A framed wall art print showing a figure with the head of a butterfly meditating on earth with space in the background, her hands are the moon and the sun.

Upward Expression | Symbolic Art Print

$15.00

About the Artwork

Healing Art

Discover Upward Expression, a symbolic healing art print exploring peace and the power of the human mind. A feminine figure rests above the Earth in a meditative yoga pose, representing inner stillness and representing the ability to rise above the limitations of physical experience. With a butterfly replacing her head and the sun and moon resting in her hands, this artwork reflects freedom of thought and self-control.

She sits in Siddhasana, a traditional yoga pose that draws inner peace and calms the mind. Peace, to me, feels like stillness. Sleep is peace when we are babies. The womb is peace before that. Before that and after life, stillness is peace. Throughout, if we react to suffering, we suffer. If we stay still, if we allow ourselves to exist without immediately responding, there is peace.

The feminine spirit is the most comforting and familiar to us because the one thing all humans have in common is a mother, Ruach. The feminine figure is not meant to represent motherhood specifically, but humanity itself. We all come from woman, and the womb is a network that connects us all. I use the feminine form as a visual representation of divine humanity.

The sun and moon replace her hands, this symbolism shows balance, and it harmonizes with the stillness of the yoga pose. The sun and moon represent opposing energies, masculine and feminine, but this piece does not place one above the other. There are no hierarchies. The balance held in her hands is a symbol of self-control and agency.

The figure’s head is replaced with a butterfly, representing the freedom of the mind. “Free your mind” is integral to my practice. Butterflies remind us that we are not the same person day to day, and we are not supposed to be. We have been gifted with the infinite ability to change, grow, and learn. When you free your mind, you realize that peace is the default. If you control your energy, you control your thoughts. If you control your thoughts, you can control your behavior, which means you can choose to be whomever you want to be.

Creating this piece gave me a space to return to myself. 'Upward Expression' is the linguistic and visual opposite of "downward depression". As someone who struggles with my mental health, this piece reminds me that to elevate, I have to return to myself and look upwards, toward the mind.

Ultimately, Upward Expression is a reminder that we are not powerless within our own lives. We have the ability to direct our energy, transform our thoughts, and choose the way we move through the world. This painting calls us to live presently while seeking and basking in immense joy.