Journey of a Thousand Miles

Rosie Jackson 2003
Acrylics on canvas, 100 x 80 cm

“Even a journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step” (Chinese proverb)

Will the man take off his golden manipulationmask, relinquishing the strategies and behavioural patterns he adopted to protect himself as a child? Will he cross the threshold to a new inner life? 

This path has many winding curves, and it is the traveller’s task to choose his route by intuition, without letting his head dominate his heart. At the beginning the path moves through the waves of the subconscious, like the natural, instinctive behaviour of a child. The traveller is suddenly confronted by a row of shadowpainholes. These are the painful experiences which resurface when the mask is put aside. 

On his way, the man is reprimanded by green findsecretselffingers. The red mouth, symbolic of a new love, provides him with the power to shatter rock, feel pain, dissolve stagnant attitudes and view everything in a new perspective. The path continues, through golden pools of happiness, blue peace zones and flowing rivers of hungerfish, and through areas of meditation and vocational contemplation. 

The path is sometimes protected by huge leaves and sometimes accompanied by alchemysnakes. At the end, if the man opens the door which will complete his transformation, he will be able to resonate with the love of one whose heart is open. Watchful eyes are everywhere – we must always be watchful and not spend too long in a passive stance if we really want to change