The building of the Gate
The door to the Mythic Land
A project that we have been working on during all the rainy days that we couldn't get to TierraMitica , and a creation that has made the rain a blessing because it would never had happened if we were not blocked from working in the land is proudly presented : The TierraMitica main gate.
Everybody participates with love- Sara, Daniel and Theo
It is a labor of love, art, craftmanship and intention and every single member of our community has helped.
Unloading the 200 kg hand made door
Alberto, our amazing craftsman, and Benji, our painter extraordinaire among many other talents have designed and patiently crafted this work of beauty. It holds amazing symbolic value for all of us and there is not a person that has not offered and enjoyed this project.
Theo, Benji, Alberto,Mikis and Sara painting
Finally, the doors to the Mythic land of our dreams is there- and it is open for our souls to enter.
It took all of us to load the ultra heavy hand made doors on top of the truck and get them there with great care since every bump on the road was threatening our beautiful piece of art.
Precision art by master craftsman Alberto
The previous day Alberto, Bruce and Browlie had erected the 6 meter door posts and secured them with concrete while Mikis and Fred were lazily assisting by carrying materials. It was a job that required amazing precision so that everything would be absolutely level and aligned to the milimeter and extraordinary acrobatic skills were displayed by Bruce and Alberto.
Not only can Alberto undertake these tasks with assurance and confidence but also patiently and flawlesly carve out a Shipibo design to the bottom of the door, cut out wooden butterflies, dragonflies and snakes, carve leaf veins and superb details.
Benji and Alberto forming the shapes
Benjamin, who is the master painter and visualizer of the the whole door worked day and night to give life to every single creature on the door, and although we all painted, his was the hand that guided and inspired us all.
If it looks simple, it is not. Layers and layers creating depth and beauty were patiently added, and exclamation sounds were heard throughout the house every time a new detail came to light.
The photos cannot give justice and the resolution for this news blog is necessarily low for the internet, so you guys cannot even imagine the beauty of this three dimensional sculpture and the awe that rises in one's heart when one stands in front of it.
Wooden creatures preparing to come to life!!
It took us two whole days to secure and regulate the heavy doors, to adjust it so every design is exactly correct and for the doors to be perfectly aligned, to varnish the door, to put the lock and the bottom latch, to make sure it locks confidently and opens easily, to match the perfection of the gate with a perfect installation.
The gate is full of symbolism:
The left side is feminine and the right masculine, the left holds the moon and the stars and the right the sun. The Condor, Otorongo Jaguar, Serpent and Hummingbird archetypes are there, a golden eagle feather is flying in the wind and the Blue Morpho butterflies that TierraMitica is full of fly happily around a garden that is open and transparent to the garden behind.
The Moon, the Sun, the feminine, the masculine, the flight, the joy, the magic garden, the dream..
The garden behind the garden
The intricate Shipibo design at the bottom represents visions of the grandmother and many other subtler symbolisms are all over the place but the most important symbolism is evident throughout: Beauty is inherent in every detail of our Mother Earth, beauty is inherent in every one of our souls. We are truly happy, fully united in our intention and, at last fully aligned with Tierra Mitica.
The Doors are now open!!!
Benjamin's art gives life
Work and fun
Life
A window to paradise
Alberto offering life and limb for TierraMitica
need any words?
