Ancient Spirits

This incredible original acrylic painting on wood panel is created by artist Sandra Brestel

Measurements: 26″H 52″W

A curtain of lichen slowly descends upon these sacred images, threatening to conceal them and to erode the stone upon which they were reverently etched, painted, and pecked, so long ago. Lichen is one of nature’s erosion tools. It is a very slow growing moss like algae, which appears in a variety of colors. Lichen softens the rock surface and causes it to crumble away. This erosion process takes thousands of years, and while the spirits of this place are immortal, the sacred petroglyphs and pictographs are not. Time and the elements are slowly fading them with each passing day.A trio of reverently etched and painted figures seem to float upwards on the rocks. Their arms loose at their sides as their legs and feet seem to propel them through the emerald realm of the spirits. Their trapezoid shaped bodies are filled with sacred patterns and symbols, and their elaborate headdresses and masks are so far from ordinary, that they must certainly be apparitions seen in an ancient shamans dream, and these etched images contain and protect the spiritual essence of these supernatural beings.All of this imagery adds to the complex spiritual nature of this site and with all these elements in one place, it becomes easy to understand this place as a doorway to the spirit realm. The source of magic that keeps this doorway open, lies within the handprints. Handprints create a strong human bond to the spirits. Placed upon the stone thousands of years ago, this magic endures. When a shaman etches or paints the shape of his hand upon the rock, he has identified himself to the spirits in a very personal way, and this act creates a lasting prayer to the spirits that reside here.