Symbolism of the Images

Each of the images in this site is derived from a watercolor painting created by Nadine Gordon-Taylor. To view the paintings in their entirety, you can go to her website: www.thethirdeyestudio.com.
 

"Intuition”

“Intuition” depicts a gentle being whose crown chakra is open, as she meditates on a lovely red chrysanthemum, bolstered by an eagle, a powerful image.  

The crown chakra influences spiritual will, inspiration, idealism and celestial knowledge and is our connection with the universe. When the crown chakra is balanced we are released from ego driven desires, we are able to trust that we are guided in all that we do.

The stunning chrysanthemum has been appreciated for its color and intricate structure for centuries. In China, chrysanthemum petals are used for medicinal purposes; it is believed they bring life and vitality. The red chrysanthemum represents dignity, hope, joy, and love.

Eagles are symbols of great power. Fly with the eagles and they will take you to the sun and stars. Have the courage to relinquish stale and comfortable habits and beliefs and soar into the unknown realms and new realities, continually expanding your view. Eagle is reminding you to take heart and gather your courage, for the universe is presenting you with an opportunity to soar about the mundane levels of your life. Eagle teaches us to broaden our sense of self beyond the horizon of what is presently visible.

"Communion”

“Communion”   In this image there are five hybrid, “human-swans.” Their wings are open wide, gliding towards a portal. Swan is here to awaken your sense of beauty and power and for you to experience balance, self-confidence, and new dimensions. The hybrid human-swan has merged all the brilliant characteristics of swans and humans: the human mind/soul, the power of the swan, and the ability to fly through space.  The Swan is here to help you experience new insights through your natural intuitive abilities. Swan wants you to pay more attention to the thoughts that enter your mind – these thoughts are from your higher self and are here to guide and balance you in your journey. Communion is a reminder of an intimate relationship with deep understanding – a connection with something much bigger than ourselves. Take a ride with the five white hybrid swans and experience a new way of life.

"Nurturing Turtle: Earth Harmony”

“Nurturing Turtle: Earth Harmony” depicts a Turtle moving in the direction of the earth, located in the center of an Impatiens plant.

 In Native American mythology, Turtle represented the Earth. Everything that exists on Earth today was born from Mother Turtle: the Mind, Body, and Soul of every living creature.  Turtle needs both land and the water to survive and to thrive. Turtle surrenders to the cycles and rhythms of this harmonious partnership. Just as water ebbs and flows on the shores to unseen forces, you too need to “go with the flow;” be flexible, adaptable, and kind to yourself as you experience the cycles of life. Honor the creative source within you, be grounded to the Earth, and observe the situation with motherly compassion. Turtle takes us on a journey through space and time to our beautiful home planet, our true birthplace. We have been searching since the beginning of remembered time for the home we once knew.

Impatiens are diverse and beautiful plants that reinforce the message of Mother Turtle. Impatiens are also symbolic of motherly love. When this plant finds its way into your consciousness take time to “smell the roses” and slow down.

The dominant color in this image is Green, the color of nature and of peace. It symbolizes growth, coordination, freshness, and fertility. Green has strong emotional correspondence with safety and has great healing power.

“Sunflower Psyche Portal”
 

“Sunflower Psyche Portal” includes monarch butterflies on their way into a deep blue portal that serves as the center of a sunflower.

Sunflowers radiate beautiful and balanced energy. These regal flowers follow and assimilate the life force of the sun and symbolize the sun itself. They convey radiant warmth, adoration, loyalty, and longevity. Sunflowers balance the human spirit by producing an almost hypnotic happiness. Yellow is the color of sunshine, and is associated with joy, happiness, intellect, and energy. The yellow color produces a warming effect, awakens cheerfulness, stimulates mental activity, and generates muscle energy.

The blue color of the portal has special meaning. The Ancient Egyptians used the deep blue mineral lapis lazuli to represent their connection with heaven. A pure blue is the color of inspiration, sincerity and spirituality. Blue is considered beneficial to the mind and body. It slows human metabolism and produces a tranquil, calming effect. Dark blue represents knowledge, power, integrity, and seriousness.

“The Awakening”

“The Awakening” The young girl in this image is growing out of a divine rose. She is nourished by love, respect, gratitude, and beauty. Her eyes are closed; she is dreaming. But with night turning to day, muted and bright light beams rotating around the sun, she is on the verge of awakening. The sun is behind her crown chakra.  An iris hangs over her heart chakra from a leather-like cord.  Just below it is a dragonfly perched on the tip of one of the rose’s stamens. The circular, starry night sky, interrupted by 10 muted light beams, balances the cylindrical rose growing in daylight, and gives way to the subdued light of the Awakening.

Pink roses symbolize happiness, romance, admiration, sweetness, and joyfulness. Light pink roses represent gentle feelings of love. The darker the color pink, the more strong the feeling. Your rose is two-tone – it is lighter pink on the top and darker pink on the bottom. A single pink rose is an elegant way of thanking someone because this is what pink roses transmit: appreciation.

An iris is an opening from one space to another. Like the iris in your eye or the iris in a camera, it regulates how much light is let in. The iris in this painting is placed over the heart chakra of the young girl growing from the rose (love). Metaphorically speaking, maybe it is time to allow more light (knowledge of a higher source) into your heart. Perhaps your heart chakra has been closed and it is time to open it up. The heart chakra is located in the center of the chest. By focusing on it you will connect with forgiveness and compassion. You will also learn to trust your higher wisdom and let go of things that are not in balance.

