 |
Eulogy
for Monica Sjöö
Monica was my friend.
She was always a great inspiration for me as a Goddess, an artist, a writer, an
activist, a teacher as well as a loyal friend.
We met in 1980 at the
British Museum, introduced by a mutual friend and immediately struck up a
friendship based in our work as artists, our interest in sacred sites and Celtic
culture but mostly in our common reverence for the Goddess, in particular the
Great Mother as she appears in the land and mythology of Britain and Ireland.
|
I stayed in Britain
till late 84 and. over that time I met up with Monica quite regularly, at her
home in Wales, at Greenham Common, at sacred sites and at events to do with the
Goddess and the Pagan community.
After I returned to
Australia and continued to make art and
teach, Monica and I kept in touch regularly
by letter and whenever I have visited Britain since we met up, looking at
each others art work and discussing the state of the world, the path of the
Goddess in her contemporary incarnations, as well as ideas behind our art and
writing, and the changing nature of the Goddess Movement.
As a woman artist
working from my vision of my place in the pattern of life, sacred place and
Celtic mythology, I had met only a few people who saw the meaning in my work.
Monica helped me to see the guidance of the Goddess in my life and in my work.
From her beautiful drawings and paintings I saw a power that resonated for me
personally as a woman with a strong sense of the sacred that did not fit into
the mainstream art world of the time. However I also saw the struggle it was for
Monica to stand so strong in her beliefs in a world that had lost touch with the
Goddess and showed little respect for the wisdom of women such as her. Her many
personal tragedies often took their toll but she keep going making her art,
teaching and inspiring so many of us. The inspiration of Monicas life, art
and writing transcended her life difficulties as she became one of the leaders
in the regeneration of the Goddess
in 20th century.
Monica was not always
easy but her passion and intensity for the Goddess Movement and creative work of
women has opened a large space for women to now feel stronger to be all that
they wish to be, and to express their
individual spiritual vision with confidence. Monica always recognised and
supported my own personal vision and the
art I made even when we disagreed over issues of sexual politics. She supported
the right of all women to express their spiritual vision
in whatever creative form was appropriate. She championed the rights of
indigenous people like the Saami of her native Sweden.
In my work now in
Australia and Britain as an artist, writer and teacher, I owe much to Monicas
friendship and guidance. In fact it has been
her wisdom and support that has helped me to pass on to my women students
the power and creativity of the female spirit which can never be broken.
I was lucky to see
Monica on the eve of Beltane this year in Bristol. I am so glad we had the time
to sit and talk while she was feeling a bit stronger, just before her last visit
to Sweden. During this quiet time with no other visitors, we talked of things we
had done in the past, places we had visited together and people we knew and
loved . It was a blessed opportunity to really share the love and respect
between us in those quiet moments.
We talked about the
Goddess movement in Australia and I was able to thank her for her wisdom and
inspiration in my life and to assure her that in my teaching work she is a
prominent force through her art and her book The Great Cosmic Mother now a
world wide classic of Goddess wisdom.
While I was with her
she brought out three special Goddess images she had hidden away and shared with
me her reflections on the power of these images and proudly showed me some new
drawings she had been making in response to these images.
We went through many
of her photos and remembered many of her powerful images as shown in the
retrospective of her work last year.
We both knew this
would be our final talk and it was great to see her at peace and happy at this
time of endings.
Over this past
weekend 6th & 7th
August, I was running a workshop on Ancestral Goddesses and Shamanism at a
place called Artemis, land dedicated to the Goddess here in South
Australia near the River Murray. I was sharing with the women one of Monicas
drawings of the Goddess in Malta which I bought from her last year. This work is
now in the Temple at Artemis for all women to share. I am hoping she may
have been with us at that moment as she was preparing for her death, knowing
that her wisdom will carry on even here in the Aussie bush, as it will in the
hearts and spirits of women all over the earth.
Monicas death
leaves a big hole in the world for me as she was a dear friend but I celebrate
the wonderful woman she was in my life and in the world. Her powerful images and
written world will live on to inspire women forever just as she will live in the
hearts of those of us who loved her.
I plan to make an art
work dedicated to Monica, something outdoors I think.
How wonderful if
every woman artist who has been touched by Monica were to make a piece dedicated
to the life, work and wisdom of Monica Sjoo. Perhaps these works could be
photographed and made into a website for us all to share just a thought.
Blessed Be Monica
Love,
Lynne Sinclair-Wood
Adelaide
South Australia
Wednesday, 10th August, 2005
|
Be