This image was created for a lesbian
couple (one of them is a co-worker) who will soon be trying
to start a family. I started with the obvious symbol of
the womb, through which we can see the touching/joining
of their hands in shadow effect. I felt impressed to create
a giant dew-dropped flower behind, and only afterward
discovered that Jennifer's favorite flower is the sunflower.
Very strong in her totem symbols is the Ankh, shown on
the right, resting atop a scallop shell (strong symbol
of female fertility and birthing). The ladybug is also
a common fertility symbol.
From the womb comes a life-bearing flow, which infills
both women. They are shown in blue, partly because as
lesbians they embrace both their feminine and masculine
parts, but more so to reflect the fluidity of the Water
of Life. Across their faces is reflected the lines of
the engorged womb. They are draped in a shared cloak of
the Fire of Life -- passion, creativity, fertility, purity.
Surrounding the center, at the four corners, we see common
symbols of babyhood -- diaper pins, building blocks, baby
rattle (the lone phallic concession made in this image
-- after all, they'll need to get the sperm from somewhere!),
and of a course the symbol of Venus.
Copyright
2001