In Her Power: Images of the Sacred Feminine

18 Saturday Dec 2021

Posted by glenrogers in Uncategorized

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archetypal symbols, Sacred Feminine, Spiritual in Art, spiritual journey, women in power

Solo Exhibition at La Huipilista Artspace, San Miguel de Allende. December 2021.

In this exhibition, I honor women and the sacred feminine in my paintings, monoprints and drawings. These figurative works radiate independence, as they acknowledge the arbitrary barriers and obstacles that women encounter in their lives. In this visionary world, women hold a shared wisdom as divine creators and through ritual, reclaim ancient rites of passage. Disparaged figures from the Bible like Lilith and Mary Magdalene take their power back while the Celtic-based goddess imagery of Maiden, Mother, Crone comes alive in a mural sized charcoal drawing. Calling on the mystery of the moon to use their magic, they commune with birds and snakes and such – symbols of the ancient goddesses.

In my early work as an artist, I portrayed the female figure from a feminist perspective – in all her strength and sensuality. However, in graduate school, the female nude was seen as objectifying women and became off-limits as subject matter. At that point, my work shifted to a symbolic approach as I began discovering early Matriarchal cultures where priestesses ruled. I began taking pilgrimages to sites such as Newgrange in Ireland and Knossos in Crete, studying artifacts and symbols. My symbolic abstraction of the divine feminine can be seen in my books,Art & Sacred Sites: Connecting with Spirit of Place, and Symbols of the Spirit: A Meditative Journey Through Art.

The return to the figure in my art began while working at an artist residency in Morocco a couple of years ago. Now combining both the figure and symbols on paper and canvas, my visual vocabulary tells a story of women in their power.

Sedona – Visiting a Spiritual Vortex

10 Tuesday Aug 2021

Posted by glenrogers in Uncategorized, Vortexes

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Bell Rock, Crescent Moon Park, inspiration, Sacred Feminine, Sedona, Spirit of Place, spiritual journey, Spiritual Vortexes

In May, I drove up to the Southwest United States from Mexico (where I live) with a couple of friends. My main reason was to deliver some of my Spirit Card oracle decks and latest book, Symbols of the Spirit to bookstores along the way. I’d also been wanting to visit a dear friend who lives in Sedona. But ofcourse seeing the beautiful desert landscape after being cooped up during the pandemic was a definite plus. We also looked forward to visiting friends and family who hosted us on the trip. (We had our vaccinations and followed Covid Protocol like mask wearing and social distancing wherever we went.)

Our itinerary followed a loop around the Southwest with stops in Tubac, Tucson, Phoenix/Scottsdale, Sedona, the South Rim of the Grand Canyon, Monument Valley, Santa Fe, Taos, Ghost Ranch/Abiquiu, Albuquerque and back thru Tucson to the Nogales Border. It was a whirlwind 2 1/2 week trip with amazing landscapes. And with this agenda, we were also able to see lots of art galleries, meet with artists and visit some private studios, something that we were also interested in.

Visiting Sedona was a high point in terms of incredible landscape and spiritual essence of place. I had only visited once before in the early 1990’s and had an incredible experience. Sedona is known for it’s Vortexes, special centers of energy that connect you to Gaia, Mother Earth. Places to sit and meditate, feel the energy, and go deeper within yourself – a place to recharge. We visited a number of these Vortex sites; Airport Mesa, Bell Rock and Crescent Moon Park. The latter of the two were the ones I really connected with.

At Crescent Moon Park with Cathedral Rock in the background.

Crescent Moon had a shaded path besides a babbling creek – gorgeous and serene. But I was pulled towards a field just to the left -there I could see the towering formation of Cathedral Rock as well as hear the water nearby. As I laid on the ground my hand found a small triangular rock with a hole in the center, to me – a power symbol. With that in one hand and my crystal in the other, I did a grounding meditation, sending my roots deep into Mother Earth. Sitting up again, I immediately saw the Priestess in the rock formation. She was in profile in her throne and facing an American Indian Chief. Here were the protectors of this Sacred Land – the Divine Feminine and the Spirit Keeper. (Has anyone else noticed these images??!)

