The Sacred Circle

The Sacred Circle. 2017

A work I created for an illustration project (natural history artwork) exploring fire ecology, and regeneration on a microcosmic scale...

The Sacred Circle, 2017. Mixed-media: ink and wash, watercolour, charcoal, prisma pencil, pastel and gouache on paper

"Throughout the world, in every culture, circles and rings have had a mythical potency for mankind since the earliest times. The spherical shapes of the sun, moon and earth and the natural cycle of the seasons formed the basis of many early rites and religions. As it was from these 'circles' that life itself derived, early peoples sought out other occurences of the magical shape in nature, as well as creating representations of it for themselves.

The circle is used as a symbol to signify love, protection, friendship, rebirth, and even life itself. From early Paganism the circle - whether in the form of ritual dances or symbolic decorations - has formed an important part of secular and religious ceremonies for many centuries.

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Wreath making is one of the most ancient of crafts and one which is inextricably entwined with Man's historic desire to recreate nature's own circles. Traditionally made from plants - as organic material formed into a circle was seen as a way of linking the maker and the wearer to everlasting life - such ancient symbols join us to the past and confirm our place in a centuries' old tradition."

An extract from Enchanted Circles by Elizabeth Jane Lloyd