Each of us has both an inner masculine and inner feminine energy, regardless of gender. This painting represents a journey into a remote wilderness area by the artist, to marry and integrate the two energies within her.

She began painting a canyon on the canvas in her studio. She didn't know why this particular canyon was emerging on the canvas. This beginning was a premonition of the artist's next journey. Her spirit guides appeared and instructed her to travel to a remote Arizona canyon with a friend. The next morning she called to obtain a permit into this wilderness area. The ranger just happened to have only two permits left, and also stated that backpackers usually have to wait months to get a permit...a fortuitous omen!

On our way and miles away from civilization on a dirt road, our inner masculine energies forged through water crossings over the washed out road and led us to our destination. With backpacks on, we walked through the river at the bottom of the magnificent canyon. A heavenly beam of light lit our way as if to say "Integrate heaven on earth, oneness of male and female." As we got deeper and deeper into the canyon, the sun was setting and casting a warm orange glow on the rocks. By dark, we arrived at our first campsite on the sandy shore of the river. Our campfire offered a sense of protection from the strange rustling noises in the dark bushes. The following morning, a hummingbird said good morning and we headed deeper into the canyon through the water. Our inner males forged ahead, while our playful feminine energies played in the waterfalls to stay cool in the one hundred-degree temperatures.

We went into a relaxed state of timelessness. The setting sun lit up a heart shape on the high canyon walls. Spirit guided us to camp beneath this heart shape rock formation for the second night. After creating a campsite, we explored the many nearby caves and built a campfire. As we fed the flames, we heard a threatening growl. A bear from up high in the canyon was rolling large boulders and rocks off the sides of the slopes, as if to say "What are you doing in my canyon?" Our fears kept feeding the fire with each loud thunder crash of rocks....

When it quieted down, we placed a protective energy field around our tent and went to sleep. Throughout the night we heard loud crashes from the large boulders falling to the floor of the canyon, which gave us a constant adrenaline rush. In the middle of the night, we heard a loud breathing outside our tent. The bear had come down to investigate our campsite. Our hearts were racing with fear. Telepathically we told the bear that we weren't there to harm him. Satisfied he left without even touching the food in the tree.

The next morning we asked spirit if we should proceed into the next side canyon called "Hell Hole". The response was YES! We had passed the confrontive fear test the previous night. We prepared our day packs and proceeded upstream. By mid-morning upon entry into the side canyon, temperatures soared well above 100 degrees. We were greeted by a rattlesnake, who symbolized transmutation of energy. A tall rock sentinel with a stern face stood guard over the remarkable canyon. He asked us what our intent was for entering into the canyon. We responded to the inquiry by stating that we were entering with positive intent. He told us to proceed. As we got deeper into the canyon, we saw many faces on the tall rocks. Spirits inhabit the rocks and take on form. Spirit said we were to be rewarded for our positive intent. All the faces on the rocks were smiling and encouraging. Spirit told us if we had fear and negativity we would see scary faces. The walls of the canyon became taller and our passageway became narrower, like a birth-canal. The many dark caves signaled an internal birthing process. Spirit said the world is a mirror. Our internal experiences are mirrored in the external world.

Our inner masculine energies forged ahead into the heart of "Hell Hole." As we became fatigued by the extreme heat, the inner feminine energies told us it was time to rest and receive the nurturing energies from the rocks. Spirit was teaching us about cooperation between the masculine and feminine energies within us. The masculine, which forged ahead into the canyon and the feminine that received the nurturing energy to keep going.

Huge bird feathers came to us as a gift from spirit. When we reached down to take an interesting rock, Spirit said we couldn't have it. Spirit was also teaching us the difference between receiving a gift and taking something we couldn't have. As we turned around a corner, a huge rock arch loomed in front of us high up on the top of the canyon. The light coming through this arch or portal made us feel as if we were standing under a magnifying glass or spotlight, an intensification of spirit energy. Spirit said this was a window of opportunity. We were birthing a new phase in our lives. It was about the marriage and cooperation of the inner male and female energies; balance! As we held our arms up and caught the light beams coming through the arch, we were symbolically accepting our new position. We thanked spirit, and proceeded out of the side canyon. Upon our exit, we were greeted by another rattlesnake in the exact same place as we had seen the first snake.

When we re-entered the main canyon, exhausted and hot, we slipped into the water and went into timeless space. Deep in a pool of clear water, two luminous dragonflies appeared, one red and one blue...a male and female. One of them moved in within four inches of the artist's face and hovered for about twenty minutes staring into the eyes of the artist. The dragonfly proceeded to telepathically impart a message, "Stay in your heart. Do not focus on the end result. The journey is the treat. Life is the dessert. Allow your inner male energy to support the feminine aspect of your being. Receive energy from all you do. Keep a full cup, if the life energy lessens, go to the feminine aspect, drink and receive more energy."

As we left the canyon a huge mountain lion crossed our path, looked at us and told us to share the gifts of this journey with others. He then darted off and disappeared.

This journey taught the artist when it is appropriate to carry the male shield to push forward, and when it is appropriate to carry the receptive female shield, and also how to balance the two inner energies. In the canyon, the letting go of the analytical mind allowed the artist and her friend to go into a space of No-Time where direct communication could occur with spirit.