The next day we visited Bell Rock where we were able to hike and climb on the undulating red stone. Such feminine, curving shapes like the Great Mother herself! I pulled off from my companions to find my meditation spot, where I could commune with the Spirit of Place. I left feeling blessed that once again, I had the opportunity to feel her energy. Often when I visit a sacred site, I return to my studio newly inspired. Let’s see where this journey will lead me…

And yes, on my trip, I successfully consigned my books and Spirit Cards to:

Changing Hands Bookstore in Phoenix

Sedona Creative Life Center

Garcia Street Books in Santa Fe

Please visit the shops and check them out if you’re in the area.

My books are now available thru Amazon:

https://www.amazon.com/s?k=Glen+Rogers+Spirit+Cards&ref=nb_sb_noss

https://www.amazon.com/s?k=Glen+Rogers+Symbols+of+the+spirit+book&ref=nb_sb_noss

Spirit Cards, an oracle deck inspired by universal symbols that honor the Sacred Feminine.

31 Monday Aug 2020

Posted by glenrogers in archetypal symbols, Oracle Cards, Spiritual symbols

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Ancient oracle, archetypes, divination, inspiration, meditation, Oracle Cards, Sacred Feminine, spiritual journey

This deck of 50 oracle cards is a contemporary approach to an ancient tradition. The images, inspired by universal symbols that honor Mother Earth and the Sacred Feminine, were created over a 30-year period by artist Glen Rogers. In her books Art & Sacred Sites: Connecting with Spirit of Place and Symbols of the Spirit: A Meditative Journey Through Art, she shares her pilgrimages to sacred sites around the world and her interest in archetypes and their universality. For Glen, creating in the studio is a form of meditation and a way to evoke a connection to the Divine Spirit. Her paintings and prints share a mystical quality that transcend into the spiritual realm. Spirit Cards were conceived during the covid quarantine, a silver lining to troubling times.

These unique oracle cards are 5 3/8″ x 3 1/2″

In Man and His Symbols, Carl G. Jung refers to certain symbols as archetypal: images that all of us can tap into through our unconscious mind, dream states and the creative process. He believed that “the greatest and best thoughts of man shape themselves upon primordial images,” and that archetypes—symbols from the collective unconscious—are metaphysical in nature. On my travels to sacred sites around the world, I learned firsthand that there truly is a universal visual language that connects us all.

Throughout my adult life, I have consulted various divination methods—astrology, psychics, the I Ching—all with eye-opening results. One of my favorites is Angeles Arrien’s interpretation of the Thoth deck in her Tarot Handbook. From her perspective, the ancient wisdom of the Tarot offers an opportunity to see life as a process of “walking the mystical path with practical feet.” Spirit Cards are a form of divination as well, a way of seeking clarity on an issue, and a simple-to-use form of reflection and contemplation to add to your daily practice.

Oracle cards can be a tool on your journey of self-discovery, a way to inspire and awaken the Light within. For some, they are synchronicity at work through both image and word, allowing the unknown to become known. Open your mind, heart and spirit to the messages you receive and reflect on how they resonate with you. Meant to inspire and offer food for thought, each Spirit Card you choose is the right card for you at that moment. Comes with booklet with instructions and interpretations.

Pre-order Now! Introductory price $25 USD plus shipping. Visit my website to purchase: glenrogersart.com

Special Offer: The first 50 orders received includes a beautiful gold pouch to store your cards!

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Life and Art in the Time of Covid-19

18 Wednesday Mar 2020

Posted by glenrogers in Art, Uncategorized

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Angeles Arrien, Artist studio, contemporary artist, contemporary painting, Corona Virus, Covid 19, Lotus, new beginnings, painting commissions, spiritual journey, symbols of the spirit

Ofcourse the title is a nod to Love in the Time of Cholera a novel by Colombian author Gabriel García Márquez. And folks, we are living it – in the here and now – a crisis pandemic in our times. So what’s an artist to do?

I feel lucky that I just received a commission for a large painting. A 3′ x 6 1/2′ canvas. A transformative lotus – an image that I’ve used in my work many times over the years. The petals unfolding never fail to soothe me, to embrace me and to help me transcend the ordinary.

From my book, Symbols of the Spirit: A Meditative Journey Through Art: Incorporating the lotus into my artwork is meant as a spiritual metaphor, not just the image of a beautiful flower. Using simple graphic strokes, I try to capture the hidden aura of the plant and reveal an ethereal side of nature. Jung said that the symbol (any symbol) is the psychological mechanism for transforming energy. Through this simple form, I attempt to transform a blank canvas into something mystical, giving the viewer a spiritual connection through my art.

