The Passage; symbolism of time

I’ve been thinking about time and mortality lately. Our world has been hit with the pandemic, so many shootings and climate disasters.  In my personal world it seems that I, those I love and their loved ones all are aging and many are going through health issues.  My time in the world is no longer infinite.  My painting is called The Passage. The imagery is symbolic.  A woman stands in front of a sandy shore and a river.  The shore represents the sands of time.  The river is the river Styx from ancient Greek mythology, the river Charon ferries souls across when they leave this life.  There is also a lyric by Steve Winwood “time is a river rolling into nowhere, we must live while we can and we’ll drink our cup of laughter”.

The woman holds a lotus flower with a candle in it.  The candle, as in “out, out brief candle” but also the flame of the soul.  The lotus is acceptance of what is to come.  Originally there was going to be a clock on a wall but it became both a moon and a clock.  The phases of the moon are like a march of time, especially in the lunar calendar.  The sky has orbs and marks and glows, luscious color, nothing defined. It’s the great unknown of what comes after and I wanted it to be beautiful and mysterious.  The woman is both the guide and the one being guided.  She is vulnerable and strong, radiating compassion as she ventures/guides into the unknown.  In my personal iconography roses are symbols of thoughts, dreams and wishes.  Roses entwine throughout the painting.  My Hebrew name is Shoshanna, which means “rose”.  I thought a lot about what the time would be on the moon clock.  I’m not at midnight or even 11.  But I don’t feel secure with 10.  I chose 10:40 because it allows for possibility.  Time is flowing on. How much is left remains a mystery.