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My Art Work
My work in prenatal and birth trauma healing is about
facilitating the healing of the roots that grow fear and
alienation in ourselves, in our families, and in our society,
so that we can grow love and trust. I believe the survival of
our planet depends upon it.
I love the Mother Earth and nature, especially butterflies,
trees, and the ocean. My ancestors were both Native American
and pioneer folk. Both sides of my family are peoples who
respected and honored nature and who lived off the land.
The images in my paintings on this page of the Earth’s family
tree reflect my love of nature. It is an expression of the
image of my work and my desire to heal the earth by healing
birth. A pregnant woman is surrounded and supported by other
adults. Children are at the base of the tree, surrounding the
heart…the heart of the Mother Earth. They are all separate
individuals, and at the same time, they are one with each
other. The roots in this picture are unseen but we all know
that a tree’s roots are often larger than the tree itself.
August through October were busy months working on the
narrative of this website, pulling together months and years
of my work. During this time I enjoyed playing with the image
of the tree through different paintings. Partly, I was
balancing my right and left brain functioning while engaging
in such an intense mental activity; partly, I was working
towards an image to use as my “logo.”
Click on
the art work below to see
larger images of
Janel's art work:
Earth's
Family Tree
"Peace on
Earth Begins with Peace at Birth 2"
by
Janel Miranda
August
2003
"Peace on
Earth Begins with Peace at Birth 3"
by
Janel Miranda
August
2003
"Peace on
Earth Begins with Peace at Birth 4"
by
Janel Miranda
October
2003
"Peace on
Earth Begins with Peace at Birth 6"
by
Janel Miranda
October
2003
"Safe
in Mother/Father"
by
Janel Miranda
November
2002
This image “Safe in Mother/Father” is done in oil crayon. I did
this on my birthday, November 27, 2002, during a gift to
myself and from a dear friend in northern California. Helen
“owns” property that she has actually rescued from the ravages
of gold mining. Way back in the woods she built behind her
home she built a beautiful
building where women and children gather to create ceremony
and to come together for healing. She took great care and planning
to create a space that is feminine, including rounded rooms
and an altar for the Feminine. The space has large tubs,
decks, and a sauna. It is secluded and has views from every
direction of the Sierra Foot Hills.
I spent my birthday
morning here in a silent retreat honoring my traumatic birth, my
life, my parents, my Native American ancestors, the Mother
Earth and Father Sky…the Spirit of this Universe. I
experienced the knowing of my gifts of my birth, my connection
to the Great Mother, Mother Mary, the Sacred Feminine, and my
work with babies. It was one of the most profound experiences
of my life.
My image of being “Safe in Mother/Father” was done
that morning in that sacred space. My mother e-mailed me later
that day with a sweet, and prophetic wish, “I hope someone
bakes you a birthday cake.” That evening a woman I met only
two months before brought me the most beautiful birthday cake
decorated with fresh flowers. I was so touched by the
connection with my mother through another. Two weeks later I
left Northern California and, while en route back to Illinois,
I spent three weeks with my parents…the most precious time
I’ve experienced with them since I left home twenty-eight
years before. I know it is a
result of the healing work I have done in my own prenatal and
birth work. Feeling protected and safe with mother and father
is one of the most significant needs of a baby.
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