Caitlyn Rooke Clouds Over Croagh Patrick
In this painting we see a number of people fractured and floating with the mountain of Croagh Patrick in the background and clounds over the top of the mountain..
Looking at the picture we can ask ourselves a few questions? Am I fractured? Do I have many selves which are separate from one another. Are parts of myself, for example , my head, cut off from my body? Do my thoughts feelings and impulses work together as one cohesive whole? Do the many roles or identities I have in life conflict and compete with one another or do they work in harmony? If my many identities e.g parent, friend (may have multiple styles of friendship), my work role (may be multiple roles), my love relationships role are at odds with one another how can I get them all one the one team? Are their parts of me that I have disowned? How do I reintegrate them into my psyche so that I can become whole?
Am I floating on air? Is this because I am healed and free or is this because I am ungrounded in some way? If I am free can I celebrate that? If I am ungrounded how can I become grounded?
What does Croagh Patrick symbolize in my life? What is the mountain I have to climb in my life? Is the mountain close to me or far away? Are there other smaller mountains between me and the mountain I have to climb? Do I also have to climb these smaller mountains first in order to get to the major mountain? Or can I go around them to get to the most significant mountain in my life? Would I be better starting on a small mountain before taking on a big mountain? If I am already on the mountain, how far up the mountain am I? what si the view from where I am on the mountain? How is my journey going on this mountain? Am I walking up it steadily or am I struggling? Do I have all the resources I need for climbing? If not, how can I get them? Am I on a plateau and can I take a rest and just enjoy the view. Am I hurrying up the mountain or am I taking my time enjoying everything along the way?
Are their clouds over my mountain? If so, what kind of clouds are they? Are they dark and stormy or are they just big white clouds blocking the way or the view but not dark and stormy? What do the clouds symbolize? Can I go forward despite the clouds or do I need to wait for a big wind to clear the clouds?
These and other questions are prompted in me when I look at this painting. If you would like to explore any of the questions I raise here then contact me at joeyfeely@gmail.com .