Dragonflies are mesmerizing. The power of Dragonfly lies in its ability to see around things by looking from different angles. Using its ability to transform colors and lights by reflecting and refracting them, Dragonfly shows us that life, like light, can bend, shift, and adapt in various ways, making life's reality not what it appears to be. Dragonfly's magic shows us to see through life's illusions and to trust and embrace our natural intuitive abilities.

“Balancing: Seeing Through the Veil of Illusion”

“Balancing: Seeing Through the Veil of Illusion”  In this image you see a large eye in the center of a purple water lily/lotus flower. The eye is surrounded by yellow/pink, finger-like pistil/stamens. The lavender/cerulean blue petals rotate around the eye, floating in a dark sky. Three dragonflies are situated around the center of the plant, with a fourth dragonfly landing to complete the picture’s symmetry and balance.

The Lotus/Water Lily is symbolic of rebirth, and is also a symbol of all that is true, good and beautiful, representing good fortune, peace and enlightenment. To the Chinese it symbolizes ultimate purity and perfection because it rises untainted and beautiful from the mud – like a hard time in life that has been overcome.

It has been said that the eye is the window to the soul. In Egypt the Eye of Horus/Ra was a symbol of protection and life. The “third eye” indicates the spiritual eye or the eye of the soul. In dreams, the meaning of eyes indicates an opening into a new dimension, focusing in on a new direction. The symbolic meaning of eyes also carries a message of prophecy, literally seeing "a vision of the future."

Dragonflies are creatures of the water - they are connected with the subconscious, or "dreaming" mind. In the animal world, water is symbolic of the subconscious mind and relates to the thoughts we have while in a relaxed, meditative, or sleeping state.  Dragonfly's magic shows us to see through life's illusions and to trust and embrace our natural intuitive abilities. It calls us to transform within our lives and reminds us to feel deeply so we will have the compassion necessary to help others and ourselves.

The dominant color of this piece is lavender/purple. The combination of liveliness and tranquility of this color allows more creative energy to emerge. For this reason, purple is associated with imagination and inspiration. Purple is an introspective color, allowing us to get in touch with our deeper thoughts. Purple or violet assists those who seek the meaning of life and spiritual fulfillment - it expands our awareness, connecting us to a higher consciousness. In the meaning of colors, purple represents the future, the imagination, and dreams. It enhances psychic ability and spiritual enlightenment, while at the same time, keeping us grounded. Purple inspires unconditional and selfless love, devoid of ego, encouraging sensitivity and compassion.

“Sweet Hawks”

“Sweet Hawks” In this image you see a tree whose branches grow in different directions. The lower half is without leaves and all branches are connected to each other. Two of the branches are holding “hands.” The other two branches are connected to the roots of the tree. Two hawks are nestled in branches that are formed by two hearts. One pink rose grows next to the tree.

The Hawk is the symbol of dawn and the freshness that a new day brings. It is associated with nobility and stature; with him he brings qualities of dignity and pride. Hawk has the ability to soar very high in the skies - recognizing him as a solar bird. Hawk is known for his very keen eye; therefore bringing with him the ability to pay very close attention to details and picking up important pieces to a puzzle that are very significant in putting one's life into perspective. He has the ability of focus, calmness and to see things in context. It is this ability to soar high above to catch a glimpse of the bigger picture that makes Hawk Symbolism so valuable.

The heart has long been used as a symbol to refer to the spiritual, emotional, moral, and the intellectual core of a human being. It was once widely believed to be the seat of the human mind. The word heart continues to be used poetically to refer to the soul, and stylized depictions of hearts are used as prevalent symbols representing love. In this image, two hearts are intertwined, as they need each other to produce the beautiful tree of life.

Roses are well known to represent love, beauty and romance, happiness, romance, admiration, sweetness, and joyfulness. Light pink roses represent gentle feelings of love. The darker the color pink, the more strong the feeling. There are many variations of pink roses and all values of pink communicate sweetness and elegance.

“Ancient Rose Hawk”

“Ancient Rose Hawk”  In this image you see a beautiful red rose opening its center to allow a Red Tailed Hawk to emerge. It is leaving the starry dimension of the Ancients and coming back to our dimension to give you their wisdom.

Red roses symbolize passion and a timeless love stronger than the thorns on its stem.  The Key Words are: Beauty, Balance, Love, Courage, Faith, and Passion.

The Red Tailed Hawk is a visionary and is associated with nobility and stature; with him he brings qualities of dignity and pride. The Ancient Native Americans recognized this magnificent bird of prey as a messenger bringing wise and valuable advice from their ancestors.  Hawk wants you to see your life from a different perspective. Its message to you is about freeing yourself of thoughts and beliefs that are limiting your ability to soar above your life and gain a new point of view. The Hawk totem also wants you to remember that you are connected to something greater than you might be currently aware of and that light is always available for those who seek illumination. One of the greatest gifts you can give to the world is your vision of a better and brighter future; to focus on that which brings balance to you and others in your life. Hawk is looking right at you and asking you to join it on its mission to bring love, faith, beauty and courage back to this dimension.