"Madame Butterfly" Original painting

Blending the concept of the Japanese art of Kintsugi - where broken things are mended with gold, thus creating unique works of art, the idea that something that is broken can be even more beautiful than the ‘original’, unbroken item - and the story of La Mariposa/ Butterfly Maiden from Women Who Run with Wolves by Dr Clarissa Pinkola Estes.

“Butterfly Woman mends the erroneous idea that transformation is only for the tortured, the saintly, or only for the fabulously strong. The Self need not carry mountains to transform. A little is enough.”

“The butterfly dancer must be old because she represents the soul that is old. She is wide of thigh and broad of rump because she carries much. Her grey hair signifies that she need no longer observe taboos about touching others. She is allowed to touch everyone: boys, babies, men, women, girl children, the old, the ill, and the dead. The Butterfly Woman can touch everyone. It is her privilege to touch all, at last. This is her power. Hers is the body of La Mariposa, the butterfly.”