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I worked on
TOTEM without any preconceived ideas. I began at the bottom
carving small heads held aloft by roots of trees that transformed into the
'limbs' of the two men holding the rest of the totem upright. Birds began to
appear in both the lower and upper halves, birds being perennial symbols of
an expanded perception of freedom. Ancient faces stare out at us from the
top half, their faces etched with the lines of age and wisdom. What is a
totem? Totems are everywhere, creations that reflect how individuals and
cultures define their ideals. In states of heighted awareness, a totem comes
alive. The image of a bear, for example, so ubiquitous on ancient totems,
inspires spiritual understanding and healing. Interestingly, I chose to
create the bird in the upper half knowing only its Japanese name. When I
finally found the name in English I was amazed to discover that it is a
'merlin', the same name as the ancient Druid shaman.
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