The Tree Spoke To Me 

Julie Bell's 'The Tree Spoke To Me' presents a verdant tableau, dominated by the potent symbolism of the tree, the peacock, and the female nude. The tree, often a symbol of life, growth, and connection between earth and sky, here bears a human face, evoking ancient myths of talking trees. This motif echoes through history, from the oracular trees of classical antiquity to the Norse Yggdrasil, each whispering wisdom or prophecy. The peacock, adorned with its 'eyes,' traditionally signifies watchfulness, immortality, and, paradoxically, vanity. Its presence invites contemplation on beauty and its transience. We see it across cultures from Ancient Greece where it was the Hera’s sacred animal, to India, where it is associated with Lakshmi. Consider the recurring motif of the 'anima'—the unconscious feminine side of a man's psyche described by Jung. In 'The Tree Spoke To Me,' we have a meeting between the anima and the self in nature. The tree's face evokes an emotional connection, a yearning for primal understanding. Through such symbols, we recognize the cyclical recurrence and reshaping of archetypes. The peacock’s vanity paired with the tree’s oracular wisdom shows the duality of nature.