1. So during this time of uncertainty (and mass histeria!), I will hole-up in my studio and create.

2. I’ve also decided to amp up my spiritual practice and do my yoga and meditation every day (up until now, it was 2 or 3 times a week). But I have plenty of time – so I’m going for it!

3. Pull a Tarot card each day (Also a practice I’ve been doing once a week for many years). Yesterday I pulled 2 of Discs: Change. The only constant and it is cyclic. For the purpose of re-balancing. For revealing to us that which is knowable and that which is unfamiliar. Changes in the External reality – and Internal changes that are expansive and positive.

Today I pulled The Hanged Man: The Pattern Breaker. Somethimes it’s necessary to take a distinctly different posture to get un-stuck. Time to trust the deeper aspects of who we are.

See how these nuggets of wisdom can make us contemplate and go deeper? (These abbreviated readings from Angeles Arriens’ The Tarot Handbook).

I realize this forced social distancing and self quarantine is a hardship for many. Believe me, I’m not trying to make light of the situation we are all in. But what if we thought of our forced home stay as a gift of time? How will you use your gift?

New beginnings – Appyling gesso to the canvas

Symbols of the Spirit: A Meditative Journey Through Art

15 Friday Mar 2019

Posted by glenrogers in ancient symbols, archetypal symbols, Art, Glen Rogers, Uncategorized

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ancient symbols, artist book, inspiration, meditation, spiritual journey, Spiritual symbols

I’m happy to present my recently published book, “Symbols of the Spirit: A Meditative Journey Through Art” .

Cover of Symbols of the Spirit

On the back cover: Glen takes us on a journey to explore eight iconic symbols that appear universally in early civilizations. She introduces archetypes—the bird, the circle, the lotus, the moon, the seed, the spiral, the vessel, and the vesica piscis—delving into both their meanings and their metaphors. She believes all are connected to the spiritual realm and have an undeniable link to the Sacred Feminine. Glen engages us with her unique style of art to illustrate each chapter and shares her personal stories and inspiration.

Excerpt from the Forward by Janet Blaser:

Through research, intuition and a deep sense of creativity and interconnectedness, the author explains with words and visual images how these symbols with their hidden messages can enrich our daily lives and anchor us firmly on our spiritual path.

Carl G. Jung in his book, Man and His Symbols, referred to certain symbols as archetypal—images that all of us can tap into through our unconscious mind, dream states and the creative process. For the last 25 years, Glen’s artwork in abstract symbolism has attempted to capture the essence of such imagery. While in her previous book, Art & Sacred Sites: Connecting with Spirit of Place, she described her pilgrimages to sacred sites around the world as inspiration for her art, in Symbols of the Spirit, she focuses on the symbol.

In these pages, Glen explains her intimate, personal encounters with the energies of these symbols, and how they’ve been a bridge to a more spiritual and connected life for her. She then goes one step further to share with the reader a meditation on each of the eight symbols, so they, too, can connect with these energies. It’s a powerful formula, backed by Glen’s years of exploration and experience, and a unique opportunity to enter a perhaps previously unthought-of spiritual territory.

While one could – as I did, for so long – look at her prints and paintings merely as beautiful works of art, there’s a deeper level of connection and meaning to be found. To paraphrase Glen’s words, I urge you to experience this book “from the heart, not the head,” and allow the images and meditations to become a part of your visual and spiritual vocabulary too.

Designed by Margery Cantor in collaboration with the artist. 104 pages, 9″ x 9″, soft cover, full color images, printed in Mexico City, $25usd. Add this book to your own collection or give to that special friend as a gift!

To order, contact me at: glen@glenrogersart.com

Inspired by The Lotus – A Symbol of Renewal

17 Monday Dec 2018

Posted by glenrogers in archetypal symbols, Spiritual symbols

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archetypes, Lotus, Spiritual in Art, spiritual journey, Spiritual symbols

“Golden Lotus”, triptych, 17 ¾” x 41”, Oil on panel with gold leaf, , 2018

Some say the origin of all art is spiritual; it was a way for early humans to commune with a higher and unseen power through mark-making. Many ancient cultures embraced the lotus as a powerful image and spiritual symbol. The Egyptians used it in their art and architecture to symbolize rebirth and regeneration. They considered it a sacred flower and used it in rituals, ceremonies and medicines for its restorative qualities. In the Kamasutra, an ancient Hindu text about human sexuality, the lotus is a symbol of the source from which all life arises.

