Melissa Harris:
Story Behind the Art

I want to share with you the story behind High Priestess. The woman I painted makes macrame jewelry with semi precious stones and we did a trade. For a lifesize (5.5 feet tall) oil painting of her, I received 3 necklaces.  She was going through transition and it reflected in the way I painted her face since I am channeling the essence of the person. She didn't like how it was coming out and transferred that annoyance into the large necklace that she was making for me. When I received the piece I felt sick and my back would go out whenever I wore it. I tried putting it in sage, holy water, and  I buried it in the earth for a month.

Meanwhile she had the painting hanging in her New York City loft and kept a scarf over the face.  An indigenous shaman visited her and told her that I had really captured her essence in the face and that she should uncover it, which she did.

After I took the necklace out of the earth it was fine. In the painting you see some of her favorite things around her, one of her necklaces around her neck, a tarot pouch on her lap and her red tapestry bag full of stones on the floor. I did this some years ago and I wonder where it is today? That's the way it is with my "children.”.  I send them out into the world with best wishes and hope they have a happy life.

Visit Melissa at: www.melissaharris.com, and www.gatherinsight.com.
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