This is my balance tree. In my roots there are all the things I need to find balance…
sleep, relaxing, breath, quiet patience, listening…
In my leaves are all the things that come from having balance…
community, learning, strength, faith, health…
The spirals are all the struggles I have as I try to find balance.
They are part of my journey.

Representa mi libertad de expresion y de crear sin buscar la perfeccion.

This represents my freedom of expression and of creating without looking for perfection.

Las hojas del arbol representan lo positivo del mi vida.
The leaves on the tree represent the positive in my life.

I was feeling sadness, like my heart was breaking. I was shocked and overwhelmed by my feelings. I was angry. I felt betrayed by persons in my life I trusted, admired and looked up too. I felt small and all alone, no one to save me from the hurtful stares of others who were watching and waiting for me to fail. They critiqued and criticized my successes and failures. The People I thought were my friends and supporters, turned out to be my enemies. I was alone in this very small and dark space.

A safe Place and Peaceful space for me to separate myself from all the stress around me. It is all about my Hopes, Dreams and Wishes for a Happy space for me.

Storm has passed and the sun is shining through! My
branches are blooming with beautiful green leaves. My roots are
getting stronger again… being hugged by the flowers. My broken heart
has exposed itself from underneath the bark to let sunshine in.

Pain, anger and despair. Looking back at the past can bring back out all those hidden emotions once thought were buried deep inside the unconscious.

To feel free again! Free from pain, memories, the past. To feel stronger, healthier and happier — healing from the wounds.

At first I noticed I resisted this process, but I resolved myself to let go and see what needed to be. It wasn’t dark enough. There are no leaves on my tree. I want them to be there, but it*s not yet to be. It is the winter of my soul. I need to grieve for the loss of my relationship with my son. I haven’t allowed myself to go there. I thought I hid the pain deep inside my tree trunk, but carved into my bark, etched inside my heart of gold is his name. By the light of the sun reflected on a full moon, I am reminded that sunshine will return and one day it will be springtime again.

The darkness of my journey often leaves me feeling lost, a stranger unto myself. It has been twelve years since I left my violent relationship. Still I find personality traits, fears and expectation distorted by my experience. Through allowing these distortions to die, I am empowered myself to develop freedom and authenticity. I and My tree are pregnant with possibility, reaching, stretching, working hard to produce buds and blooms.

My tree, like me, may look like any other tree from the outside, yet if one looks closer they would see that is bark and leaves are full of its own stories, life and memory. It has dark spaces that get forgotten and overlooked, places of sadness, shady places that are calm and soothing and sunny places filled with life and hope and joy…

Time etching my life in my own limbs.
Family roots and memories moments.
Love, fear, laughter, screaming.
Healing, forgiving, growing.
Stalling, falling, trying to stand.
Helping each other up, holding each other down.
Support. Sadness. Truth.
Healing and remembering love.
Arms reaching for new beginnings and roots
digging deeper to find my own strength within.

Acrylic on Paper 13 x 17 1/2

My tree defies the laws of gravity because
it doesn’t like to be tied down.
It grows, it expands, it bends every other way.
It grows and creates because it’s part of everything else,
the universal love.  My tree dreams of traveling.
The importance of humanity feeds its branches with excitement.

Acrylic on Paper 23 x 29

When I first drew this, I was merely making a space for a tree. Months later, much has changed. Imagine a strong, dark oak tree, with thick roots, vibrant branches, and leaves reaching beyond the sky. That’s where I now am. I am my tree now. I have my passion and I have my power – me! And I will never let go. To me, life is a miracle, and I’m still standing and growing forever.

Acrylic on Paper 13 x 17 1/2
Domestic Violence is something that can stay away from us.

Acrylic on Paper 48 1/2 x 36 1/2

Somewhere in the purple gloaming
In the aftermath of a violet storm
Beside the metaphor of a white picket fence
Stands the Oak of Mercy.
Acorns, children of the future
Fall not far from the unanswered questions.
“Why, Mommy?
Why can’t you forgive Daddy…
Just one more time?
How can you believe my Daddy did those things
To my sister?
Why isn’t my Daddy in jail?
Why, Mommy?”
His love letters now scars.
Hugs and kisses carved permanently over orders of restraint.
Restrained was my story.
Suppressed, questioned, even mocked was the truth.
“How does it feel?

P.S. I love you.”

Acrylic on Paper 36 1/2 x 44 1/2

My Tree bears gifts and affirms life’s magic.
It dreams of wonder and joy being the rarest of the trees.
Its limbs support and embrace light and love, family and friends.
It is a tree of true contentment and blooms in the presence
of those who believe in the beauty of life.

