Forest Spirits

From early childhood, myths teach us the rules for interacting with the world. The inner world of each of us is rooted in mythology. I create my own heroes by channelling the experiences of my ancestors through myself. Like many generations of women before me, I embroider my story stitch by stitch, finding peace in the process and uniting the ancient and the modern under a single veil.

I photograph myself and my children, placing us in a mythical forest and endowing us with strength. My embroidered forest protects. To create these images, I use hand embroidery based on photographs, paint drawings and physical perforations in the paper that catch the light.

Nagual. The Nagual is inexpressible. The Nagual has no boundaries. The Nagual is the place where Power dwells.

Nagual. The Nagual is inexpressible. The Nagual has no boundaries. The Nagual is the place where Power dwells.

Kitsune. The nine-tailed fox—the Kitsune—is a magical creature from Japanese mythology.

Kitsune. The nine-tailed fox—the Kitsune—is a magical creature from Japanese mythology.

Aurora. The goddess of the dawn. She brings daylight to the gods and people. The mother of all stars in the firmament.

Aurora. The goddess of the dawn. She brings daylight to the gods and people. The mother of all stars in the firmament.

Kodama. According to Japanese beliefs, the embodied spirit of a tree, capable of leaving its tree to watch over groves and maintain balance in nature. Meeting such a spirit is considered great luck for a person.

Kodama. According to Japanese beliefs, the embodied spirit of a tree, capable of leaving its tree to watch over groves and maintain balance in nature. Meeting such a spirit is considered great luck for a person.

Dream Keeper. A small night spirit that guards travelers’ sleep from nightmares.

Dream Keeper. A small night spirit that guards travelers’ sleep from nightmares.

Várielle. According to Sami mythology, a spirit—the master of the forest. He can help a person if that person renders him a service.

Várielle. According to Sami mythology, a spirit—the master of the forest. He can help a person if that person renders him a service.

Forest Angel. A female forest spirit. They appear to people in a semi-animal form. They protect the forest from destruction.

Forest Angel. A female forest spirit. They appear to people in a semi-animal form. They protect the forest from destruction.

White Fox. A messenger of the gods, according to Japanese mythology; seeing one is a sign of great luck.

White Fox. A messenger of the gods, according to Japanese mythology; seeing one is a sign of great luck.

Mossling. The smallest forest spirit. Helps lost children find their way home

Mossling. The smallest forest spirit. Helps lost children find their way home

Thunderbird. A North American image of enormous birds that control the weather. They generate thunder and lightning.

Thunderbird. A North American image of enormous birds that control the weather. They generate thunder and lightning.

Tree of Souls. The Tree of Souls is the heart of the forest. It unites and supports all beings.

Tree of Souls. The Tree of Souls is the heart of the forest. It unites and supports all beings.

Forest Angel. A female forest spirit. They appear to people in a semi-animal form. They protect the forest from destruction.

Forest Angel. A female forest spirit. They appear to people in a semi-animal form. They protect the forest from destruction.

Dryad. Binds her life to a specific tree. She lives and dies along with it.

Dryad. Binds her life to a specific tree. She lives and dies along with it.

Forest Angel. A female forest spirit. They appear to people in a semi-animal form. They protect the forest from destruction.

Forest Angel. A female forest spirit. They appear to people in a semi-animal form. They protect the forest from destruction.

Forest Angel. A female forest spirit. They appear to people in a semi-animal form. They protect the forest from destruction.

Forest Angel. A female forest spirit. They appear to people in a semi-animal form. They protect the forest from destruction.

Elder Mother (or Elder Woman/Lady). In British mythology, a spirit—the guardian of the elder tree—who mercilessly takes revenge for the spoiling of her tree. The elder tree was associated with witches and fairies, and sometimes lived its own life, much like dryads or goddesses.

Elder Mother (or Elder Woman/Lady). In British mythology, a spirit—the guardian of the elder tree—who mercilessly takes revenge for the spoiling of her tree. The elder tree was associated with witches and fairies, and sometimes lived its own life, much like dryads or goddesses.

Forest Angel. A female forest spirit. They appear to people in a semi-animal form. They protect the forest from destruction.

Forest Angel. A female forest spirit. They appear to people in a semi-animal form. They protect the forest from destruction.

Leprechaun. In Irish folklore, a mischievous fairy who guards gold.

Leprechaun. In Irish folklore, a mischievous fairy who guards gold.

Kodama. According to Japanese beliefs, the embodied spirit of a tree, capable of leaving its tree to watch over groves and maintain balance in nature. Meeting such a spirit is considered great luck for a person.

Kodama. According to Japanese beliefs, the embodied spirit of a tree, capable of leaving its tree to watch over groves and maintain balance in nature. Meeting such a spirit is considered great luck for a person.

