Nested Soul

“Nested Soul” (12″ x 24″) – $1,111 CAD

This painting arrived as a vision while reading the opening pages of a book I had been gifted, The Heart of Service by Nayaswami Jyotish.

I saw four figures emerging within one another, like a series of nesting dolls. One form held another, held another, held another.

At first, I simply followed the image that wanted to emerge. It was only through the journey of sketching, cutting, painting, layering, placing stones, and reflecting that I began to understand the deeper meaning it was revealing.

These are not four souls.

They are one soul, revealing itself through four expressions.

The meditating figure embodies stillness.

The next, prayer and devotion.

The third, surrender.

The final, expansion.

Yet none of these expressions replace the others. Each one remains held within the next.

The stillness is held within the prayer.

The prayer is held within surrender.

The surrender is held within expansion.

One form holding another.

Holding another.

Holding another.

I was also surprised by the number of figures.

I usually gravitate toward painting odd numbers because they create a sense of movement and unfolding. Yet this painting insisted on four.

As I reflected on this, I began to understand why.

Four carries the qualities of grounding, stability, and foundation. It creates a sacred structure capable of holding what is unfolding within it—the four directions, the four seasons, the four corners of a sacred space.

Four creates the container. The Divine energy moves within it.

As the painting evolved, another layer quietly emerged.

A line of gemstones found its place along the central axis. They are not meant to be traditional chakra stones, although some naturally resonate with those energy centres. Instead, each one contributes its own quality to the inner journey unfolding through the nested soul.

• Red Aventurine — grounding, vitality, embodiment.
• Tiger’s Eye — courage, trust, and inner strength.
• Citrine — inner light, confidence, and joyful purpose.
• Green Aventurine — compassion, healing, and an open heart.
• Howlite (turquoise in appearance) — peace, spaciousness, and surrender.
• Lapis Lazuli — intuition, wisdom, and inner vision.
• Amethyst — spiritual awareness and Divine connection.

Together they form an inner axis between Earth and Spirit, reminding us that awakening is not about escaping the physical world, but illuminating it from within.

I see this painting as a reflection of our own inner journey.

Moving inward.

Opening.

Surrendering.

Expanding.

And discovering that every expression of ourselves has always been held within the greater wholeness of the Soul and of the Divine.

While working on this painting, I found myself smiling at an unexpected childhood memory.

The nested figures reminded me of the Barbapapa family.

It may seem like an unlikely comparison, but the connection isn’t really visual—it’s symbolic.

Barbapapa begins with one being becoming many forms.

This painting explores the opposite mystery: many forms revealing one Being.

Different directions.

The same wonder.

Perhaps that’s why those colourful, shape-shifting characters were so beloved. They celebrate unity, colour, creativity, adaptability, and the joy of transformation. Plus they loved to do good in the world.

Sometimes inspiration arrives through deep meditation.

Sometimes it arrives through a gifted book.

And sometimes it quietly reminds us of a beloved childhood character who still has something to teach us about the nature of the soul.

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Click here to see more photos or to make this painting your own.

The day after writing this blog, my friend Leslie sent me a video by Reiki Rachel Beyond about the Barbault Basket—a rare astrological alignment of four outer planets that many astrologers see as symbolizing a time of collective transformation and renewal.

I had never even heard of the Barbault Basket.

Within the first few minutes, Rachel spoke about the symbolism of the number four as a container, using language remarkably similar to what had already emerged through writing this post.

I immediately stopped and listened more deeply, sensing there was something here for me.

Her four themes—transformation and rebirth, Divine receivership and action, liberation, and expansion—beautifully echoed the journey I had discovered in Nested Soul.

I don’t share this to explain the painting or suggest that this was its source. Rather, it feels like another reminder that we’re all receiving inspiration from something much greater than ourselves and expressing it in our own unique way. I find that both humbling and deeply comforting.

If you feel drawn to it, I invite you to listen to Rachel’s reflections as another lens through which to contemplate this painting and your own unfolding journey.
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