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From early on, before I was one, crying out loud was no allowed, no matter what was said and done. This demon followed me through life until about a year ago. At last, because of spirit and grace, my branches still reach to heaven. Each tear released more fear and fed my roots somehow. Only God knows how. Today when I cry, it is for the now. Living in faith and crying out loud!

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I could no longer stand dividing myself against my wants and your needs. So I left. Now I am free and the work begins of reuniting myself to myself. I am better than I have ever been and I must remind myself on days when I feel defeated that I still stand. I still bloom. And whether it is SPLIT-Me or Totally-Together-Me, the blood of Christ sustains and nurtures All.

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My Rings of Light are
A gift of eternity from God
They glow, undulate, expand
No matter what goes on outside
No matter if the sun shines, or rain falls
No matter the time
No matter if I cry
No matter If I try, again and again
No matter if I sit for days and wish it all away
My Rings of Light
Shine

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Acrylic on Paper 36 x 43 1/2

This is the story of the Banyan Tree and the Heart Hardened Blue

There was a little girl who was precious and pure. She got carried away by jealous and greedy, lazy creatures. While so young she didn’t yet know how to cry. To be heard. She felt deeply that her heart was in danger because she knew this was the source of her purity and power. And along the way – in the blackest of the night, she managed to quietly drop her heart in a place along the path near where a Banyan Tree grew. And the Tree had a special connection with Purity and Power so at once recognizing this girl and what she was trying to do, it placed its roots over the heart and grew and grew and grew. To cover and conceal the fresh beating heart and keep it safe from the marauders until the girl could be free at last.

In the course of the time that it took – the heart became cold, so cold from being away from the girl. It began to shiver and feel as if it would die. But the Tree kept it safe and allowed it to be cold so that in its darkness the heart could develop a hard blue cover that would protect its deep, deep center. For one day a magical event would come to pass and bring back the girl at last.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

And that magical event came in the form of fire.

A wild fire of the wildest order
There had not yet been such a fiery hot want
A whip of mercy
A haunt of sorry
In the day it raged
Through to the morrow, to follow
Not much was left of the former forest, it could have been a whole new land
But mixed in the charred tree embers were trunks, of great beings that took their last stand

And in one, the hardest treasure
Of thin bruised skin
A shell of sin
A heart hardened blue
So blue as to at first appear
Black
Tho’ resulting from the heat
A deafening crack
Of a solace to none
As if breaking the heart
In an eternal scream
At last she was freed
She, being Me

By Mi Lyre 2006

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Mixed-Media 36 x 43 1/2

The Self-defined Maiden welcomes her sexuality and claims it as her own. The True Virgin searches herself with compassion and reaches for the moon. She embraces her lights and shadows and discovers her own divinity. She receives the world with dirty hands for the darkness promises love. Life and death become one and rebirth’s new steps are blessed with mud.

No longer defined by others the Virgin loses herself in her layers. Her soul guides her hands as she searches for the ecstasies of her essence and her knowing feet twist and twirl as they take her through the journey.

I know that I am…and will always be…

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Acrylic on Paper 36 x 43 1/2

Blossoming I grow
through child’s fears
& tired tears
standing stronger
& hoping to shine
beyond past hurt
I blossom into this new me
unraveling
I open
to healing.

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Acrylic on Paper 28 x 22

Water Color on Paper 22 x 28

Mixed-Media 22 1/2 x 30

There is a wise spot inside each and everyone of us that knows… so listen… At first it whispers in a soft, mellow voice… so listen… it then shouts in a protective tone… so listen… it then screams in horrifying terror… please listen. You know when it’s time to leave, just listen!

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Mixed-Media 29 x 23

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Acrylic on Paper 20 x 24

As mothers of future generations we are here to change the legacy for our daughters, granddaughters, great-granddaughters and so on. May they be free of domestic violence, violence and have the freedom to be themselves.

Mixed-Media 37 x 44 1/2

Family is very important to me. Communication is even more, but it is so hard to communicate openly. This tree allowed communication to happen.

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Acrylic on Paper 28 x 22

There is No Excuse for Domestic Violence

The Book of Knowledge – to educate, to empower, and to make sure the story of violence does not repeat itself over and over gain.

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Acrylic on Paper 28 x 44

Creating life and nurturing it with love creates freedom – freedom without violence.

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Love is Repaid with Love

When we teach love, love will be given out. When we give love, we will receive love in return. Let’s teach love instead of violence.

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Acrylic on Paper 22 1/2 x 30

Someone gets angry at the tree of hope.
They try to chop down the tree with an ax.
The tree bleeds with sadness.
My brother the muskrat is being chased by the fox.
I hope he gets away.
Safe up in the tree is mother birth and her babies.
My house is in the distance and the tree of hope keeps watch over it.

