Two Mirror cards: The Bitter Glass and The Mirror of Erised

[pegkerr]

I had mentioned previously my favorite poem, Yeats' The Two Trees. Part of the poem reads:

Gaze no more in the bitter glass
The demons, with their subtle guile,
Lift up before us when they pass,
Or only gaze a little while;
For there a fatal image grows
That the stormy night receives,
Roots half hidden under snows,
Broken boughs and blackened leaves.
For ill things turn to barrenness
In the dim glass the demons hold,
The glass of outer weariness,
Made when God slept in times of old.
There, through the broken branches, go
The ravens of unresting thought;
Flying, crying, to and fro,
Cruel claw and hungry throat,
Or else they stand and sniff the wind,
And shake their ragged wings; alas!
Thy tender eyes grow all unkind:
Gaze no more in the bitter glass.

I realized that my soulcollage deck needs a picture of The Bitter Glass, since so much of my understanding of my own history with depression is tied up in this metaphor. I realized quickly that a way to get a picture of the bitter glass the demons hold would be to check out illustrated editions of Hans Christian Andersen's "The Snow Queen," because that story begins exactly the same way: with a mirror held by demons that distorts and makes ugly everything that is reflected within. I quickly found a perfect one; this is another card made by simply scanning and pasting down the image. I did have to monkey with the proportions a bit to make it fit the card.

I may use this image again to make another card, cutting out the mirror and just a few of the demons holding it, and showing it reflecting the Barren Tree.

The Bitter Glass - Council I am the One held up by the demons that distorts everything reflected in me. I twist beauty into ugliness, nobility into coarseness. I was created for the amusement of the evil and cynical, to taunt the good. I tell nothing but lies.

I also wanted to have a card for the Mirror of Erised. I have long been fascinated by the concept--not just because the scene where it first appears is one of the most poignant in all of children's literature. I have been fretting for several years, trying to figure out what it is that I want to do with my life. I've joked with Kij that I need a crystal ball to discern what I really want. Or rather, I need the Mirror of Erised to show my own desires to me. Perhaps it is because I have been a caretaker for so long--I have been working so hard to make other people's needs possible that I have totally lost my ability to discern my own.

Mirror of Erised - Council I am the One that shows not your face but your heart's desire.

This card was really fun to make. The description, of course, is taken right from the book. I pinched the image of the Mirror from Deviant Art, and overlaid it with an actual photograph of myself taken from the back (I stood silhouetted against a very bright window, which is the way I got the light outlining my figure to look right).

I like this, because the image-Peg is looking in the Mirror, but because her body blocks our view of the mirror, what she actually sees within is a mystery--just as it is to me in real life.

Comments

[bohemianspirit.livejournal.com]

That Mirror of Erised card is really powerful. I like how you put it together, as well as your insights on it. I have been working so hard to make other people's needs possible that I have totally lost my ability to discern my own. - it's so easy to fall into that,isn't it!

BTW, totally off-topic, but while I'm remembering to ask: directions to the dojo for Delia's black belt test? Please don't take that as nagging; I know you've been busy. I just don't want to forget!

[jbru.livejournal.com]

Your bitter glass card image isn't showing up for me. I'm enjoying seeing these as you come up with them and it sounds like an intriguing process.

[pegkerr.livejournal.com]

Try looking at it now; it should show up. I'm glad you enjoy seeing them; thanks for letting me know!

[pegkerr.livejournal.com]

I'm sorry I hadn't gotten back to you before this.

The test is going to be held at the Earle Brown Heritage Center. It starts, as I said, at 6:30 p.m. on May 30, but you would be well advised to get there well beforehand if you want to get a seat. A LOT of people show up, and it can get quite crowded. I really hope you will be able to make it. Here is the maps/directions page. Alas, I don't know what bus service is like out there, but I fear it isn't ideal.

I also wanted to thank you for your package sent to the P.O. Box. I had let a bit of time go by since the last time I checked, and so it may have been sitting there awhile, but I have it now, and the contents certainly delighted me. Thank you!

[primroseburrows.livejournal.com]

These images are gorgeous. Are you making these for your own use or are they going to be available to buy? You've probably mentioned this in another post and I missed it because I haven't been able to keep up with my flist well recently.

[pegkerr.livejournal.com]

They're just for my own use.

[primroseburrows.livejournal.com]

Ah, well. :) They're very lovely.