Into the deep, dark wood: Forest symbolism and fairy tales
Where I grew up (1971)
Lions, tigers and bears oh my! The mysterious forest is full of unknowns and teeming with mysterious life. As a symbol of the unconscious, it is a place inhabited by wild things, often obscured by the shadows of tree branches and layered with the remnants of seasons gone by. When we walk into a forest, we step into a world full of adventure and trepidation. We leave the comfort of paths familiar and cross the threshold into a realm full of challenges and unpredictability. Who knows what monsters lie in wait and who knows where the wayward path will lead. Myths and fairy tales often use the woods as a stage for the evolving protagonist. The character leaves the safety of home and wanders into the realm of the psyche, where growth is inevitable.
Drawing from the 80's
When I was in high school, I often sketched the forest using the wells of my imagination as reference. These forests were alive with spirits and elusive beings, there to provide me with messages. They dwelled in a place that offered temporary refuge from the province of a chaotic reality . I loved exploring the twisting tree limbs and fortifying roots that helped me to feel grounded in a world of teenage confusion. I was wandering into the path of the unknown and these fantasy tree drawings helped me to manifest the deep-seated worries I was experiencing as I approached adulthood.
Pencil drawing done in my teenage years
My Mom as the Hermit (Fantastical Creatures Tarot)
Lisa as a teenager
Lisa in the snowy woods of northern New England, 1990s
Fairy tales often employ these settings as metaphors of the shadow. They are the wild, untamed symbols of our own inner landscapes, where creative thinking and intrinsic energies reside and beg to be released. It is here where we meet frog princes, wise old men, a golden goose, a ravenous wolf, imposing giants, spirit messengers and all manner of creatures that help us shed the constraints of a rational mind. It is here where we let go and become more self-aware. It is under the dappling light that we recognize our full potentials and find our way through the tangle of brush. Through the darkness of paths unknown, we have the possibility of seeing the light.
Forest images from The Fairy Tale Tarot
Here is a neat “forest” video from friend and fellow artist Carisa Swenson:
~ Lisa
I just saw the movie Where the Wild Things Are for the first time and when I saw your blog, that’s what I thought of. I love how you incorporate people you know into your work!