
SACRED FIRE: Painting to Heal
"Fire is a powerful force of dynamic change. Some pinecones need the intense heat of a forest fire to burst open and change into a new form. The phrase ‘trial by fire,’ acknowledges that events sear and change us. Yet the force of transformative experiences can also change and heal us. This is how I understand fire as a force for sacred transformation in my life. My searing experiences are brought in, and as I paint, I wrestle with allowing myself to open to new understanding, and let the process teach me. The painting records this journey. My work reflects the passage from difficulty, to joy and understanding, to a presence of peace, to dancing with quiet joy — like fire."
— Sarah Schaleger, 2019


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62. Lotus of Light

61. Connecting to Peace

60. Flowers in Snow

59. Reflections

58. Compassion

57. Blue Wave

56. World Light

55. Feathered Rock

54. I Am

53. Green Meadow

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50. Detail

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All images copyright © 2021 Sarah Schaleger