Medulina. In Czech folklore, she is a white lady of the forest, a spirit who is the patron of forest bees and honey. In the Czech Republic, people carry honey to the forest in the spring and say: “Here is yours, Medulina, and return it to us over the course of the year.” The lady’s name comes from the Czech word for “honey” (med). People believed that honey came to the flowers from the sky, and bees merely collected it.

Medulina. In Czech folklore, she is a white lady of the forest, a spirit who is the patron of forest bees and honey. In the Czech Republic, people carry honey to the forest in the spring and say: “Here is yours, Medulina, and return it to us over the course of the year.” The lady’s name comes from the Czech word for “honey” (med). People believed that honey came to the flowers from the sky, and bees merely collected it.

Faoiladh. A werewolf in Irish mythology. A protector of the forest, a defender of the weak.

Faoiladh. A werewolf in Irish mythology. A protector of the forest, a defender of the weak.

Phoenix. A sacred bird that is reborn from its ashes. First mentioned in Egyptian mythology. In ancient Roman mythology, the Phoenix becomes a symbol of the universe—the world perishes in fire and is reborn in fire—a process that will have no end and had no beginning.

Phoenix. A sacred bird that is reborn from its ashes. First mentioned in Egyptian mythology. In ancient Roman mythology, the Phoenix becomes a symbol of the universe—the world perishes in fire and is reborn in fire—a process that will have no end and had no beginning.

Pitsy. In the mythology of the West Siberian Tatars, the spirit-master of the forest. It was believed that he could bring both luck and misfortune.

Pitsy. In the mythology of the West Siberian Tatars, the spirit-master of the forest. It was believed that he could bring both luck and misfortune.

Gofitterakki. According to Sami mythology, spirits who are the masters of wild reindeer herds

Gofitterakki. According to Sami mythology, spirits who are the masters of wild reindeer herds

Ichchi. A protective spirit of the forest in the traditional beliefs of the Yakuts. A master spirit. If treated with respect, the Ichchi becomes a person’s patron.

Ichchi. A protective spirit of the forest in the traditional beliefs of the Yakuts. A master spirit. If treated with respect, the Ichchi becomes a person’s patron.

Zhu Yin. In Chinese and Japanese mythology, a deity that illuminates darkness. When he opens his eyes, day comes to the earth. When he closes his eyes, night comes to the earth.

Zhu Yin. In Chinese and Japanese mythology, a deity that illuminates darkness. When he opens his eyes, day comes to the earth. When he closes his eyes, night comes to the earth.

Qilin. A unicorn in Chinese and Japanese mythology. When the Qilin walks on the earth, it does not break a blade of grass or crush an insect. It is a symbol of peace and tranquility.

Qilin. A unicorn in Chinese and Japanese mythology. When the Qilin walks on the earth, it does not break a blade of grass or crush an insect. It is a symbol of peace and tranquility.

Shishigami. A deer spirit in Japanese mythology, a god of life and death, and a protector of the forest.

Shishigami. A deer spirit in Japanese mythology, a god of life and death, and a protector of the forest.

Cailleach Bheur. The spirit of winter and cold in Scottish folklore, the patroness of wild animals.

Cailleach Bheur. The spirit of winter and cold in Scottish folklore, the patroness of wild animals.

Kaygus. In the folklore of the Kets, the protective spirit of the forest, the mother-mistress of fur-bearing animals.

Kaygus. In the folklore of the Kets, the protective spirit of the forest, the mother-mistress of fur-bearing animals.

Tannamugwisin. In Korean mythology, the spirit of an old tree. By addressing the Tannamugwisin, people believed it would bring them happiness and cure ailments.

Tannamugwisin. In Korean mythology, the spirit of an old tree. By addressing the Tannamugwisin, people believed it would bring them happiness and cure ailments.

Fairies. In Celtic and Germanic folklore, beings possessing supernatural abilities. They lead a secluded lifestyle. Patron spirits.

Fairies. In Celtic and Germanic folklore, beings possessing supernatural abilities. They lead a secluded lifestyle. Patron spirits.

Kuko. An air fox, a type of Kitsune in Japanese and Chinese folklore. It uses magic only to help the weak or for the benefit of others. They never harm humans.

Kuko. An air fox, a type of Kitsune in Japanese and Chinese folklore. It uses magic only to help the weak or for the benefit of others. They never harm humans.

Golden Stag. A mythical creature whose tracks turn into precious stones, gold, and silver. It can bestow untold riches upon a noble person with a pure heart.

Golden Stag. A mythical creature whose tracks turn into precious stones, gold, and silver. It can bestow untold riches upon a noble person with a pure heart.

Art photography

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