The 'Shaman's on sale Journey' into a World of Spirits......by Ede Walker - Pottery (NY) as signed - Vintage Fine Art Ceramics

Vintage Home Décor - Hand made Pottery by renowned Potter Ede Walker - (NY) as signed on the back.
My latest find - which I have named as the 'Shaman's Journey'..

The piece is by Ede Walker - Pottery (NY) as signed on the back...her style and works are based on primitive pottery from all over the world....and she quotes Master Potter Clint Swink, referring to the13th century Mesa Verde Potters of the Four Corners region of the United States:
"Their work exhibits splendid, simple visual alance and Harmony executed by a humanly flawed hand loaded with honesty".

This particular piece is a oblong tray dish with basic primitive colours, glazed on the upside and edges, with an unglazed stoneware clay base - that shows three distinctive patterns..
Measures:> 11" long x 7 1/2" wide x 1" high/depth

The first is a line of Human feet - that transforms over to the center row as a Paw print...which evolves into the Lizard.

The Shaman Journey's into a World of Spirits....is often taken under the guise of a Nature-Animal Spirit - one that is familiar and strong - and accepted within the World of these Netherworld Spirits...

Footprints and tracks metaphorically represent One's walk on Earth, which are equated with One's 'Iyari', and upon Death the 'Footprint' needs to be erased in order for the 'Iyari' to merge with the Spirit/Soul Fire (Sun)........it transcends Death of the Physical
The word 'Iyari' means "Memory of the Heart" and in some aspects of the Indeginous Tribe this is seen as something we give away, with no expectation of return.

The Paw Print is often seen as any one of the fiercest Animal Guides:- Big Cat/Feline (Lion, Panther etc); Bear; and/or Wolf/Canine....
This often represents that first stage of Shape-shifting - the merging - the letting go of a cumbersom physical form to a free lyth like Spiritual form....

The Lizard is a symbol of Invisbility, as well as an aspect of deception.... utilizing trickery to confuse their predators and remain safe.
They give up the 'Tail' to survive - and although many may see this as a appendage to the body - the Tail is also the part in the human (Coccyx) that represents Balance.
For the Lizard the loss of the length is symbolic of quite a sacrifice in the name of survival, and in healing it moves to a new tail that is also a symbol of Growth and Rebirth.

As the last line in the Path - the Journey ends with the Lizard who demonstrates that it is time to do some Soul-searching. The Lizard (in this aspect) prompts One to take a good, hard look deep within Self and determine what is driving you along your Path.

Is your Ego reigning supreme or are you acting from your Heart? ...and so the Cycle begins again as the Journey resumes in that 'Rebirth' with the 'Iyari' as a gentle reminder to the "Memory of the Heart"!! on sale