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Acrylic on Paper 6 x 22 1/2

Acrylic on Paper 12 x 16

On a raining/stormy day, the sky changes into darkness with a streak of light in the horizon. The tree that stands tall is dry and lacks energy. But there are small leaves sprouting from the dry tree. The tree represents us in many ways – lack of energy, hope, unaware that there is still life and hope in our lives. The grass on the ground remains in bloom (full of life). Spring sparks new life. Only the tree is dead.

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Acrylic on Paper 12 x 16

The sky doesn’t change because the problem is the trunk of the tree. The trunk of the tree, with black traces, has the “problem.” The “problem” trunk cannot stop the leaves from growing (the present), while death (the past) occurs for other leaves. Sections of the grass below the tree will not grow easily because there is sunshine, yet the grass blossoms in areas under full sunshine.

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Acrylic on Paper 22 x 28

The big and strong orange tree is full of fruits–sweet and juicy. The feathers, like Wings, support the tree, allowing the tree to become stronger and grow taller. Without the feathers, the oranges would not become beautiful, colorful, and sweet.

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Broken, exposed, and roots showing where they have been pulled away. Yet new leaves are beginning to grow, and along with a strong base, they keep my tree alive.

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Acrylic on Paper 22 x 28

Protecting my little ones. Nurturing. Allowing them to grow.

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Acrylic on Paper 12 x 16

Faith, strength, wishes, secrets, joy. The white glitter flowers are the ones you blow apart when you make a wish.

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Acrylic on Paper

En la vida, Dios te ofrece la oportunidad de abrir muchas ventanas. Solo tienes que pensar cuales son las ventanas que necesitas, escojelas tu, eso te para frutos en tu vida. Y tendras una vida llena de frutos.

In life, God offers you the opportunity to open many windows. You only have to think about which are the windows you need and choose the fruits in your life. And you will have a life full of fruits.

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Acrylic on Paper 22 xx 28

Creo que aunque este un arbol podrido; a un lado puede haber otro bien frondozo lleno de vida, asi fue una epoca de mi vida, en la cual solo habia tristezas y humillaciones, hoy miro mi vida llena de luz con un camino largo en el cual recorro con mis 3 hijos, los cuales me dan vida.

I believe that although this is a rotten tree, on another side one can see it is full of life. Even though there was a period in my life in which there were only sorrows and humiliations, today I see my life full of light with a long road on which I roam with my three children, who give me life.

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Son dos maneras diferentes de la vida de mi arbol. Ayer era obscuro, triste. Sobre mis ramas estan todos los seres queridos que tenia pero a la vez con muchos golpes. Pero apesar de estas heridas, sosteniendo con mucha fuerza mis ideas y mis amores.
El otro es Hoy y esta lleno de vida, de felicidad y de luz, ofreciendole a todos seres queridos dias de felicidad con nuevas ideas y amores secos que cayeron. Atras de mi arbol esta un sol que me acompana a seguir viviendo.

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La raiz es para que cresca y se den cosechas buenas. La sandia es roja por dentro. Lo rojo es lo que me da ganas de vivir. Pues es dulce como mi alma esta ahora mi arbol de sandia. Me dice que soy dulce como la sandia y eso lo que soy ahora dulce. Mi arbol de sandia esta atras de la casa donde recibe el sol cada dia hasta que oscurece.

The root is for it to grow and give it a good harvest. The watermelon is red inside. The red is that which gives me luck in life. Then my watermelon tree is sweet like my soul is now. It tells me that I am sweet like watermelon and that I am now sweet. My watermelon tree is in front of the house where it receives the sun every day until dark.

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Acrylic on Paper 22 x 28

El pasado fue muy negro y gris. No tenia deseos de vivir todo. Lo miraba mal hasta mi nina estaba pagando cosas que ella no tenia la culpa. Ahora la presente es muy lindo para mi. Ahora todo es diferente. El sol es lindo para mi. Lo rojo y todo los colores me dan fuerza para seguir adelante. Todo es lindo para mi deje atras. Lo pasado y quiero vivir mas y mas.

The past was very black and grey. I did not have the desire to live. It seemed bad, to the point my daughter was paying for things that were not her fault. Now the present is very beautiful for me. Now everything is different. The sun is beautiful to me. Red and all the colors give me strength to continue forward. Everything is beautiful for me. The past is behind and I want to live more and more.

AR06.087b

Acrylic on Paper 12 x 16

Christmas Tree. A new beginning, a birth of a new life. My roots are my religion, without it my tree would die. My trunk is the gift of love, without it the tree would also die. My leaves and branches express happiness, joy, peace, and all the beauty this world has to offer and all the different colors we see.

