The Spirit of the Fountain dies not.
It is called the Mysterious Feminine.
The Doorway of the Mysterious Feminine
Is called the Root of Heaven-and-Earth.
Lingering like gossamer, it has only a hint of existence;
And yet when you draw upon it, it is inexhaustible.

--Tao Teh Ching

       I find a sense of inner peace and renewal when I allow my spirit to rest in the things that are eternal in the timeless landscape of the Mediterranean.

       During the summer of 1990 I pursued a brief photographic study in Greece and Italy exploring symbols, metaphors, myths and traditions which seem to embody "The Mysterious Feminine." In this cradle of civilization, images such as the Madonna, classical goddesses, Medusa, Mona Lisa, Minoan snake goddesses or heroines of the opera all offered suggestions of the mysterious, undying and universal faces of women.

       In order to capture these themes which have endured throughout time, I began to experiment with "combination" images from sandwiched negatives. The transparent layering and visual transformations which occur when several photo-images from both ancient and contemporary worlds are fused, seem to assist the merging of past and present, of time and space, and of intuitive meanings and connections.

       As time passed, I realized that these "combination images" were actually combining much more for me personally: I've always been interested in exploring the essence of and the experience of being female; I have continually been drawn to Mediterranean cultures; and have been increasingly drawn to metaphysical dimensions and perceptions of reality. I wanted to combine these explorations...

       Since 1991, I have continued to use the book Goddesses in Every Women by Jean Shinoda Bolen, as a guide for exploring the many timeless and universal characteristics of women. Based on Jungian philosophy, the book outlines and discusses seven archetypal goddesses or basic personality types that embody these enduring characteristics. Similarly, Joseph Campbell felt that "the Gods reside in us" and that the key to understanding ourselves and our personal mythologies lies in studying and understanding the mythic.

       For those of us who are contemporary females, understanding these concepts can help put us in touch with our past and assist us to delve into the source of our own mystery. As we endeavor to recognize and remove our 20th century "masks," we can become keenly aware of the mysterious, enduring, basic and powerful forces we embody on the face underneath.

Carlie Collier