My spiritual journey has coincided with my infatuation with the lotus. It was in Bali that I first saw the pink lotus in its full glory—the most sacred color of the lotus flowers. Floating on a small pond, the lotus blossoms in various stages of unfolding captured my heart. This had a profound effect on me, as if I was seeing the Buddha himself reincarnated. In both Buddhism and Hinduism, the lotus is a sacred flower and refers to spiritual awakening and purity of heart. It’s the cycle of the lotus that provides the metaphor for rebirth—with the bud emerging from muddy waters each morning and gradually opening with perfectly clean petals. Each lotus bud represents potential, and with the fully formed blossom comes Nirvana. In my meditations, the image of the lotus unfolding is my heart opening to Spirit.

Golden Lotus, 42” x 53”, Monotype, 2013

The image of the lotus continues to be popular in our contemporary culture. Graphic logos offering tranquility and peace can be found on candles, yoga mats and clothing. The simplicity of form and power of idea elicits a universal message.

Incorporating the lotus into my artwork is meant as a spiritual metaphor, not just the image of a beautiful flower. Using simple graphic strokes, I try to capture the hidden aura of the plant and reveal an ethereal side of nature. Carl G. Jung said that the symbol (any symbol) is the psychological mechanism for transforming energy. Through this simple form, I attempt to transform a blank canvas into something mystical, giving the viewer a spiritual connection through my art.

Allegory of the Spirit, 56” x 56”, Oil on canvas, 2016

Jung in his book, Man and His Symbols, referred to certain symbols as archetypal—images that all of us can tap into through our unconscious mind, dream states and the creative process. He believed that “the greatest and best thoughts of man shape themselves upon primordial images,” and that archetypes—symbols from the collective unconscious – are metaphysical in nature. On my travels to sacred sites around the world, I learned firsthand that there truly is a universal visual language that connects us all.

Floating Lotus I, 27” x 27”, Oil on canvas with gold leaf, 2015, Collection of Dana Amarisa

This text is an excerpt from my upcoming book, Symbols of the Spirit: A Meditative Journey Through Art due to be published in January.

Contact me at: glen@glenrogersart.com to reserve your copy.

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Fragments from the Ancient World

09 Thursday Feb 2017

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Ancient sites in Mexico, archetypes, inspiration, printmaking, solarplate prints, spiritual journey

As an artist, I draw from the ancient world, collecting symbols carved into stone. I’m intrigued by the simplicity of form and the repetition of shapes such as the circle and spiral in sites around the world. By visiting sacred sites, I feel a connection with those who came before me and feel the spirit of place.

Here are some mixed media prints that I created recently using images from Uxmal, Monte Alban, and Las Labradas (Mexico). My photographs of these fragments were used to create solarplates, a non-toxic form of photo-printmaking. I then hand-wiped and printed the images on rice paper, running the plate through an etching press. The images were then used in the chine colle process – pasting down the thinner paper to a heavier print paper as I printed a monotype image at the same time. (Kind of like a collage).The monotype provides the textures and subtle tones that pull the image together.

These three prints, Ancient Fragment I, II, III, are featured in an exhibition at Baupres Gallery, Mazatlan, Mexico through the end of February.

Ancient Fragment III

Ancient Fragment II

Ancient Fragment I

Fragment from Uxmal

Posted by glenrogers | Filed under ancient symbols, archetypal symbols, Art, monotype, Sacred Sites in Mexico, Uncategorized

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Ancient Openings/Aperturas Ancestrales

07 Wednesday Dec 2016

Posted by glenrogers in ancient symbols, Art, Uncategorized

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archetypes, Bienal de Grabado, Creativity, Glen Rogers, ICPNA, inspiration, Lima, Peru, printmaking, spiritual journey, travel

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I went to Lima, Peru in October, where I had a solo exhibition thru November 27 as part of the Bienal Internacional de Grabado (International Biennal of Printmaking) sponsored by ICPNA ( Instituto Cultural Peruano Norteamericano). There were over 40 exhibitions as part of the Biennal over a 2 month period and represented artists from Belgium, Brazil, Chile, Spain, the U.S., Finland, France, Italy, Mexico and Peru.

