.a. Bo

I am the fool.

I take leaps into the unknown in search of happiness.

I journey without rigidity, knowing that the world will provide if I am open to inner guidance.

I travel with my dog and companion. My dog pushes me to question reality and I am seldom lonely for I travel with myself.

I travel with my baggage; it contains lessons I have learned. There is room in my suitcase for new lessons.

There is a lilt to my step. I am playful and spontaneous. I have a lust for living a full life.

Despite the fact many consider me scatterbrained, I have power for I quietly listen to the wise and gather useful information.

I am called the fool.

Barbara F. a.k.a. Bo

ps. With my novice photo copying, I cut off the dog and the suitcase. And the dog was really great.

Bo

I am shadow artist.

I am afraid to listen to advice from my inner child, so my art loses its childlike wonder.

I find I must work so hard at my art, I lose the playfulness of creation.

I am so locked into my successful pieces, I hesitate to try something new.

Deep within me, I know of the gate through which I accept possibility, and so I may escape from my shadow

I am shadow artist.

Barbara F. a.k.a. Bo

The Fool

There is a concept of the ~Fool~ in each of us. This is why I consider this tarot card part of my archetype deck or collection.

He / She is about new beginnings with a happy heart. The fool is represented by the number, ~O~ – (ZERO). Zero being the beginning , perhaps a journey.

I made two cards of the Fool and wrote about the technique used in the ~Pages~ portion of the blog if you desire some direction, art wise, in approaching your card. It is listed under techniques – activity two.

The Blue Fool Card

- the white rose symbolizes a spiritual direction for myself

- the mountains represents the world below, the town or village I am leaving to embark on a journey

- the dog for this card represents my nature quide

- the nap sack is a Victorian image of a purse, held by a T-square – what this represents for me, I have yet to discover

The character or archetype the Fool itself is represented with a rubber stamp. The boot and more importantly the lack of the boot or shoe symbolizes nothing has been pre – planned.

The Green Fool Card

- this Fool sets out on a journey through the a rocky wooded area

- her swim suit symbolizes the carefree attitude of the fool

- the dog along on this journey is older and carries the past as a nipping reminder for the fool

- the pencil holding the sack is for taking notes and marking my map

In both cards the sun is positioned at what should be early morning – the beginning.

What you include in your own card is entirely up to you. Look at various decks on the Internet through a search. What you include becomes your personal symbols and tarot cards are all about many different symbols. A suggested few would be – the fool, - disguise it if you wish, use a bird or a fish., the dog, mountains with or without trees, sack or back pack, the stick that holds it and the sun.

Add others if you wish which are not included in a tradional deck. I add images without reason – this is okay as artists we do this type of thing and the reasons reveal themselves to you – perhaps at a different time.

By no means is the Fool to be considered ~a fool~. The card in it’s entirety is intellectual just not traditional. He or She is seeking a new beginning through a journey.

The seeker is an archetype on a spiritual path, looking for truth and wisdom.

The shadow side of the Fool could be considered the ~lost soul~ on a journey without direction   – ‘just along for the ride’ or following a self - proclaiming prophet.