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Acrylic on Paper 22 x 28

In a world of beauty, the Lonely One stands out. The Lonely One is isolated, followed by a black cloud, too deep in its sorrows to be able to see the beauty within reach.

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Acrylic on Paper 12 x 16

No matter how bad things start off, the love will make you a stronger person and shine your true colors.

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Acrylic on Paper 22 x 28

You are your own rock and standing strong proves you can do it alone.

AR06.089b

Acrylic on Paper 12 x 16

Trees are alive, such as I. My roots are strong, such as I. In time I will grow even stronger and more beautiful. I just need to be nurtured and care for properly. My new beginning, my new life.

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Acrylic on Paper 12 x 16

During all of the experiences I have lived, I have discovered that I am very strong like a huge, green tree. Full of love, respect, faith, and strength.

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Acrylic on Paper 22 x 28

Fruit of life and the tree’s natural umbrella provides shade to life below. The tree is nurtured by everyone getting energy, not only from the sun, but from children’s ability to hope and dream. No fruit is exactly the same, yet they are all connected. It drinks from life’s water. Love grows naturally in the tree house of possibilities.

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Acrylic on Paper 22 x 28

Fire charred roots and trunk represent betrayal, hurt, distrust – they represent me. Door half closed, fear peeking through – it represents me. Blooms are what is to become – they represent me. Fallen leaves changing colors as time nurtures new life – they represent me. They’re swinging to passionate possibilities.

AR06.092b

Acrylic on Paper 22 x 28

The core of my tree that provides it with nourishment is love. I painted the heart brown, as love is the soil that feeds my tree. The tree is divided between darkness (negativity) and light (positivity). The black hole sun encompasses part of my tree in darkness. However, only the weak branches are affected. The stronger branches live in the light and do not allow the darkness to take their strength. The beautiful, bright blue sky dominates the picture, as positivity will always be more powerful than negativity. My trees and branches are jagged, imperfect, and unique, like me. At the center of my tree is an image that represents all of my incredible Wings clients. The figure is purple, as domestic violence is the tie that binds us together, and has wings, as I view them as my earthly angels. It is my angels that remind me every day that it’s my choice to live in darkness or light.

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Acrylic on Paper 22 x 28

Base ancha, firme, raices bien plantadas asi son los valores que recibi de mis papas. Me formaron con el azul de la espiritualidad, el verde de la fortaleza, dorado de la alegria y el rojo del valor que ahora tengo por ver colorida mi vida junto con mis 2 corazones que son mis hijos.

Wide base, firm, well planted roots, these are the values I received from my parents. I was formed by the blue of spirituality, the green of strength, the gold of happiness, and the red that gives the courage I now have for seeing color in my life with my two hearts, which are my children.

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Drawing  22 x 28

Yo soy mis raices y mi vida es un conjunto de vivencias que florece con mis hijos.

I am my roots and my life is a set of experiences that flourish with my children.

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Happy, healthy life. Take time to smell the flowers or enjoy my family. Life for Jesus and always be happy.

AR06.095a

Drawing 22 x 28

Trying to stand on my own feet, trying to keep a smile on my face. Trying real hard to let my ugly past be in the past and live for today with God in my life and my wonderful children. I will one day stand strong.

AR06.095b

Drawing 22 x 28

The roots are the abuse but I’m starting to rise above all the violence, and with God’s help (the sun), I will be stronger than before.

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Drawing 22 x 28

Siempre hay un arbol cada quien lo riega o lo descuida. La mitad de mi arbol estaba seco. La otra mitad florece ahora. Hay muchos arboles y siento que todos tienen muchas hojas y tengo ganas de seguirlos cuidando para que nunca se sequen y asi cosechar mas arboles.

Always there is a tree, each is watered or neglected. One half of my tree was dry. The other half flourishes now. There are many trees and I feel that they all have many leaves, and by continuing to care for them and never letting them dry out, thus we will reap many trees.

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Drawing 12 x 16

The seven roots represent my children (my strength). The Purple Heart stands for the wounds that I received while being abused. A beautiful tree full of flowers and new life is to show that I have overcome my storm and still grew back all that I lost during the storm.

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It is a tree of me sad and angry with the tears falling, yet I am surrounded by yellow light hope. I feel trapped. The birds are flying away and dying.

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It is now beginning to grow.  I begin my process of awareness — I AM WORTHY!

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They are leaves – leaves change size, color. They grow again and have different textures. Sometimes change brings confusion. What do I do now, which direction do I go? We now have choices, decisions. How can I help myself. It is the start to a new beginning. In whatever manner that may be for one.

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