The art below is a traditional Nepali 'thangka', a Tibetan Buddhist scroll painting, often with Buddhas or mandalas. THANG KA is a Tibetan word meaning ‘recorded message’.

This piece is dedicated to the Goddess Tara - an archetype of our own inner wisdom. She guides and protects us as we navigate the depths of our unconscious minds, helping us to transform consciousness, our own personal journeys of freedom. Reminding us of our ‘oneness’ with all of creation and the importance of nurturing the spirit within.

Traditionally, Tibetan monks and lamas used the thangkas to instruct the Buddhist Dharma teachings to the nomadic population. As they are scroll paintings, they were easily transported and unrolled, for example in a village far from the monastery. The villagers would gather in the main square around the lama, who would point (with a stick) at the different parts of the thangka and to illustrate his stories.

Adopted by Buddhism, Tara become the most widely revered deity in the Tibetan pantheon. In Buddhist tradition, Tara is actually much greater than a Goddess — She is a female Buddha, an enlightened one was has attained the highest wisdom, capability and compassion. One who can take human form and who remains in oneness with the every living thing. In the legends of Tibet where the worship of the Goddess Tara is still practiced in the Buddhist tradition, it is told that the Goddess Tara is the feminine counterpart of the Avalokitesvara, the Bodhisattva who is reincarnated as the Dalai Lama.

Tara’s themes are Universal Unity, peace, cooperation, destiny, energy and spirituality. In Hindu mythology, Tara is a star Goddess who encompasses all time and the spark of life. She extends this energy to us, fulfilling our spiritual hunger. In so doing, Tara strengthens our understanding of the Universe and its mysteries and gives us a glimpse of our destiny.