Guardians of the Threshold

Many of my pieces emerge from waking dreams, visions, or images that surface during quiet contemplation. A few have come from my nightly dreams.

Around the time I created this piece, my husband was studying the work of Carl Jung and had become fascinated with dream interpretation. Unfortunately, most of my dreams fade the moment I wake, leaving behind only fragments and impressions. This one, however, remained strikingly vivid.

As I remember it, I stumbled out of my childhood bedroom and wandered through a dark house where no one could be found. No matter how many switches I flipped, the lights would not turn on. Eventually, I made my way to the garage to check the breaker box. When I opened the door, a light appeared, but it was encircled by two snakes. If I wanted to restore the power and understand what was happening, I would have to step into something uncomfortable and potentially dangerous.

I felt compelled to explore this dream through drawing. I created a yin and yang inspired image, with two snakes coiled around an orb. The symbol felt deeply etched into my subconscious, as though it was asking me to acknowledge opposing parts of myself, or to reconnect with something I had long suppressed. Like it was pointing me toward balance, even if I didn’t yet fully understand how to achieve balance.

It also became clear that I was instinctively using charcoal to create high contrast imagery, once again reflecting the theme of inner duality. This piece brought me an unexpected sense of comfort, not something typically associated with snakes. Recognizing this recurring subconscious theme reassured me that I was on the right path. Even without fully realizing it, my mind was working to untangle the source of my inner turmoil and move toward understanding.

(Temporary mural on the fence around Memorial Field in Port Townsend, WA)