Supernatural Deeds in Nature
Details and Artist’s Notes
Altar:
Pipe, Bourbon, Hard candies
These each represent the fruits of the harvest; Virgo is set at the apex of harvesting season, a time where hard work and steadfast dedication are literally cut down to be made anew
Marie Laveau Statue
Marie Laveau is a very important figure in American Hoodoo, a practice closely tied to Virgo’s tie to gardening, Rootwork, and nature
Marie is also a Virgo Sun, herself
John, the Conqueror Root
High John de Conqueror represents power; anyone who brought the root along with them to any ritual had self-confidence and a strong belief that their situation would change, with great results.
Chrysanthemum:
These flowers represent the coming of Autumn, a reminder that Virgo Season is a Mutable one, preparing the way for the next cycle of four signs
Pomegranate Tree:
Pomegranate represents both fertility and death, the balance that Virgo dances upon
Deer
Often associated with rebirth and regrowth due to their antlers, deer also have a cautious and graceful way about them that is very reminiscent of a Virgo
From the Artist:
The Snake and the Black Community
African Americans during the early to mid-twentieth century envisioned snakes as powerful creatures that had the ability to alter lives in ways more positive than negative. Folklore highlighted the incredible characteristics of these creatures. The snake was a symbol of freedom, incarnation, knowledge, status, and resistance.
The Devil, that is to say, was a modern name that people within the Black community used to describe the "black man at the crossroads," also known as Papa Legba. In hoodoo and Voodoo, Papa Legba was the “gatekeeper” or intermediary between both the physical and spiritual worlds. He was responsible for people seeking communications with other spirits.
The Devil was not an evil character in hoodoo culture. He was simply a source, another option for individuals to change and empower their lives. Crucially, African Americans often described the Devil as, or having similar characteristics to Papa Legba in Haitian Vodu religion and Voodoo religion in New Orleans.
The beliefs concerning snakes were able to help African Americans maintain their sense of culture. It was essential that snakes protected them during their personal struggles and journeys.
