Dwayne : Each month we alternate as to who paints the first stroke on our blank canvas. This is a moment of great anticipation for us both. It sets the tone for the whole of what follows.

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Teresa : Upon completion of this month' s painting, Dwayne exclaimed; " It's like a holiday in the sun!" In fact, our whole painting process was like that. I started with a luxuriant goddess in full-blown gestation. Dwayne came in with a loomimg presence above her.

My instinctive reaction to that presence was to make it light, take away the threat to sanctuary it seemed to present. Coyote leapt into the scene, saying "No threat, only tricks! "

Symbols associated with KAN include coyote, parrot and, of course, lizard. All of these spoke of the direction south, of warmth and color, of a desert valley under cultivation, especially as I have witnessed on the Hopi reservation.

Everywhere: seeds. Seeds of corn, of human life, of myth.

A Hopi corn maiden kachina. Kokopelli ascending from the underworld.

The painting became for us, a celebration of fertility, creation, fruition. It speaks universally of the germ of Life protected within the seed shell in anticipation of growth and actualization. It speaks of enthusiastic optimism and hope .

Click here for complete slideshow of this month's painting process.

As in previous painting sessions, we look to writings by or about other artists in a quest to expand our understanding of what it is to be an artist. This month, with hieroglyph KAN referring to the direction South, we looked to one of Mexico's most accomplished artists, Diego Rivera, for inspiration as well as to the shamanic artists of the Huichol tribe.

We have come to the tenth Moon of the current lunar year on The Lightning Path. Prompted by a vague memory I had about an ancient alchemical reference to number ten, we did some researched on the internet. What we found about the tetractys is now acting as inspiration for further research into the mystery of number ten. The following links are provided for any of you wishing to join us in this quest:

Wikpedia on tetractys

Tetractys Tarot Spread

Tetractys Poetry