Scrying by Andrew Thornton

Scrying by Andrew Thornton. Painted in 2020. Acrylic on canvas. Approx. 8" x 10". From Andrew: Scrying is an old divination practice by gazing into reflective surfaces like crystal balls or mirrors. But a dish of water can be used. Even a vessel of wine! (There's a wonderful book called, "Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell" and they use scrying quite frequently to help defeat the French in the Napoleonic Wars.) Water is often thought of as an intuitive element. It holds mystery and can be used for healing. It's a double-edged sword, of course. While it can heal, it can also drown. It can restore memory, but it can also make you forget. Symbolic of being life-sustaining, it can also mark the boundaries and passages of the Underworld. I think mermaids are kind of like this. They are so symbolic of dual natures. When I made this painting, I was thinking about the future and how uncertain it is. Of course, it's always uncertain. We never know what will happen next or how it can change in the blink of an eye. But there are patterns, like the lapping rhythm of the waves. There are cycles and seasons. And when we listen to the beating of our hearts, it's easy to believe in a greater force, a bigger picture of endurance and continuity. How can we connect to this? How do we look into the future and answer the question... what will happen next?