Depths (Mystery)

Digital Drawing · Femessence Series · Vulva Art for Radical Self Acceptance

A collective journey of radical self acceptance, worth and opportunity to receive adoration. My intention for this series of work is for increased embodiment and spiritual awareness. It’s an opportunity for women to see, appreciate, accept, and approve of themselves, and realise their power and ability to create — magic, life, relationships, art.

Whilst the subject matter has evoked reactions and conversations around culture, gender specific values, experiences and opinions, this is not intended to be political or gendered. More of a self appreciation and acknowledgement of the spiritual and creative power of the feminine essence. Hence — Femessence.

Acknowledging women’s sacred space and building a relationship with our bodies is a process which can bring you back into alignment and understanding. Simply, I believe we are created to create. By acknowledging our creative centres and power as females, this is a step towards creating the life we desire.

The artwork created is not mine — it’s the beauty of others represented on paper. It was a co-creation and I thank and appreciate every one of the participants in this series for their grace, beauty, vulnerability and bravery.

As an arts therapist it’s not about the end piece entirely — it’s about the process of making the art and the beauty of the journey behind the piece. From the photography, to the conversations, to the displaying of the final pieces and emotions that occur, and the gifts that are exchanged after the work is complete. It’s a forever evolving experience — the start of a new intersubjective relationship.

Thank you to all for joining the experience and being a part of the creative process.

Card 32 · Femessence Series · 2022

Depths

Japanese background · Vaginal birth: No · Created 2022

This is the second portrait of the same woman as Card 14 — Stillness. Where Stillness holds the quiet surface, Depths holds what moves underneath. The mystery that cannot be mapped. The part of a woman that operates beyond what she can explain, even to herself. This is the penultimate card in the deck — the moment of going all the way down before the final arrival at Love.

“Some things cannot be named. This card holds them.”

This woman has chosen to keep her story private. Her courage in being seen is enough.

Depths is the card for what lives beneath the surface — the unknown held without fear, the mystery that does not need to be solved. Pull this card when you are in territory that has no name.

This portrait is part of the Femessence Women’s Celebration Series — a body of work by artist and arts therapist Caris Pepper honouring the sacred feminine through vulva portrait art. Each portrait in this series is becoming a card in the Femessence Vulva Portrait Oracle deck, coming 2027.

Pleasure (Mary Magdalene)

Joy