In this exhibition at Galeria ICPNA San Miguel, I had the opportunity to exhibit early large-scale prints along with recent works. I created most of these prints at KALA Institute in Berkeley, California in the early 1990’s, they represent the beginning of my exploration into symbolism as my primary artistic expression. My work continues along this line, and it was gratifying to see how seamlessly the work flowed.

All of the monotype prints draw from a universal visual language of primal forms created by early cultures and inspired by nature. The circle speaks of unity, oneness, wholeness, the sun and the moon; the spiral reflects renewal, regeneration, evolution and growth; the oval or ‘vesical piscis’ is a symbol from sacred geometry that implies the womb, the seed, birth, and the beginning of life. My intent over the last 20 years has been to create work that reflects the essence of these forms that can touch us on an intuitive level.

I visit sacred sites shrouded in mystery and imbued with the spirit of the ancients for inspiration. With each pilgrimage, I am drawn to the artifacts left behind by these early societies – sculptural details carved in stone, glyphs painted on cave walls, and designs found on pottery shards. In each location, repetition is found in the form of archetypal symbols such as the circle and the spiral – universal symbols that according to Carl Jung evoke a deep and unconscious response. Early on, I was drawn to Paleolithic and Neolithic sites where images of Mother Earth, the Divine Feminine, were revered. (Among them: Newgrange in Ireland, The Temple of Knossos in Crete, and the caves in the south of France.) My more recent visits to Machu Picchu, the Nazca Lines, and Sillustani in Peru also reveal a deep reverence for nature, Spirit and the cycles of life. For me, each site represents a mystical opening, a passage to something greater than ourselves, beyond the human experience.

In the studio, bold symbols emerge from the inked plate in a somewhat stream-of-conscious manner, my head and heart filled with new material. The monotype allows me a spontaneous approach and results in a one-of-a kind image. Scratching the plate with a drypoint tool, I create a textural surface suggesting primeval walls worn down by time. A mystical and meditative quality references the ritual of sacred space while the curvilinear forms refer to the Divine Feminine. Symbols create openings that can connect us to the past and to the spiritual realm. As I work the surface of the plate and access these ancient forms and markings, I feel an affinity with those who have come before me.

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10 Guidelines for Visiting a Sacred Site

27 Monday Jun 2016

Posted by glenrogers in ancient sites in Peru, sacred sites, Uncategorized

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inspiration, Ollantaytambo, Peru, pilgrimage, sacred sites, spiritual journey

Ollantaytambo Ruins, Sacred Valley, Peru

Ask permission to enter from the Ancestors, Mother Earth, Spirit of Place and give gratitude for the opportunity.
Enter quietly, with reverence and respect.
Allow yourself to be in the moment and feel the essence of this sacred site.
Be aware of the organization of space and its connection to nature.
Try to imagine the daily lives and rituals of the people who inhabited this ancient place and picture yourself among them. Let your imagination flow….
Connect with the mystery and spirit hidden within these walls. “If these stones could speak…”
Remember the sounds, colors, textures, structures, and feelings you experienced.
Choose a comfortable place off the beaten path and sit quietly.
Do a silent meditation, some yoga or tai chi.
Write down your observations in a journal, or sketch with pencil or watercolor.

Glen at Ollantaytambo Ruins

The Lotus – timeless image of the Spirit

04 Friday Mar 2016

Posted by glenrogers in Uncategorized

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Buddha nature, contemporary painting, Glen Rogers, Lotus, meditation, monotype prints, spiritual journey, Spiritual symbols

Floating Lotus III, Oil on Canvas w gold leaf, 27″ x 27″

The lotus, a metaphor for the unfolding of life and spirit, a timeless passage. As in all forms of nature, I begin as a seed and emerge gradually seeking light, my spirit rejoicing upon glimpsing something greater than myself – God, Goddess, All That Is – The Source. In my daily life, with heart, hand and spirit in alignment, I am at my best. Through creativity, meditation, and communing with nature, I seek divine clarity, and with luck, tap into the Collective Unconscious – source of inspiration.

I have used the Lotus as image for many years, and keep returning to it again and again. This timeless symbol finds its way into my prints, paintings and drawings creating a spiritual space for meditation.This simple floral shape associated with Buddha nature transcends its earthly role.