Virginia Mallon / Fat Canary Journal

As Above So Below

oil on canvas, 30x120

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As Above So Below draws from the ancient Hermetic axiom that reveals the profound connection between spiritual and physical realms—where the vast cosmos mirrors the intimate human experience, and vice versa. This timeless wisdom speaks to the delicate equilibrium that sustains all life on Earth, an equilibrium now under unprecedented threat from human impact.

In this work, the Celtic goddess of the sun, Áine, symbolizes the illuminating force of creation and life, her presence representing the vibrant, active power that shapes the world. This is balanced by the primordial Greek goddess of the night, Nyx, who embodies the mystery, wisdom, and shadow necessary for all things to exist. Their duality reflects the constant interplay between light and dark, a fundamental balance seen in both the natural world and the human psyche.

 

The Tree of Life, a sacred symbol transcending cultures and civilizations, cradles our planet in this work, embodying the fundamental interconnectedness that binds all existence. Its branches and roots weave through the composition as both protector and witness, reminding us that we are neither separate from nature nor above it, but intrinsically part of its living system.

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Beneath this embrace, individual societies manifest as planetary forms, cascading from Earth into the cosmic sea—each one a microcosm carrying the potential for both creation and destruction. These floating worlds represent humanity's diverse communities, each contributing to the larger pattern while drifting through the vast unknown of space and time.

 

Through this visual meditation, I invite viewers to contemplate our place within the greater whole: how our individual actions ripple outward to affect the macrocosm, and how the health of our planet ultimately reflects back into our own lived experience. In this moment of ecological crisis, As Above So Below serves as both warning and invitation—to recognize our role as participants in, rather than masters of, the intricate web of existence.