'TO WOLLUMBIN - WHISPERS ON THE WIND’ 2026 MELANI DU JARDIN OIL ON CANVAS FRAMED 50 X 60 CM

ORIGINAL FRAMED OIL PAINTING BY MELANI DU JARDIN

Developed in studio from a life drawing study, this work is of the wounded divine feminine spending more time by the water, in solitude and introspection. At this time I was fighting an inner battle that is commonly referred to as a dark night of the soul. The dark night of the soul is a profound spiritual and psychological crisis that marks a complete collapse of a person's existing identity, belief system, and sense of meaning. Originating from the writings of the 16th-century mystic St. John of the Cross, the concept has evolved into a universal framework for a deep existential winter where an individual feels entirely disconnected from the divine, from other people, and from their own purpose. This is not merely a bout of standard clinical depression, but rather an intense, involuntary shedding of the ego and its external attachments, which often leaves the individual feeling lost, empty, and plunged into total emotional darkness. 

While the experience is painfully disorienting and can last for months or years, it serves a critical transformative purpose in psychological and spiritual development. By forcing a person to confront their deepest shadows and illusions, the crisis acts as a crucible that dismantles the false self, ultimately paving the way for a profound spiritual awakening, renewed inner resilience, and a more authentic, integrated connection to life.

In this work, the feminine energy is stripped bare, open to the environmental elements. She has lost everything that seemed to pin her to a sense of security. There is a small leather bag lying beside her on the beach that holds keepsakes for memories but she is no longer sure if they belong to her anymore. She finds meaning in nature. In the simple beauty of a sunset, a perfect shell, soft stand between her toes. She shies away from people, preferring her own company - it is safer that way.